VI Hosts Regional Social Security Seminar
The Social Security Board hosted the ISSA Technical Seminar from July 13–15, 2026, bringing social security and national insurance professionals from across the Caribbean to the Virgin Islands. Discussions centred on extending coverage to self-employed and informally employed workers, with local and regional delegates sharing reforms, financing approaches and modernisation strategies.
The Virgin Islands hosted the ISSA Technical Seminar, "Extending Social Security Coverage to Self-Employed and Informally Employed Workers in the Caribbean," from July 13 to 15, 2026. The event was organised by the Social Security Board (SSB) in collaboration with the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and drew policymakers, administrators and technical experts from across the region.
At the opening ceremony, Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) noted the significance of the Territory being chosen to convene the conversation: "The International Social Security Association represents social security institutions in more than 160 countries, and the fact that our Territory has been chosen to convene this conversation speaks to the standing our Social Security Board has earned within that international community." He emphasised the Government's commitment to strengthening social protection and ensuring systems evolve to reflect today's workforce realities, particularly for self-employed workers who make important economic contributions locally.
Throughout the seminar, delegates exchanged experiences and practical measures for extending coverage to traditionally underserved groups. Sessions covered legislative reform, compliance and enforcement, service modernisation, communication strategies, stakeholder engagement and financing models.
Participants examined incentives and administrative practices intended to boost registration and sustained participation in social security schemes. Representing the Virgin Islands, SSB Managing Director Lorie A. Freeman presented the Territory's approach to extending coverage. Her presentation outlined the Board's framework supporting roughly 1,718 registered self-employed contributors, ongoing legislative reform efforts and benchmarking exercises carried out against ISSA guidelines and regional best practices.
For BVI residents, the seminar's themes have direct local relevance. Many small-business owners, contractors, tourism workers, artisans, and fisherfolk operate in self-employed or informal arrangements; improving access to social protection can mean better retirement security, sickness and disability protection, and maternity and survivor benefits for those workers and their families.
The SSB said immediate priorities following the seminar include continued roll-out of its Enterprise Management System to modernise services, expanded stakeholder engagement to raise awareness and participation, and support for planned legislative reforms to make programmes more accessible.
Hosting the event, the Board added, elevated the Virgin Islands' profile in regional and international social protection networks and reinforced its role in shaping reform conversations. As reforms progress, residents can expect updates from the SSB on how changes will affect registration, contributions and benefit access for self-employed and informally employed workers.
Primary source: VINO