A Ministry of Social Affairs or Department of Social Affairs is the common name for a government department found in states where the

government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government ...

is divided into ministries or departments. While there is some variation in the responsibilities of such ministries, the common thread between them is their responsibility for assisting members of

society A society is a Social group, group of individuals involved in persistent Social relation, social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same Politics, political authority an ...

who are in a vulnerable position for example due to age, dependence on government aid, or being the employee in an employee/employer relationship. Ministries of this type cover matters such as

social work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...

, social protection and assistance, pensions,

welfare Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specificall ...

health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...

and

social security Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specificall ...

, and workplace standards for employees Examples of such ministries include: * Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Albania) * Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Armenia) * Ministry of Social Affairs (Austria) * Ministry of Social Welfare (Bangladesh) * Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Czech Republic) * Ministry of Social Affairs (Denmark) * Ministry of Social Affairs (Estonia) *

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Ethiopia) Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs ( am, የሠራተኛና ማህበራዊ ጉዳይ ሚኒስቴር; established in 1957) is a ministry of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia since 1957. Its name changed time to time following the syst ...

* Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Finland) * Minister of Social Affairs (France) * Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs of Georgia *

Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs The Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs (german: Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales, ), abbreviated BMAS) is a federal ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany headed by the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs a ...

(Germany, BMAS) * Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Greece) * Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (Haiti) * Ministry of Social Affairs (Iceland) * Ministry of Social Affairs (Indonesia) * Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Iran) * Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services (Israel) * Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs (Kiribati, MWYSSA) * Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (Kuwait) * Ministry of Social Affairs (Lebanon) *

Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture The Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture (; pt, Secretariado para os Assuntos Sociais e Cultura) is a department of the Macao Government. The Secretariat is responsible for the education, health, tourism, social affairs and culture issues ...

(Macau) * Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (Myanmar) * Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Netherlands, SZW) * Ministry of Social Affairs (Norway) *

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Russia) The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation (russian: Министерство труда и социальной защиты Российской Федерации) is a ministry of the Government of Russia responsible ...

* Ministry of Employment, Social and Family Affairs (Somaliland) * Ministry of Social Affairs (Spain) – currently the Ministry of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda *

Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (Sweden) The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs ( sv, Socialdepartementet) is the ministry in the government of Sweden responsible for policies related to social welfare: financial security, social services, medical and health care, health prom ...

Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (Syria) The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour is the main authority administrating labour affairs and social matters, including labour inspection, and a department of the Government of Syria. Responsibility The ministry is responsible for labor a ...

* Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (Vietnam) ;International organizations * Social Affairs and Health Committee (African Union) *

Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion The Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. It was formerly known as the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. The Direc ...

(European Commission, EMPL) *

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) is part of the United Nations Secretariat and is responsible for the follow-up to major United Nations Summits and Conferences, as well as services to the United Nations Eco ...

(UN DESA)

See also