What is the ratification process?

Before ratification – Increasing the ratification of ILO Conventions is a priority for the ILO and its constituents. In response to the call of the International Labour Conference to increase the ratifications of ILO social security Conventions and their effective implementation, the Office has committed to bring the number of ratifications of Convention No. 102 to 60 by 2019 and to sustain its promotional efforts and technical assistance to member States willing to move forward with ratification.

The ILO offers a tailor-made step-by-step approach to support countries in their endeavor, which normally forms part of an integrated response to assist the government and social partners in effectively formulating and implementing appropriate measures to improve and maintain their social security system. This response includes a broad range of technical assistance, policy dialogue and capacity building activities and is based on a constructive social dialogue with support from national and international experts.

A typical process entails the following stages and should be adapted according to national circumstances:

After ratification - Once a country ratifies an ILO social security Convention, it benefits from priority technical assistance to give effect to that Convention, and notably to address the observations of the CEACR.  Assistance is also available to help countries meeting their reporting obligations, with training seminars targeted at national report drafters.

The ILO has a vast experience in providing such assistance to its Members, ranging from setting up new social security systems, and schemes, adapting existing schemes, and reforming entire social security systems. It includes policy, legal and financial advice, actuarial valuations and studies, advice on the governance of social security schemes and their institutional set-up, as well as on the collection of data and assistance for the drafting of legislation.