Life stages in Brunei

In Brunei, no single authority is responsible for all stages of life. Responsibilities are distributed among the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Community Development Department (Jabatan Pembangunan Masyarakat (JAPEM)), the Department of Labour, the Employees Trust Fund (TAP), the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the courts. Schools, health centres, JAPEM offices and courts provide access in the four districts; reliable city-specific differences have not been established. Children generally attend preschool from age five, six years of primary school and then secondary school. Afterwards, Sixth Form, technical education institute (IBTE) or other vocational and technical education options lead to further qualifications or the labour market. Depending on the institution, schools also offer advice on educational, social and employment-related matters. The Ministry of Health cares for children from birth to age five, including vaccinations, developmental checks and selected postnatal home visits. JAPEM protects children and young people under 18 in cases of abuse, neglect, exploitation or inadequate care. Depending on the case, this includes protection assessments, accommodation, and foster-care and adoption pathways. The Juvenile Court handles, among other matters, child protection orders, cases involving children beyond parental control and juvenile criminal proceedings. In cases of acute danger, the police or health services may also be involved. For young people, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Department of Youth and Sports offer programmes including the Youth Development Centre and the National Service Programme (Program Khidmat Bakti Negara). Many programmes generally target people aged 18 to 30, but depending on the programme they require specific citizenship, qualification or admission criteria. Education and employment opportunities therefore depend on the specific course, programme and admission date. In adulthood, employment protection rules apply under the Employment Order 2009. The Department of Labour handles, among other matters, labour disputes, compensation issues and workplace inspections. TAP and the National Retirement Scheme (SPK) provide retirement security through contribution-based models. The SPK pension generally begins with a monthly payment from age 60; payment for members aged 55 to under 60 may be possible under the applicable rules. The regular retirement age in the public service is 55. Older pension or severance arrangements apply only under certain conditions, and newer public servants are generally covered by TAP rules. The state Old Age Pension (Pencen Umur Tua) generally begins at age 60, provided that age, residence and other eligibility requirements are met. An official fee and benefit list recorded a monthly benefit of BND 250 in 2021; the current amount should be checked with the responsible authority before applying. JAPEM, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the national social assistance portal (SKN) can provide support with welfare benefits. There is no evidence of a comprehensive central authority for all matters relating to older age. For dependency on care, there is no established uniform equivalent in Brunei to national long-term care insurance or a standardised care level. JAPEM offers, among other things, registration as persons with disabilities (Orang Kelainan Upaya (OKU)), disability assistance, aids, programmes, training and, under certain conditions, support for carers or care providers. Depending on need, the Ministry of Health arranges clinical and community-based care, psychological or psychiatric support and selected home visits. In everyday life, support from family and the household often remains the main practical route. Access to help in social, financial or mental health crises depends on the cause and urgency. The Social Welfare Line (Talian Kebajikan 141) supports people in social emergencies, the Child Protection Line (Talian ANAK 121) handles child protection concerns, the Hope Line (Talian Harapan 145) supports mental health crises and Talian Darussalam 123 provides general government information. For acute emergencies, call 991 for ambulance services, 993 for the police, 995 for fire and rescue, and 998 for search and rescue operations. JAPEM, the Ministry of Health, the police and the courts cooperate depending on the case; there is no evidence of a single access point for all crises. Fees, processing times and required documents depend on the specific programme, case assessment or application.