Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Representative Office in Central Asia’s Post

Universal social protection: A myth or attainable reality? In the recently published ILO Working Paper, a study is conducted to provide updated estimation figures of the financing gap to achieve universal social protection floors in the form of five aspects of social protection income guarantee (child, disability, maternity, old-age, essential healthcare) for 133 low and middle income countries, to encourage and support national level deliberation and social protection reform For Malaysia, the financing gap is estimated to be 8.5% of its annual GDP (39.5% of its annual government expenditure). In particular, there are significant financing gaps for children and old-age cash benefits, estimated at 3% and 3.3% of the country’s annual GDP respectively. Comparing the national figures of financing gap for Malaysia to its ASEAN counterparts, such as Thailand (1.5% of its annual GDP), Vietnam (3.4% of its annual GDP), Philippines (3.1% of its annual GDP), it is apparent that much more needed to be done to strengthen the social protection system in the country. #universalsocialprotection #socialprotectionreform #ilo #llr

On the pathway toward inclusive social protection system in Cambodia. [...] investment in social protection had increased from around one per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018 to three per cent in 2022, increasing coverage from 26.5 per cent of the population in 2018 to 42 per cent in 2022. This showcases how social protection play a role in promoting not only social protection for the population but also contributing to the economic growth. #SocialProtectioninCambodia #CambodiaSocialProtectionWeek2024

WB to provide welfare support for 500m people by 2030 The World Bank Group to provide social protection measures to at least 500 million people by 2030, including 250m women due to global concerns like poverty, inequality, and climate change. According to the #WorldBank’s blog, Economic inclusion programs will help boost the income and assets of the world’s poorest groups and will be instrumental as they are proven pathways to better job opportunities and a life of dignity. Read the full story at https://lnkd.in/e-EzpupA

New President of Sri Lanka Mr.Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the National People's Power (NPP), being appointed as the new president of Sri Lanka would signal a significant shift in the country's political landscape. The party has historically been known for its leftist ideologies, advocating for social justice, anti-corruption, and a more equitable economic system. When people appointed him the president, it reflected a public desire to break from the traditional political dynasties and corruption-laden governance that has dominated Sri Lankan politics for decades. Expectations for a new political culture under his leadership include: Transparency and Anti-Corruption: Mr.Dissanayake has often criticized the corrupt practices of past governments. People would likely expect more transparency, accountability, and stricter anti-corruption measures. Social Welfare and Economic Justice: His presidency might emphasize greater social welfare programs, aimed at reducing inequality and improving access to education, healthcare, and other public services for marginalized groups. Youth Engagement: The NPP has garnered considerable support from younger generations, so policies addressing youth employment, education reforms, and political engagement could be priorities. Nationalism Balanced with Inclusivity: The JVP ( His main party) has historically had a nationalistic stance but would be expected to navigate the ethnic diversity of Sri Lanka carefully, promoting inclusivity. A Shift from Traditional Elites: The expectation would be a departure from the political elites that have dominated the country, hoping to foster a more participatory and people-centered governance model. This would be a historic moment in Sri Lankan politics, marking a new era of leadership and reforms.

New Publications Alert! PARI has published three new papers and a policy brief on the time use of men and women in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda. “Gendered Patterns of Adults’ and Children’s Time and Access to Technology and Infrastructure in Rural Uganda”: This paper analyzes the time use patterns of men, women, and children in rural areas of Uganda and assesses the influence of different technologies on time allocation. Link: https://bit.ly/3W5WZS7 “Innovations, Technology and Time Allocation: Implications for Labour Productivity and Welfare in Ghana”: This study investigates the dynamics of time allocation of men, women, and children in various types of work in rural households in Ghana. Link: https://bit.ly/3W9k3zx “Time Use among Rural Households in Ethiopia: Implications for Household Welfare and Productivity”: This paper examines the dynamics of time allocation within Ethiopian rural households. Link: https://bit.ly/3Y7Jxib The insights from these studies are summarized in a policy brief, which presents the distribution of men’s and women’s time use between paid work, unpaid work, and leisure, highlighting how technologies and infrastructure can reduce unpaid work and improve welfare and productivity. Link: https://bit.ly/3XOkCzF

