BEIRUT: Arab officials said regional cooperation and investments were vital to bolstering social security, work conditions and expanding coverage to new social segments.

The statements came during the first conference of the Arab Social Security Funds Association held Monday in Beirut. Speakers at the conference said social security was key to fostering sustainable economic development in a region struck by social unrest.

They called for investing available financial resources of Arab social security funds into developmental projects.

They stressed that furthering the inclusion of women in labor across the Arab region was vital for economic and social stability, saying this would increase the financial resources of Arab social security funds.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas, who spoke on behalf of President Michel Sleiman, said parliamentary committees were finalizing talks on a pension law.