Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) - Isle of Man

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report and the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th session (June 2020).

Part III (Sickness benefit), Article 16, Part IV (Unemployment benefit), Article 22, Part X (Survivors’ benefit), Article 62, in conjunction with Part XI (Standards to be complied with by periodical payments), Articles 66 or 67 and the Schedule to the Convention. Replacement rates of sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, and survivors’ benefit. The Committee notes from the information provided by the Government in its report, and from the supplementary information provided, that the replacement rates of the contribution-based sickness benefit (43.1 per cent), unemployment benefit (17.75 per cent), and survivors’ benefit (35.04 per cent) calculated according to Article 66 of the Convention fall below its requirements. The Committee recalls that the Schedule to the Convention requires the replacement rates be at least 45 per cent for sickness and unemployment benefits and 40 per cent for survivors’ benefit. The Committee however notes from the Government’s indications that a means-tested Income Support and the Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance can be also provided in case of sickness, survivorship or unemployment. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the possibility of providing statistical data on the replacement rates of the Income Support and the Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance according to Titles I-V of Article 67 of the report form for the Convention. Recalling that the replacement rates of benefits, in accordance with the Convention, shall be at least 45 per cent for sickness and unemployment benefits and 40 per cent for survivors’ benefit, the Committee requests the Government to provide the above-mentioned information with a view to assessing whether the requirements of Article 67 of the Convention are met.

Part V (Old-Age benefit), Article 26. Pensionable age. The Government indicates that a new State Pension has been introduced for people who reach state pension age after 6 April 2019. The Committee observes from the information available on the official Isle of Man Government’s website (Social Security Division) that state pension age will have been gradually increased from age 65 to 66 by October 2020, 67 by April 2028, and to 68 by April 2046. The Committee recalls that as required by Article 26 of the Convention, a pensionable age of higher than 65 may be fixed by the competent authority with due regard to the working ability of older persons in the country. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the working ability of older persons, including, for example, data on the healthy life expectancy (HLE), disability free life expectancy (DFLE), and employment rate among persons older than 65 years in the Isle of Man.

Part XI (Standards to be complied with by periodical payments), Article 66. Reference wage of the standard beneficiary. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous request concerning the methodology used for determining the reference wage.