I am excited to share my latest report with the African Center for Strategy and Policy! It examines how Sub-Saharan Africa can turn rising government spending on social welfare into tangible human capital development. Consider reading the complete analysis on bridging policy gaps and building resilient institutions for lasting progress. https://lnkd.in/gqtvCRWx #HumanCapital #AfricaDevelopment

It's clear that we all need to rise to the challenge. What we lack as a nation is unity in finding practical solutions; survival requires collective effort. Unfortunately, many of us act like helpless infants, simply crying for someone to fix our problems. That approach won't work. It's time we take responsibility for solving our own issues, instead of blaming others for our unemployment. Blaming the government won’t help—because, in reality, we are the government. The real question is: what solutions are we personally bringing to the table? Too often, when we criticize the government for not providing jobs, we focus only on the president and ministers, forgetting that we are part of the same system. We share responsibility for both the problems and the solutions. It’s time we recognize our role in shaping the future and start contributing meaningfully to the change we desire. By next year, how many people can you employ? #Let's #bring #solutions.

Great insights! While government initiatives are important, fostering entrepreneurship can drive innovation and create sustainable job opportunities. Encouraging a culture of entrepreneurship empowers individuals and can lead to a more resilient economy. Let's champion initiatives that support startups and small businesses!

"Under neoliberalism, various welfare states across the Global South and Global North have been largely viewed as a burden on the economy, with critics arguing that increased social expenditure causes slow growth and inflation. Consequently, there has been a prolonged period of rolling back the state, resulting in a systematic erosion of the quality of public services, inducing people – especially the well-off – to leave the public system and pay for private social care. Realizing the marginalization that neoliberalism naturally causes by being a market for the most powerful, governments and international institutions have attempted to mitigate these effects by reconfiguring social protection policy, especially following the 1980s crisis of neoliberalism, the 2008 global financial crisis, and, most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, this blog emphasizes the necessity and relevance of the proposal for Universal Basic Services as a response to the commodification of care services and shrinking social safety nets in both the Global North and the Global South." Read my latest blog post below: https://lnkd.in/eFy6j98z

💡 The truth is simple: No amount of aid or welfare will fix Zambia's core problem. The harsh reality is that 75% of able-bodied adults in Zambia are on the sidelines, not working, waiting for help that will never be enough. 📉 Let’s be clear: no aid package, tax reform, or policy tweak can fix this. Yes, in 1972, President Kaunda managed to employ the nation, but back then, the working-age population was just 1.5 million. Today, we have over 8.6 million prime-age adults. Has our economy expanded by 473% to match that growth? No. And that’s why the old models of government-driven employment simply don’t work anymore. ⚠️ The government simply cannot solve this problem. Central government, local government, and parastatals together employ less than 400,000 people—that’s less than 5% of our prime-age population. And they’re already struggling to manage that workforce. Expecting the government to absorb millions more is not only unrealistic but dangerous. 🛑 The World Economic Forum, in its Global Risk Reports from 2015 to 2020, has consistently flagged unemployment and underemployment as Zambia’s number one risk, accounting for over 60% of the nation’s total risk. This is not a minor issue—it’s a ticking time bomb. 💣 And the numbers make it clear. Zambia currently has just 200,000 employers for a working-age population of 8.6 million. If we’re serious about solving this unemployment crisis, we need to quadruple the number of employers, growing from 200,000 to 800,000. Only then can we tighten up the labour market, drive up earnings, and ensure more Zambians are employed. 📊 What we need is for Zambians to become problem-solvers. 🛠️ Entrepreneurship isn’t just a buzzword—it’s survival. Entrepreneurs must build businesses that provide solutions, create products and services, and hire their fellow citizens. We need Zambians to build businesses that grow large enough to require help, creating jobs and contributing to the economy. 💼 Globally, 88% of jobs are created by startups and small businesses, not governments. If Zambia wants to employ more people, we need more startups and small businesses. We can’t rely on the government alone. 🚀 A country where 72% of adults aren’t working, and most products are imported, is not sustainable—it’s outright insanity. It’s a recipe for future unrest. The role of government, investors, and donors is to support the entrepreneur, not replace them. When the entrepreneur is treated like a backup player in the economy, disaster is inevitable. ⚡ Zambia’s economic future depends on entrepreneurship. The sooner we understand this, the sooner we can begin to reverse the dangerous path we’re on. If we don’t, the consequences will be severe. 🔥 Article by munyumba mutwale