Latest news with #socialprotection
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: $5.4bln disbursed in subsidies last year
MUSCAT - Oman allocated more than RO 2.1 billion in 2024 to fund targeted support across critical sectors and public welfare programmes, as part of its broader fiscal strategy to promote economic resilience and social stability. According to official data released by the Ministry of Finance, the largest share—RO 565 million—was directed to the electricity sector to maintain affordability and ensure continued access to essential services. The government also committed RO 501 million to bolster the national social protection system, in line with the objectives of the Social Protection Law and Oman Vision 2040. In a move to strengthen fiscal health, RO 400 million was allocated for debt servicing. The petroleum sector received RO 232 million in fuel subsidies, helping cushion consumers from international price fluctuations. Key utilities and infrastructure were also prioritised. The water and sanitation sector was allocated RO 203 million, while the waste management sector received RO 71 million. The transport sector was granted RO 84 million to support mobility and logistics development. To ease the cost of living, the government allocated RO 24 million for food subsidies and RO 41 million to support interest payments on housing loans for eligible citizens. An additional RO 47 million was distributed to support other essential public services and initiatives. These allocations demonstrate Oman's commitment to maintaining essential public services while supporting vulnerable groups and advancing infrastructure investment. The 2024 spending priorities align closely with the nation's long-term development goals under Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to achieve balanced growth, fiscal sustainability, and improved quality of life. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Rwanda must avoid balancing budget on the backs of the poor: UN poverty expert
The UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, today praised Rwanda for its impressive progress in reducing poverty, but warned that much good work could be undone if plans to slash social protection are followed through, leaving the rural poor especially vulnerable. 'Rwanda has made remarkable strides lifting approximately 1.5 million Rwandans out of poverty in just seven years between 2017-2024,' De Schutter said in a statement at the end of his official visit to the country. 'The challenge now is to reach the approximately 3.6 million people still living below the poverty line, in an environment of cuts to international aid and the national budget.' According to the most recent data, the vast majority of people living below the poverty line live in rural areas, where poverty affects nearly one in three people – almost twice the urban rate. Regional disparities are also stark, with the Western and Southern Provinces, both of which the Special Rapporteur visited, registering the highest poverty levels in the country. Income and wealth inequalities also remain high. The top 1% of earners receive 20% of national income, nearly double the share of the bottom 50%. These challenges come at a difficult moment. Public debt reached 78.7% of Rwanda's GDP in January 2025, prompting the government to commit to a sharp reduction in its budget deficit – from 6.9% to 3.3% within two years – entering a period of what De Schutter referred to as 'economic shock therapy'. 'The persistence of poverty in rural areas, and especially among those who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, should guide the hard choices facing the government to reduce its budget deficit,' De Schutter said. 'Rwanda must not make the same mistakes of other countries that have balanced the budget on the backs of the poor – making counterproductive spending cuts that hit the most vulnerable the hardest,' he warned. De Schutter pointed to 'concerning trends' in this regard, including a decrease in the health budget as a share of the national budget from 10% to 7% since 2020/21. Social protection allocations have been slashed by 22% in the 2024/25 budget, with an additional 30% cut anticipated next year. Funding of policies in areas such as healthcare and social protection depend largely on international donor support, which is becoming increasing unpredictable, leading De Schutter to call for 'an urgent rethink in how to sustainably finance these life-saving sectors by better mobilising domestic resources.' De Schutter pointed to a range of promising initiatives that he urged the government to protect and strengthen further: the universal school feeding programme; the introduction of Imibereho, a social registry to better identify and support households experiencing poverty; community-based health insurance schemes; and the Ejo Heza long-term savings scheme that allows both formal and informal workers to build financial security with government support. However, the expert expressed concern about the lack of unemployment, family and maternity benefits. The Ingoboka cash transfer remains limited, and with no minimum wage and low unionization, one in four workers lives in poverty. De Schutter urged the government to strengthen public participation in order to address these concerns, warning that dismissing people's criticism of its policies as 'instigating divisions' or as 'causing civil unrest' would ultimately lead to wasteful and ineffective policies. 'It is only by protecting human rights that Rwanda will maintain its momentum on poverty reduction and reap the benefits of its demographic dividend. Only governments that listen and learn are equipped to serve the population: participation allowing for genuine concerns to be put forward, and bottom-up solutions to be proposed, are an indispensable ingredient of development,' De Schutter said. The Special Rapporteur's final report on Rwanda will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2026. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Zawya
29-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan's social protection strategy empowers vulnerable groups through jobs
