scholarly journals Migrants’ Access to Social Protection in Romania

Author(s):  
Irina Burlacu ◽  
Sorina Soare ◽  
Daniela Vintila

Abstract This chapter examines to what extent the Romanian welfare system covers resident citizens compared to foreigners residing in Romania and Romanians living abroad. In doing so, we analyse existing social policies aiming to ensure their coverage against a variety of risks at different life-cycle stages, including unemployment, poverty, sickness and old-age. The main conclusion is that the Romanian welfare state is open to all residents, regardless of their nationality, thus providing everyone equal grounds for accessing social benefits. The criterion of residence on the Romanian soil is, however, prevalent. This implies that relatively few social provisions are extended for non-resident Romanians, which represent an increasingly sizeable community given the intensity of migration outflows in recent years. Furthermore, the Romanian social protection system has had relatively little impact on reducing the risk of poverty and income inequality in the country, despite regular amendments during the last years.

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 906-936
Author(s):  
Fernando da Cruz Souza ◽  
Nelson Russo de Moraes

A austeridade permanente e a disputa de quem ganha o quê, quando e como, lógica intrínseca às políticas públicas, colocam as políticas sociais brasileiras em constantes testes. O universalismo tentativo iniciado com a Constituição de 1988 pareceu caminhar para uma ampliação da cidadania social no país, mas tem sofrido constantes ataques por falta de um compromisso de classes em torno de um projeto de país mais ou menos homogêneo. Diante dessa falta de precisão no estabelecimento Estado de Bem-estar brasileiro, em especial, pelo encolhimento no investimento público previsto para os próximos anos e com os governos mais alinhados a maior mercadorização dos serviços sociais, torna-se importante revisitar a trajetória do Welfare State em suas origens e objetivos, a fim de compreender como chegamos até aqui, o que podemos esperar do futuro e quais a intervenções necessárias para que nos aproximemos de uma inclusão sensível do grande contingente de pessoas ainda sujeitas a uma cidadania de segunda classe no Brasil. Para atender a esse objetivo, este trabalho realizou uma revisão bibliográfica convencional sobre o Estado de Bem-Estar Social, elencando a partir dela as razões históricas de seu surgimento, a tipologia de Esping-Andersen, a noção de funcionamentos e capacitações de Amartya Sen e os períodos constitutivos do bem-estar no Brasil.   PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Proteção social. Desenvolvimento. Direitos sociais.     ABSTRACT The permanent austerity and the dispute over who wins what, when and how, logic intrinsic to public policies, puts Brazilian social policies in constant tests. The tentative universalism that began with the 1988 Constitution seemed to be heading for a broadening of social citizenship in the country, but it has been under constant attack for the lack of a class compromise around a homogeneous country project. Given this lack of precision in the establishment of the Brazilian Welfare State due to the shrinking public investment expected in the coming years and with the governments most aligned to the greater commodification of social services, it is important to revisit the trajectory of the Welfare State in its origins and objectives, in order to understand how far we have come, what we can expect from the future and what interventions are needed to bring us closer to a sensitive inclusion of the large contingent of people still subject to second class citizenship in Brazil. To meet this objective, this paper has carried out a conventional bibliographical review of the Welfare State, listing from it the historical reasons for its emergence, Esping-Andersen's typology, Amartya Sen's notion of functioning and capabilities and the constitutive periods of welfare in Brazil.   KEYWORDS: Social protection. Development. Social rights.     RESUMEN La austeridad permanente y la disputa sobre quién gana qué, cuándo y cómo, la lógica intrínseca a las políticas públicas, pone a las políticas sociales brasileñas en pruebas constantes. El tentativo universalismo que comenzó con la Constitución de 1988 parecía dirigirse a una ampliación de la ciudadanía social en el país, pero ha estado bajo ataque constante por la falta de un compromiso de clase en torno a un proyecto de país más o menos homogéneo. Dada esta falta de precisión en el establecimiento del Estado de bienestar brasileño, en particular, debido a la reducción de la inversión pública esperada en los próximos años y con los gobiernos más alineados con la mayor mercantilización de los servicios sociales, es importante revisar la trayectoria del Estado de bienestar en sus orígenes y objetivos, para comprender cómo hemos llegado hasta ahora, qué podemos esperar del futuro y qué intervenciones son necesarias para acercarnos a una inclusión sensible del gran contingente de personas aún sujetas a una ciudadanía de segunda clase en Brasil. Para cumplir con este objetivo, este documento ha llevado a cabo una revisión bibliográfica convencional del Estado del Bienestar, enumerando de él las razones históricas de su surgimiento, la tipología de Esping-Andersen, la noción de funcionamiento y capacidadess de Amartya Sen, y períodos constitutivos de bienestar en Brasil.   PALABRAS CLAVE: Protección social. Desarrollo. Derechos sociales.  


