Extending Pension Coverage to the Informal Sector in Africa

Guven, Melis

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: INFORMAL SECTOR;    SELF EMPLOYMENT;    PENSION REFORM;    PENSION BENEFITS;   

RP-ID  :  139582

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The coverage of pension systems in theAfrica region is limited to the small segment of thepopulation in the formal sector. Coverage is thin partlybecause traditional contributory pension schemes are notresponding to the needs of the informal sector. As a result,a large share of the region’s adult population has no accessto contributory pension schemes during their working lives.This means they will not be eligible for a pension. It alsomeans the elderly coverage gap will persist in mostcountries. Expanding coverage to a larger group of workersis especially important because the elderly is now oftencared for by their children. As the children move to cities,their ties to the elderly and home villages weaken. As aresult, the elderly may be left behind with fewer resources.