Workfare for Whom? A Critical Assessment of Workfare Programs in the Philippines
Philippine Social Protection Note, No. 12, Sep 2016
12 Pages Posted: 9 Dec 2016
Date Written: September 30, 2016
Abstract
Workfare programs are social protection instruments used by governments to address the lack of jobs or inadequate incomes among the poor. In the Philippines, they are the largest public employment programs of the government. Despite this, there is very little understanding on how these programs actually work and whether or not they reach the intended beneficiaries. Synthesis of experience is limited and program data is inadequate, which altogether constrain the analytical work on this area. With a view to stir up policy debate on workfare programs in the Philippines, this paper provides an assessment of the key design and implementation features, including an analysis of benefit incidence.
Keywords: Philippines, Workfare, Public Works, Safety Net, Social Protection
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation