1. Module 2: Introduction to social protection
ILO, 2013

2. Key questions What is social security? What is social protection?
What are the different types of social transfers?
What are ILO’s standards to realize the right to social security?
What are the two dimensions of social security extension?
What are nationally defined social protection floors?
To what extent is social protection linked with employment and economic growth?
What are the ILO’s main technical support activities on social security in East and South-East Asia and the Pacific?

3. What is social security?
People face contingencies during their life-cycle, which have financial consequences
Social security is provided to members of a society against the economic and social distress caused by such contingencies
Maternity
Sickness
Unemployment
Work injury
Medical care
Families with children
Invalidity
Death of the breadwinner
Old age
Life-cycle

4. What is social security? Protection provided by society
To compensate for the loss of income and cover health care expenditures
To facilitate access to social services and fulfill basic needs
Financial support
Access to services
Social transfers

5. What is social protection?
Some define social protection as measures addressing the most vulnerable
Concept of social protection is broader than social security (which mostly refers to formal workers)
Social protection can reach out to those not covered, or incapable of being covered easily by social security
According to Recommendation No. 202, social protection and social security are part of the same social policy concept (Hagemejer and McKinnon, 2013)

6. Types of social transfers
Contributory
Non-contributory
Compulsory
Voluntary
Targeted
Non-targeted
Social insurance to informal sector
Some microinsurance
Social insurance
Targeted social assistance
Universal schemes

7. Social security as a human right
Universal declaration of human rights, 1948: social security is a human right
Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) : flagship Convention on social security
Recommendation on nationally defined social protection floors, 2012 (No. 202): reaffirms the universal right to social security
Image by Youth for Human Rights International

8. ILO’s standards
ILO sets standards that lay down obligations and guidelines for ILO member States
Standards are of two types: Conventions and Recommendations
They help in drafting laws and regulations, designing and implementing social security systems

9. Families with children Death of the breadwinner
ILO’s standards
C 183
C 130
C 168
C 130
C 121
Maternity
Sickness
Unemployment
Work injury
Medical care
Convention No. 102 covers all 9 contingencies
Families with children
Invalidity
Death of the breadwinner
Old age
Life-cycle
C 183
C 128
C 128
C 128

10. ILO’s standards
Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118)
Maintenance of Social Security Rights Convention, 1982 (No. 157)
Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183)
Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No. 121)
Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors' Benefits Convention, 1967 (No. 128)
Medical Care and Sickness Benefits Convention, 1969 (No. 130)
Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention, 1988 (No. 168)
C.102 Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952
R67 Income Security Recommendation, 1944
R69 Medical Care Recommendation, 1944
Recommendation concerning national floors of social protection, 2012
(No. 202)

11. Principles in Convention No. 102
International Labour Organization
Principles in Convention No. 102
PRINCIPLES
STATE’S RESPONSABILITY
To provide and guarantee benefits stated by law
To ensure proper functioning of the scheme: supervise and administrate the concerned institutions and services
EQUALITY OF TREATMENT
Non-national residents shall have the same rights as national residents
FLEXIBILITY
No unique model for social security regimes: common principles
Flexibility in the type of schemes member States establish, in order to implement the Convention
Flexibility in legal and institutional arrangements
FAIR BALANCE OF INTEREST
Participation of employers and workers in supervision and administration

12. Principles in Convention No. 102
International Labour Organization
Principles in Convention No. 102
PRINCIPLES (CONTINUED)
ADEQUACY AND PREDICTABILITY
Consistent with national socio-economic development plans
In compliance with national cultural values and history
In coherence with existing institutions (e.g. medical facilities) and the overall social security system
Benefits should adjust with cost of living and general income
Pre-determined and periodical benefits at minimum levels
COLLECTIVE FINANCING
Costs shall be borne collectively by workers’ and employers’ contributions, or taxes, or both, in a manner which avoids hardship to persons of small means
RIGHT TO APPEAL
Right to appeal in case of refusal of benefits, or complaints regarding quality or quantity of benefits
PROGRESSIVE
To gradually extend social security coverage

13. Principles in Recommendation No. 202
International Labour Organization
Principles in Recommendation No. 202
UNIVERSALITY
Universal coverage of residents by comprehensive SS
NON-DISCRIMINATION
Based on equal treatment (and gender equality)
Responsiveness to special needs
Social inclusion, including informal economy
TRANSPARENCY
Accountable and sound financial management, admin
SUSTAINABILITY
Financial, fiscal and economic sustainability with due regard to social justice and equity
RIGHTS AND DIGNITY
Respect for rights and dignity of people
Full respect for collective bargaining and freedom of association for workers
DELIVERY
High-quality public services that enhance delivery of SS
EVALUATION
Regular monitoring and periodic evaluation

