Conference Agenda

Introduction

After the Second World War, many G20 countries have made significant progress in the extension of social protection coverage, reinforced their social protection systems and established effective Social Protection Floors. Some have achieved universal or near-universal coverage in different branches of social protection through a combination of non-contributory and contributory schemes and programmes. However, other G20 countries are still lagging behind in terms of coverage, especially for essential health services. The COVID-19 outbreak highlighted the strong need for sustainable investment in social protection including, essential health care.

Research questions

The article aims to estimate the financing gap across the G20, namely the additional monetary resources needed for achieving universal social protection coverage for Social Protection Floors. In addition, the article presents which policies were put in place by the G20 to extend the fiscal space for social protection by highlight the emerging threats to the viability of social protection systems (e.g. declining labour income share, austerity). The concluding part presents policy guidance concerning viable options to expand the fiscal space for social protection.

Methodology

The article will use a new methodology to estimate the financing gap to achieve universal social protection coverage. The financing gap calculations encompass five distinct social security guarantees: children, persons with disability, maternity, older persons and the unemployed. In addition, the monetary resources needed to achieve universal coverage for essential health care are also included in the financing gap calculations. The estimate for essential health care is modelled using the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Index and the domestic general government health expenditure.

Contribution to the literature

The methodology used to calculate the financing gap was developed by the authors of this paper and it was peer-reviewed within the ILO and externally (e.g. WHO). We are not aware of any other paper employing such methodology as it is still under strict embargo. In comparison with the existing literature the methodology is innovative because it allows to disaggregate estimations by country and social protection guarantee.

Findings

The financing gap to achieve universal social protection coverage for the Social Protection Floors ranges from as high as 17 per cent of GDP to as low as zero per cent in G20 countries where full coverage is observed. Country experiences regarding national strategies used to fill such gaps with contributory and non-contributory social protection finance will also be presented.

This paper critically assesses the current approach that governs social protection in the United States. Analyzing the income levels and healthcare coverage of childcare workers, this paper challenges the needs-based approach to social protection in a country considered to have high rates of formality and an employer-sponsored social provision model. Criticizing the lack of coverage in the social protection floor (SPF) areas of healthcare and income, this paper finds existing social protection in the country does not reach working populations in need of protection. Ultimately, the paper advocates a rights-based framework is better-suited to govern universal SPFs that support historically disenfranchised, racialized and migrant women, in marginal work.

As much of the social protection focus has been on the informal sector and the Global South, the transformative potential of SPFs on workers in formalized employment in a Global North country characterized by both the highest GDP in the world and significant gaps in social protection coverage, merits exploration. Hence, the research question is as follows: How can the normative argument of a rights-based approach to social protection floors (SPFs) in the United States serve to support marginalized childcare workers?

Kildal and Kuhnle (2008) approach universalism from the normative principles that have been conducive to state arguments for the implementation of universal policies. The following research is concerned with the inverse, examining a country in which the rights-based framework does not guide social protection policies and investigating how the adoption of a rights-based approach to SPFs in the United States can be universal in reach.

Through a literature-based analysis, peer-reviewed journals, books, and some gray literature (ILO, WTO, UN, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, The White House, and the Tax Policy Center documents) provide a policy context of global universal social protection and national social protection policies. I then present the rights-based framework and existing debates around SPFs.

Social protection coverage is assessed using secondary data from the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Treasury data on income assistance programs, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare, and center-based childcare statistics including wage estimates. The Early Childhood Program Participation Survey and National Survey of Early Care and Education, as cited in peer-reviewed journal articles, situate the childcare industry and childcare workers’ socioeconomic situation. The analysis section comprises the thematic SPF areas of Healthcare and Income to examine implications on childcare workers’ access to benefits.

Introduction

The epidemiological emergency has impacted on the entire welfare State, and it has pointed out the inadequacy and insufficiency of social protection measures. In Italy it also affected, though indirectly, the pension system, which was in difficulty for many years. In particular, the pandemic will most likely lead to the worsening of the main factors of the pension system crisis: the instability of labour market and the low birth rate.

This situation will penalise especially the most vulnerable subjects, such as the discontinuous workers, who has a precarious position in labour market and a fragile contributory position. Indeed, the calculation method adopted in the Italian legal framework is particularly disadvantageous for those type of workers who cannot rely on uninterrupted working careers. Moreover, discontinuity in employment is often followed by low wages and it makes more severe the inadequacy of social protection.

Methodology

Starting with an examination of existing legislative measures aimed at remedying contributory vulnerability, the focus will be shifted to the supplementary pension as a possible remedy to protect the pension position of discontinuous workers. Therefore, problems that hinder the adherence to supplementary pension funds in Italy will be analyzed, especially by young people and women, i.e., those who typically populate the category of discontinuous workers. In addition, the role of collective bargaining with respect to strengthening supplementary pension provision will be examined through an analysis of existing collective bargaining on the subject.

Contribution to literature and findings

The current regulatory framework is not sufficient to stimulate a spread of supplementary pension among discontinuous workers. More incisive provisions, such as tax benefits or direct state financing aimed specifically at this type of workers, should be introduced for this purpose. However, an intervention by the legislature requires the achievement of delicate balances. Therefore, a more effective intervention of collective bargaining would be desirable to facilitate, pending legal reform, the access of young people and discontinuous workers in general to the supplementary welfare system, with a view to an integrated public-private welfare system to guarantee the adequate means to meet living needs, provided by article no. 38, paragraph 2 of the Italian Constitution.