Safeguarding the rights and welfare of the health-care workers amid the pandemic: a social protection approach

• Date: 27 September 2021
• Pages: 264-276
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-05-2021-0120
• Published date: 27 September 2021
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Inequalities & diverse/minority groups,Sociology,Race & ethnic studies,Minorities,Multiculturalism,Racial identity,Work,economy & organizations
• Author: Harlida Abdul Wahab,Asmar Abdul Rahim,Nor Anita Abdullah

Safeguarding the rights and welfare of the

health-care workers amid the pandemic:

a social protection approach

Harlida Abdul Wahab, Asmar Abdul Rahim and Nor Anita Abdullah

Abstract

Purpose –This paper aims to study the elementsof social protection, namely, the labour market policy

(working conditions), social insurance and social assistance from the law and policy standpoints to

safeguardthe rights and welfare of the frontlinehealth-care workers (HCWs).

Design/methodology/approach –This study applies both doctrinal and non-doctrinal research

methods with the legal and authoritative approaches by integrating the three elements of social

protections, which are workingconditions, insurance protection and social assistance for the protection

of HCWs.

Findings –A pragmatic approach to the social protection system by integrating these elements can

safeguard the rights and welfare of the frontline HCWs amid the pandemic. This approach should be

made effectivefor the sustainability of the HCWand health industry in Malaysia.

Practical implications –This paper highlights the significance of initiating and empowering ad hoc

approaches through the social protection system for the practical and effective protection of frontline

HCWs who are the backboneof the nation, in the event of pandemic COVID-19.These practical needs

and approachesare pivotal in response to HCWs demandsin workplace.

Originality/value –While social protection commonly aims to address disadvantaged groups and to

combatpoverty, this research adopts the social protectionapproach with the aims to safeguardthe rights

and welfareof frontline HCWs amid the COVID-19pandemic.

Keywords Working conditions, Social assistance, Sustainability, Social protection,

Health-care workers, Insurance protection, Law and policy, Rights and welfare

Paper type Conceptual paper

Introduction

Grounded on the right to social security, social protection is largely instrumental in protecting

human rights for the achievement of a long-term and broad development goals including

social inclusion and empowerment, among others. In its broad sense, “social protection

includes all public policies designed to protect individuals against economic and social

distress” (Bank Negara Malaysia, 2020). Most of the time, social protection refers to the

policies and programmes that reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour

markets, reducing exposure to risks, and augmenting capacity to shelter against hazards,

interruption or loss of income (Asian Development Bank, 2002). Along the line, social

protection “has been used in disaster response, as a bridge between humanitarian

assistance and development processes” (European Commission, 2019,p.4)whenithelpsto

address the economic and social disruptions that threaten the well-being of individuals,

families, communities and societies (Drolet, 2020). There is a range of measures of social

protection implemented by countries, from mental health support, financial bonuses and

practical supports such as free accommodation and transport (Williams et al., 2020).

Harlida Abdul Wahab,

Asmar Abdul Rahim and

Nor Anita Abdullah are

based at the School of Law,

Universiti Utara Malaysia,

Sintok, Malaysia and Legal

and Justice Research

Centre, Universiti Utara

Malaysia, Sintok, Malaysia.

Received 24 May 2021

Revised 17 August 2021

Accepted 3 September 2021

This research was supported

by the Ministry of Higher

Education of Malaysia (MoHE)

through the Post-COVID-19

Special Research Grant

(Research ID 10008864/SO

Code 14696). Also thank you to

the Research and Innovation

Management Centre of

Universiti Utara Malaysia for the

support.

Conflict of interest: Authors

declare that there is no poten-

tial conflict of interest in the

research.

PAGE 264 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN HEALTHCARE jVOL. 16 NO. 3 2023, pp. 264-276, ©EmeraldPublishing Limited, ISSN 2056-4902DOI 10.1108/IJHRH-05-2021-0120