In some developing countries, family planning programs are still being encouraged to regulate population fertility. While in several other countries, where the program has been quite successful, the population growth rate has been able to be suppressed to encourage changes in population structure. At present, the population structure is dominated by the elderly population.
The increase in the elderly population accompanied by a decline in the young population shows an increase in life expectancy, mainly improving living standards as a result of economic growth. However, this demographic change is problematic because it raises new problems. Increasing the number of the elderly population, for example, must also be followed by adequate health services to the elderly and better retirement schemes. Unfortunately, social protection schemes aimed at minimizing population problems are still very limited.
All workers, both formal and informal, both local and international migrant workers, should also have a social protection scheme that protects them from illness and the risk of workplace accidents. But this is also related to other issues, namely limited employment in the formal sector. The less skilled population, in particular, had no choice so that they could not help entering the informal sectors. We know that the informal sector is unable to provide stable work positions, inadequate incomes, as well as social protection. As a result, many informal sector workers live below the standard of living in general.
The socio-political situation related to demographic change also contributes to the complex voluntary and forced international migration. Voluntary migration generally occurs because of the lack of job opportunities in the country of origin, whereas in the destination country offers better opportunities, income, and working conditions.
Taking the title “Population and Social Policy in A Disrupted World”, PSKK UGM will hold a conference that facilitates reputable experts, researchers, and practitioners to discuss their studies in the field of population and social policy.
