brunei country report

7/30/2019 Brunei Country Report

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BRUNEIDARUSSALAMCOUNTRYREPORT

The9thASEAN&JAPANHighLevelOfficialsMeetingonCaringSocieties:HumanResourceDevelopmentinthesectorsofWelfareandHealth~witha

focuson

capacity

building

of

service

providers

and

employability

promotion

of

vulnerablepeople

25TH

October28TH

October2011

TokyoJapan

Organizedby


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1. FOLLOW UP OF THE 8TH HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS MEETING ONPOVERTY ALLEVATION WITH A FOCUS ON VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Coordination and collaboration among responsible government agencies and concerned

NGOs has been one of the crucial factors in poverty alleviation. Several programmes and

policies have been initiated by various agencies such as the Prime Ministers Office, Ministry

of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Home Affairs and as well as the

Department of Community Development, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports. In addition

to government agencies, various non-governmental organizations (NGOs) also play a role in

poverty alleviation. These include the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation, the Islamic

Religious Council who provides assistance in terms of welfare benefits. These relevant

ministries and NGOs disseminate and share the information regarding the services for the

poor and vulnerable groups and encourage discussion on social protection concepts and

components including development of a framework on poverty reduction.

Study on Poverty in Brunei Darussalam by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports showed

that more than 5000 families fall in the category of the poor and needy. The development of

trade and industry sector is among the initiatives taken by His Majestys Government to

tackle poverty and unemployment.

2. BRUNEI DARUSSALAM IN BRIEF

Brunei Darussalam is a small country with great potential. Strategically located on the north-


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regional and international associations as important platforms to interact with other member

nations in the areas of economic security, politics, as well as social and cultural for mutualbenefit and cooperation. Highest human development index in the Islamic world (Human

Development Report 2009) Brunei offers a high quality of life, ranking the highest in the

Islamic World and 3rd in Asia, according to the UNDP Human Development Index 2009.

2nd highest quality of life in ASEAN (Human Development Report 2009).

The current 9th National Development Plan (2007-2012) marks a strategic shift in the

planning and implementation of development projects, as it is the first national development

plan to have been formulated in line with the objectives of Brunei Darussalams recently

launched long-term development plan, better known as Wawasan Brunei 2035, or Vision

Brunei 2035.

9th NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

(2007 2012)

TOTAL

ALLOCATION

$BILLION (9.5 BIL)

100%

Human Resource Development 295,466,800 3.1Social Services 'B' 1,761,451,800 18.5

Source: Department of Economic Planning and Development

Population

Latest statistics put Brunei Darussalams population at 406,000 and growing at an average

rate of 1.8% per annum. Brunei Darussalam has a multi-racial society, comprising of 67%

Malays and 15% Chinese. Other races such as Indians, indigenous ethnic groups and

expatriates make up the rest of the countrys population. Brunei Darussalam has a young


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Roles of Community

Brunei Darussalam has a personalized form of government in which elected village heads

continue to play an important role in the community. With their proximity to the grass roots,

these community leaders such as Penghulu and Ketua Kampong (Village Heads) are well

informed about their community members and can guide the community under their

respective villages especially the vulnerable groups. With the establishment of the Councils

of Village Consultation around the country by the government under the auspices of the

Ministry of Home Affairs the aims of the councils are also to involve all the communities in

promoting values of shared responsibility towards the realization of caring society.

The role of civil society is also acknowledged to complement and supplement government

efforts. Towards this end, one of the strategies adopted by government is the community

participation approach in tackling poverty. It is believed that society as a whole can play an

important role in providing a better and secure future especially for the socially vulnerable

groups of society. One product One village is a programme where One village produces

one competitive and staple product as a business to gain sales revenue to improve the

standard of living for the residents of that village.

Human Resource Development

In Brunei Darussalam, human resource development in the public sector is administered by

the Prime Ministers Office (PMO). The Civil Service Department under the PMO deals with

the planning, managing and developing of human resources in government departments.


