Labor market exclusion is at the root of poverty and vulnerability in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), says a new World Bank report, which proposes a series of actions that governments in the region can take to make social protection systems more inclusive and efficient. However, according to the report, social protection policies in countries across MENA are falling short of that role. And social protection policies are ill-prepared to meet the challenges resulting from an ageing population, as well as the impacts of advancing technology and climate change. The report identifies reform priorities to make social protection systems in MENA more inclusive and efficient. In a tight fiscal environment, MENA countries need to tackle the reform of generalized energy and food subsidies.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 08, 2023 03:11 UTC