Engendering social security and protection: The case of Asia

Description

Informal labour, characterised by insecure contracts or tenure, low wages and lack of access to social security such as unemployment or health benefits, remains the dominant form of employment in Asia. The prevalence of informal employment is rising, with women constituting a significant proportion of this workforce. Public debates on social security and protection in Asia increasingly revolve around rights-based approaches, often reflecting a divide between neoliberal perspectives and rights-based advocacy, particularly in countries like India. These debates are shaped by the broader context of inadequate human development across South Asia, although variations exist across sub-regions such as Southeast, East and Central Asia. While reliance on cheap labour may initially appear to offer an inclusive pathway for women by providing income and potential empowerment, it also imposes significant pressures related to livelihood security and caregiving responsibilities. In the medium to long term, sustainable development requires moving beyond this model by transforming the ‘precariat’ through the institutionalisation of social protection and embedding security as a fundamental right for all workers, irrespective of gender.

Publication Date

1-1-2011

Publisher

Friedrich Ebert Foundation

Keywords

Social security, Pension, Health insurance, Child protection, Micro-insurance

Source Link URL

https://www.dawnnet.org/sites/default/files/peg-gita-2011-sept-6.pdf

Conference

Annual conference of the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE), June 2011H, angzhou, China

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