This Asia and the Pacific regional companion report complements the ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2024-26: Universal social protection for climate action and a just transition.
- It highlights key developments, challenges, and priorities for social protection in Asia and the Pacific.
Key Findings
- Social Protection: 53.6% of the population in the region is covered by at least one social protection benefit.
- Climate Change Resilience: Social protection programs like India's MGNREGA help people adapt to and cope with a changing climate by protecting their incomes, and jobs.
- India Specific Findings
- 48.8% of India’s population is covered by at least one social protection benefit.
- Total expenditure on social protection (including health) is 5.1% of GDP.
Challenges for Universal Social Protection: Informal economy, rapid demographic aging, financial gap, emerging environmental challenges, etc.
Recommendations given in the report
- Strengthen social protection systems to enhance resilience, climate adaptation & mitigation.
- Extend social protection coverage to workers in all types of employment.
- Reforming fossil fuel subsidies to create fiscal space for social protection.
- Utilize technology to improve delivery & effectiveness of social protection programs.
India’s Initiatives
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