Toolkit on ILO Social Security Standards

Learn, Ratify and Apply

This Toolkit was developed with the aim of raising awareness about ILO social security standards and promoting their ratification as well as increasing their impact and application in national contexts. The toolkit provides very practical and useful insights as to the ratification procedure, model instruments of ratification as well as interactive information on the relevance and key provisions of these standards.

Discover ILO Social Security Standards & why ratifying them is important?

As a standard-setting organization, the ILO has developed a comprehensive set of international social security Conventions and Recommendations. These instruments establish the core principles on which comprehensive social security systems should be based, as well as the key parameters ensuring their sustainability and adequacy.

ILO Social Security Standards

C183

Maternity Protection

R191
C168

Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment

R176
C130

Medical Care and Sickness Benefits

R134
C128

Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors' Benefits

R131
C121

Employment Injury Benefits

R121
C102

Social Security (Minimum Standards) & Social Protection Floors

R202

Click on the documents below to find out more about what makes ILO social security standards unique and why ratifying them is important for ILO member States.

Global Ratification Campaign on Convention No. 102

Based on a decision of the International Labour Conference, the ILO has launched a Global campaign to promote the ratification of Convention No.102 – the international landmark Convention establishing the minimum standard of social security.

The Campaign will take place until 2026 and has two main objectives:

  • Promote the ratification and effective implementation of Convention No. 102 and other up-to-date ILO social security standards by way of comparative assessments between national social security legislation and practice and the minimum criteria and key good governance and financing principles established by the Convention; and
  • Raise awareness and build capacities of national stakeholders to design and implement sound national social protection policies and rights-based social protection systems that are sustainable, comprehensive and adequate for all, anchored in ILO social security standards

For more information about the Campaign, please contact socpro@ilo.org.

How to ratify ILO Social Security Conventions?

ILO Conventions are international treaties open to ratification by ILO member States. The ratification process of international treaties is determined by every country's Constitution. Nonetheless, there are steps that are common to most ratification processes as well as good practices identified over the years by the ILO that can guide and assist ILO constituents willing to embark on the process of ratifying an ILO Convention.

Main steps common to ratification processes

Step 1

Assessment of national law and practice against requirement of Convention (if necessary with ILO Support) and validation of conclusions with ILO

Step 2

Tripartite endorsement of compatibility assessment, and establishment of roadmap towards ratification

Step 3

Ratification process according to national constitutional requirements

Step 4

Transmission of instrument of ratification to ILO Director General; registration of ratification as of the date of deposit or receipt

Step 5

Entry into force of Convention 12 months after the date of ratification

Step 6

First report on application of the Convention in the year following the entry into force

Periodic reporting every 6 years

Click on the documents below for more information on how to ratify ILO social security Conventions as well as specific country examples on the process leading to the ratification of ILO social security Conventions.

Reference documents

Comparative assessments between ILO social security standards and national law and practice

Ratification briefs documenting national ratification processes

Take the quiz on Convention No. 102 Social Security (Minimum Standards)

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Status of ratification of up-to-date Social Security Conventions



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