SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ALL Implementing Social Security Measures for Transformative Change Aliya Hashmi Khan| Gayatri Sharma| Adhiraj Regmi| Munkhtsatsral Davaadorj| Rina Julvianty| Dina Nuriyati| Ume Laila Azhar

Zara Batu Anjali Aminah

Welcome, everyone. Today, we gather to discuss the critical topic of social security measures. Despite progress, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed signi cant gaps in social protection across the globe. Above 55.9% in the Asia Paci c Region lacks any form of social protection 44.1% are covered by at least one bene t. What are the nancial implications of implementing these measures? We'll address your concerns as nancial considerations are important. But if it’s okay with everyone, let's rst look at the human impact.

We’ve invited individuals from various countries to share their experiences with social protection. My name is Anjali. I come from a small village in Nepal. I live with my husband, Prakash, his parents, and our two kids, Badal and Megna. We struggled with poverty and lack of access to healthcare. Then we learnt about the Child Grant Program, a cash transfer initiative aimed at reducing child poverty. In our village, sons are prioritised for education, and Prakash’s parents decided that we pull our daughter Megna out of school because we couldn’t afford schooling for both children. Child Grant Program

The program provided regular cash transfers, helping us meet basic needs like nutrition, healthcare, and education for both of our children. Thanks to this support, Megna now goes to school alongside her brother Badal. We also take them to the clinic nearby to make sure that they’re not at risk of any health issues. SCHOOL Thanks to the Child Grant Program, my family is now thriving. HEALTH POST These interventions signi cantly improved our well-being and ensured our children’s development. Thank you, Anjali, for sharing your story.

I am Batu from Mongolia. My family and I are herders. We depend on our livestock for our livelihood. Herding is tough, especially in recent years, as the weather has become very unpredictable. X The extreme winters have weakened domestic animals, making them more susceptible to diseases and often leading to loss of life. X X Moreover, we’ve also noticed that the pasture is degrading. Plus, the extreme heat and drought in summer have reduced the productivity of the pasturelands.

Our situation was dire. I didn’t know how to continue supporting my family and my old parents. The government introduced policies to support herders like us. We learnt about voluntary social insurance and decided to participate. The insurance covered part of our pension premiums, making it affordable for us. Voluntary Social Insurance Programme These measures signi cantly improved our lives and gave us a sense of security. Thanks to these initiatives, we’re better prepared for the future. Thank you, Batu, for your inspiring story.

I am Aminah from Indonesia. My family faced many challenges, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both my husband and I lost our jobs during the pandemic. After the pandemic, we weren’t able to afford to buy books and a school uniform for our daughter in her new grade. Lost our JOBS We learnt about the Family Hope Program, which provides cash to households with pregnant women or children. We had to ensure we accessed speci c health and education services to receive the cash. Program Keluarga Harapan (Family Hope Program)

The programme helped us meet our basic needs and invest in our children's education and health. STATIONERY With the bene ts, we managed to enroll Putri in her new grade and cover her school needs. As a pregnant woman, I received extra bene ts, which helped us gather essential resources. ESSENTIAL RESOURCES Thank you, Aminah, for sharing your experience. SCHOOL Putri is happy now that she can continue her basic education with better access and facilities, pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher.

My name is Zara, and I come from a small village in Pakistan. Life was tough. We struggled to put food on the table, and I worried about my health and the health of my unborn child. You need better nutrition, Zara. It's crucial for both you and the baby. I was scared about the future. How would I provide for my baby? This programme will provide you with cash transfers and healthcare to support your pregnancy and child's health. Benazir Nashonuma Programme I was excited about the programme. It felt like a ray of hope. Benazir Nashonuma Programme

You're doing great, Zara. Your weight gain is excellent. I feel stronger and healthier now. I can't wait to meet my baby. My baby is healthy and strong. I'm so grateful for this programme. Benazir Nashonuma Programme changed my life and the life of my child. It gave me hope and a brighter future. Thank you, Zara, for sharing your inspiring story. Your resilience is a testament to the power of social security. Due to time constraints, we could only feature four stories. However, good practices on social security do not end here. In India, we have initiatives for children of sex workers and National Rural Employment Guarantee, which ensures work for women. In the Philippines, they have introduced the 105-day paid maternity leave. These stories highlight the importance of social security. These good practices highlight how social security policies can enhance social stability and labour productivity. Therefore, social security should be available to all, ensuring that every individual has a safety net in times of crises.

