Social Protection Floor Assessment and Matrix Preliminary Findings

Social Protection Floor Assessment and Matrix - Preliminary Findings Bangkok, 10 August 2011 Celine Felix

As it was already mentioned… • We use the Social Protection Floor Framework with the four guarantees as benchmark to review all existing schemes in Thailand … Not only social assistance programs! • … With the objective to look not only at schemes implemented/ planned at central level, but also at decentralized level and/ or implemented by the community as long as they provide/ have the potential to provide rights based, systemic, predictable protection

Health care: Looking at access of All to preventive as well as curative care Do the schemes in place allow Income support children, to provide accessfor to essential working age services to all? and the elderly: Looking at transfers in cash Poverty linethat (1500 baths) used and in kind provide as minimum level social of income protection against risks support and needs and guarantee access to nutrition, education and care

How did we proceed? Desk review (June 2011 with inputs of UN agencies) Bilateral Consultations (July) Met with MSDHS, NESDB, SSO, HISRO, TDRI, Social Partners, Chulalonkorn University, Help. Age, Fo. PDEV, Actors working on HIV sensitive social protection, Mahidol University Tod ay!! T con o soli ate d Consultative meeting

Preliminary findings

Health • Does Thailand provide access to essential services for All ?

The “official” social health protection coverage Everybody is legally covered! Formal workers working in establishments of more than 1 employee covered by SSS + NV and newly immigrated workers under Mo. U UC scheme cover those not covered by other schemes+ role of volunteers Poor & vulnerable 78% Informal economy Civil servants and families covered by CSMBS Private sector 15% Civil serv 7%

The real social health protection coverage Issue of vertical inequality ted n e m Frag es! m sche Pb of outreach, stateless, undocumented migrant workers Poor & vulnerable 78% Geographic imbalances Informal economy Private sector 15% Civil serv 7%

Children • Does Thailand ensure income security to families through transfers in kind or in cash, at the level of the nationally defined poverty line, so as to ensure children access to nutrition, education and care?

The “official” social protection for children: Programs for children living with HIV Scolarrships to disadvantaged children Children Financial Aid for associated costs Poor & vulnerable 78% Free lunches in primary schools Non Formal education programs Everybody can enjoy free education! Informal economy Child Allowance under SSS Reimbursement of education fee up to 25 yrs Private sector 15% Civil serv 7%

The real social protection for children: Programs for children living with HIV: on demand! Non Formal education programs Scolarships to disadvantaged children: Children scattered! Financial Aid for associated costs Free luches in primary schools: implementation issues Child Allowance under SSS: 350 baths/ month. Only Private sector Everybody can enjoy workers until the free education! But age of 6 equity and quality issues! Poor & vulnerable 78% Informal economy Private sector 15% Reimbursem ent of education fee up to 25 yrs Civil serv 7%

Working Age population • Does Thailand ensure income security to All those in active age groups who cannot (or should not, in case of pregnancy) earn a sufficient income?

The “official” income support for working age population Voluntary scheme covering Health/Accident, Invalidity, death (100 baths (70/30)) Schemes implemented by MSDHS Self employed covered by Social Security Act Art 39 Formal workers working in establishments of more than 1 employee covered by Social Security Act (7 contingencies) + NV and newly immigrated workers under Mo. U Vocational training Poor & vulnerable 78% Informal economy Private sector 15% Civil serv 7%

The real income support for working age population Fragmented schemes! Formal workers working in establishments of more than 1 employee covered by Social Security Act (7 contingencies) + NV and newly immigrated workers under Mo. U – Exclusion problems, Compliance issues Voluntary scheme covering Health/Accident, Invalidity, death Self employed (100 baths (70/30)): covered by Social 400 000 people Security Act Art 39 covered, not attractive package? , Schemes Vocational implemented training: by MSDHS effectivenes For the s issues farmers? ? ? Poor & vulnerable 78% Informal economy Private sector 15% Civil serv 7%

The Elderly Does Thailand ensure income security to All residents in old age and with heavy disabilities?

The “official” income support for the elderly National Savings Fund Means tested transfer of 2000 Tax baths exemption Coverage under Art 40 + Ministry of Finance Formal workers working in establishments of more than 1 employee covered through contributory pension Coverage for government officials, state owned ent. Workers and private teachers 500 baths pension scheme for + 60 Poor & vulnerable 78% Informal economy Private sector 15% Civil serv 7%

The real income support for the elderly Fragmented!!! National Savings Fund Means tested transfer of 2000 baths Coverage under Art 40 lump sum + Ministry of Finance 500 baths pension scheme for + 60 = 1/3 of Poverty line Poor & vulnerable 78% Formal workers working in establishments of more than 1 employee covered through contributory pension Informal economy Coverage for government officials, state owned ent. Workers and private teachers: no portability Private sector 15% Civil serv 7%