Tajikistan reviews options to expand social protection

DUSHANBE (ILO News) - Representatives of the Government of Tajikistan, employers’ and workers’ organizations met in Dushanbe on 24 February 2026 to review new evidence on social protection coverage and options to extend benefits to vulnerable groups.

© ILO

© ILO

The tripartite validation workshop, hosted by the Agency for Social Insurance and Pensions (ASIP) with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO), examined the results of three technical studies conducted under the project “Accelerating Universal Social Protection for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Ending Poverty through Strengthened Governance and Digital Transformation”. The project is implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) under the UN Peace and Development Fund, with financial support from China.

The first study assessed Tajikistan’s social protection coverage in line with Sustainable Development Goal indicator 1.3.1. The analysis identified significant coverage gaps across several branches of social security and provided an updated evidence base to support national reporting on progress towards universal social protection.

Participants also discussed the results of a costing assessment of old-age social pensions. While old-age pension coverage is relatively broad, the study found that benefit levels remain insufficient to lift many older persons above the poverty line. Different scenarios to increase benefit adequacy were presented, showing that gradual improvements are fiscally feasible.

A third study examined options to extend maternity benefit coverage. Currently limited to a relatively small proportion of women in formal employment, maternity protection could be progressively expanded to reach more vulnerable groups. According to the analysis, moving towards universal coverage is estimated to cost around 1.6 per cent of public expenditure, a level assessed as affordable within a phased approach.

Discussions also highlighted the importance of formalizing employment to strengthen contributory social insurance schemes and ensure sustainable financing of benefits. Participants also discussed institutional and financing challenges related to non-contributory benefits.

The workshop concluded with plans to integrate the constituents’ comments into the final reports and to continue dialogue on possible next steps, including feasibility studies and the gradual implementation of agreed reform scenarios.