Social Protection

SOCIAL PROTECTION

There is no uniform definition of Social Protection. The most relevant definition for the area of SASPEN is laid down in the Code for Social Security of the SADC (2007), in which is defined in Article 1:

WHAT IS SOCIAL PROTECTION

In this Code, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated below:

1.1 Social allowances: These are universal payments made to persons in designated categories who are exposed to exceptional need (such as children, older persons, persons with disabilities), designed to assist them in the realisation of their full potential. The objective of social allowances is social compensation. Social allowances are financed from government revenue and are not means-tested. They are paid to all persons falling within the designated categories, regardless of their socio-economic position.

1.2 Social assistance: This is a form of social security which provides assistance in cash or in kind to persons who lack the means to support themselves and their dependants. Social assistance is means-tested and is funded from government revenues. Normally, the beneficiaries are those who are not covered by any other form of social security. The objective of social assistance is to alleviate poverty through, amongst other things, the provision of minimum income support.

1.3 Social insurance: This is a form of social security designed to protect income earners and their families against a reduction or loss of income as a result of exposure to risks. These risks impair one’s capacity to earn income. Social insurance is contributory with contributions being paid by employers, employees, self-employed persons, or other contributors, depending on the nature of the specific scheme. Social insurance is aimed at achieving a reasonable level of income maintenance.

1.4 Social protection: Social protection is broader than social security. It encompasses social security and social services, as well as developmental social welfare. Social protection thus refers to public and private, or to mixed public and private measures designed to protect individuals against life-cycle crises that curtail their capacity to meet their needs. The objective is to enhance human welfare. Conceptually and for purposes of this Code social protection includes all forms of social security. However, social protection goes beyond the social security concept. It also covers social services and developmental social welfare, and is not restricted to protection against income insecurity caused by particular contingencies. Its objective, therefore, is to enhance human welfare.

1.5 Social security: This refers to public and private, or to mixed public and private measures, designed to protect individuals and families against income insecurity caused by contingencies such as unemployment, employment injury, maternity, sickness, invalidity, old age and death. The main objectives of social security are: (a) to maintain income, (b) to provide health care, and (c) to provide benefits to families. Conceptually and for the purposes of this Code, social security includes social insurance, social assistance and social allowances.

African Union Social Policy Framework (2008)

Another relevant point of reference is the African Union Social Policy Framework (2008). It lays down that

Social protection encompasses a range of public actions carried out by the state and others that address risk, vulnerability, discrimination and chronic poverty. The right to social security in childhood, old age and at times of disability is expressed in a range of international Human Rights Declarations and treaties. Social security transfers in the form of, for example, pensions, child benefit and disability allowances are considered to be core elements of a comprehensive social protection system.

Focus less on the symptoms and more on the causes of poverty by providing the poor with the opportunity to adopt higher risk-return activities and avoiding inefficient and inequitable informal risk-sharing mechanisms.

Take account of reality. Among the world population of 6 billion, less than a quarter have access to formal SP programmes, and less than 5 percent can rely on their own assets to successfully manage risk. Meanwhile, eliminating the poverty gap through public transfers is beyond the fiscal capacity of most developing countries.

[…] The interventions falling under a social protection framework include social security measures and furthering income security; and also the pursuit of an integrated policy approach that has a strong developmental focus, such as job creation, equitable and accessible health and other services, social welfare, quality education and so on. AU Member States have noted that social protection has multiple beneficial impacts on national economies, and is essential to build human capital, break the intergenerational poverty cycle and reduce the growing inequalities that constrain Africa’s economic and social development. Member States are encouraged to choose the coverage extension strategy and combination of tools most appropriate to their circumstances. There is an emerging consensus that a minimum package of essential social protection should cover: essential health care, and benefits for children, informal workers, the unemployed, older persons and persons with disabilities. This minimum package provides the platform for broadening and extending social protection as more fiscal space is created. A minimum package can have a significant impact on poverty alleviation, improvement of living standards, reduction of inequalities and promotion of economic growth and has been shown to be affordable, even in low-income countries, within existing resources, if properly managed.

THE EMBLEM OF SASFU