BRUNEI DARUSSALAM 8 th High Level Officials Meeting on Caring Societies Poverty alleviation with a focus on vulnerable peoplethrough strengthening the collaboration between social welfare and health services
The Brunei Delegation: Dr Hajah Lailawati Haji Jumat (Director of Hospital Services) Mohd Husaini Abdullah (Assistant Director of Community Development Department) Dr Hajah Mawarni Haji Abdul Hamid (Specialist Paediatrician) Rogayah Haji Abdullah (Community Development Officer)
Part 1 Follow up of the 7 th HLOM in Brunei Darussalam
Follow up of the 7 th HLOM in Brunei Darussalam 1. To strengthen community-based approach of rehabilitation through the mobilization and training of volunteers.
Follow up of the 7 th HLOM in Brunei Darussalam 2. To promote preventive measures and early detection and intervention, especially the use of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook
Current measures concerned with children with disabilities Interagency collaboration between Ministry Of Health, Department of Community Development and Special Education Unit (SEU) 1. Monthly Inter-agency Students Progress Meeting 2. Annual school planning meeting with SEU for children with disabilities to enter formal schooling, working together towards an Individualized Education Plan
Current measures concerned with children with disabilities National Social Issues Council formed in 2008 by command of His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam. This Council is chaired by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, with membership by most of the cabinet ministers. The main issues addressed by this Council included the current situation of persons with disability and the eradication of poverty.
Current measures concerned with children with disabilities Brunei Disability Order has been drafted to further ensure that children and persons with disabilities are fully included in society, using the guiding principles set out by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The Pensions Act currently being revised
Future plan For our country to develop a joint working committee for children with disabilities, between Ministry of Health and Ministry Culture, Youth and Sports including other relevant agencies such as Ministry of Education Proposed members should be high level officials who are in a position to influence and modify current policies accordingly such as Permanent Secretaries or Director Generals.
Future plan Roles and Terms of reference of the Proposed Joint Working Committee: 1. Planning and implementation of the outputs and recommendations of the meeting. 2. Addressing policy issues 3. Monitoring and evaluation of the education provision 4. Further enhancement of their collaborative efforts
Part 2 Case Study: Good Practice of Poverty Alleviation Program
Poverty Alleviation in Brunei Darussalam Setting the scene
Setting the scene Brunei Darussalam provides its citizens and permanent residents: 1. Universal free education
Setting the scene Brunei Darussalam provides its citizens and permanent residents: 1. Universal free education 2. Universal free health care
Setting the scene Brunei Darussalam provides its citizens and permanent residents: 1. Universal free education 2. Universal free health care 3. Subsidized housing ( Interest free housing loans to government servants, The National Housing Scheme, The Scheme for Landless Citizens)
Setting the scene Brunei Darussalam provides its citizens and permanent residents: 1. Universal free education 2. Universal free health care 3. Subsidized housing ( Interest free housing loans to government servants, The National Housing Scheme, The Scheme for Landless Citizens) 4. Good infrastructure
Setting the scene Brunei Darussalam provides its citizens and permanent residents: 1. Universal free education 2. Universal free health care 3. Subsidized housing ( Interest free housing loans to government servants, The National Housing Scheme, The Scheme for Landless Citizens) 4. Good infrastructure 5. Stable political environment
Setting the scene Brunei Darussalam provides its citizens and permanent residents: 1. Universal free education 2. Universal free health care 3. Subsidized housing ( Interest free housing loans to government servants, The National Housing Scheme, The Scheme for Landless Citizens) 4. Good infrastructure 5. Stable political environment 6. Stable economy
Setting the scene Brunei Darussalam provides its citizens and permanent residents: 1. Universal free education 2. Universal free health care 3. Subsidized housing ( Interest free housing loans to government servants, The National Housing Scheme, The Scheme for Landless Citizens) 4. Good infrastructure 5. Stable political environment 6. Stable economy 7. Zero income tax
Social Security Strategy In order to ensure that, as Brunei Darussalam prospers, its people are properly cared for through the provision of social safety nets, the following policy directions are emphasized: Providing an economically sustainable social security system for those of our people least able to cater for themselves (Brunei Darussalam Long Term Development Plan, Vision 2035, Outline of Strategies and Policies for Development 2007-2017)
Provision for the elderly Full pension scheme for government servants employed prior to 1993 For those employed in 1993 onwards Employee Trust Fund (ETF). Retirement age increased to 60 (since 2009). 1995 onwards - Universal Old Age Pension from the age of 60 years regardless of employment history or status (BND250) 2010 - Supplementary Contributory Pension (SCP) There is no upper limit at which a person is not allowed to work.
Provision for women, children and families Gender equality in employment opportunities and benefits Therefore women also have: 1. Full pension scheme for government servants employed prior to 1993 2. For those employed in 1993 onwards Employee Trust Fund (ETF). Retirement age increased to 60 (since 2009) 3. 2010 - Supplementary Contributory Pension (SCP)
Provision for women, children and families Those families who fulfill certain eligibility criteria are also entitled to apply for all of the following (for those with a family income of <BND150/household member/month. 1. Monthly Subsistence Allowance BND65/month per child (< 18 years) and 2. Monthly Financial Assistance Allowance BND200 per head of family 3. Additional Educational Allowance of BND60 per child as long as the child is in school
Provision for persons with disabilities Disability Pension from the age of 15 years currently being reviewed Opportunities for employment (a mark of selfsufficiency and inclusion) Need to spend more on disability programmes which has a positive relationship with employment rates among the disabled Skills training to increase employability
Other safety nets 1. Other government agencies Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) manages the compulsory tithe Scheme Distribution of tithe to the destitute and marginalized persons Housing provision or home improvement
Other safety nets 2. His Majesty, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation: Housing Students scholarship Provision of means to self-sufficiency such as boats, fishing equipment, lawn-mower etc. Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah Orphans Fund
Other safety nets 3. Extended family system 4. Department of Community Development initiatives: Microcredit scheme - interest free loans for setting up businesses National Welfare Funds include NF for the blind, NF for disabled, NF for Orphans etc Inexpensive temporary housing Collaboration with HelpAge Korea to provide training to volunteers on how to look after the elderly
Other safety nets 5. Inter-ministerial efforts to help those with destitute housing - Department of Community Development, Fire and Rescue, Royal Brunei Armed Forces. 6. Voluntary fund raising Government (e.g. Ministry Of Health Welfare Fund) and NGOs 7. National Welfare Council newly set up Non Government Organisation
Poverty is the worst form of violence - Mahatma Gandhi
TERIMA KASIH THANK YOU