Assessment Based National Dialogue

SPF Good Practices Guide

Module 2

Objectives

This module is an introduction to social protection. It covers the concept of social security and the two dimensions of social security extension: horizontally, to expand social security coverage to as many people as possible, and vertically, to progressively increase the levels of benefits. The module also explains the concept of the social protection floor. It provides an overview of the ILO's Conventions and Recommendations that prescribe standards for the development of national social security systems. It also gives a general idea of the ILO's technical support activities in East and South-East Asia and the Pacific to assist in social security extension.

Key questions

  1. What is social security?
  2. What is social protection?
  3. What are the different types of social transfers?
  4. What are ILO's standards to realize the right to social security?
  5. What are the two dimensions of social security extension?
  6. What are nationally defined social protection floors?
  7. To what extent is social protection linked with employment and economic growth?
  8. What are the ILO's main technical support activities on social security extension in Asia and the Pacific?

Takeaway message

Social security is a fundamental human right. To guarantee this right, the ILO has devised a two dimensional extension strategy: social security systems shall rely on a nationally defined social protection floor, which would be guaranteed to all residents, based on which higher levels of protection could be made accessible progressively, to more and more people. In East and South-East Asia and the Pacific, the ILO supports the development of social security through a systematic strategy - the social security pentagon - which relies on five complementary dimensions.

Resources

Video

Part 1 - Terminologies and international labour standards
Part 2 - Social security strategies and the social protection floor
Part 3 - ILO's activities in Asia and the Pacific, and Q&A