9:30 - 12:30 Conference Hall
Plenary Session: Social protection of the rural population
Only one person in five of the world’s population has adequate social security protection, while less than half has any kind of social protection at all. This is the challenge which governments face, especially those in developing countries. Extending social security protection has been a major component of the ISSA Initiative project “Assessing the coverage gap”. It was at the core of the conclusions reached by the International Labour Conference in 2001, when the International Labour Organization reached a new consensus on the major social security issues, challenges and prospects at the dawn of the century. As a consequence, the extension of social protection resulted, more recently, in a world “Campaign” launched by the Social Protection Sector of the International Labour Office (ILO). Research and pilot projects have been undertaken and the topic has figured prominently on the agendas of ISSA and other meetings.

At this Plenary Session, extension of coverage will focus on rural populations. These populations include employees who are not protected by the general public scheme, agricultural small holders, and selfemployed foresters and fishermen and their families. While the social security needs of employees in rural industrial and service enterprises may be the same as those in urban enterprises, what are the needs of persons working directly in agriculture, forestry and fishing? Clearly, access to adequate health care is a priority. Is the additional protection these persons need against the various social risks different from the traditional social security benefits designed for employed persons? What is the capacity of the rural population to finance their protection? How might contributions be assessed and collected and compliance with contribution conditions achieved? How can infrastructure and other constraints to establishing an administrative structure be overcome?

This Plenary Session is led by the Social Protection Sector of the ILO. The issues will be explored by experts from the ILO and other international organizations and case studies will be presented.

14:30 - 17:30   Conference Hall
Technical Commission on Old-age, Invalidity and Survivors’ Insurance
      Chairperson: Ms. Anna Hedborg
      Director General
      National Social Insurance Board
      Sweden
      Vice-Chairpersons: Mr. Ahmad Abdel Fattah Abu Obeid
      Director General
      Social Security Corporation
      Jordania
      Mr. Patrick Hermange
      Director General
      National Old-Age Insurance Fund for Employees
      France
      Mr. Felice Roberto Pizzuti
      Member of the Board of Directors
      National Insurance Institute for Employees of the
      Public Administration
      Italy
      Mr. Franz Ruland
      Director
      Federation of German Pensions Insurance
      Institutions
      Germany

Agenda:

Retirement income security for men and women

In most countries, older women are more likely to live in poverty than older men. Earnings differentials affect both defined benefit and defined contribution pensions for men and women, generally resulting in lower pensions for women. Men and women have significantly different life
expectancies at retirement age. Pension benefits for single women and survivors are often inadequate. How can the unequal retirement income security of men and women be remedied?

Administration of disability insurance programmes

What has been the evolution of invalidity insurance in providing security, including current concepts of disability, the legal definition of disabil ity, procedures for assessing disability and for assessing the continuation of disability and rehabilitation/reinsertion measures? Topics include the appropriate role of disability benefits as a regulator of structural changes
in the labour market, for example, income security during the transition to an old-age pension, and the effects of various pension reforms on disability protection.