Information

Background and Justification

In the Pacific sub-region, the number of people who have access to social security protection is limited. Pacific island countries are in fact confronted with a number of impeding factors such as smallness, remoteness, geographical dispersion, political instability, limited domestic markets, dependence on foreign aid and external conditions, environmental concerns and vulnerability to natural disasters.

Social security systems in the Pacific sub-region are at different stages of the development. However, they have the following major problems in common:

• Limited social security protection: Social security coverage is limited to workers (men and women) in the formal employment sector which represents only a small fraction of working population. The scope and level of social security benefits are also inadequate.

• Problems with governance and sustainability: Almost all social security organisations are suffering from inefficiency, operational difficulties and investment failure. As a result of poor governance, the long-term sustainability of schemes is threatened.

• Gender inequality in the social security coverage and benefits: The labour force participation rates for women are significantly low and those who are working are more likely to find themselves in the informal economy. Heavy reliance on employment in the informal economy results in them being less likely to be protected by social security systems.

The ILO project “Sub-regional initiative on social security for the Pacific Island Countries” (2004-2006) is meant to support Pacific Island countries in developing strategies for the extension and improved governance of social security systems and translate them into practice.

Aim

The project aims to improve the coverage and efficiency of social security system in the Pacific sub-region by:

• developing and implementing national action plans for the extension and improved governance of social security systems;
• conducting joint capacity building activities at the sub-regional level.

Based on a gender analysis and needs assessment of social security, the project will develop social security policies which are more responsive to gender-sensitive needs and promote gender equality.

Target group

The intended beneficiaries of this project are:

• All workers (men and women) and their families in the sub-region. The workers who are currently under some forms of social security cover will benefit by the improved benefits and services of the schemes, while those workers who are outside the scope of the current scheme will directly benefit from the extended social security coverage.
• Managers of social security organisations, as well as representatives of Government and employers', and workers', organizations responsible for policy making.
  The project also calls special attention to addressing the special needs of women through gender-sensitive interventions such as the introduction of maternity benefits and will contribute in achieving more gender equality given that women are disproportionately represented in the uncovered population.