|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 24 January 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Focus on a universal challenge by Lloyd Fernando Social security is an essential element of the safety net that prevents working people and their families from falling into poverty. In some cases, extending social security coverage to the unprotected can actually lift families out of poverty. - Juan Somavia It is said that only me in five people worldwide enjoys adequate social security coverage. On the basis of this unembellished finding, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has ventured out on a new global campaign to encourage and assist countries to external social security to all of their citizens. It would surely reflect a global consensus among government, employees and workers to face this challenge. ILO chief Somavia while stressing the need to find the way to provide more people with social benefits required to survive and prosper, has observed that social security systems attribute not only to human security, dignity, equity and social justice but also to provide a foundation for political inclusion, empowerment and the development of democracy. Informal economy People without social security coverage are usually found in the informal economy in developing countries, rather than in the formal sector. Even in developing countries with high economic growth, increasing numbers of workers - most often women have less than secure employment, such as casual labour, home work and self-employment, lacking social security coverage. This has an enormous impact on their lives and on work itself. What little earning power the impoverished have is further suppressed by marginalization and lack of support systems, particularly when they are unable to work because of age, illness or disability. Out of poverty Experience has shown that growing incidence of informal work has led to stagnant or declining rates of security coverage. The most vulnerable groups are outside the labour force are people with disabilities and old people who cannot count on family support, and who have not been able to make provisions for their own pensions. Despite the widespread lack of coverage, a number of middle-income countries have successfully expanded their social security coverage in recent years. Costa Rica has achieved full health coverage through a combination of health insurance and free access to public health services. India's National Old-Age Pension Scheme, financed by central and State resources, reaches one fourth of all elderly about half of pensioners who live in poverty. And, in Brazil, social assistance pensions lift about 14 million people out of extreme poverty. "Our example shows that social security is neither a luxury nor a burden on the government" says South Korea. Extension The global campaign on social security and coverage for all seeks to address the challenge of helping middle-income countries continue their progress, while helping least developed countries determine what types of schemes are best suited to extend coverage. While social security is defined as the protection which a society provides to individuals and households to ensure access to healthcare and to guarantee income security, particularly in cases of old age, unemployment, sickness, invalidity, work injury, maternity or loss of breadwinner, the 2001 International Labour Conference emphasized that social security should promote and be based upon the principle of gender equality - not only with regard to equal treatment for man and woman in the same or similar situations but also concerning measures to ensure equitable incomes for women. For example, many societies benefit greatly from unpaid care work, particularly that which women provide to children, aging parents and infirm family members, yet, with regard to social security, those family caregivers are after disadvantaged later in life simply because their work occurred in the home and not as paid employment. The Geneva conference also noted that measures to improve access to employment will help women gain social security benefits in their own right rather than as dependents. According to ILO, 80 per cent of the world's population does not have an adequate level of social security coverage. (The writer is former Secretary to Governor, NWP) |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