14. Two dimensions of social security
For a long time, social security was contributory and mainly adapted to the formal sector
Assumption that informal sector would progressively shrink and come under social security coverage - this did not happen
Level of protection
???
Poor
Rest of informal sector
Formal sector
Population

15. Two dimensions of social security
In countries of Asia, formal sector workers have access to social protection
Some programmes target the poorest, leaving the rest of the informal sector uncovered
Existing universal schemes (e.g. UCS, old-age pensions in Thailand)
Level of protection ??
Poor
Rest of informal sector
Formal sector
Population

16. Two dimensions of social security
Discussion on social security in ILC 2001 led to a new consensus: priority to be given to the extension of coverage, exploring strategies like adapted social insurance, microinsurance, social assistance
Level of protection
Poor
Rest of informal sector
Formal sector
Population

17. Social protection floor
All residents should enjoy at least a minimum level of social security
Member states of the ILO should establish SPFs as a fundamental element of their social security systems
Level of protection
Nationally defined SPF
Poor
Rest of informal sector
Formal sector
Population

18. Social protection floor
Based on this floor, extend social security to provide progressively higher levels of SP benefits to more people
Level of protection
Higher levels of social security to more people
Nationally defined SPF
Poor
Rest of informal sector
Formal sector
Population

19. Social protection floor
Four basic guarantees: 
All residents have access to essential health care, including maternity care 
All children enjoy basic income security, providing access to nutrition, education, care, and any other necessary goods and services 
All persons in active age who cannot earn sufficient income, enjoy basic income security, particularly in cases of sickness, unemployment, maternity, disability 
All older persons have basic income security

20. Social protection floors
SPFs are defined nationally, depending on the context
No ‘one size fits all’ approach in designing and implementing SPFs
Each country decides on targeted vs. universal schemes, contributory vs. non-contributory schemes

21. SPF endorsed globally
ILO’s Recommendation on Social Protection Floors, 2012 (No. 202) was endorsed by 185 member States in June 2012 with 456 ‘yes’ votes and 1 ‘not present’
Recommendation No. 202 guides member States on establishing and maintaining nationally defined SPFs

22. SPF adopted in Asia
The 15th Asia Pacific Regional Meeting, Dec 2011, prioritizes “reducing poverty and wide inequalities in income and wealth” and “building effective social protection floors in line with national circumstances”
ASEAN member States adopted the Declaration on strengthening social protection, Sep 2013

23. SPF adopted nationally
The SPF concept was adopted in the National Social Protection Strategy for the Poor and Vulnerable in Cambodia
Source: NSPS-PV of Cambodia, 2011

24. Linkages with employment
The SPF de-links entitlement to social security from formal employment
The SPF promotes employability
People become active contributors to the economy

25. Linkages with economic growth
Social protection
Household consumption
Poverty and inequality
Education and training
Health
Child well being
Livelihoods and productive investments
Labour
Human capital
Physical capital
Labour productivity
Economic performance
Demand for goods and services
Increased wages, income
Increased financing 1. 2. 3. 4.
Direct effects
Behavioral effects 5.
Source: Source: A. Mideros Mora, F. Gassmann, and P. Mohnen, 2012, Estimation of rates of return of social protection instruments in Cambodia: A case for non-contributory social transfers.

26. STOP ME WHEN IT IS NOT TRUE!
The social protection floor is good for growth
The social protection floor can be different across countries
The social protection floor j’adore
The social protection floor is a floor not a ceiling
STOP ME WHEN IT IS NOT TRUE!
The social protection floor should be guaranteed for all
The social protection floor provides a basket of minimum social security entitlements for all
The social protection floor is the first step towards higher levels of social protection
The social protection floor is only for the poor
The social protection floor is an investment in human capital
The social protection floor should be financed by Government budget only

27. Overview of ILO’s activities in Asia
Social security staircase, R202, C102
Situation analysis and recommendations: ABND exercises
Support to the development of strategies and laws
Design of social security systems and SPF components
Implementation through SWS and IT systems
Documentation, research, training, awareness raising, education     