Documents Orton, Ian 4 results

"The International Social Security Association's (ISSA) Dynamic Social Security conceptual framework has been developed as a tool to identify and analyse current and emerging challenges in social security policy and administrative practice and to guide decision-makers in developing effective and sustainable responses to these. The longer-term core objective of the framework is to help extend social security coverage to all through the development of effective social security systems that contributed to socially inclusive and economically productive societies. As revealed by an examination of the ISSA's work priorities, perceptions of the framework have evolved over time. In some instances greater emphasis has been given by the Association to policy analysis, especially in support of the objective of coverage extension. More recently the emphasis has been placed on the practical necessity to support the development of higher performing social security administrations; a core mission objective of the ISSA. In looking to identify future challenges (megatrends) that hold the potential to impact negatively upon social security programmes and administrations, and to develop appropriate responses to these, the ISSA should keep sight of the fact that Dynamic Social Security has an essential analytical role as well as a practical one."

"This article reviews the findings of a major survey conducted in 2009 by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) on the impacts of the financial and economic crisis on social security administrations. The findings reveal that a majority of administrations have been negatively affected in terms of diminished investment returns on social security funds and reduced contribution income and are challenged by increased expenditure on benefits. In spite of all this, the findings indicate that administrations have reacted to the challenges presented in often proactive and innovative ways. However, challenges still remain. In this regard, the most preoccupying include the possibility of a slow economic recovery involving a protracted labour market crisis and the constraints of depleted financial reserves and reduced fiscal latitude."

"The COVID‐19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of those who are inadequately covered by social protection in more and less developed countries alike, and has exacerbated the fragility of a social contract that was already under strain in many countries. A weak social contract in the context of an exceptional crisis poses a very real risk to social cohesion. Nevertheless, many States have reasserted themselves as the guarantor of rights by protecting public health and incomes. By sustaining these measures, economic recovery will be supported which will help minimize risks that may weaken social cohesion. However, this is a fast‐moving, inherently unstable and protracted crisis. Social protection stands at a critical juncture. Decisive policy action will be required to strengthen social protection systems, including floors, as one of the cornerstones of a reinvigorated social contract."

"Attesting to feminist interest in social protection, there exists today a voluminous and growing literature, produced by academics, international organizations, civil society and think tanks, examining the gender content and impacts of social protection policies. The added value of this paper is that it is the first time that the ILO's Universal Social Protection Department has produced a consolidated message on its perspective and approach to enhancing the gender-responsiveness of social protection policies, anchored in international social security standards and guided by a life-cycle approach to system-building.



In so doing, the paper underlines the critical interconnections and need for coherence between social protection policies and economic policies, especially employment policies (focusing on all types of employment), on one hand, and social protection policies and public investment and regulation of social services (especially healthcare and care services) on the other. It also both highlights new data and underlines remaining data gaps that need to be urgently closed to enable the monitoring of the impact of social protection policies on gender equality. It intends to encourage social protection policymakers, as well as social partners and other stakeholders, everywhere to think more systematically about the gender content and impact of social protection when they are advocating for or modifying existing policies, and designing and administering schemes, to better promote gender equality."