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Egypt’s experience bridging cash transfers and an economic inclusion program for sustainable social protection pmassetti IFPRI (18.12.2024) Egypt’s experience is a case in point. The country’s Takaful cash transfer program has been a vital source of support for millions, but fiscal space is too limited for cash transfers to serve as a solution to poverty (Breisinger, et al. 2023). The hope is that graduating current cash transfer beneficiaries will free up public resources to reach other impoverished households. To garner support for the new option, the government provided cash transfer recipient households with a choice: Would you rather remain eligible for the monthly cash transfer or opt into the economic inclusion program? In this post, we share evidence from a household survey during the period of recruitment for the economic inclusion program to capture respondent beliefs about their decision. We show that beliefs about the duration of consumption support and the income-earning potential of the program can influence household preferences for the new program. As the number of these programs continues to grow worldwide, such results highlight the importance of designing and communicating compelling economic incentives to encourage take-up of social protection programs by those expected to benefit. Extension of coverage, Cash transfers egypt
Publication: Gray Matters: How Do the World Bank’s Engagements In Social Protection & Jobs Strengthen Long-Term Care? - Rethink Social Protection and Jobs in an Actively Aging World pmassetti worldbank.org (18.12.2024) This brief focuses on long-term care (LTC) for older persons, emphasizing the areas where social protection and jobs are key to building and strengthening this agenda.2While LTC is sometimes perceived as part of the health agenda, social protection programs and policies are crucial for providing and financing social care-related services. Taking a multisectoral approach to LTC can ensure an integrated range of social and health care options which would be the foundation for efficient and cost-effective provision of LTC for all older adults. Long-term care
Policy Brief: Advancing Digital Social Protection in Africa through Inclusion and Data Protection pmassetti African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (Dec 2024) This brief, Advancing Digital Social Protection in Africa through Inclusion and Data Protection, explores strategies to develop inclusive and secure digital social protection (DSP) systems across Africa. DSP systems, which leverage digital tools to deliver social services, present transformative opportunities to address the needs of marginalized populations, including women, informal workers, youth, and migrants. However, barriers such as the digital divide, limited literacy, and inadequate data protection threaten their inclusivity and effectiveness. The brief underscores the critical role of trade unions in advocating for gender-sensitive, equitable DSP policies and robust data protection measures aligned with international standards. It highlights examples from Kenya and Ghana to examine opportunities and challenges in implementing DSP systems. Recommendations include investing in digital infrastructure, fostering digital literacy, enforcing robust data protection frameworks, and ensuring multi-stakeholder collaboration. These measures aim to create DSP systems that uphold the rights, dignity, and inclusion of all, leaving no one behind in Africa’s digital transformation. Information and communication technology Africa
Can Flexible Jobs Drive the Future of Work? Lessons from MENA pmassetti The evolving nature of work is prompting a global shift towards more adaptable and flexible employment practices. However, NSEs face obstacles due to their unique nature of fluctuating income, instability, and administrative barriers that complicate their inclusion in labor and social protection systems. Let’s take a look at recent steps taken by countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, showcasing a proactive response to these emerging needs and setting an example that may inspire similar actions elsewhere. This year, Saudi Arabia and Jordan announced regulatory reforms, designed with support from the World Bank, that formalize flexible work arrangements while ensuring worker protection through social insurance coverage. digital platforms Extension of coverage, Platform workers arabic countries
Access for domestic workers to labour and social protection pmassetti europa.eu (2024) Increasing attention has recently been paid to the situation of domestic workers at European Union (EU) level. The European Parliament, social partners and stakeholders have called on the European Commission to improve the working conditions and social protection of domestic workers within the limits of its Treaty competence. Domestic workers provide support services to households, including care (e.g. childcare or long-term care (LTC) for older people and for people with disabilities) and non-care activities (e.g. cleaning or cooking). At EU level, the concept of “domestic workers” has, for a decade, often been approached through the wider concept of “personal and household services (PHS) workers”. Domestic workers are often hired in non-standard forms of employment (including part-time, temporary employment and platform work), with frequently more limited access to social and labour protection. In some countries, self-employment is also widespread in the sector. In addition, undeclared work is an overarching issue among domestic workers, which undermines the social and labour protection rights of the workers concerned. Domestic work involves professions that are often listed as subject to shortages; for example, LTC workers. Domestic workers often acquire skills through their hands-on tasks, but it remains a challenge to have these skills validated and certified to facilitate access to more qualified work. Policy analysis european union
