Why ratify ILO social security standards?

• A path to decent work by giving substance to the human right to social security

  Firstly, because ILO social security standards are a major reference when it comes to substantiating the human right to social security.

  The UN human rights bodies continuously refer to ILO social security instruments, and notably the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), as the main international instrument defining social security in a holistic and comprehensive manner. Ratifying ILO social security standards is therefore a step in demonstrating the implementation of the human right to social security.

• Tools for policy and legal action, and a road map for the development of sustainable social security systems

  These instruments are indeed unique in that they give both a systemic definition of what social security is by reference to the minimum set of protections which need to be provided and also establish the very principles based on which social protection systems should be built such as :

  • social solidarity through collective financing and risk pooling and compulsory affiliation,
  • guaranteed and minimum benefits,
  • supervision by public authorities,
  • participatory management and,
  • last but not least, establish the overall responsibility of the State.

        Therefore, ratifying these instruments which were developed in a tripartite manner by representatives of all ILO member States is a guarantee for the establishment, development or reform of social security systems based on sound policy and legal frameworks with a high confidence capital from the population. In many countries, ratification of ILO social security standards has served as a catalyst for the improvement of national social security systems by guiding parametric adjustments, the extension of coverage and more systemic reforms involving the improvement of governance and administrative structures.

 

• Ensuring a level playing field guaranteeing that minimum levels of protection will be maintained in times of crisis.

  In addition, in difficult times such as in the context of fiscal consolidation, ratified international social security standards represent a common minimum level playing field guaranteeing that the levels of protection cannot be lowered below a certain threshold necessary to ensure life in health and decency.

• Benefit from technical support based on a recognized international legal framework for a fair and stable globalization

  The ILO actively assists countries in the process of implementing ratified standards by helping countries design sustainable solutions tailored made to fit their specific needs and institutional arrangements, compliant with the above general principles and based on most innovative international best practices.

  The Office also provides technical support to ILO constituents willing to engage in the process of ratifying social security Conventions or simply to assess their national social security systems against the parameters and levels of protection of these instruments. The most recent ratifications of Convention No. 102 include Brazil (2009), Dominican Republic (2016), Honduras (2012), Jordan (2014), Romania (2009), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2015), Togo (2013) and Ukraine (2016).