Surinam
Publicaciones
Situación y prioridades
Situación de la protección social
The social protection system of Suriname consists of a multiplicity of social assistance and social security programmes administered by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs, the General Pension Fund and the Ministry of Finance. An important reform took place in 2014 aimed at providing minimum packages to the most vulnerable consisting of free health care insurance for those above 64 years of age and those younger than 16; financial benefits for those above 60, people with a disability, and children. Further reforms were implemented in 2016 toward building a sustainable national social insurance system. The key acts adopted in 2014 are:
- The Act Minimum Wage of September 9, 2014 (S.B. 2014 no. 112)
- General Pension Act of September 9, 2014 (S.B. 2014 no. 113)
- Act Basic Health Insurance of September 9, 2014 (S.B. 2014 no. 114)
A particular feature of the social protection system of Suriname is the General Child Benefit that is paid to families with up to four children younger than age 18. Public expenditure on education, heath, and social protection was 29.56 per cent, 1.62 per cent and 3.9 per cent of GDP in 2017 respectively (Statistical yearbook 2015/2016). Despite all the recent social protection reforms. There is the view that the level of social protection is too weak and prevents people from entering into productive employment.
Prioridades del gobierno
Tripartite representatives from Suriname and the ILO have signed the 2019–2021 Decent Work Country Programme that focuses on:
- Economic diversification and social progress
- Strengthening the rights and compliance agenda
- Increased tripartite capacity to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social dialogue
The Government of Suriname has requested the ILO a comprehensive review of the social protection system with a view to implement a holistic reform.
Resultados
- In March 2025, the Government established the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) Monitoring Commission to oversee implementation of the NSPS, developed and adopted with ILO support in 2024, and to strengthen coordination across social protection programmes.