Rethinking pension reform: A new CEPR eBook pmassetti (14.11.2024) Population ageing is exerting unprecedented fiscal pressure on social security systems around the world. In response, many governments are implementing or planning pension reforms, often aimed at encouraging later retirement. Recent years have seen a surge in empirical research on retirement behavior and the impact of pension reforms. This column presents a new eBook that reviews insights from the newest advances in research on retirement policy and provides fresh perspectives on how to (re)think pension reforms. Pensions
Digital platforms in the Italian domestic care sector: The emergence of an unprecedented corporate logic and its implications for workers' social protection - PAIS - 2024 - International Labour Review - Wiley Online Library pmassetti International Labour Review (Sept 2024) This article explores the heterogeneity of care platforms using the case studies of two platforms in the Italian domestic work sector: one that carries out matching between supply and demand (Helpling), reinforcing informality in the sector, and one that acts as an employer (Batmaid). The analysis shows that digital platforms can introduce a corporate logic into a sector where it was previously absent. This creates a potential for company-level bargaining for both platforms and related models – something that trade unions have, so far, not considered owing to a lack of recognition of the needs of platform domestic workers. digital platforms Platform workers
Strong action is needed to make retirement systems more inclusive, resilient and innovative | OECD pmassetti oecd.org (02.12.2024) The design and governance of asset-backed pensions should be enhanced to foster more inclusive and resilient systems, secure better outcomes for individuals and contribute to sustainable economic growth and innovation, according to new analysis from the OECD. Pension assets in OECD countries grew by 10% in 2023, reaching over USD 56 trillion, more than triple the level seen two decades ago. Total assets hit USD 63 trillion after adding pension reserve funds held by governments. The 2023 total is 5% below the level seen in 2021, according to Pension Markets in Focus 2024. Growth in 2023 resulted from positive returns in equity markets and positive cashflows from contributions exceeding benefit payments. The new report analyses this growth and its underlying drivers, comparing it with long-term trends.  Against the backdrop of ageing populations and other economic challenges, a second OECD report, Pensions Outlook 2024, calls for new action to address coverage gaps. The report highlights the importance of ensuring individuals have access to appropriate retirement income and of innovative approaches, such as options for pooling risks and leveraging home equity. Pensions
Moroccan Government Adopts Decree to Enhance Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage pmassetti the Moroccan government council, chaired by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, adopted a key draft decree aimed at expanding the scope of the country's mandatory basic health insurance (AMO) system.  The decree, which complements existing legislation, focuses on individuals capable of paying health insurance contributions but not engaged in any paid or unpaid work
How are countries responding to the ageing workforce challenge? pmassetti jdsupra.com (25.11.2024) Pension systems, designed when populations were younger and life expectancy shorter, are now under immense pressure. To mitigate the impact of an ageing population, governments around the world are starting to implement a raft of measures. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, nations are amending pension laws and updating regulations to adapt to the changing demographics. Let’s delve into the details together to examine how countries are reacting to demographic shifts across countires. Pensions
Affordability of long-term care systems in times of rapid population ageing pmassetti CEPR (29.11.2024) Rapid population ageing is increasing the pressure on public finances to provide adequate support for long-term care recipients. This column compares the impact of diverse social protection measures across 32 OECD and EU countries on poverty rates and out-of-pocket expenses among older adults with care needs. The analysis reveals substantial room for improvement and reforms, with existing systems often unaffordable and badly targeted. The promotion of healthy ageing, proactive use of new technologies to elevate care sector productivity, revision of eligibility rules to enable more targeted and inclusive coverage, diversification of funding sources, and optimisation of income-testing are all viable policy options. Long-term care
