世界银行-加强中美洲的社会保护和劳工制度，实现有韧性和包容性的复苏（英）-2023.8-88页_2mb

Summary: Stronger Social Protection and Labor Systems in Central America for a Resilient and Inclusive Recovery

Introduction

This report analyzes challenges and policy recommendations for strengthening Social Protection (SP) and Labor (L) systems in Central America (CA),
particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and toward building resilience.

Central American SP/L Systems: Pre-Pandemic & Post-COVID Challenges

• Effectiveness Issues: SP spending often lacks progressivity, with broad categorical programs overshadowing poorly targeted ones. CCTs (Conditional Cash Transfers) show good targeting but limited coverage and benefit adequacy.
• Adaptiveness Limitations: Most countries had limited digital payments and outdated delivery systems, hindering pandemic response effectiveness.
• Labor Market Structural Issues: MAJOR informality (>49–82%), rigid labor regulations, low-quality jobs concentrated in services, and poor employment outcomes for women, youth, and low-skilled workers.
• COVID-19 Exacerbation: The pandemic deepened inequalities, caused significant job losses (especially informal/low-skilled workers), worsened human capital accumulation, and increased economic vulnerability.

Government Responses to COVID-19

Governments deployed social assistance measures (cash transfers, food support, utility waivers), targeted labor market interventions (wage subsidies, credit support), and experimented with delivery innovations (digital platforms, dynamic eligibility verification). However, fiscal constraints and gaps in coverage limited effectiveness.

“Building Back Better”: Three Directions for Policy

1. Improve Efficiency & Program Mix:
   • Shift from less progressive to better-targeted programs (e.g., reform energy subsidies toward usage-based eligibility, expand CCTs).
   • Strengthen well-targeted programs to support human capital accumulation and vulnerability reduction.
   • Ensure fiscal sustainability by rebalancing pension schemes.
   • Carefully manage the transition from emergency programs.
2. Strengthen Adaptiveness & Delivery Systems:
   • Implement dynamic registration and continuous enrollment (on-demand, online).
   • Enhance interoperability of social registries and social information systems to cross-check data.
   • Promote digital payments and financial inclusion to improve efficiency and reach.
   • Leverage technology across delivery points (intake, registration, payments).
3. Strengthen Labor Market Institutions & Services:
   • Improve labor market information systems and use real-time data.
   • Promote private-sector linked training for relevant skills.
   • Increase budget allocation for active labor market policies (ALMPs) tailored to priority groups.
   • Strengthen employment services using technology and profiling methods.
   • Advocate for labor market reforms supporting job creation and equity pathways to green/good jobs.

Key Findings

• Adaptability and efficiency of SP/L systems are crucial for inclusive and resilient post-COVID recovery.
• A multi-pronged approach—combining social protection, labor market policies, and institutional reforms—is vital.
• Ensuring inclusion for vulnerable and historically excluded groups (women, youth, Afrodescendants, Indigenous populations) remains a priority task alongside improving the overall system’s adaptive capacity and efficiency.