In line with directives from Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, to enhance international cooperation and exchange expertise, a delegation from Egypt, led by Raafat Chafik, assistant to the Minister for Social Protection, Human Development, and Economic Empowerment, visited Uruguay. The visit, organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (CESAO), aimed to explore Uruguay's experience in social protection and insurance, as well as its service delivery systems.
During the visit, the Egyptian delegation met with officials from Uruguay's social security institutions, including the Banco de Previsión Social (BPS). They learned about the structure of Uruguay's social protection system, management mechanisms for contributory and non-contributory benefits, and social coverage throughout various life stages. Discussions also covered old-age, disability, and survivor pensions, as well as programs for protection during employment, maternity, paternity, childcare, unemployment, and illness.
The Uruguayan experience in expanding social protection to include self-employed workers and those in the informal economy through the "Monotributo" system was also examined. The delegation learned about Uruguay's efforts to integrate domestic workers into the social protection system and provide non-contributory protection services to the elderly and people with disabilities. This includes non-contributory pensions and "aging aid" for vulnerable groups.
The Egyptian delegation gained insight into Uruguay's policies for protecting women and promoting gender equality. These policies address gaps in female career paths and provide social protection during working life, including unemployment insurance, sickness benefits, work accident coverage, maternity and paternity benefits, childcare allowances, and healthcare through the national health insurance system.
The visit allowed for an exchange of expertise and best practices in social protection and digital transformation. The Egyptian delegation expressed interest in learning from Uruguay's experiences in implementing effective social protection systems and integrating technology to improve service delivery.
Key aspects of Uruguay's social protection system, such as its comprehensive coverage and emphasis on vulnerable populations, were of particular interest to the Egyptian delegation. The visit demonstrated the value of international cooperation in addressing common challenges in social protection and promoting sustainable development.
The knowledge gained from this visit is expected to inform Egypt's efforts to enhance its social protection systems and improve the lives of its citizens. By exploring innovative solutions and best practices from other countries, Egypt can work towards creating a more comprehensive and effective social protection framework.
Key points
- Egypt's Ministry of Social Solidarity is strengthening international cooperation to develop its social protection systems.
- The Uruguayan experience in social protection and digital transformation is being studied by Egypt to improve its own systems.
- The visit highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing common challenges in social protection.