Tunisians share how their life changed through the AMEN Program pmassetti worldbank.org (14.11.2024) The Amen Program is a social assistance initiative in Tunisia that targets the country's most vulnerable citizens with cash transfers, medical services, and economic empowerment opportunities. As of December 2023, the program reached over 333,000 poor households (more than 10% of the population) with monthly cash transfers and more than 620,000 low-income households with free and subsidized healthcare services. Three Tunisians share their positive experience with AMEN, where 54% of cash transfer beneficiaries are women-headed households and more than 156,000 children under age 5 receive allowances. Social assistance tunisia
Objective-Oriented Health Systems Reform: Implications for Moving Towards Universal Health Coverage pmassetti Health Systems & Reform Volume 10, Issue 3 (2024) . universal health coverage Health
Megatrends and the Future of Social Protection pmassetti oecd (22.11.2024) Ageing populations, changing labour markets, and climate change are affecting economies and societies across OECD countries. What challenges do these “megatrends” pose for social protection systems? What are the implications of these trends for the coverage, the effectiveness, and – critically – the funding of social protection today and tomorrow? With an eye towards informing future reforms, this report presents a broad stocktaking of population ageing, changing patterns of labour supply, new and emerging employment forms, changes in household composition and unpaid work, the effects of new technologies on employment and wages, and the effects of climate change and the net zero transition on social protection systems in OECD countries.
Gig Economy Platforms Urge For Collaborative Dialogue Before Tabling Of Gig Worker Bill | TRP pmassetti Malaysia’s gig economy, we acknowledge the Government’s efforts in proposing a Gig Worker Bill.
Ageing Policies Database pmassetti UNECE launched a searchable database on Ageing Policies Database | Browse all policies to search by country, theme, or instrument. This database presents policy measures that countries across Europe, North America, and Central Asia have been developing to improve the lives of older people, harness the opportunities of longevity and address the challenges of population ageing. Policy interventions to meet the needs of older persons and bring societal development into harmony with demographic change span across many policy areas including education, health, labour and social affairs. They address challenges such as ageism and take steps towards creating enabling environments for active and healthy ageing. Old-age pensions
State of long-term care: conceptual framework for assessment and continuous learning in long-term care systems pmassetti who.int (12.11.2024) The State of long-term care (‎State of LTC)‎ toolkit is designed to support policy- and decision-makers in their efforts to reform and transform long-term care systems by promoting learning, collaboration and trust. It proposes a conceptual framework and a methodological approach to knowledge generation, grounded in participatory governance. The conceptual framework focuses on five key components – population care needs, system inputs, outputs, outcomes and population-level impact – disaggregated into 25 analytical domains. Rooted in a person-centred approach and emphasizing that individual care needs, preferences and expectations should inform system design and reforms, the conceptual framework links in a causal chain structure the available resources in the system to the outputs the system produces and the system-level outcomes obtained. The State of LTC Toolkit is a key deliverable of the European Care Strategy and aims to support the implementation of the Council Recommendation on access to affordable high-quality long-term care. Long-term care
How Mexico’s reformed pension system is improving workers’ retirement security pmassetti Benefits Canada.com (15.11.2024) Earlier this year, Mexico’s senate approved the creation of a new pension fund to help provide more retirement security for low-income citizens. “Congress approved this change to the pension system, which basically established a new welfare pension fund,” says Pedro Trejo, retirement director at WTW Mexico. “The fund was created to help employees with their retirement savings and the general population that’s involved in the social security system will get the benefit. That means more than 80 per cent of the population in Mexico could benefit from this reform.” Pensions mexico
Why is care at the end of life not matching peoples preferences? pmassetti OECD (13.11.2024) As populations age and chronic conditions rise, the demand for end-of-life care is becoming a critical issue across OECD countries. Although most people would prefer to die at home, the majority still die in hospitals, partly due to limited access to home-based services. This policy brief explores the gap between people’s preferences for end-of-life care and the care they actually receive, examining factors such as funding allocation, palliative care availability, and the role of family caregivers. It outlines policies that can improve access to home-based care, ensuring that individuals can die in their preferred setting while receiving high-quality, affordable, and people-centred care. Long-term care