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STATISTICS ON

POPULATION


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STATISTICS

INFORMATION ON NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

INFORMATION /YEAR 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

CrudeBirthRate(per1,000population) 18.7 17.0 16.2 16.1 16.3

TotalfertilityRate(perwomen1549yearsold) 2.0 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.7

CrudeDeathRate(per1,000population) 2.9 2.9 3.0 2.7 2.9

InfantMortalityRate(per1,000livebirths) 7.4 6.6 7.6 7.0 7.4

Under5MortalityRate(per1,000livebirths) 9.4 9.2 9.5 9.5 8.2

LifeExpectancyAtBirth: Male

Female

75.2

77.8

75.9

77.5

75.2

77.8

76.6

79.8

77.1

78.3


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INFORMATION/YEAR 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10

TotalHealthBudget(B$millions) 240.86 244.33 259.72 264.44 286.82

HealthBudgetas%ofNationalBudget 6.82 6.73 6.96 7.08 7.29

PerCapitaHealthBudget(B$) 681 638 666 664 706

HealthBudgetas%ofGDP 1.52 1.34 1.41 1.30 1.84

TotalHealthExpenditure(B$Millions) 275.39 254.68 294.82 322.13 317.40

HealthExpenditureas%ofGovernmentExpenditure 7.95 6.80 7.38 8.41 7.07

PerCapitaHealthExpenditure(B$) 744 665 756 809 781

HealthExpenditureas%ofGDP 1.74 1.40 1.60 1.58 2.03


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STATISTICS ON LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT


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3. OVERVIEW OF SERVICES AVAILABLE IN RELATION TOEMPLOYMENT AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR VULNERABLE

PEOPLE IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

At present, the Ministry of Home Affairs provides job seeking services for unemployed

citizens through a dedicated agency in promoting employment in Brunei. On the other hand,

both the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Health are providingservices which are related to capacity building and promoting employability of vulnerable

people.

3.1 MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LEGISLATION GOVERNING THE TERMS AND CONDITION

EMPLOYMENT IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

The Employment Order 2009, which came into operaion on 3rd September 2009, is the

main legislation governing the terms and conditions of employment in BruneiDarusalam. It covers all persons who are employed under a contract of service, which

may be written or implied but excludes seamen, domestic servants, and any person

employed in a managerial, executive or confidential position. Civil servants and all

employees of statutory bodies are also excluded.

The Employment Order sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment.

As to attract and retain valued employees in an increasingly global market. The terms

and conditions are as follows:


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date specified in the contract for the expiry of the contract has been reached. Either

party has decided to end the contract with appropriate notice in accordance with the

terms of the contract. There has been a Breach of Contract and the other party wishes

to terminate the contract.

(II) Payment of SalaryThere is no minimum salary in Brunei Darussalam. It is subject to negotiation and

mutual agreement between an employer and employee. An employee must be paid at

least once a month. All salary, other than overtime payment, must be paid within 7

days after the end of the salary. Salary for overtime must be paid within 14 days after

the end of the salary period. If an employee resigns and has served the required notice

period, he must be paid all salary due to him on the last day of employment. If an

employee resigns without notice or without serving the required notice period, he

must be paid all salary due to him within 7 days from the last day of employment.

There is no deductions other than those allowed under the order or ordered by the

court, can be made by an employer. The deductions from the salary allowed under the

order are for : absence from work, damage to or loss of goods/money, cost of meals

supplied by the employer at the request of the employee, house accomodation, for

amenities and services, the recovery of advances, loans or adjustment of overpayment

of salary.

(III) Hours of Work and Overtime


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An employee is not allowed to work for more than 12 hours in a day (inclusive of

overtime work) except in the following circumstances i.e. accident, actual or

threatened, work which is essential to the life of the community, work which is

essential to national defence or security, urgent work to be done to machinery or plant,

an interruption of work which was impossible to foresee. In the case of a shift worker,

he is not allowed to work more than 12 hours a day under any circumstances.

Overtime has to be paid if the employee is required to work beyond his contractual

hours of work. Payment for overtime work must be paid within 14 days after the last

day of the salary period. An employee is permitted to work up to a limit of 72 hours of

overtime in a month. However, this limit may be exceeded if approval has been

granted by the Commissioner of Labour.

(IV) Rest Days

An employee is entitled to 1 rest day (midnight to midnight) each week without pay.

The rest day shall be on a Sunday or any other as rostered and informed by an

employer before the beginning of each month. For a shift worker, the rest day can be a

continuous period of 30 hours.