We urge you to invest in social security to promote social justice and wellbeing of all. I am happy to hear about all the good stories but nancing social security is expensive. Social security is an investment in people, and helps reduce social inequalities. Financing social security can be a valid concern. We would like to draw your attention to the document on your table, which outlines seven innovative alternatives for nancing social security. Innovative Alternatives For Financing Social Security 1 Reallocating public expenditures 2 Increasing tax revenue Expanding social 3 security coverage and contributory revenues 4 Lobbying for aid and transfers 5 Eliminating illicit nancial ows Managing 6 debt-borrowing or restructuring existing debt Adopting a more 7 accommodative macroeconomic framework

One way, as mentioned, is to reallocate budget expenditures. As you can see, countries like Costa Rica and Thailand have reallocated military spending to fund universal health care. Another example is expanding social security coverage and contributory revenues. Countries like Bolivia, Mongolia and Zambia are nancing universal old-age pensions, child bene ts and other schemes from taxes on mining and gas. I’d also like to highlight the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) that calls for member states to consult with relevant stakeholders to develop home-grown initiatives unique to their local contexts and situations. In this, we must understand that there is no one-size- ts-all solution. Equitable safety nets contribute to gender justice by addressing economic disparities, supporting caregiving roles, improving access to healthcare, education and means of living, and challenging traditional gender norms. Inclusive social security provisions aim to enhance social equity and empowerment. We’d like to thank all the storytellers for sharing their personal stories with us. And a big thank you to the advisors for their presentations. Social security for everyone, all around!

About the authors Imprint Aliya Hashmi Khan is a retired Economics Professor from Quaid-i-Azam University and has significantly impacted academia and policymaking in Pakistan on issues related to economic empowerment and social justice. © 2024 Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Nepal Office Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Ward 2, Sanepa P. O. Box: 11840 Kathmandu, Nepal Gayatri Sharma is the Gender Advisor at FES India. Formerly the Program Director at Women Power Connect, she specialises in violence against women and children. Adhiraj Regmi is a policy analyst. He holds a Master’s in Economics from San Jose State University, California. Munkhtsatsral Davaadorj is the Project Manager at FES Mongolia office and is in charge of geopolitics, gender justice and communications. Rina Julvianty is the Program Coordinator at FES Indonesia. Her focus areas include social security and gender justice. Responsible: Natalia Figge| Director https://asia.fes.de/ FES Asia FES Asia FES Asia Designs: Kathaharu Productions Panel narration: Dia Yonzon Proofreading: Bikram Timilsina To order publication: geha@fes.de Dina Nuriyati is an Indonesian activist and former migrant worker. She founded Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Union and advocates for gender-responsive services for migrant workers through research and consultancy. Ume Laila Azhar is the Executive Director of HomeNet Pakistan, a civil society organisation that raises awareness about the rights of women working in cottage industries and organises them to negotiate for better working conditions. Commercial use of all media published by FriedrichEbert-Stiftung(FES) is not permitted without the written consent of the FES. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES) is the oldest of the German political foundations. The foundation is named after Friedrich Ebert, the first democratically elected president of Germany. FES is committed to the advancement of both socio-political and economic development in the spirit of social democracy, through civic education, research, and international cooperation. The FES Regional Gender Justice Project coordinates FES’ work on gender justice in the Asia and Pacific region. Together with colleagues, feminists and partners, we create spaces for exchange and mutual learning, and develop transformative strategies for a more gender just future. asia.fes.de