A new report finds that marginalised workers were excluded from the design of digital social protection systems and that many without smartphones or digital literacy were unable to access social protection via digital systems. The report from the IDS convened African Digital Rights Network (ADRN) also found that the digitalisation of social protection in multiple countries in Africa introduces new digital rights risks, including violations of privacy, data protection and disability exclusions.
Watch this explainer video produced by ADRN on what is meant by Workers Social Protection and the Digitisation of Social Protection
The right to decent work and to social protection when we are unable to work is guaranteed to all citizens in international human rights law and in labour rights conventions. However, this report found that many marginalised workers, including informal, disabled and migrant workers, are effectively excluded from their social protection entitlements due to lack of awareness, literacies or affordability.
The digitalisation of social protection promised to increase the convenience and efficiency of accessing social protection entitlements (and it does for many), but as the researchers in this report note, millions of workers are being further excluded by digitalisation due to lack of smartphones, connectivity or digital literacy.
What is digital social protection?
Digital social protection refers to social protection schemes that are accessed via computers, mobile phones or smartcards.
The process of registering and receiving social protection is increasingly conducted via digital systems: people are required to apply online and to receive payments directly to their mobile phone, or via an ATM using a smartcard (debit card).
This reduces costs for the institutions implementing the systems, provides management with improved information and removes some opportunities for fraud and theft. For those entitled to claim social protection entitlements, (and who have smartphones, connectivity and the necessary litteratrices) digitalisation can greatly increase convenience and speed by removing the need to travel, queue and complete forms.
However, for many who do not have smartphones, connectivity or the necessary literacies, the digitalisation of social protection can make it even harder to access their entitlements.
Because informal workers and marginalised groups were not consulted about the digitalisation of social protection and have not participated in its implementation or evaluation – digital social protection does not meet their needs and in many cases leaves already disadvantaged groups even further behind.
How to protect workers’ rights in digital social protection systems.
A rights-based approach could be used to align digital social protection systems with human rights law:
- The digitalisation of social protection delivers benefits: increases speed, convenience and independence, but also introduces new access barriers and digital rights threats.
- To access their right to social protection, workers’ should not have to sacrifice other fundamental human rights like the right to privacy, inclusion, or accountability.
- To protect rights marginalised workers’ and human rights specialists, must be included in the design, implementation, and evaluation of all digital social protection schemes.
This report is the first study of digital social protection from the perspective of informal marginalised workers in Africa. Six studies were carried out with and by domestic workers, disabled workers, migrant workers, and home-based workers in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Key recommendations
Based on the findings of this research study, several key recommendations emerge, aiming to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of digital social protection programmes. For example, in Nigeria, these are clustered under three broad themes.
- The first is awareness and accountability. It is crucial to establish and execute comprehensive awareness campaigns to reach marginalised communities, particularly in regions such as Port Harcourt, where awareness about digital social programmes is lacking. These campaigns should use various media, including traditional and digital channels, to ensure that information about these programmes reaches remote areas.
- The second relates to data protection and privacy. Given the concerns raised about data privacy and security, it is imperative that these programmes invest in robust data protection measures.
- The third relates to the need to address issues relating to programme accessibility. To address the challenges related to digitalisation and access in regions such as Maiduguri, it is essential to implement initiatives that bridge the digital divide. These can include providing affordable smartphones, facilitating digital literacy programmes, and supporting individuals without smartphones to access these programmes.
About the project
The African Digital Rights Network (ADRN) is a network of activists, academics and analysts who carry out research on digital rights in Africa. The network brings together 75 researchers from 30 African countries who share a commitment to enabling citizens to freely exercise, defend, and expand their digital rights.
Key contacts