(V) Public Holidays

An employee is entitled to 11 public holidays in a year.

(VI) Annual Leave


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YEARS OF SERVICE DAYS OF LEAVE

1st 7

2n 83rd 9

4t 10

5t 11

6th 12

7t 13

8t and thereafter 14

(VII) Sick Leave

An employee is entitled to 14 days outpatient sick leave and 60 days hospitalisation

leave (including the 14 days outpatient sick leave) provided he satisfies the followingconditions such as must have worked for at least 6 months, has obtained a medical

certificate from the company doctor.

(VIII) Maternity Leave

All female employees covered under the Employment Order are entitled to 9 weeks of

maternity leave i.e. 4 weeks immediately before the delivery of her child, 5 weeks

immediately after the delivery of her child. By mutual consent, the last 4 weeks of the

maternity leave can be taken within 6 months from the date of delivery. A female

employee must satisfy that she has served for more than 180 days and only 8 weeks

are entitled to receive payment benefit.


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Originally known as the Local Employment Service Section under the Department of

Labour. In August 2008, Local Employment Service Section moved from the Labour

Departments Headquarter to a new building called the former Government House.

The Section changed its name and known as Employment Centre. On 13 April 2010,

the Employment Centre was upgraded and absorbed in Ministry of Home Affairs, and

then recognised as Local Employment and Workforce Development Agency

(LEWDA). LEWDA is considered as one of the agencies that help unemployment

among the locals in Brunei.

Brunei Darussalam became the 180th member of the International Labour

Organisation (ILO) on January 17, 2007 and according to the International Labour

Organisation (ILO) the meaning of "Full Employment" is a 3% unemployment rate.

According to Brunei Darussalam Key Indicators 2009, published by the Department

of Economic Planning and Development, unemployment in Brunei Darussalam was

3.7% in 2008, which is calculated as "Full Employment. Brunei is considered as

voluntarily unemployment and as tell receive foreign workers to fill up jobs namely in

construction industry, mining industry, forestry industry and fishery industry.

Majority of jobseekers register at LEWDA are the ones with lower qualifications

which stated 89%. Most of them are at the age of 18 to 24 years old which stated

50.3%. Thus LEWDA concentrate in giving them training skill in order to make them

more marketable in the labour market area. Most of them still depend to work with

public sector because the group of SMEs in Brunei is consider very small number

compare with other developing countries.


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Carnival and Mini Career Carnival which are held yearly. Other LEWDA functions

are :

Provide various statistics of jobseeker registered Implements Training Employment Scheme and Induction course under the

Human Resource funds to the jobseeker.

Conducts appropriate relevant trainings as a joint venture with the privatesector.

Gives tailor made training skills required by the private sectors. Provides counselling service to the jobseekers and local workers on specific

labour issues.

Settles any complaint issues received both from local employees andemployers.

Holds worksite inspection where local employees work.

Participates in Career Fair organized by the other agencies which related toemployment opportunities.

Give Career Talk to the students and other agencies. Consultation / discussion with employers in the private sector to prioritize

locals intake in their companies.

Organisational Structure of LEWDA


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Other Skill and Training Provided To The Jobseekers

To ensure jobseekers registered at LEWDA more marketable in the labour market

area, the major scheme is Training Employment Scheme under the Human Resource

Funds. LEWDA act as implementer in giving various training skills those are tailor-

made to the jobseekers, to ensure the specific relevant skills are met to the

requirement in filling up vacancies at private sectors which is in conjunction with His

Majestys Titah during his 65th birthday celebration, 15 July 2011, where His Majesty

has consented that three stages under this scheme to be implemented under the Human

Resource Funds. One of it is the improvement of the current on-going Training

Employment Scheme under the Human Resource Funds with the giving-out of

financial incentive to the trained locals, as long as they continuously work at the

private sector.

Under this scheme, every jobseekers will be given the opportunity to be trained with

respect to their interest with incentive allowance depending on their attendance during

the training targeting to 150 jobseekers per month. At the end of the training, they will

undergo On The Job Training for 6 months. In completing the On The Job Training, a

2 years working contract will be sign between LEWDA, the private sector (employer)

and the candidate (employee) where the kind incentives will also be given during 2

years work.