Social protection and climate change financing: Synergies and challenges pmassetti Global Social Policy (Nov 2024) The human cost of climate change is stark, with increased poverty and displacement and severe risks to health and livelihoods all predicted. Climate change reproduces existing inequalities, with vulnerability to its effects driven by poverty, inequality and social status (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2022). These factors increase the vulnerability of the poor and subject those in developing countries to greater socio-economic and environmental risks. Environment and climate change
Taiwan to launch Long-term Care Plan 3.0 in 2025 pmassetti taiwannews (10.11.2024) As Taiwan soon becomes a “super-aged” society, Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun said the Long-term Care Plan 3.0 will be launched in 2025 to provide more assistance to elderly people and caregivers. Long-term care Taiwan, China
Improving care economy is vital to growth and well-being pmassetti World Economic Forum (15.10.2024) The care economy not only sustains human activity for current and future generations, but also safeguards the right to both care and receive care. Unpaid care work, if compensated, would represent 9% of global GDP, yet the social and economic value of the care economy remains mostly invisible. We should prioritize the care economy at macroeconomic, policy and cultural levels from a holistic approach to build equitable and sustainable growth. Long-term care
How to leverage digital tools for social protection pmassetti World Economic Forum(23.10.2024) While digital technologies aim to enhance the efficiency of social protection systems for marginalized groups, their implementation often leads to exclusions and a disconnect between citizens and local governance. To address challenges, especially given the need for social protection for climate resilience of the poor, there is a pressing need for community-based digital solutions that empower citizens. Effective social protection requires robust informational infrastructure that informs citizens about their rights, available support and how to hold local authorities accountable. Digital inclusion
Migrant workers in the care economy pmassetti ilo.org (10.11.2024) Migrant workers – especially migrant women – form a critical component of care infrastructures and workforces around the world. However labour migration governance frameworks and protection regimes do not always effectively respond to labour market and employer needs, or sufficiently protect migrant care workers’ rights. This policy brief provides an overview of transformations shaping the growing global demand for care workers, the decent work and labour migration governance challenges which shape outcomes for migrant care workers, and provides recommended policy actions. Long-term care
Publication: The Regulation of Platform-Based Work: Recent Regulatory Initiatives and Insights for Developing Countries pmassetti worldbank.org (04.11.2024) The rapid expansion of the digital economy has transformed the labor market, particularly through the rise of platform-based work. Despite the opportunities it brought into the lives of many workers, the digital economy has presented many challenges to the working conditions of platform workers. This policy brief examines regulatory approaches to protect platform workers across the world and synthesizes the approach to legislation and its scope in the key areas of labor regulations. It includes 23 regulatory reforms in 20 jurisdictions that took place from 2016 to 2024. Our analysis finds that governments take three approaches to regulating platform work: (a) amending the existing labor legislation to platform workers, (b) introducing stand-alone legislation specific to them, and (c) developing measures only to clarify their employment status and extend existing laws for platform workers. Among the countries examined, most of those that introduced regulatory initiatives are high-income countries. Geographically, they are mainly from Europe, North America, and Latin America. In addition, our review suggests that many of the reforms limit their focus to location-based platforms. When it comes to the scope of the legislation, provisions on data privacy, protection, and portability, freedom of association and collective bargaining, and protection against unfair dismissal are most frequently covered by special legislation for platform workers. Employment status determines if workers can access labor rights and social protection. Clarifying employment relationships is thus crucial to improving the working conditions of platform workers. Countries have chosen different approaches to clarify the employment status of these workers. These include (a) clarifying a list of criteria to define employment status, (b) creating a new third category of workers, (c) including the definition of platform workers in the existing category, and (d) introducing specific provisions for contracts. Given the complexity of determining employment relationship, courts still play a key role in determining the employment status in many countries. To improve pay for platform workers, enforcing the existing national minimum wage is the most common approach in setting wage regulations. Given the nature of platform-based work, some regulations include special provisions, such as rules on tips, payment processes, and compensation for work-related costs like equipment. digital platforms Platform workers