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The strategy of the International Labour Organization: Social Security for All
The ILO has published it's social security strategy as agreed by a consensus of governments and employers' and workers' organizations of 185 member States. After having agreed on the strategy in 2011, the International Labour Conference adopted the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (N° 202) in June 2012.
The ILO's two-dimensional strategy provides clear guidance on the future development of social security in countries at all levels of development. Its horizontal dimension aims at establishing and maintaining social protection floors as a fundamental element of national social security systems. The vertical dimension aims at pursuing strategies for the extension of social security that progressively ensure higher levels of social security to as many people as possible, guided by ILO social security standards. Together, these two dimensions aim at building comprehensive social security systems in line with national priorities, resources and circumstances.
The ILO's two dimensional strategy opens a new chapter in social security. Reaffirming the human right to social security, it acknowledges that this right is, along with the promotion of employment, an economic and social necessity for development and progress.