Webinar on “Protecting workers from shocks: (Un)employment insurance schemes”
As part of a series of knowledge sharing sessions under the Joint Programme, this webinar is designed to reinforce the capacities of participants on UI protection schemes. Critical aspects of design, financing and implementation will be discussed through presentations highlighting International Labour Standards on UI, good international practices, and Caribbean experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to make comments, share experiences and put questions to the panelists.
Introduction
ILO estimations show that more than 70 per cent of workers worldwide have no statutory access to unemployment insurance (UI) benefits or any type of unemployment assistance. UI schemes exist in approximately 70 countries, most of them being middle- and high-income countries and cover 22% of workers worldwide. In Latin America and the Caribbean, where only The Bahamas and Barbados provide contributory unemployment benefits, coverage is less than 40%.A properly designed UI scheme plays a crucial stabilization role during periods of economic slowdown and shocks. UI also encourage decent work and improve employability of the unemployed, poor, and vulnerable groups.
As a response to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Caribbean countries have implemented temporary unemployment benefits. More than 200,000 benefits have been paid and there is a renewed interest to further protect workers and their families through the design and implementation of UI schemes.
The SDG Fund Joint Programme on Universal Adaptive Social Protection in the Eastern Caribbean is providing support to OECS Countries, in particular Barbados and Saint Lucia, to strengthen their social protection systems to be more adaptive and progress towards universality.
Objective
As part of a series of knowledge sharing sessions under the Joint Programme, this webinar is designed to reinforce the capacities of participants on UI protection schemes. Critical aspects of design, financing and implementation will be discussed through presentations highlighting International Labour Standards on UI, good international practices, and Caribbean experiences. Participants will have the opportunity to make comments, share experiences and put questions to the panelists.Panelists
- Mr Ariel Pino, Social Protection and OSH Specialist, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean
- Ms Sue Ann Charlery Payne, Financial Controller, National Insurance Corporation, Saint Lucia
- Mr Paul Kallicharan, Senior Statistician, National Insurance Corporation, Saint Lucia
- Mr Derek Lowe, Assistant Director, National Insurance Scheme, Barbados