1. Presentation to MISSOC Trends in social security in Asia 6th June 2016, Amsterdam
Simon Brimblecombe, Head of Policy Analysis
and Research, ISSA

2. Social Security in Asia in 20 minutes…
Where we are now
Five challenges ahead and selected responses of social security
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47% receive them . Legal coverage is lowIn Asia and the Pacific, 47 per cent of older persons receive an old-age pension, compared to 16.9 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, 36.7 per cent in North Africa, 56.1 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean, and over 90 per cent in Europe and North America.
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4. If we take China out…

5. Proportion of population affiliated to national health services, social, private or micro-insurance schemes, latest available year (percentages)
Health coverage
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Legal coverage under mandatory work injury programmes is available to 30 per cent of the total labour force in Asia and the Pacific, compared to 20 per cent in Africa, over 50 per cent in Latin America, and between 70 and 80 per cent in Europe and North America.
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7. Unemployment Benefit 21/11/2018
The effective coverage rate under unemployment protection schemes (both contributory and non-contributory) is 5 per cent in Asia and the Pacific, compared to 3 per cent in Africa, 5 per cent in Latin America, 64 per cent in Western Europe and a global average of 12 per cent.
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8. What do we have ahead ? Five key challenges for Asian social security
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What do we have ahead ? Five key challenges for Asian social security
Stubbornly high informal sector
Climate change
Migration
Rapid ageing + family & society changes
Non-Communicable Diseases
And financing adequate social security in this new context
Non-health public social protection expenditure for people of working age in the region accounts for 1.5 per cent of GDP, compared to 0.5 per cent in Africa, 5.1 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 5.9 per cent in Western Europe and a global average of 2.3 per cent.
What are adequate benefits ?
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9. 1. Stubbornly high informal sector
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1. Stubbornly high informal sector
Challenges
Despite economic growth, informal sector remains significant
Economic growth has outstripped (formal) job growth
Challenges include access, incentives, financing and equity
Responses:
SEWA in India
Linking construction permits with social security contributions in China
Seasonal worker coverage in Vietnam
For instance, in South Asia between 2009 and 2014, average annual economic growth rates of 6.1 per cent were partnered with employment growth of only 1.4 per cent per annum
135 million children under the age of 5 are unregistered
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10. 2. Climate Change Challenges Responses: Increasing number of extreme
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2. Climate Change
Challenges
Increasing number of extreme
Business interruption, migration and emergency response
Mortality rates & health likely to change
Responses:
Short and long term responses in the Philippines
Rethinking migration policy in Vanuatu
Adaptation & mitigation through public works in India
Responses:
Calamity and emergency loans at concessional rates
Grant of moratorium on loan amortizations
Advanced grant of pensions of up to 3 months.
Accelerate procedures for processing and pay out
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11. 3: Migration Challenges Responses:
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3: Migration
Challenges
Difficult to cover but vulnerable and increasing in numbers
Financing coverage and coordinating benefits
Responses:
Bilateral and multilateral agreements in the Philippines
Sri Lanka – social security for migrants and family members
Foreign residents to be covered for health care in Indonesia
Sri Lanka – travel expenses
Voluntary savings and insurance for Indian migrants
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12. 4: Rapid ageing + family and society changes
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4: Rapid ageing + family and society changes
Challenges
Ageing much more rapid than elsewhere
At the same time, family structures and attitudes are changing weakening informal support mechanisms
Responses:
Active ageing policies in Japan
Increasing female participation rates in Korea
Increasing retirement ages & incentives for late retirement
The elderly population (aged 65+) has nearly doubled (from 173 million to more than 330 million) between 1990 and 2014, and is expected to double again by The old-age dependency ratio for East and North East Asia is currently nearly 11 dependant elderly persons per 100 people of working age, which is twice as high as in South and South West Asia.
Some countries in the East Asia region in particular are experiencing a more rapid pace of population ageing than that experienced by the world’s more developed “aged” economies. Korea, fewer than 30 percent of older people live with their children. In China, 43 percent of those ages 65 to 70 live with their children, down from two-thirds in the early 1980s.
But retirement ages too low and mainly the already older countries making effort (eg Korea and Japan only with late retirement)
Migration
“Getting old before getting wealthy”
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13. 5: Non-communicable diseases
Challenges
Lifestyle change which is reflected in change in morbidity
Significant increases in diabetes, obesity related diseases and cancer
Years living in disability increasing but limited preventive focus at present
Direct and indirect impacts on social security
Responses:
???
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14. Recent examples of the extension of social protection in low- and middle-income countries

15. sustainable benefits whilst respecting intergenerational and
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Financing
adequate
proactive and
sustainable benefits whilst respecting
intergenerational and
intragenerational equity aims
is the real challenge ahead !
Increasing number of tax financed social protection. Adequacy of benefits. Gaps
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16. Thanks for your attention
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