The IPC-IG and ILO discuss a transition model from social assistance to employment in the Arab Region during a brainstorming session

By IPC-IG
Photo: Canva/worradirek

Members of the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC- IG) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), through its Jordan Office (ILO Jordan) and its Regional Office for Arab States (ILO ROAS), organised a brainstorming session aimed at presenting and discussing the ‘Conceptual Model for Better Transition from Social Assistance to Social Insurance’ to specialists in the areas of social assistance, labour market and transition.  

The brainstorming and the Conceptual Model discussed during the session were developed under the framework of the project Developing a transition model between non-contributory social assistance and work-related contributory social insurance for Jordan. The event was restricted to invitees, and the IPC-IG was represented by Research Coordinator Fabio Veras, who moderated the session, and by researchers Maya Hammad and Louisa Wagner, who presented an overview of the Conceptual Model. In addition, Markku Malkamaeki and Luca Pellerano, both from ILO, explained the purpose of the project and contributed to the presentation.  

Discussants presented push and pull factors in the model that can facilitate the transition from social assistance to employment-related social insurance. Push factors include incentivising social assistance design features, such as the right to return to a cash transfer programme after exiting it without having to go through its waiting list again. This safety net of re-entry into the programme creates incentives to seek employment. Other examples include the provision of job training for social assistance beneficiaries.  

Conversely, pull factors include topics such as: inclusive eligibility conditions for informal workers, adequate benefits, facilitated administration, in addition to financial incentives (such as subsidised social insurance schemes, differentiated contribution rates, or reduced or single-tax schemes). 

In addition, short-, medium- and long-term recommendations were presented. While the short- and medium-term recommendations addressed the different push and pull factors, long-term recommendations included improving formal employment opportunities (through active labour market policies, policies to encourage technical and vocational education, and improvements in access to finance); expanding unemployment insurance schemes (for example to first-time job seekers); and strengthening old-age/disability pensions based on the life cycle approach. 

After the presentations, Mr. Veras facilitated a discussion with all participants on the recommendations provided by the conceptual model. In conclusion, representatives of both bodies summarised the main topics discussed. Feedback from the participants will now be incorporated into the revised version of the model.  

 

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