Extending social security protection to the entire population: Problems and issues

Abstract

Rural, agricultural and informal‐sector workers have often beendenied the social security protection to which other economic sectors of populations have had access, and this is particularly true in the case of developing countries. There are also other important groups which have few or no rights to social security protection, such as family, domestic and casual workers. The lack of coverage is disturbing, as witnessed by the frequency with which this topic appears on social security meeting agendas worldwide, and particularly so since these sectors, as a whole form a very large proportion of the populations of many countries. Certainly there are difficulties of a practical nature which inhibit extension of coverage to these groups. So what can social security systems do? What kind of coverage is best suited to the needs of these groups? This article, based on papers presented at an ISSA Regional Meeting for Asia and the Pacific held in Manila in 1992, analyses the issues and makes some suggestions for a strategy relating to extension of coverage.

Social Security for the Informal Sector: A New Challenge for the Developing Countries

“…As noted earlier, in most countries this has not been the case. The administration of social security systems has often been unable to deal with the special circumstances of the self-employed and casual wage workers (Jenkins, 1993). When formal social insurance is extended to smaller enterprises, each new employer has to be identified, registered, educated and persuaded to comply with all the rules of the scheme in so far as they relate to the registration of existing and new employees and to the mode and timing of the payment of contributions.…”

Untitled

“…The target population expecting care continue to be helpless and hopeless. Social protection embodies programmes and polices formulated to eradicate poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, reducing peoples exposures to risks, developing their capacity to protect themselves against hazards and loss of income (Jenkins, 1993).…”

Toward a comprehensive understanding of the needs of elderly Ghanaians

“…Across the African continent, it has been documented that between 20-30 percent of workers are covered by statutory forms of social insurance (Jenkins, 1993). Economic insecurity is a major concern among the elderly (Apt, 1993;Peil, 1991).…”