On February 20, the new dashboard interactive (monthly e annual) and a Summary of Social Security Statistics, with a detailed analysis of the data on persons of foreign nationality registered with the Social Security. This publication presents for the first time a descriptive analysis of the data on persons of foreign nationality registered with Social Security, focusing in particular on the evolution of the respective contributions paid to Social Security and benefits paid by Social Security, from January 2015 to the most recent month with available data. The monthly and continuously updated availability of these indicators enhances transparency in this regard, allowing a more systematic and up-to-date reading of the evolution of the main indicators analysed. During a session with journalists, the main results were presented and several caveats were made regarding the interpretation of the information now available. The Secretary of State for Social Security, Filipa Lima, stressed the importance of a rigorous and contextualised reading of the figures, clarifying that the difference between the contributions paid by foreign citizens and the benefits received should not be understood as a “net balance of foreign citizens for Social Security”. Such a conclusion, he explained, is not possible, since “we do not have a complete breakdown of all revenue and expenditure items by nationality”.

The International Conference “Social Security Reserve Fund: ensuring long-term sustainability”. Organized by the Social Security Reserve Fund and the National Social Security Institute of Timor-Leste, this conference featured a diverse panel of international experts in an important debate on the challenges and opportunities facing the sustainability of Social Security, which celebrates 10 years in Timor-Leste this year. Among other experts, the Director-General of the Strategy and Planning Office, José Luís Albuquerque, and the President of the Institute for Management of Social Security Capitalization Funds, IP, José Vidrago, both of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security of Portugal, participated in this initiative. On the first day, José Vidrago addressed the fundamentals and objectives of the reserve funds, and subsequently the performance of the investments. Already on the second day of the Conference, in the context of the panel dedicated to actuarial and demographic sustainability, José Luís Albuquerque referred to the importance of the cohesion of societies and transparency in decision-making, stressing the importance of studies “as a fundamental instrument to support political decision-making, when measures have an impact on several generations”. Portugal, in the context of the bilateral cooperation developed by the Ministry of Labour of Solidarity and Social Security, has been an important partner in the strengthening of the Social Security System of Timor-Leste, present both in the process of creation and in the phase of consolidation of the System. This support occurs in a constant and consistent way through the institutional training developed with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion and its bodies, specifically the National Institute of Social Security and the Social Security Reserve Fund. Photos: Social Security, East Timor

On 30 January, the Deputy Secretary of State for Labour, Adriano Rafael Moreira, visited the project ‘Mothers of Mavalane Solidarity Network’ in Maputo. This project is part of the range of anti-poverty activities supported by the Strategy and Planning Office of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security of Portugal (GEP/MTSSS), framed by the Cooperation Programme between the MTSSS and the current Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Action of Mozambique The project is a flagship initiative of Portuguese Cooperation, managed by the Mavalane Mothers Solidarity Network, which aims to contribute to personal development and social insertion, mainly aimed at children and young people belonging to vulnerable social groups in Mavalane Neighborhoods A and B, Hulene A and B and neighboring neighborhoods in Maputo. The project has several social infrastructures, such as a Vocational Centre for youth training, a Day Centre, two Kindergartens and an Elderly Centre, functioning as a fundamental support for these communities. Altogether, this project and its various components directly benefit about 7,000 children, young people and elderly people, including 5,385 young trainees in areas directed to the labor market such as Informatics, Accounting, Human Resources, Public Relations and Leadership, Secretariat, Marketing and Sales Techniques. On the agenda of the bilateral visit of the Deputy Secretary of State for Labour to Mozambique, held between 28 and 31 January, meetings with the Minister of Youth and Sport and the Minister of Labour, Gender and Social Action of that country are highlighted. Also noteworthy is the visit to the Professional Training Centre for Metalworking in Maputo, supported since 1999 by the MTSSS, through the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP, I.P.), under a cooperation agreement that also includes social partners from both countries, including the National Association of Metalworking and Electromechanical Companies (ANEME) and the General Union of Workers (UGT). Photo © Mavalane Mothers Solidarity Network