AMRC in collaboration with other 13 organisations and networks conducted a series of 4 workshops in the platform of World Social Forum 2024 on the 17th February in Kathmandu, Nepal. There were more than 200 participants from over 14 countries of Asia and Europe. The workshops include:
In this February 2024 Edition of the AROSP Newsletter, we delve into the multifaceted challenges shaping our world, from the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to the urgent need for socio-economic justice amidst global crises. We explore the intricate interplay between social protection, gender dynamics, and the informal economy, particularly focusing on the agrifood sector across South and Southeast Asia.
This research highlights the challenging conditions of maternity protection in the South Asian agrifood sector. Despite existing laws, both formal and informal sector workers face widespread denial of standard maternity benefits such as paid leave and health protections. Informality is rampant even in ostensibly formal sectors, leading to violations of labor laws and further exacerbating the problem.
This research investigates the status of social protection, particularly maternity protection, among agrifood sector workers in Southeast Asia. The agrifood sector encompasses the entire value chain from farm to table, playing a vital role in the region's economies, contributing significantly to GDP and employment. Despite its importance, women in the agrifood sector face various challenges, including lower wages, limited access to resources, and a higher likelihood of informal and precarious employment.
This toolkit focuses on best practices for social protection advocacy. Its fundamental starting point is the assertion that social protection is a human right. Social protection is defined as a set of policies to help women, men and children reach or maintain an adequate standard of living and good health. Building social protection systems (including social protection floors) is at the forefront of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, because these systems reduce and prevent poverty while also levelling out inequalities.
In this 2022 Edition of our Newsletter, you will find several products of AROSP. We are honoured to introduce to you 2 new e-publications, including the ‘Grassroots modalities collection #1 - Toward Transformative Social Protection’ and the ‘SOCIAL PROTECTION TOOLKIT’, which will hopefully encourage civil society to raise its voice and take stronger action for more comprehensive, inclusive and just social protection.
The Asian Roundtable on Social Protection (AROSP) was established more than 10 years ago. For the past several years, AROSP members have contributed to many achievements on the way toward transformative social protection to change structural poverty by addressing fiscal policies and power imbalances. This grassroots modalities collection is drawn from their stories, focusing on the success that organizations have had in advocating for social protection policy in Asia.
One Year Later: Lao Informal Workers and the Covid-19 Pandemic
Bing Phonkao, 39, informal worker and mother of four, lives in Vientiane Capital, Laos, with her husband and two youngest children. She moved to the capital five years ago in search of work, and after getting married she decided to relocate.
The Grassroots Mutual Aid Practice During Pandemic in Indonesia: A Community of Practice (CoP) Study Case
Prepared by Rizki Estrada and Rozi Hariansyah
Departing from the above problems, the purpose of this study is to address the following key questions: 1) How do the grassroot organizations build social resilience in the period of Large-Scale Social restriction policy amidst a pandemic? 2) What are the actions of grassroots communities when facing a pandemic, and amid the uncertainty of social protection provided by the Indonesian government?