The ILO’s strategy for the extension of social security and the role of international social security standards Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No.202)

The ILO’s Mandate in Social Security Preamble of the ILO Constitution (1919) Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) Conclusions of the ILC (2001) and the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008) Global Jobs Pact, ILC (2009) Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No.202)

What are International Labour Standards? ILS are legal instruments drawn up by the ILO’s constituents (governments, employers and workers) setting out principles and rights at work and beyond for protecting workers and their families, governing globalization, promoting sustainable development, eradicating poverty, and ensuring that people can work and live in dignity, decency, health and safety; They are either Conventions: legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states, that create obligations for ratifying States (application and reporting) Recommendations: serve as non-binding guidelines; autonomous or accompanying a Convention; may also subject to reporting

ILO social security standards 8 up-to-date Conventions: Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102); Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118); Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No. 121); Old-Age, Invalidity and Survivors’ Benefits Convention, 1967 (No. 128); Medical Care Benefits Convention, 1969 (No. 130); Maintenance of Social Security Rights Convention, 1982 (No. 157); Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention, 1988 (No. 168); Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183). 3 key Recommendations: Income Security Recommendation, 1944 (No. 67); Medical Care Recommendation, 1944 (No. 69) Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No.202)

The flagship: Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No Defines the nine branches of social security: Medical care benefit, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, old-age benefit, employment injury benefits, maternity benefit, family benefit, invalidity benefit, survivors’ benefit. Sets minimum standards for the nine branches: Minimum percentage of personal coverage; Minimum level of benefits; Maximum qualifying period for the entitlement to benefit; Minimum duration of benefits.

individual/household income Building comprehensive social security systems using ILO standards as references individual/household income Access to essential health care and minimum income security for all Social security benefits of guaranteed levels Voluntary insurance under government regulation level of protection high low Vertical dimension: progressively ensuring higher levels of protection guided by C.102 and more advanced standards floor level Horizontal dimension: Guaranteeing access to essential health care and minimum income security for all guided by R.202

The horizontal dimension: minimum levels of income security and health care The ILO’s strategy calls for the rapid implementation of national Social Protection Floors, containing basic social security guarantees that ensure that over the life cycle, all in need: can afford and have access to essential health care and have income security at least at a nationally defined minimum level Main normative basis: The Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (R. 202)

The vertical dimension: higher levels of protection For the ILO, the process of building comprehensive social security systems cannot stop at the ground floor of protection. The ILO strategy calls for the formulation and implementation of social security coverage extension strategies which should seek to provide higher levels of income security and access to health care taking into account and progressing towards in the first instance the coverage and benefit provisions of Convention No. 102, then those of more advanced ILO social security standards to as many people as possible and as soon as possible Normative basis: The Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) and more advanced social security standards

The SPF Recommendation at a glance Preamble Social security as human right and social and economic necessity Reference to various international instruments I. Objectives, scope and principles Objective and scope Definition of national social protection floors Principles II. National social protection floors Definition of basic social security guarantees Legal foundations Establishment and review Provision Financing III. National strategies for the extension of social security Prioritize implementation of national SPFs Progression to higher levels of protection Building and maintaining social security systems Policy coherence ILO social security standards IV. Monitoring National monitoring National consultations International exchange of information, experiences and expertise

National SPFs: At least four nationally-defined guarantees The social protection floors should comprise at least the following basic social security guarantees: (para. 5) access to a set of goods and services constituting essential health care including maternity care basic income security for children basic income security for persons in active age unable to earn sufficient income basic income security for persons in old age national definition of minimum levels Subject to their existing international obligations, Members should provide these basic social guarantees to at least all residents and children, as defined in national laws and regulations. (para. 6)

National SPFs: Pluralism of approaches - guaranteed outcomes national choice social assistance social insurance universal schemes others Most effective and efficient combination of benefits and schemes in national context (para. 9(1)) nationally guaranteed outcomes Benefits may include child and family benefits, sickness and health-care benefits, maternity benefits, disability benefits, old-age benefits, survivors’ benefits, unemployment benefits and employment guarantees, and employment injury benefits as well as any other social benefits in cash or in kind. (para. 9(2))