3.3.
Perspectives on instruments for the future of informal workers
The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented global shock that affected informal workers worldwide due to the economic model and the difficult conditions in which the informal sector workers operate (Poggi &
Salenson, 2020)While the emergency measures were needed in order to protect this vulnerable group, it would be ideal for them to be adequately covered by social protection so that such shocks find it in a better
situation to start with. There are several risks possibly associated with emergency measures, which might further increase the vulnerability of informal workers when left unaddressed. As it is clear from the previous
section, a cash transfer initiative alone is insufficient to provide a holistic floor for populations. Moreover, special attention should be paid to identifying measures to make it most solid, like the methods applied for registering, type of targeting and level of inclusiveness, the adequacy of the amounts provided, the possibility of setting up blended models, and the reliability of grievance mechanisms. In what follows, we
intend to provide some brief perspectives on social protection instruments for the future of informal workers. 3.3.1. Data and Information Management A key tool to develop is the way a country addresses data and information management for the
enforcement of social protection programs. Brazil and Colombia have both used different information systems that enabled the flow and management of information within the social protection system. Having
the registries of SISBEN in Colombia and Cadastro Unico in Brazil has allowed a level of integration across different social protection programs. These registries have also ensured a more equitable, responsive, and inclusive distribution of resources, while increasing efficiency and effectiveness of delivery. However, there are some tradeoffs and challenges that countries will face to improve such mechanisms, like how to manage the increasing costs and complexity, the risks to data privacy and security, and the risk of multiple exclusion from all social sector schemes (V. Barca 2017). Both countries have also incorporated a higher level of digitalization to assess the eligibility of individuals and the delivery processes. They were able to develop digital systems in a way that would create more
inclusion “to ensure a higher standard of living for the vulnerable and disadvantaged” (Alston, 2019). Nevertheless, there are a relevant number of gaps when incorporating these technological advances to address one of the poorest sectors in the world’s population: the informal sector. As (V. Barca, M. Hebbar, et al. 2021) shows, it is crucial to invest in the information systems underpinning the delivery of social
assistance. In addition to this, countries need to enhance the accessibility of digital interfaces to all the population. It can be done by building upon the capacity of service providers, like social workers and other
local-level actors, to accompany applicants in the registration process. Since it would provide equal opportunities to all, digitalization training in the future could particularly aim at including the primarily secluded groups, e.g. women and people with disabilities.
More investment is advised towards a proper monitoring and evaluation system to assure complete
transparency and follow-up on improvements made to digitalized social protection = tools. The best idea, according to Barca et al. (2021), is always to incorporate intentionally an inclusive design where the digital tools can make a difference in addressing the exclusion issue that many countries of the world experience when targeting a specific sector of the population (V. Barca, M. Hebbar, et al. 2021). 3.3.2. Grievance Mechanisms To begin, Colombia and Brazil both provide grievance mechanisms to beneficiaries of cash transfer
programs and the emergency measures undertaken by the governments within the COVID-19 pandemic response. In Colombia many of the grievance mechanisms are given by the providing bodies, in the form 39
