Result achieved
A social protection scheme to extend coverage, enhance comprehensiveness and/or increase adequacy of benefits has been adopted or reformed (Step 2)
Number of countries that have adopted or reformed social protection schemes to extend coverage, enhance comprehensiveness and/or increase adequacy of benefits (Step 2)
31.12.2018 MWI152 Public with UN Agencies, excluding IFIs
Linked projects
Outcome summary
The parliament approved the motion to create a Universal Social Old Age pension scheme.Outcome achieved
The Motion to create Universal Social Old Age pension scheme aimed at enhancing coverage of social protection programmes in Malawi was approved by parliament in December 2018. Following that the Universal Social Old Age Pension Bill 2019 was drafted by the Government of Malawi in consultation with social partners, Members of Parliament, and Civil Society Organizations. It will be tabled in Parliament in October 2019. When the pension scheme is rolled out it is expected to support over 600,000 people aged 65 and above. The draft Universal Social Old Age pension bill was drafted following the principles of universality, non-discrimination, adequacy and predictability, and affordability as a right based social protection scheme, in line with ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No.102) and the ILO’s Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No.202). The draft bill on Universal Social Old Age pension entitles all Malawian citizens above the minimal statutory age to a pension, independently of gender, background, colour, socio-economic status, health, or any other form of discrimination. When the pension scheme is rolled out it is expected to support over 600,000 people aged 65 and above, of which about 60% are expected to be women.
ILO's contribution to the outcome
With support from project financed by the Government of Ireland, ILO provided technical support to national stakeholders during the process leading to the elaboration of the Universal Social Old Age Pension Bill 2019. ILO drafted technical notes to support its development. ILO provided capacity building support enabling 10 heads of Parliamentary committee and 18 Political Parties’ representatives on social protection to be trained on basic concepts of social protection (August 2018). Parliamentarians increased their knowledge on social protection programmes, financing, and the feasibility for the introduction of provisions based on the life cycle – particularly social old age pensions. In January 2019, ILO trained 15 members of the drafting team of the bill, on potential design options and institutional arrangements for the implementation of the social pension. Beyond the training of Government officials and Parliament members, the ILO provided direct comments and inputs to the Draft bill, to ensure its alignment with international labour standards and recommendations. The ILO’s support for the development of the bill included guidance in terms of gender equality and non-discrimination. These principles were embedded in the activities described in success criteria 3.1.1 and 3.1.2.
Gender equality & non-discrimination
The establishment of a universal social old age pension will provide access to pensions to all Malawians, independently of gender or other individual characteristics. The draft bill for the pensions was developed under the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination, and will benefit women. The implementation of an insurance-based Work injury scheme will improve protection of vulnerable workers and enhance the balance in work relations as more harmonious industrial relations will result once the WCF is in place, instead of the litigious cases arising anytime there are accidents and injuries that are not deemed properly compensated at the moment. The WCF will also support the work-related measures required for women in maternity.International Labour Standard
The support for the introduction of a universal social old age pension is in line with the principle of universality and rights based social protection, as per Recommendation 202 (2012). The implementation of the Workers Compensation Fund is aligned with the ILO Minimum Standards (Social Security) Convention, 1952 (No. 102).Social dialogue
The process of development of the universal social old age pension bill was based on dialogue between different sectors of society, which included government agencies and ministries, civil society organizations, political parties, Members of Parliament, and media. Dialogue was cross-cutting in all activities implemented in the 2018 and 2019. The ILO further ensured that the work developed around the Workers Compensation Scheme was done through tripartite consultations, promoting dialogue at national and district levels.Impacts
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Number of persons entitled to social protection by law
Total: 600 000 Women: 360 000 Men: 240 000 Older persons: 600 000