The International Social Security Association (ISSA) has released updated country profiles for the Americas. These profiles provide a summary of policy data on the parameters, financing, and administration of mandatory statutory programmes in 38 countries and territories across the continent.
Social security organizations from across Latin America came together in Buenos Aires on 6–7 August 2024 to discuss communication strategies. The ISSA Technical Seminar was hosted by Argentina’s National Social Security Administration (ANSES).
The Pension Standardization Office (Oficina de Normalización Previsional – ONP) has taken over as host organization for the ISSA Liaison Office for the Andean Countries.
The Virtual Social Security Forum for the Americas saw a record of over 1,000 registered participants. As a result, it became the most attended virtual event of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) to date, offering rich exchanges between social security institutions and
In the Americas, as in the rest of the world, social security is a powerful instrument through which the public feels the presence of government. The quality of the social security experience is an important gauge of public satisfaction with government and political leadership; administrators thus have a compelling reason to strive for excellence in the administration of social security programmes.
The Americas region has entered a new era of service and improved management, one that successfully blends human skills and the innovative and enabling capacities of digital technologies, according to the new study by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) – Evolving management
Extending and maintaining social security coverage stands out as a perennial challenge for social security administrations in the Americas. The rapidly evolving needs of different population groups, especially children, women and the elderly, as well as economic and sociopolitical changes and demographic and technological transitions, have brought about societal transformations with an ever-increasing number of people in need of social security protection.
Economic growth in the Americas in recent years has led to a significant extension of social security coverage. This is borne out by the region now having coverage levels above the global average.
Error, Evasion and Fraud in Social Security Systems
Good Governance
Contribution Collection and Compliance
Information and Communication Technology
Social security evasion and fraud issues have high social and economic cost, create imbalances in social security accounts and ultimately lead to economic distortions that are not favourable to the functioning and competitiveness of the national economy. They also have a political impact because they undermine the reputation of the institutions that administer the social security programmes. It is estimated that evasion and fraud cause a 3 to 5 per cent income shortfall in social security systems and amount to up to 2 per cent of the gross domestic product of OECD countries (RAND Europe, 2014). These figures are likely to be higher in countries with less formal economies.
Non-contributory pensions, also known as social pensions, are an important component of rights-based universal social protection systems. They allow extending pension coverage relatively rapidly to elderly persons who are not covered by contributory schemes. Usually financed by general revenues and providing relatively modest benefits, eligibility for social pensions is often conditional on low income or certain other criteria.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is the winner of the record-breaking ISSA Good Practice Award for the Americas competition. The total of 138 entries is the highest ever for any of the regional competitions organized by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) since 2008.
The ISSA Social Security Virtual Summit for the Americas will take place on 3 December 2020, under the theme “Towards a new normal: Challenges and opportunities”.