2016年-世界发展银行全球_Assessing_Benefit_Portability_for_International_Migrant_Workers___A_Review_of_the_Austria-Turkey_Bilateral_Social_Security_Agreement_65页_1mb

Summary of "Assessing Benefit Portability for International Migrant Workers: A Review of the Austria-Turkey Bilateral Social Security Agreement"

Core Content

This document is a discussion paper that evaluates the functionality and effectiveness of the Austria-Turkey Bilateral Social Security Agreement (BSSA) in the context of benefit portability for international migrant workers. It is part of a broader project analyzing BSSAs in four migration corridors: Austria-Germany-Turkey, Belgium-France-Morocco, and others. The study focuses on how these agreements enable the transfer of pension rights and health care benefits across borders, while also assessing their fairness for individuals, fiscal fairness for countries, and administrative efficiency.

Main Points

1. Global Context of Migration and Benefit Portability

• In 2015, 3.3% of the world population were international migrants, with a growing trend.
• Non-EU citizens in the EU-28 accounted for 4% of the EU population, and 7% of the total population were foreign-born.
• The study highlights the importance of benefit portability for labor mobility, as it allows individuals to transfer their social security rights across countries.

2. The Role of BSSAs

• Bilateral Social Security Agreements (BSSAs) are crucial for enabling benefit portability, especially between developed and developing countries.
• BSSAs are more common among high-income countries, and their effectiveness is not well-documented.
• The study examines the Austria-Turkey BSSA, which is considered mature and advanced, as it includes health benefits from the beginning.

3. Methodology

• The study uses a standardized methodology to assess BSSAs across four migration corridors.
• It involves three main sets of background documents:
  • Migration and social insurance profiles of the countries.
  • Datasets and key performance indicators.
  • In-depth interviews with officials and migrant organizations.
• Due to data limitations, key performance indicators were not fully developed, and qualitative insights were relied upon.

4. Migration Trends in the Austria-Turkey Corridor

• Austrian migration developments and Turkish migration to Austria have evolved significantly since the 1960s.
• The first wave of migration from Turkey to Austria occurred from the early 1960s to 1973, driven by guest worker recruitment.
• After 1974, migration shifted toward family reunification, and the number of Turkish citizens in Austria peaked between 1987 and 1991.
• The foreign population in Austria increased from below 1.5% in the early 1960s to 12.5% by 2014.
• Naturalization rates for Turkish migrants in Austria are above average, with 53% of those naturalized in 2012 being born in Austria.

5. Demographics of Migrants in Austria

• As of 2012, 275,000 Austrians had a Turkish migration background, and 113,000 held Turkish citizenship.
• The gender composition of Turkish citizens in Austria is more male-dominated (51.7%) compared to Austrians (48.6%).
• Turkish migrants are generally younger, with an average age of 36.8 years, compared to 42 years for Austrians.
• Only 5.6% of Turkish migrants in Austria were over 65 years old in 2013, much lower than the general population.

6. Social Protection Systems

• Austria has a comprehensive pension system and universal health insurance (UHI), which supports benefit portability.
• Turkey has a different pension system with limited coverage and less developed social protection.
• Health insurance for Turkish citizens in Austria is less comprehensive compared to the Austrian system.

7. Findings on the Austria-Turkey BSSA

• The Austria-Turkey BSSA is functioning well, with no major issues in pension portability.
• Few minor issues exist in health care portability and financing.
• A contentious issue is the discontinuation of family allowances for children in Turkey by Austrian authorities in the 1990s.
• Information exchange and automation are recognized challenges but are beginning to be addressed.

8. Policy Implications

• BSSAs are essential for enabling labor mobility and social protection across borders.
• Portability should allow labor decisions to be made independently of social benefits.
• Inadequate portability can lead to informal labor and reduced tax revenues.
• The study recommends better information systems, modernization, and policy coherence to improve benefit portability.

Key Information

• Total Migration and Turkish Citizenship in Austria (1982–2012):

  • Migration balance peaked between 1987–1991.
  • Naturalization rates were high, especially among Turkish-born individuals in Austria.

• Pension and Health Care Transfer:

  • Pension transfers are well-functioning, with minimal issues.
  • Health care transfers are less developed, with gaps in coverage and financial challenges.

• Challenges and Recommendations:

  • Information gaps and bureaucratic delays hinder the efficiency of BSSAs.
  • Electronic data exchange and modernization are needed.
  • Policy coherence and international cooperation are essential for fairness and fiscal balance.

Conclusion

The Austria-Turkey BSSA is generally effective in ensuring pension portability, though minor issues remain in health care. The study highlights the importance of BSSAs in promoting fairness, fiscal balance, and administrative efficiency. It also emphasizes the need for better information systems, modernization, and policy improvements to enhance benefit portability for international migrant workers.