Author(s):  
Pauline Melin

Abstract Access to social benefits in Belgium is not conditional upon nationality but rather on periods of insurance to the Belgian social security system. Despite the lack of nationality conditions, a number of social benefits are made conditional upon residence of the beneficiary in Belgium. Consequently, even though the Belgian social security system appears, at first sight, as neutral regarding the migration trajectory of its beneficiaries, it might be more difficult for migrants to access, retain and export social security benefits from Belgium when compared to resident nationals. This chapter thus compares the conditions of access to social benefits for nationals and non-nationals residing in Belgium, as well as Belgian citizens residing abroad. It aims to analyse whether migration decisions impact access to and retention of social security benefits. More particularly, the analysis focuses on access to unemployment benefits, healthcare, old-age pensions, family benefits and guaranteed minimum income. Finally, this chapter also questions whether access to social benefits might have a consequence for the residence status of non-nationals in Belgium.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-93
Author(s):  
Hyun Kyoung Kim

What explains South Korea’s underdeveloped welfare system and recent departure from it? The existing scholarship fails to offer a compelling theory that accounts for the trajectory of the Korean welfare state. Finding dominant theories stressing variables such as regime type or globalization inadequate, this article argues that Korea’s dualized labor market has been a critical factor in shaping institutions of social protection. Its labor markets are characterized by segmentation between insiders who benefit from strong employment protection and outsiders who are exposed to a greater degree of labor market risk. Korea’s welfare system, which is built on the provision of welfare benefits to insiders, has replicated this labor market dualism. The recent expansion of social protection also reflects the insider–outsider division, with the interest of insiders being key variables. The weakening of employment protection, or the prospect of it, led this key group to develop an interest in more broad-based social protection programs. Based on this political logic, this article provides an analysis of Korea’s welfare state development.


Author(s):  
Romas Lazutka ◽  
Jekaterina Navicke

Abstract This chapter aims to discuss the link between migration and welfare in Lithuania. We start with presentation of the main characteristics of the Lithuanian welfare system emphasizing the access to social benefits for resident nationals, non-national residents, and non-resident nationals. Later we examine key developments of population migration to and from Lithuania. Finally, we present a detailed analysis of five social policy schemes - unemployment, health care, family benefits, pensions, and guaranteed minimum resources – from the perspective of access to social benefits of these different groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 1343-1348
Author(s):  
Elisabeta Bajrami Ollogu

With the collapse of the former SFRY115, citizens, vulnerable groups in particular and the overall Macedonian society had to face the first decade of a prolonged transition, characterized by continuous reforms and rapid changes as a result of the newly emerging social conditions, ideological, political and economic challenges. The first decade of transitional period resulted in chaotic changes not only in the economic system, but in weaker measures of social protection and social security. With increased rates of unemployment, pensions and social security declining, health care services weakened, a number of legislative changes were introduced, both in terms of funding, administration and delivery of social policy services and institutional arrangements of social protection system. However, it has been shown that these policies and laws have not improved the overall situation of social beneficiary users nor have they helped to include them in the labor market.Since the independence of the country, social policies have undergone many changes broadly influenced by demographic factors, low economic growth and ideological ‘preferences’ of political parties governing the country so far. The question that naturally arises is: how much the measures applied have given rise to a positive change for the existence of the welfare state and to what extent it can be estimated that the social policies undertaken were influenced by ideological preferences? What is the legacy with the former state-socialist welfare tradition? Which were the main influences in the establishment of the welfare state in North Macedonia? Methodologically, this research is mainly characterized by literature review with the aim to analyze the social context in which reforms have undergone and being implemented. A document analysis of social policy documents will be used as well.


