Evaluation of Presidential Law by Decree No. 6 of 2016 on Social Security- Roundtable (4)
Social Security is a scheme designed to achieve adequate standards of living and secure a minimum living wage in order to maintain the dignity of individuals, including through the provision of assistance to those who are in permanent or temporary need. Based on this concept, social security can be divided into two types. First, basic social security– funded by contributions and membership fees– includes benefits for old age, disability, death, employment injury, maternity, unemployment and health insurance. Second, social assistance (subsidies), which can be either in cash or in kind, is provided to individuals based on their need, and often financed from taxes rather than contributions and membership fees1. To build an effective social security system, a set of concepts needs to be adequately considered: justice, adequacy of coverage (level of benefits and population), sustainability, efficiency and fiscal affordability. These issues will be the core of the discussion in this paper, as parties still have different views on whether the social security presidential decree has taken account of these principles. The Law by Decree No. 6 for 2016 (issued on March 2, 2016 and published in the Palestinian Official Gazette on March 20, 2016) took effect 30 days after the date of its publication in the Palestinian Official Gazette; i.e. on April 20, 2016.