Induction course is one of the course under the Human Resource funds given to the

jobseeker. Every jobseeker will be given opportunity to be trained under this coursewhich covers Islamic religious, Employment Oder 2009, IC3 computer courses,

English language exercises and self-motivation camp. At the end of the training,

certificate will be given to those jobseekers who have successfully completed their


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STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF JOB SEEKERS REGISTERED WITH

LEWDA


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STATISTICS ON REGISTERED EMPLOYED JOBSEEKERS AT LEWDA


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3.2 MINISTRY OF CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS

Organizational Structure of The Social Welfare Sector

Since 1954, the Department of Community Development (DCD) has administered social

welfare programmes by providing welfare benefits in cash and in kind to the elderly and

persons with disability. It also provides rehabilitation and counselling services as well as

assistance to the vulnerable in acquiring employment and small business setup to gain

selfreliance.

The Department of Community Development is established since 1st July 1954 and

previously known as The Customs, Religions and Welfare Department. The Department of

Community Development, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports provide financial assistance


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is to expand the capabilities of the poor through greater access to selfreliance, new skills,

services and resources while encouraging and enhancing economic activities to support

entrepreneurship and income generation.

As part of the providing elders and persons with disability, the Department of Community

Development (DCD), Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports (MCYS) have introduced the

SelfReliance Scheme to its welfare recipients in June 2006. This microfinancing scheme

provides seed capital to initiate or expand smallscale businesses with exemption of interests,

administrative charges, guarantor requirements and collateral. Its objectives are to help

alleviate the financial burdens and change the crutchmentality of welfare recipients by

reducing their independence on welfare benefits to support their livelihood and by stimulating

a culture of selfsustenance. The targeted group consists of poor vulnerable people with

limited income; the unemployed and those with limited incomegenerating skills as well as

entrepreneurial willpower. These activities are funded by Brunei Darussalams National

Welfare Fund whose financials are contributed mainly by individuals, communities,

associations and private sectors. The repayment rate out of total disbursements is 29.2 per

cent.

To ensure the sustainability of DCDs entrepreneurship programme, a new programme called

the Empowerment Programme was introduced in January 2011. This new programme is run

with financial resources from the Ministry of Finance and is expected to be more effective

than the Self Reliance Scheme as the applicants are required to undergo mandatory training

on business management, entrepreneurship, selfdevelopment and skills training before the

micro financing can be disbursed. The Empowerment Programme is planned to be

i l d i d h fi i f 2011 d d i i i h h


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of providing skills training and selfdevelopment for unemployed youth who could not

proceed with formal education.

To ensure that no citizen is deprived of basic human needs, the government has implemented

and promoted various social safety net programmes. Brunei citizens and permanent residents

who have reached the age of 60 years old and above are eligible for an Old Age Pension of

BND250.00 (USD208.00) per month in accordance to conditions stipulated under the Old

Age and Disability Pensions Act 1954. Provisions of pensions and welfare support for older

citizens are sometimes supplemented to protect them from poverty. Most of the old age

pension recipients are women. This is due to women achieving life expectancy of 77.83 years

compared to 73.32 years for men (2009 est.).

Realising that human resources are the most valuable asset and key to its future, Brunei

Darussalam puts priority on the social welfare and development of its people including

women, children and older persons. Various policies, community programmes and social

services have been undertaken in caring for the socially vulnerable groups of this country.

The primary goal of welfare programme in the country is to promote the well being of the

countrys vulnerable people including the elderly and the persons with disablity (PWD). The

Old Age and Disability Pensions Act 1954 (An Act to provide for pecuniary payments by

way of old age pensions, pensions for the blind persons, allowances for dependents of

persons suffering from Hansens diseases and lunatics, disability pensions and such other

pensions and allowances as His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan in Council may

prescribe and for all matters incidental thereto. Commencement: 1st January 1955)

Statistics as of September 2011, the Old Age and Disability Pensioners registered under the

D t t f C it D l t (DCD) i 23 769 l Th P i d


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2009 2010 Sept2011Recipients of old ageanddisabilitypensions

19,757

21,010

23769

Table 2: Statistics of Old Age and Disabled Pensions Recipients (September 2011)

For the recipient of welfare benefits, the challenge is to shift them towards more income

generating activities and to become more reliant. In September 2011, the Department of

Community Development launched a new scheme called the Community Service Scheme

which runs on the basis of the work for aid concept to assist poverty-stricken families and

vunerable people in serving the community and preparing them for reintegration to society.

