Tripartite Round Table on Pension Trends and Reforms (30 November–2 December and 4 December 2020) Record of proceedings (Meeting report) Social Protection Department – Bureau of Employers’ Activities – Bureau of Workers’ Activities Copyright © International Labour Organization 2021 First published 2021 Publications of the International Labour Office enjoy copyright under Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. Nevertheless, short excerpts from them may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation, application should be made to ILO Publications (Rights and Licensing), International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email: [email protected]. The International Labour Office welcomes such applications. Libraries, institutions and other users registered with a reproduction rights organization may make copies in accordance with the licences issued to them for this purpose. Visit www.ifrro.org to find the reproduction rights organization in your country. 9789220344248 (print) 9789220344255 (web PDF) The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the International Labour Office of the opinions expressed in them. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the International Labour Office, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. ILO publications and digital products can be obtained through major booksellers and digital distribution platforms, or ordered directly from [email protected]. For more information, visit our website: www.ilo.org/publns or contact [email protected]. Printed in Switzerland Tripartite Round Table on Pension Trends and Reforms (30 November–2 December and 4 December 2020) iii Table of contents Introduction Chapter 1. Summary of responses to the questionnaire Principle 1. Progressive realization of universal coverage 1.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 2 1.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 2 Principle 2. Social solidarity and collective financing 2.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 3 2.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 3 Principle 3. Right to adequate and predictable benefits 3.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 4 3.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 4 Principle 4. Overall and primary responsibility of the State 4.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 5 4.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 5 Principle 5. Non-discrimination, gender equality and responsiveness to special needs 5.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 6 5.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 6 Principle 6. Financial, fiscal and economic sustainability 6.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 7 6.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 7 Principle 7. Transparent management and administration 7.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 8 7.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 8 Principle 8. Involvement of social partners and consultations with other stakeholders 8.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 9 8.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 9 Principle 9. Periodic review of pensions to match the evolution of the cost of living and level of earnings 9.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism 9 9.2. Summary of responses to the questionnaire 10 iv Tripartite Round Table on Pension Trends and Reforms (30 November–2 December and 4 December 2020) Chapter 2. Summary of discussions at the Tripartite Round Table Meeting 2.1. Agenda of the meeting 11 2.2. Opening session 11 2.3. Country presentations and discussions 19 2.3.1. Mexico 19 2.3.2. Bulgaria 21 2.3.3. Indonesia 23 2.3.4. Jordan 24 2.3.5. Russian Federation 25 2.3.6. Nigeria 26 2.3.7. Canada 28 2.3.8. Chile 30 2.3.9. France 33 2.3.10. China 34 2.3.11. Côte d’Ivoire 36 2.3.12. Tunisia 37 2.3.13. Argentina 39 Chapter 3. Takeaway messages 3.1. Takeaway messages from the Government Group 42 3.2. Takeaway messages from the Workers’ Group 44 3.3. Takeaway messages from the Employers’ Group 49 Chapter 4. Closing remarks 4.1. Individual closing statements made by participants 50 4.1. Closing remarks by the Workers’ Group 54 4.3. Closing remarks by the Employers’ Group 55 4.4. Closing remarks by the Chairperson 56 List of annexes Annex I. Agenda Annex II. List of Participants Annex III. Concept Note Annex IV. Narrative notes Mexico 67 Bulgaria 70 Indonesia 74 Jordan 76 Russian Federation 77 Nigeria 80 Canada 81 Chile 87 France 95 China 101 Côte d’Ivoire 104 Tunisia 108 Argentina 111 Tripartite Round Table on Pension Trends and Reforms (30 November–2 December and 4 December 2020) 1 Introduction The Tripartite Round Table on Pension Trends and Reforms was held from 30 November to 2 December and on 4 December 2020 (no meeting was held on 3 December). Due to the COVID-19 related travel restrictions and quarantine measures, the Round Table was held virtually. The Round Table had been approved by the Officers of the ILO’s Governing Body; 14 countries were invited and 13 countries were represented at the meeting. Today, the reform of social security pension systems represents the biggest share of ongoing and planned social protection reform processes. A wide range of challenges – including population ageing, the growing informality of labour markets and the emergence of new forms of employment – have led in many countries to lively public and policy debates and reforms of national pension systems. Reform models and processes have been diverse and the extent to which they align with ILO standards and principles is of great importance, both to the countries undergoing reforms and to other countries considering different policy options. The objectives of the Round Table were: o to share global trends on pension reforms and in that context to learn from country experiences in designing, extending and reforming their pension systems; o to discuss policy and reform options in the light of ILO core principles and minimum benchmarks; o to share main takeaway messages prepared by the Employers’ group, the Workers’ group and the Government group. The ILO’s Social Protection Department, in cooperation with the Bureau of Employers’ Activities and the Bureau of Workers’ Activities, prepared a questionnaire structured around a set of nine core principles for pension systems derived from ILO social security standards. The objective of the questionnaire was to serve as the basis for the country presentations and reflections on pension systems’ achievement of the guiding principles. Participants were requested to send their completed questionnaires to the ILO prior to the Round Table. They were also asked to provide, prior to the meeting, a succinct narrative document that summarized the main issues related to the extent to which their countries’ pensions system had achieved the ILO principles, as well as the extent to which any ongoing or planned pension reforms or discussions were taking into account those principles. Chapter 1 of this report provides a summary of the responses to the questionnaire, as well as the information provided in some cases in the narrative notes received by the ILO, structured around the nine core principles for pension systems. Chapter 2 provides a summary of the discussions held during the tripartite Round Table, as well as the questions and comments raised by participants. Chapter 3 presents the takeaway messages of each of the three groups. Chapter 4 is dedicated to the closing remarks made by the Employer and Worker Vice-Chairpersons and the Chairperson, as well as a number of individual statements made by participants. 2 Tripartite Round Table on Pension Trends and Reforms (30 November–2 December and 4 December 2020) Chapter 1. Summary of responses to the questionnaire Principle 1. Progressive realization of universal coverage 1.1. How the principle is reflected and understood according to international standards and the ILO supervisory mechanism The objective under this principle is to examine where each of the participating countries stands from the point of view of progressively reaching universal coverage with respect to pensions so as to guarantee the human right to income security in old age for all. National policies and legal frameworks need to constantly pursue the objective of expanding coverage so as to progressively ensure that all persons in their territories have access to one form or another of income security in old age, both in law and in practice. However, there are multiple barriers – legal, administrative, financial and practical – to accessing protection in old age. These obstacles need to be continuously monitored in order for universal coverage to become and remain a reality for everyone concerned. As pointed out in the questionnaire responses, universality has been achieved in countries that have effectively combined various contributory and non-contributory protection mechanisms.