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Virtual Workshop of Specialists Towards solidarity-based and sustainable non-contributory pension systems in Latin America and the Caribbean

Social development
28 November 2023|Event

This virtual event seeks to discuss among regional specialists issues related to the opportunities and challenges to advance in the consolidation of non-contributory pension systems from a solidarity and sustainability approach.

Background

The expansion of non-contributory pension systems has been a significant milestone in Latin America and the Caribbean, being one of the leading public policy innovations that has contributed to the strengthening of social protection systems in the region. In the last two decades, the coverage of these systems has increased significantly, from covering 3.4% of the population aged 65 and over, around one million people in 2000, to 26.6% in 2021, reaching 16.1 million older persons in Latin America and the Caribbean. In doing so, they have contributed to reducing gaps in coverage and gender inequalities and their multiple expressions in access to pension systems in old age. These systems include non-contributory pension systems for old age, disability or both and are currently present in 28 of the 33 countries in the region.

Facing a risk structure that is being reconfigured, including a demographic transition marked by ageing and profound transformations in the world of work, non-contributory pension systems have become a fundamental policy of social protection systems for the eradication of extreme poverty and old-age poverty in the region. However, significant challenges remain in designing these systems to amplify their impact in addressing regional structural inequalities and move towards increasing levels of sustainability in their implementation. This will require setting clear targets for the expansion of their coverage, levels of adequacy and associated financial sustainability. It is possible to move towards integrated models between contributory and non-contributory pension systems, which in turn creates significant institutional challenges and opportunities in the countries of the region.

Objective

Within the framework of the ECLAC-BMZ/GIZ project "Recover Better: Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic consequences in Latin America and the Caribbean", this virtual workshop of specialists seeks to debate among regional experts the issues related to the opportunities and challenges for advancing in the consolidation of non-contributory pension systems from a solidarity and sustainability approach. Through the dialogue and exchange that will be fostered in this space, it is hoped to contribute to the regional debate on the challenges that countries face in making progress in the implementation of these systems, expanding their coverage and levels of sufficiency, as well as the mechanisms for guaranteeing their financial sustainability. It will also address the institutional and design challenges of these systems to make progress in eradicating extreme poverty and poverty in old age and a sustained reduction of inequalities. With solidarity at the centre, the options for moving towards increasingly integrated contributory and non-contributory systems will also be discussed.

This workshop is also organised as part of the activities linked to the preparation of the book "Non-contributory pension systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: moving towards sustainability with solidarity". This book presents updated evidence on the situation of non-contributory pension systems in the region, their evolution, main features of their design and challenges of financial sustainability, as well as case studies that explore options for strengthening non-contributory pension systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Methodology of work

The workshop will have five panels, each with keynote presentations, followed by time for a round of comments and dialogue. 

28 Nov 2023

  • Inaugural Session: Welcoming Remarks and Methodology

    10:45 to 11:00

    Welcoming remarks

    Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director of the Social Development Division, ECLAC

    Representative of the German Cooperation (tbc)

  • Panel 1 Regional situation of non-contributory pension systems and their role in eradicating old-age poverty and reducing inequalities

    11:00 to 12:00

    Moderator: Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director of the Social Development Division, ECLAC

    "Conceptual elements and current situation of non-contributory pension systems in Latin America and the Caribbean", Claudia Robles, Social Affairs Officer, ECLAC

    "The design of non-contributory pension systems in Latin America and the Caribbean: main challenges", Camila Arza, Senior Researcher, Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Public Policy, Argentina

    Comments

    Simone Cecchini, Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Demographic Centre - Population Division, ECLAC

    Ana Güezmes, Director of the Division for Gender Affairs, ECLAC (tbc)

    Pablo Yanes, Research Coordinator, ECLAC Sub-Regional Headquarters in Mexico

  • Panel 2 Debates on the universality of non-contributory pension systems: experiences and main lessons learnt

    12:00 to 13:10

    Moderator: María Luisa Marinho, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    "Towards universality in the coverage of non-contributory pension systems: the case of Mexico", Pablo Yanes, Research Coordinator, ECLAC Sub-Regional Headquarters in Mexico

    "Learning from the implementation of the Universal Guaranteed Pension in Chile", Juan Vila, Consultant, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    Comments

    Claudio Reyes, Undersecretary of Social Security, Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Chile

    Luisa Mussot, Directorate of Institutional Strategic Planning, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) (tbc)

    Questions and comments

  • Panel 3 Making progress in closing gaps in the coverage and adequacy of entitlements in non-contributory pension systems: design and institutional challenges

    14:10 to 15:15

    Moderator: Andrés Espejo, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    "Options and challenges for strengthening the non-contributory pension system in Peru", Noelia Bernal, Consultant, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    "Advances in coverage and comprehensiveness in the design of the non-contributory pension system in Argentina", Martín Cherkasky Rappa, ECLAC Office in Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Comments

    Julio Mendigure, Executive Director Pensión 65, Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS)

    Guillermo Montt, Senior Social Protection Specialist for the Southern Cone of Latin America, ILO

    Questions

  • Panel 4 Focusing on the financial sustainability of non-contributory pension systems with solidarity at their core

    15:15 to 15:55

    Moderator: Daniela Trucco, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    Financial sustainability for the expansion of non-contributory pension systems and the eradication of poverty in old age", Ernesto Espíndola, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    Comments

    Daniel Titelman, Director of the Economic Development Division, ECLAC (tbc)

    Questions

  • Panel 5 Keys to the creation and gradual extension of a non-contributory pension system

    16:10 to 17:25

    Moderator: Carlos Maldonado, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    "Challenges of building a non-contributory pension system: The case of Honduras", Manuel Delgado, Consultant, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    "Progress and institutional challenges for the expansion of the non-contributory pension system in the Dominican Republic", Manuel Delgado, Consultant, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    Juan Vila, Consultant, Social Development Division, ECLAC

    Comments

    Pedro Alcántara Director of the National Social Security Council (CNSS) of the Dominican Republic

    Rafael del Cid, Director of the Honduran Center for the Study of State Policies in the Social Sector (CHEPES), Honduras

    Hon. Norman Dunn, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Jamaica (tbc)

    Questions and comments

  • Closing of the workshop

    17:25 to 17:40

    Final remarks

    Alberto Arenas de Mesa, Director of the Social Development Division, ECLAC

Practical information

The workshop will have five panels, each with keynote presentations, followed by time for a round of comments and dialogue. There will be simultaneous interpretation spanish-english