The Community Service Scheme for Monthly assistance Recipients was imposed with a

condition where recipients are required to participate in community work to be eligible for

the monthly assistance provided by the Department of Community Development (DCD). The

scheme is designed for individuals aged between 18 and 55 facing difficulty in supporting

their families due to unemployment, as well as single parents and vunerable people. Under

the scheme, trainees or recipients are to carry out community service 24 hours within a month,

or six hours in a week for the period of time they are receiving assistance from DCD.

Community work to be done include cleaning up public areas such as schools, mosques and

government buildings; charity work as well as working for welfare institutions.

Another initiative under the Department of Community Development (DCD) is the Centre for

the Disabled which is an institution that provides basic life-skills, income-generating skills

training and work attachment for disabled people of primary school age to 40 years old so

that they can participate and contribute meaningfully the society.


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Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Programme. Special Aids and Appliances. Sports for Persons with disabilities.

Vocational training programme caters for Persons with Disability (PWD) aged in the 18 years

old and above. The training offered includes:

o Woodwork.o Reflexology and Traditional massage.o Home sciences (cookery, hand-weaving etc.)o Computer classes.o Religious classes.

Traineesaregrantedwithallowance:

Grade Level AllowanceE Probation

D Probation $40.00

C Low $72.00

B Average/Moderate $120.00

A High $180.00

SPECIAL Specialised $240.00


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Woodwork Cookery Braille Computer Religious Education Reflexology.

These trainings are held in the respective Pusat Bahagia as a preparation for PWDs for

employment in the future and allowances are granted as an incentive to the persons with

disabilities (trainee) according to their performances :

Grade Level AllowancesD Probation $120.00

C Low $180.00

B

Average/Moderate $240.00

A High $350.00

LEGISLATION, POLICIES & MEASURESBrunei Darussalam is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(PWDs) in its effort to further promote the rights of PWDs in Brunei Darussalam. Thus, a

National Committee / Task Force were set up to oversee this Convention led by the


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It provides for pecuniary payments by way of old age pensions, pensions for blind persons,

allowances for dependants of persons who are suffering from Hansens disease and lunatics,

disability pensions and such other pensions and allowances as may be prescribed.

Also, with the implementation of a National Policy (an education system suited for the 21st

century skills and competencies [referred to as Sistem Pendidikan Negara Abad ke-21

SPN21 ]), ensures the provision of education that caters for the needs of all children. Through

the implementation of the Inclusive Education System, children with special needs are able to

attend mainstream schools where support services and appropriate resources are in place to

meet their special needs.

Treaty Obligation

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Year of signatory: 18 December 2007. International Labour organization Convention No. 159 Year of signatory: 17 January 2007. Convention on the Rights of the Child [27 December 1995]. Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women

(CEDAW) [24 May 2006].

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of Children,Child Prostitution and Child Pornography [21 December 2006].

United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crimes [25 March 2008]. C182 ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 [9 June 2008]. UN Convention against Corruption [2 December 2008].


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There are 7 target areas in aligned to the Biwako Millenium Framework that are priorities to

Brunei Darussalam, which includes:

(1)Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and related family and parentassociations,

(2)Women with Disabilities,(3)Early Detection, early intervention and education,(4)Training and employment,(5)Access to build environments and public transport,(6)Access to information and communications,(7)Poverty alleviation.

Private Sectors/ NGO Stakeholders

Special Committee on Disabled and Elderly established under the National Council on Social

Issues. The committee formulate policies and implementations with regards to the disabled

and elderly. Its members comprised all relevant government agencies as well as Non-

Government Organisations (NGOs) namely, the Social Welfare Council and the National Women

Council.

