October 2023

UK. Concerns over self-employed pension adequacy persist

Self-employed workers could boost their retirement resilience by paying into their partner's pension, Hargreaves Lansdown has said, after its analysis raised concerns over the current level of pension saving amongst the self-employed. According to the latest data from the Hargreaves Lansdown Savings and Resilience Barometer, self-employed led households scored 53/100 for their financial resilience compared to 67/100 among employee-led households. However, the firm clarified that the picture is "a bit more nuanced than this", as households where the self-employed worker is...

September 2023

Experts urge social protection for gig workers amidst growing digital economy

The rise of gig work makes it important that workers be given social protection since they may not have access to pensions, health insurance or unemployment benefits. Till the world comes up with a perfect definition for gig work, experts at the Asia-Pacific Social Protection Week organised by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), between September 26-28 in Manila, Philippines, were of the opinion that it would do well to take care of gig workers. Not only it is the smart...

Extending contribution-based social security schemes for workers in the informal economy and self- employed in Nepal

By International Labour Organization This brief was prepared by André F. Bongestabs and Suravi Bhandary based on the technical note produced by Pierre Plamondon, Senior Actuary, with the support of ILO’s Actuarial Services Unit, as part of the technical support provided by the ILO to the Social Security Fund of Nepal. The brief discusses various considerations that needs to be placed during the design and implementation of contribution-based social security for workers in the informal economy and self-employment. It is...

August 2023

Nigeria mulls Rwanda, Kenya model to spike micro- pension enrolment

Stakeholders in the Nigerian pension industry worried about the slow pace of informal sector enrolment into the country’s Micro Pension Plan (MPP) are considering workable models in Rwanda, Kenya among others. They believe that they lack of critical incentives like co-contributions, free healthcare and insurance found in micro pension scheme in these other countries are making the Nigerian model unattractive to potential enrolees. In this vein, the industry including the regulator, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Pension Fund Administrators...

Uncovering the profile of low earners in the UK and the potential for pension saving through automatic enrolment

By Pensions and lifetime savings association  In the realm of pensions policy, there exists a significant knowledge gap when it comes to understanding and addressing the needs of low earners in the United Kingdom. While various segments of the population have been subject to extensive research, individuals with low incomes who are still engaged in employment have remained relatively understudied. This group represents a complex demographic, comprising diverse subgroups, who may be earning modest incomes for varying reasons and circumstances. The...

July 2023

Navigating pension options for gig economy workers

Industry experts unravel the common challenges and potential for gig workers in pension planning. The first question is, how much should you save? The gig economy has been growing steadily in the UK, bringing flexible work arrangements to millions of individuals. However, with this newfound flexibility comes the responsibility of planning for a secure financial future, including retirement. Workers in the gig economy often face unique challenges when it comes to pension planning. Unlike traditional employees, they typically lack access to...

Canada. Expert panel: How portable benefits can support inclusivity among gig workers

The concept of employee benefits was established on a foundation built decades ago, when employees worked full time and long term with one employer. Those days are long gone. Temporary, part-time and gig work have become the norm, accounting for 60 per cent of job growth in advanced economies since the 1990s. Gig work is popular in sectors such as the arts, entertainment and recreation and it’s also more prevalent among immigrants than workers born in Canada. In 2016, 10.8 per...

Cambodia. NSSF began rolling but, is it a boon or bane for informal sector?

The much-awaited National Social Security Fund has begun rolling, covering 70 percent of  about seven million workers or self-employed in the informal economy—about 85 percent of the total labour in the economy as a whole. But doubts still persist in the minds of informal workers and self-employed. They wonder why the NSSF is not providing both health care services and retirement pensions like those who in the formal sector as all pay a premium to NSSF. In a major resolution...

May 2023

Social Security of Labour in India

By Ishita Arora The social security of labour in India is a critical issue that needs to be addressed. The country's labour force is massive, and ensuring their protection and well-being is crucial to their quality of life and the country's economic development. This research paper aims to explore the current state of social security for workers in India, including policies and programs aimed at providing protection and support to individuals and families against social and economic risks such as...

Ghana. Only about 1.9m out of 10 million workers are covered under SSNIT scheme – SSNIT boss

Only about 1.9 million of the 10 million or so workers in the country are covered under the Social Security and National Insurance (SSNIT) Scheme. According to the Director General of SSNIT, Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang, what is more, disturbing is that only about 32,000, representing 1.68% of active contributors, are self-employed. This is despite the fact that the majority of workers in the country are self-employed and/or work in the informal sector. Speaking at the launch of the SEED – a campaign...