Social Protection Floor Building the Assessment Matrix: Thailand Experiences ILO Training Workshop: “Social Protection: Assessment, Costing and Beyond” Faculty of Economic, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 16 October 2012 Thaworn Sakunphanit Deputy Director, Health Insurance System Research Office Health System Research Institution, Ministry of Public Health

Building the Assessment Matrix Learning about current situation Comparison with SPF Identifying policy gaps and implementation issues Defining recommendations

Process Met with MSDHS,NESDB, SSO, HISRO, TDRI, Social Partners, Chulalonkorn University, HelpAge, FoPDEV, Actors working on HIV sensitive social protection, Mahidol University Desk review (June 2011) Bilateral Consultations (July 2011) Consultative meeting August 2011

Social Protection in Thailand Fair Should improve Bad

According to the SPF framework, all the population should enjoy four guarantees –Access to health care –Income security for children –Minimum income for the working age –Income security for the elderly and the disabled Additional contributory benefits Social Protection Floor Entitlement to at least a minimum level of benefits Adapted social insurance Higher levels of Social Protection Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

Health care Minimum income for working age Income security for elderly/disabled Existing provision s Gaps/issues Recommendations/ priorities Income security for children What are existing programs? Analysis: Is all population covered? Are benefits adequate? Other issues?? Policy gaps & Implementation issues New schemes Recommendations Expansion of existing schemes Higher levels of benefits Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

The Official story (legal coverage) The effective coverage Define the gaps and the design of related benefits to close them Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

National dialogue Objectives: – Share / refresh about the SPF concept and framework – Discuss the diagnostic made of Social Security situation with main stakeholders – Complete the Assessment Matrix – Formulate jointly (in group works using the World Café exercise) recommendations to bridge the Social Protection gaps and overcome implementation issues Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

National dialogue (Health) Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

UC scheme cover those not covered by other schemes+ role of volunteers Informal economyPoor & vulnerableCivil servPrivate sector Civil servants and families covered by CSMBS 78% 7% The “official” social health protection coverage Formal workers working in establishments of more than 1 employee covered by SSS + NV and newly immigrated workers under MoU 15% Everybody is legally covered! Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

Pb of outreach, stateless, undocumented migrant workers Informal economyPoor & vulnerableCivil servPrivate sector 78% 7% The real social health protection coverage Issue of vertical inequality 15% Geographic imbalances Fragmented schemes! Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

Health care “all residents have access to a nationally defined set of essential health care services including maternity care that meets the criteria of availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality” The main conclusion is that the social protection floor for health care is achieved. The UN SPF joint team will provide support to a feasibility study on long-term care in the framework of the UNPAF on social protection.

National dialogue (Children) Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

Everybody can enjoy free education! Informal economyPoor & vulnerableCivil servPrivate sector Scolarrships to disadvantaged children 78% 7% The “official” social protection for children: 15% Children Financial Aid for associated costs Non Formal education programs Reimbursement of education fee up to 25 yrs Programs for children living with HIV Child Allowance under SSS Free lunches in primary schools Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

Everybody can enjoy free education! But equity and quality issues! Informal economyPoor & vulnerableCivil servPrivate sector Scolarships to disadvantaged children: scattered! 78% 7% The real social protection for children: 15% Children Financial Aid for associated costs Non Formal education programs Reimbursem ent of education fee up to 25 yrs Programs for children living with HIV: on demand! Child Allowance under SSS:350 baths/ month- Only Private sector workers until the age of 6 Free luches in primary schools: implementation issues Source: Modified from Celine Felix (2011)

Children “all children enjoy basic income security at least at the level of the nationally defined poverty line, ensuring access to nutrition, education, care and any other necessary goods and services”

Children The main recommendation is a universal child allowance should be implemented in Thailand. SC1: Universal Child Allowance for all children aged 0-3 (400 Baht/month) SC2: Universal Child Allowance for all children aged 0-6 (400 Baht/month) SC3: Universal Child Allowance for all children aged 0-12 (400 Baht/month) SC4: Universal Child Allowance for all children aged 0-6 (500 Baht/month) SC5: Universal Child Allowance for all children aged 0-12 (500 Baht/month) SC6: Allowance targeted to the poor children aged 0-14 (400 Baht/month)

Conclusions and Remarks Stakeholders participation is the must for Building the Assessment Matrix Predesign template for data gathering is needed Hot debates – Targeting (Efficiency) VS Universalism (Equity) – Short term financial burden VS Long term investment

Thank You