Over the years, Brunei Darussalam has seen an increase in the establishment of Non-

Government Organization (NGOs) pertaining to PWDs :

(1) The Association of the Handicapped Children (KACA),

(2) Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Association (PAPDA),

(3) Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam (Pusat Ehsan),

(4) Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education

and Resources (SMARTER)


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Social and Economic Development

In terms of the social support for the elderly people, the Government continues to encourage

the participation and involvement of the elderly people in the development of the country.

Several projects and awareness programs were carried out to encourage the elderly to

participate in the society to the greatest extend possible and not to be seen as a burden to the

society. They are encouraged to organize themselves by setting up an association or a

committee through which they can contribute by actively being involve in various activities

that could maximize their potentials and their feeling of self-worth.

With regard to economic development, most of the elderly are actively engaged in the

production of local handicrafts and the government helps to promote their products through

expos and exhibitions.

Micro-Business Grants for Budding Entrepreneurs and Employment in Private Sector

Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) provided the Youth skills Development

Programme (YSDP) micro-business grants. The YSDP is run under the BEDBs Micro

Business Development Initiative. The recipients who received a grant in the form of

equipment in order to start their business consisted of youths who have limited resources and

skills to start their own business or gain employment.

Constrains and issues on human resource development

In Brunei Darussalam, although there are regulations and legislation regarding the vulnerable

people especially the old age and disabled people in terms of welfare provisions there are still

gaps that exist. Although family ties in Brunei Darussalam are much closer this does not

mean that states will leave all responsibilities to the families to deal with alone because


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that includes the collaboration from the government and the NGOs. The objective of this

project is to develop Home Care model for older people that includes providing assistance for

the older people and enhance the involvement of children, family members and next of kin

towards the care of the elderly. It involves family members and volunteers visiting the

elderly to provide assistance. The activities includes promotes awareness among

stakeholders, conducting training for caregivers, sharing knowledge and experiences among

caregivers and service providers. This is to increase the skills and professionalism of the

social workers in handling the vulnerable people especially the elderly.


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3.3 MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Information On Human Resources


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The Ministry of Healths contribution in the countrys human resource development process

is reflected from its commitment to accomplish the Health Strategy and Vision 2035 which is

aligned to Bruneis National 2035 Vision. In the effort to ensure the people of Brunei

Darussalam are empowered to be equipped as a potential contributor to the nations

workforce, the Ministry of Health through its strategic planning strives to provide a

comprehensive healthcare system that emphasises service excellence. For the context of

human resource development, the strategic theme encompasses the aims as follows:-

providing comprehensive healthcare to the population adapting a holistic approach in the provision of healthcare focusing on promotive,

preventive, curative and rehabilitative

upgrading core competencies ensuring professionalism and ethical standards continuous professional development evidence-based approaches, interventions and practices.

In the perspective of the health strategy and the contribution to human resource development,

strategies are focused on two areas, i.e. the provision of curative and rehabilitative services.

Nevertheless in this report, information on rehabilitative services is of emphasis.

Rehabilitation being in the cycle of health continuum is defined as an active and dynamic

process by which a person with a disability is empowered to acquire knowledge and skills to

help maximize physical, psychological, and social functions. It is a process which helps tomaximize functional ability and minimizes disability and handicap, thus promoting activity

and participation. It is through rehabilitation patients are helped to restore their life skills so

to be able to go back to the community and contributes to the countrys human resource


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From the standpoint of looking after the welfare of the socially vulnerable people, besides

undertaking initiatives to provide curative and rehabilitative services, the ministry had set up

a Medical Board. This board has adhoc committees in which the members comprise of the

medical doctors and officers from the Occupational Health Division. The members meet up

to assess and make decisions to confirm a patients disabled condition to consider whether the

patient is able to take up employment or not.

In the attempt to ensure these vulnerable people are given the attention and opportunity to bepart of the nations workforce, initiatives to help this group of people are undertaken through

the provision of professional assessments and treatments offered by medical and allied health

professionals. The services available include those provided by the Psychiatric Department,

Internal Medicine Department, Occupational Therapy Division and the Medical Social Work

Division. The occupational therapy and medical social work teams perform their roles inmanaging issues of employment and health by working alongside other clinical and allied

health professionals within the framework of multidisciplinary approach especially with the

clinical teams aforementioned.

