Remittance-financed social protection programmes for international migrant workers in Latin America

In recent years in Latin America, a small number of contributory social protection programmes have been extended on a voluntary basis to cover migrant workers, with affiliation financed by these workers' remittances. That remittances offer a means to finance social protection programmes demonstrates the possibilities presented by international migration not only as regards improving social protection coverage but in contributing towards achieving target 1.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda. This article addresses voluntary insurance programmes introduced in Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico for nationals working abroad and by means of which the families of such international migrant workers can also access health care and benefits in their home countries. In turn, international migrant workers on returning home can gain eligibility for a contributory retirement pension and disability benefits if they satisfy eligibility as well as the contribution conditions.