Old social risks occupational welfare in Spain: pensions and healthcare

Abstract

Research on social welfare has expanded to the study of occupational welfare (OW), meaning the set of benefits, through monetary or in-kind transfers, that are provided voluntarily by private companies —or by public administrations in their capacity as employers— to their staff. There is a low development in the protection of the so-called old social risks (OSR) in Spain, which are tackled, mainly, with pensions, healthcare and unemployment protection. This article aims to map the development of the protection of OSR by OW in Spain. Results confirm the low coverage of OSR and the moderate development of some benefits, such as pension plans or health insurance, yet it shows an increasing trend in the long term. This development is concentrated in large companies and in a few economic sectors, suggesting a dynamic of complementarity with respect to the public pillar, but limited to a segment of overall salaried workers.