Organizational Structure of the Health Sector


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(I) KIARONG MENTAL HEALTH REHABILITATION CENTRE,DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY

The centre started to operate in 2005 and the working days are Monday to

Thursday and Saturday with operating time 7.45 am until 4.30 pm. The mission

of the centre is to facilitate operational functioning and promote the quality of life

for people suffering from mental health problems through:

detailed assessment of functioning planning of individualised rehabilitation program provision of psycho education for family once in every 3 months

The goal of the service is to ensure a person with a mental health problem has the

necessary physical, emotional, social and intellectual skills to live, learn and workin the community with less support from carers and professionals. At present,

there are 22 patients attending the centre in which whom are mostly suffering

from schizophrenia. Other types of disorder include bipolar and depression.

Patients attending this centre are those referred by the inpatient, outpatient and

day care of the Psychiatric Department. All of these patients are identified asstable patients whom are suitable to undergo rehabilitation.

In 2009, a skills activity program organised by nursing staff was started. In this

program, the patients are involved in activities of packaging materials for two

private companies. These activities generate income for the patient in which theyare paid a sum of money by the respective companies monthly.

TOTAL NUMBER OF PATIENTS ATTENDING THE PROGRAM


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TOTAL NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES TO THE PROGRAM

FOR THE YEAR 2007-2010

YEAR 2007 2008 2009 2010

NO. OF PATIENTS 364 412 295 355

(II)REHABILITATION MEDICINE UNIT, DEPARTMENT OF INTERNALMEDICINE

The Rehabilitation Medicine Unit in RIPAS Hospital is a relatively new and

emerging specialty which is under the Department of Internal Medicine. The

objective of the Unit is to empower people with disabilities by providing

knowledge and teaching the necessary skills to them in order to promote their

activity and participation. This unit aims to strengthen its interdepartmental

collaboration with the departments of physiotherapy, occupational therapy,

speech and language therapy, clinical psychology, medical social work,

prosthetics and orthotics.

The types of services offered include assessment of functioning and treatment

with the use of different therapies, medical techniques and adaptive devices so to

support patients to achieve their optimal level of functioning. The therapy is

undertaken with the aims to improve function or adapt to new situations. Most of

the patients referred to this unit are patients whom need neuro-rehabilitation.


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NUMBER OF INPATIENTS REFERRED TO THE REHABILITATION MEDICINE UNIT

MAY 2008 UP TO APRIL 2009

Month

Diagnosis

May 2008 to

April 2009

May2009 to

April2010

May2010 to

April2011

Spine problems 21 17 8

Traumatic brain injury 9 12 6

Cerebro-vascular accident(CVA) 14 5 14

Tumor 4 4 4

Guillain-Barre Syndrome(GBS) 0 2 0

Others 8 18 8

Total 56 58 40

** This figure does not encompass the hundreds of patients seen by the allied health professions in isolation such as the occupationaltherapist and physiotherapist.


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(III) OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DIVISIONThe Occupational Therapy Division is a member of the Clinical Support Services

as part of Hospital Services under the Department of Medical Services. Its

mission is empowering through purposeful lifestyle for a healthy nation by

providing comprehensive and high quality services to all through health

promotion, education, rehabilitation and habilitation. The department undertake

purposeful interventions to promote health and achieve functional outcome. This

is done by developing, improving and restoring the highest possible level of

independence of any individual who is limited by a physical injury or illness, a

dysfunctional condition, a cognitive impairment, a psychosocial dysfunction, a

mental illness or a developmental or learning disability.

Service wise, the Occupational Therapy Division provides assessment, treatment,

education and consultation to patients and their families on interventions directed

toward developing, improving, restoring daily living skill, work performance,

play skill, leisure capacities and enhancing educational performance skill. The

division also provide interventions for the development, improvement, restoration

of sensorimotor, oral motor, neuromuscular functioning, emotional, motivational,

cognitive, or psychosocial components of performance. The main services

provided include as the following:-

Driving Rehabilitation for the disabledThe types of clients seen for driving rehabilitation are Cerebral Palsy, Les Autres

(Dwarfism), Congenital Deformity (upper limb Amputation), stroke and partial

hearing loss (using hearing aids)


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brain hemorrhage (cerebral bleeding), pathology of the spinal cord

(Syringomyelia, Spondylolysthesis etc) and others (combination of head injury

and spinal injury etc).

