Economic Growth, Social Protection and 'Real' Labour Markets, Sarah Cook, James Heintz and Naila Kabeer (eds.) (2008), IDS Bulletin - Vol 39 No 2
The working poor contribute to, and benefit from, economic growth through labour markets and paid work, but employment generation has not featured significantly in the macroeconomic agenda. It was assumed that opening up economies to global competition and flexible labour markets would generate labour-intensive growth trajectories and secure livelihoods, leaving public measures for social protection restricted to those unable to earn their own living, but these predictions have not been borne out in practice. Poverty rates have declined, yet globalisation has brought new insecurity. Labour market flexibility has increased labour force participation but the informal nature of these jobs mean they are precarious and badly paid, trapping some in chronic poverty. Thinking on social protection, concerned about possible distortions of the labour market, has done little to stem the spread of informal employment. Despite policy commitment to poverty reduction through labour-intensive growth, the gains for the poor have been ambiguous. These themes were explored in a 2007 workshop convened by IDS and WIEGO. Bringing together researchers, practitioners and policymakers, their contributions now make up this IDS Bulletin. Articles cover the changing nature of the global economy, flexible labour market policies in different regions of the world, conceptualisation of labour markets, implications for macroeconomic policies, and the scope for social protection. The conclusion is the need for a better understanding of the way labour markets function in the ‘real’ world if we are to find policies that will better deliver on the outcomes they promise.
Social Protection and Poverty -UNRISD paper by Armando Barrientos - The paper seeks to provide an overview of social protection, and to provide an assessment of its potential contribution to addressing poverty and vulnerability in developing countries.
Social Security for China’s Migrant Workers – Providing for Old Age- Paper by Andrew Watson - The article explores how the current social security system in China, based on household registration, discriminates against migrant workers because of their mobility and the lack of mechanisms to transfer benefits between pools. Faced with this challenge, China’s government has begun to introduce policy reforms to improve social security for migrants. This article explores this development through a focus on old-age insurance. It analyses the special needs of migrants, the obstacles facing policy development and the proposed solutions.
HomeNet Thailand Policy Briefs on Social Security, Health Insurance and Legal Protections
The briefs discuss the country experiences of Thailand in extending social security cover to informal workers, increasing effectiveness of universal health coverage schemes, especially for informal workers’ health problems and also ongoing advocacy for a Homeworker Protection Act in Thailand.
The working poor contribute to, and benefit from, economic growth through labour markets and paid work, but employment generation has not featured significantly in the macroeconomic agenda. It was assumed that opening up economies to global competition and flexible labour markets would generate labour-intensive growth trajectories and secure livelihoods, leaving public measures for social protection restricted to those unable to earn their own living, but these predictions have not been borne out in practice. Poverty rates have declined, yet globalisation has brought new insecurity. Labour market flexibility has increased labour force participation but the informal nature of these jobs mean they are precarious and badly paid, trapping some in chronic poverty. Thinking on social protection, concerned about possible distortions of the labour market, has done little to stem the spread of informal employment. Despite policy commitment to poverty reduction through labour-intensive growth, the gains for the poor have been ambiguous. These themes were explored in a 2007 workshop convened by IDS and WIEGO. Bringing together researchers, practitioners and policymakers, their contributions now make up this IDS Bulletin. Articles cover the changing nature of the global economy, flexible labour market policies in different regions of the world, conceptualisation of labour markets, implications for macroeconomic policies, and the scope for social protection. The conclusion is the need for a better understanding of the way labour markets function in the ‘real’ world if we are to find policies that will better deliver on the outcomes they promise.
