Some 70 delegates from Asian and European countries gathered at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)’s seminar held in Indonesia’s Bali Island from September 30 to October 2 with a focus on social dialogue to improve social protection. Participants at the seminar shared experience in building social welfare policies through social dialogue and the importance of such dialogue in reaching agreement among relevant sides. Five sections at the event dealt with how to improve social welfare for labourers, enhance social dialogue in mapping out worker policies, worker protection policies and the ASEAN secretariat’s roles in promoting social security in the region, among others. Data and information about working conditions in many countries such as Japan, Germany, Malaysia and other ASEM members were discussed and analysed during the event. Representative from International Labour Organisation (ILO) highlighted that social dialogue requires effective cooperation and coordination between relevant sides, and is the most suitable method to carry out social security programmes. Meanwhile, the host country stressed that governments and social organisations need to attach more importance to cooperation among ASEM members in the field of social welfare. The ASEM is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation bringing together the 28 European Union member state, two other European countries and the European Union with 21 Asian countries and the ASEAN Secretariat. The ASEM seminar on Social Dialogue (ASSD) is billed as a crucial forum for discussions, consultations and joint actions involving the governments, employers and workers.-VNA