Social Protection

Building social protection floors
and comprehensive social security systems

El Salvador

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Situation and Priorities

Social protection situation
El Salvador has recently taken firm steps towards establishing a universal social protection system. The Government’s strong political commitment and social dialogue have contributed significantly to this process. In 2009, a Universal Social Protection System (SPSU) was introduced, which seeks to ensure universal social protection in the areas of health, food, income security, and vocational training. In 2014, Congress adopted the Social Development and Protection Act (LDPS) with a view to institutionalize the SPSU and bolster its operations.

The SPSU follows a Universalist approach guided by rights-based principles and a strategy based on the life-cycle concept. Non-contributory programmes are targeted mainly at persons who are socially vulnerable. Since 2009, over 2 million people, 30% of the population, have benefitted from the SPSU. These initiatives are transforming the structure of the social protection system in El Salvador with noticeable socio-economic impacts.
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COVID-19 and other crises
In response to COVID-19, the government of El Salvador:
  • Provided a one-off payment of US$300 to 1.5 million households in the informal economy.
  • The social security institute (Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social - ISSS) paid the salaries of workers who were required to quarantine.
  • Water, electricity, phone, and internet bills were also suspended for three months.
  • Healthcare workers were given a US$150 monthly bonus during the pandemic, for their work in a health system that was taken to its limit during the spring outbreak of COVID-19.
Visit the Social Protection COVID-19 Monitor
Government and social partner priorities
  • Accelerate the transition to an equitable and inclusive society through the consolidation of the Universal Social Protection System.
  • Strengthen policies that facilitate the formalization of employment, in particular, social protection policies.

Results

In 2018, the ILO:
  • provided technical advice for the elaboration of the Reglamento para la inscripción del trabajo independiente, extending coverage to independent workers. This regime aims to provide coverage for 807,000 workers.
  • Provided assistance for policy reforms, which contributed to the Legislative Assembly expanding health coverage available to the children of social security contributors: the maximum age raised from 12 to 18 years, increasing coverage for 75,000 children.
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ILO Experts

IMG
Fabio Duran Valverde
Social Protection and Economic Development Specialist
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