2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chack-kie Wong ◽  
Kenneth Kin-lam Chau ◽  
Timothy Ka-ying Wong

This article points to the simple fact that modern welfare systems are neither welfare states nor are they welfare societies. In reality, they are a combination of both. The current interpretation of the supposed dichotomy of these two institutions has inhibited our understanding of reality. Consequently, this has obscured the complicated ways in which the state and the society have worked together to harmonize the needs for social protection and active citizenship. In the present article, the example of a Chinese welfare system has been used to illustrate that even a welfare system usually not regarded as a welfare state can develop strong universal welfare state programmes. In order to demonstrate the significance of this situation, findings related to public attitudes have been cited to reflect the support of both policy assumptions underlying social protection and active citizenship in the welfare system that is under review.


Author(s):  
José Carlos Marques ◽  
Pedro Góis

Abstract Portugal is a traditional country of emigration with a multigenerational diaspora spread across a large number of countries. In the last 50 years, especially after the 1974 revolution, it developed a welfare state that responds to the needs of residents (including immigrants). Traditionally, this welfare state has been described as fragile in comparison with other welfare regimes in Europe. Nevertheless, it was built as a universal welfare system based on jus solis and deterritorialized jus sanguinis regime. The study of the extension of social protection to Portuguese citizens living abroad had not yet received sufficient attention, albeit recurrent news on measures and strategies that the state put in practice to assist Portuguese emigrants in need. This chapter will survey some of the recent policies to reach citizens abroad by showing the limits of the Portuguese welfare state in action. Through these policies and actions, Portugal projects an image of an always-present state that extents its national powers beyond the limits of its territorially confined borders.


Author(s):  
Zvezda Vankova ◽  
Dragomir Kolev Draganov

Abstract This chapter aims to discuss the link between migration and welfare in Bulgaria. Firstly, it presents the main characteristics of the Bulgarian welfare system and discusses access to social benefits for resident and non-resident nationals, and resident non-nationals. Secondly, it examines Bulgaria’s migration history and key migration policy developments. Finally, the chapter provides a detailed analysis of access to social benefits of these different groups across five policy areas – unemployment, health care, family benefits, pensions, and guaranteed minimum resources – and the links to Bulgaria’s migration policy.


Author(s):  
Pierre Pestieau ◽  
Mathieu Lefebvre

This final chapter recaps the main problems facing the welfare states in Europe and insists on the need for reform. The acquired right issue but also the opposing views on what should be a welfare state too often tend to slow down the implementation of changes. Also, the two main challenges—coping with the digital revolution and fighting the social divide—are addressed. Faced with dramatic changes in how people work, social protection has to adapt. Reducing the gap between haves and have-nots will also be crucial for social policies and this may not be solved just by cash transfers.


2019 ◽  
pp. 019251211988753
Author(s):  
Jae-jin Yang ◽  
Hyeok Yong Kwon

This study unveils the effects of union structure – national, industrial and enterprise unionism – on the solidarity and redistribution preferences of workers. We argue that labor unions have varied scope and levels of solidarity as well as redistribution preferences because solidarity is not naturally given but tends to be cultivated by labor unions. In order to sustain commitment to egalitarian wages and redistributive social policies, a spirit of solidarity must be instilled in the minds of members, especially more privileged workers. Our analysis finds that countries with encompassing unions at national and industry levels have higher levels of overall support for government intervention to reduce income inequality than countries with enterprise unionism. It suggests that welfare state building is not just a function of relative power between labor and capital; union structure and preference formation matter as well.


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