AMMAN — Minister of Social Development Wafa Bani Mustafa on Wednesday participated in the closing ceremony of the 'Towards a Comprehensive National Social Protection System' project, implemented by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and UNICEF with support from the EU. In her remarks, Bani Mustafa underscored the project's significance in building a sustainable and inclusive social protection system by strengthening policy frameworks and mechanisms that promote decent job opportunities for vulnerable groups. She noted that the initiative aligns with the key pillars of the National Social Protection Strategy 2025–2033, which aims to shift targeted groups from aid dependence to empowerment, ensure access to fair and decent employment, and strengthen the system's ability to respond to future shocks and recovery phases, according to a ministry statement. The minister announced that work is underway to develop a comprehensive coordination mechanism for shock-responsive interventions as part of the strategy's implementation. Additionally, an early social warning system is being developed in cooperation with the National Centre for Security and Crisis Management (NCSCM) to improve preparedness and response. Bani Mustafa also highlighted the growing challenges posed by climate change, which disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations and communities. Regarding the project's outcomes, she stressed its role in enhancing integrated coordination and strategic planning, monitoring government efforts in the social protection and employment sectors, and reinforcing national systems to improve access to both labour market opportunities and social safety nets. She added that the project plays a key role in promoting decent employment through skill-based training initiatives designed to prepare beneficiaries for sustainable integration into the labour market. The project has achieved "outstanding" results that can be promoted to launch such projects and programs in the future, she noted. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Jordan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
SSC, Palestinian labour minister talk social protection cooperation
By JT - May 22,2025 - Last updated at May 22,2025 Acting Director General of the Social Security Corporation Jadallah Khalayleh stressed the corporation's readiness to provide its expertise and capabilities to help Palestine develop retirement and social security mechanisms (Petra photo) AMMAN — Acting Director General of the Social Security Corporation (SSC) Jadallah Khalayleh stressed the corporation's "full readiness" to provide its expertise and capabilities to help Palestine develop retirement and social security mechanisms and improve their benefits and procedures. Khalayleh's remarks came during a meeting with an official Palestinian delegation, headed by Palestinian Minister of Labour Inas Attari, to review the SSC's experience in the fields of social protection, insurance, and programmes, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Khalayleh said the SSC has contacted the Palestine Pension Fund Authority (PPFA) over the past years to highlight its experiences in this field, stressing the corporation's "continued" efforts to boost and sustain its partnership with the Palestinian side and offer insurance and technical expertise. Khalayleh added that the SSC has 'kept pace' with developments regionally and globally and has made "remarkable" strides in social insurance and e-services areas to insured persons and retirees. Attari said that the 'brotherly and historic" bilateral relations are paving the way for "more effective" cooperation in the social protection field. Expressing gratitude for the SSC's support and training provided under the previous partnership agreement with PPFA, she expressed hope to maintain implementation of the two bodies' memorandum of understanding to benefit from their "rich" expertise in the social insurance area. After reviewing the SSC's "rich" experience, she said the main focus is setting the appropriate date for launching a Palestinian social security body, as well as the stages and factors that would facilitate its promotion drive and mechanisms for planning, implementation, and follow-up.
Jordan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Senate reaffirms support for Palestinian labour and legislative development
Senate President Faisal Fayez met with Palestinian Minister of Labour Enas Attari over enhancing cooperation in labour legislation and social protection frameworks. (Petra photo) AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez on Thursday underlined the Upper House's commitment to supporting the Palestinian people through legislative and parliamentary expertise, particularly in labour-related matters and legislative development across key sectors. Fayez's remarks came during a meeting with Palestinian Minister of Labour Enas Attari and representatives from the tripartite labour partnership: government, workers, and employers, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. Fayez underscored the readiness of the Senate's Labour Committee to extend legal and technical advisory support to the Palestinian side, especially on labour rights and social security legalisation. He reiterated Jordan's support for the Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza and the occupied West Bank, noting that under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, Jordan continues to defend Palestinian rights and intensify diplomatic efforts to halt the aggression and advance a political resolution to the Palestinian cause. Fayez also highlighted His Majesty's direct involvement in Jordan's humanitarian response, including aid delivery to Gaza, the operation of military field hospitals in Palestine, and firm opposition to Israeli expansionist policies and forced displacement. He called for enhanced coordination among Arab trade unions to protect Palestinian workers and urged the international community, including the International Labour Organisation, to fulfil their moral and legal obligations. Fayez stressed the need to pressure Israel to abide by international conventions protecting workers' rights and ensure a just and safe working environment for Palestinian labourers. Attari praised Jordan's support of the Palestinian cause, affirming the significance of the Kingdom's role in strengthening Palestinian resilience and welcomed continued cooperation. She also acknowledged Jordan's technical expertise, particularly in labour and social security, and underscored the value of benefiting from Jordanian experience in legislation and training. She also commended the Senate's Labour and Social Development Committee for its guidance in developing a Palestinian social security framework and broader measures to protect and empower Palestinian workers.