OrthopaedicThis include prosthetic rehabilitation (for lower amputated limb/limbs), burn and

scars management (provide pressure garment and massage therapy), spinal cord

injury and hand injury (provide pressure garment and hand therapy).

PsychiatryService coverage include inpatients, Community (located in Day Care, Kiarong)

and care for patients with conditions of chronic and acute Schizophrenia,bipolar

mood disorders,severe depression and neurotic anxiety disorder.

(IV) MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK DIVISIONThe Medical Social Work Division is also a member of the Clinical Support

Services as part of Hospital Services under the Department of Health Services.

The medical social work service was started in Brunei in the early 1980s and at

present the scope of service covers all areas within hospital and community health

settings. The main objective of the medical social work service is to provide

appropriate social care and support to patients and their families so that citizens

and residents of Brunei Darussalam are empowered to achieve their fullest

potential. The medical social work team undertake interventions to assist patients

and their families whom are socially at risk In this context socially at risk means


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In general, the Division plays a major role in liaising with other government

agencies such as the Community Development Department under the Ministry of

Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Religious Affairs in ensuring the

welfare of unemployed patients and their families identified to be in dire need

receive appropriate assistance. Nevertheless, the Division also has undertaken

other efforts to strengthen the initiatives which have already been done. In this

regard, there are 2 main types of intervention offered by the Medical Social Work

Division in working with socially vulnerable patients experiencing employment

issues. Firstly, helping patients to retain their employment and second, assisting

patients to seek employment. In the perspective of preventing patients losing their

jobs due to experiencing new-found disabilities or suffering from an illness, the

service provided are focused more on providing supportive therapy to the patients

and their families and advocacy. Advocacy is undertaken through negotiation and

liaisons with employers to assist in the work adjustment process.

As for the point of helping patients to obtain employment, interventions

undertaken are as follows:-

Provide guidance and counselling to patients or their families with regards tohelping them to decide about their future job prospects based on drawn up

clinical goals.

Provide information to patients and their families about job opportunities andhow to go about in applying for employment.

Undertake liaison with local private job placement agencies to helpaccommodate patients application to obtain employment.

Advocate for employment opportunities by carrying out negotiation withf i i i h d i li i b


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employment. Thus, the issues of renal patients and unemployment are managed

by the division as part of the Renal Departments mission to advocate for

rehabilitation programmes which focuses on helping patients to continue their

livelihood through job security and employment.


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NO. OF EMPOYMENT SEEKING CASES REFFERED TO

THE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK DIVISION RIPAS HOSPITAL

FOR THE YEAR 2008 UP TO SEPTEMBER 2011

MONTH

YEAR20

08

NO.OF

PATIENTS

YEAR20

09

NO.OF

PATIENTS

YEAR20

10

NO.OF

PATIENTS

YEAR20

11

NO.OF

PATIENTS

MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE

JANUARY 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 0

FEBRUARY 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

MARCH 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

APRIL 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0

MAY 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0

JUN 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2

JULY 0 0 0 1 3 1 1 1

AUGUST 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1

SEPTEMBER 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

OCTOBER 1 0 1 0 0 0 - -

NOVEMBER 1 0 0 0 1 0 - -

DECEMBER 0 0 1 0 2 1 - -

TOTAL:8 3 6 2 12 2 8 4

11 8 14 12

GRAND TOTAL 45


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SOURCES OF REFERRAL FOR EMPLOYMENT SEEKING CASES

THE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK DIVISION HOSPITAL RIPAS

FOR THE YEAR 2008 UP TO SEPTEMBER 2011

SOURCE OF

REFERRALRENAL

SERVICESPSYCHIATRIC

SERVICES

NATIONALCANCERCENTRE

REHABILITATIONMEDICINE

NEUROCLINIC

HAEMATOLOGYDEPARTMENT

ORTHOPAEDICDEPARTMENT

CHILDDEVELOPMENT

CENTRE

NATIONALTUBERCLOSIS

CENTREB

PHYISICANSCLINIC

MATERNAL ANDCHILD HEALTH

SERVICES

NO. OFCASES

REFERRED

23 8 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 1

GRAND

TOTAL 45

brunei country report

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