SHANGHAI, May 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Asia's poor face increased
suffering unless social protection systems are reformed to meet
changing economic circumstances, a senior Asia Development Bank (
ADB) official warned Thursday.
   Economic globalization was increasing opportunites in the
region, but raising vulnerability of the poor at the same time,
said Dr Brahm Prakash, director of Poverty Reduction and Social
Development Division of Regional and Sustainable Development
Department of the ADB.
   "The ADB will work together with the local government to reduce
poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labor markets,
diminishing people's exposure to risks, and enhancing their
capacity to protect themselves against hazards and interruption of
income," Dr. Prakash told the Social Protection Seminar held here
Thursday, part of the ADB's 35th annual meeting.
   He said that within ADB operations, social protection issues
arose in six contexts, including country poverty analysis and
programming, strategies, ADB project activities, safeguards,
staffing and staff skills, operational assignments and
responsibility, strategic partnerships, and monitoring progress.
   From a demographic perspective, he noted, Asia is a rural and
poor continent, with poverty, vulnerability and risks. Most of the
Asian countries are now facing transition economies with increased
opportunities and vulnerability.
   Statistics indicates the population in the Asia-Pacific regions
is 3.1 billion, of whom 30 percent are the poor.
   In east and southeast Asia, economic growth has led to
important reductions in poverty, however growth alone did not
ensure sustainable poverty reduction. Meanwhile, new vulnerable
groups emerge as unemployed because of economic shifts or
migration. In China, State Owned Enterprise (SOE) reform is a
pressing issue requiring significant investment in labor markets
and social protection.
   Once a social protection policy is prioritized, governments
should attend to effective protection for the majority of the
population and targeting vulnerable population groups as well as
an integrated approach to ensure consistency of all programs, he
said.
   According to Prakash, most Asia and Pacific countries had some
form of institutionalized social protection system, however due to
limited coverage, insufficient funds and inadequate instruments,
those systems needed improving.  Enditem