Brief

Social protection in a changing World of Work: Towards a future with social protection for all in the Arab States

This note looks at the ways in which social protection systems in the Arab States will be affected by technological, emographic, economic and environmental changes that are taking place in the world of work. It then examines the key issues as well as the challenges and opportunities which need to be taken into account in future debates, bearing in mind the already existing social protection deficits in the region.

Social protection policies play a critical role in realizing the human right to social security for all, reducing poverty and inequality, and supporting inclusive growth – by boosting human capital and productivity, supporting domestic demand and facilitating structural transformations of national economies and contributing to political stability. While the need for social protection is widely recognized, the fundamental human right to social security remains unfulfilled for the large majority of the world’s population and a large number of people in the Arab States.