October 2024
25Oct

Pensions in Aging Asia and the Pacific: Policy Insights and Priorities

By Rafal Chomik, Philip O’Keefe & John Piggott Asia and the Pacific has the most diverse regional pension landscape globally. Yet the region’s pension systems are facing common challenges as they attempt to expand coverage, and ensure adequacy and fairness, while maintaining fiscal sustainability. We review the structures and performance of pension systems across Asia and the Pacific. Most remain characterized by low contributory coverage, social pensions with inadequate benefits and often low (or no) coverage, and informal sector schemes...

October 25, 2024
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11Oct

Social pensions in the Americas: Recent developments

By International Social Security Association Ensuring adequate social security coverage for an ageing population is an important priority for governments and the global membership of the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Social pensions, also known as zero pillar or non-contributory pensions, complement contributory social insurance systems by providing a guaranteed source of income for people not adequately protected by other forms of social security. In doing so, they expand overall social protection and can be a powerful tool for combating...

October 11, 2024
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09Oct

New ILO report highlights urgent need for improved labour and social protection for domestic workers in ASEAN

A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlights the critical need to improve labour and social protection for domestic workers across the 10-member Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) region. The report entitled Labour rights and social protection coverage for domestic workers in ASEAN  finds that despite their essential role in supporting households and economies, domestic workers, many of whom are women and migrants face significant gaps in protections that affect their well-being and economic security. There are about 38.3 million domestic...

October 9, 2024
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September 2024
20Sep

Optimising Bangladesh’s Universal Pension Framework: From Lessons to Actions

By Samiha Chowdhury Social protection for the elderly, in the form of the Old-age Allowance (OAA) Programme, has been operational in Bangladesh since 1998, offering monthly financial support to senior citizens from poor and vulnerable households. As of FY24, the programme has approximately 5.8 million elderly people as beneficiaries, each receiving Tk.600 per month distributed on a quarterly basis. Apart from this, retirement benefits for the government employees and their families can also be considered a social protection programme for...

September 20, 2024
Articles, Pension design, , ,
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August 2024
30Aug

Social pensions in the Americas: Recent developments

Ensuring adequate social security coverage for an ageing population is an important priority for governments and the global membership of the International Social Security Association (ISSA). Social pensions, also known as zero pillar or non-contributory pensions, complement contributory social insurance systems by providing a guaranteed source of income for people not adequately protected by other forms of social security. In doing so, they expand overall social protection and can be a powerful tool for combating old-age poverty, promoting social...

August 30, 2024
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July 2024
19Jul

World Social Protection Report 2020-22: Social protection at the crossroads – in pursuit of a better future

By International Labour Organization This ILO flagship report provides a global overview of recent developments in social protection systems, including social protection floors, and covers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on new data, it offers a broad range of global, regional and country data on social protection coverage, benefits and public expenditures. Following a life-cycle approach, the report analyses progress with regard to universal social protection coverage, with a particular focus on achieving the globally agreed 2030 Agenda for...

July 19, 2024
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June 2024
05Jun

Low and Middle Income countries need $1.4 trillion annually for universal social protection: ILO

Universal social protection for low- and middle-income countries would require an additional $1.4 trillion per year, according to a working paper by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Among regions, Africa faces the most substantial challenge in achieving universal coverage for social protection. The ILO document provided global, regional and country-level estimates of the financing gap to achieve universal social protection, including universal access to five key social protection guarantees (that is, for children, persons with severe disabilities, mothers of newborns, older...

June 5, 2024
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May 2024
29May

What is the gig economy and how will it be affected by Uber’s announcement?

Uber's announcement of basic employment rights for its drivers comes after a long-running court battle that could force a shake-up in the so-called gig economy. What is the gig economy? The term describes a way of working where work is assigned on a short-term or job-by-job basis via platforms such as Uber, a taxi app, Deliveroo, a takeaway food service, or courier companies such as Hermes or DPD. Other smaller platforms connect people with opportunities from office and administration work to teaching, gardening and...

May 29, 2024
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21May

Are we moving away from paternalism in employee benefits?

Recruitment pressures, shifts in employee expectations and the sheer volume of products available mean benefits strategies are evolving. But, while the old paternalistic approach may be on its way out, employers must still be aware of their responsibilities when providing benefits. Rather than take the one-size-fits-all package, today’s employees want to be able to select benefits that are relevant to them. Carl Chapman, head of marketplace at Ben, says: “Anything other than choice and flexibility is archaic. The workforce is diverse:...

May 21, 2024
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April 2024
26Apr

Social security developments and trends – Europe 2024

By International Social Security Association Europe has historically been home to some of the most advanced social security systems in the world. Many countries in the region provide comprehensive, adequate protection against common life cycle and labour market risks for the vast majority of the population. Widespread protection of individuals over the life course enables social security systems to play a key role in ensuring economic and social stability in the face of large-scale shocks. Despite these broad protections, notable...

April 26, 2024
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