Promote basic social protection to help people escape from poverty

(ILO Bangkok) Promoting basic social security rights and transfers, essential services in employment, health, water and sanitation, nutrition, education and family-support will protect and empower poor and vulnerable people to work out of poverty. These are the key messages of a recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The report Social Protection Floor for a Fair and Inclusive Globalization will be presented at the United Nations in Bangkok on 9 December.

The report emphasizes the principles of the Social Protection Floor Initiative. The United Nations has designated the social protection floor as one of its nine crisis response initiatives.

An estimated 5.1 billion people lack adequate social protection worldwide (ILO). About 1.4 billion people live on less than US$1.25 a day (World Bank). Some 925 million people suffer from chronic hunger (FAO) and nearly 25,000 children under the age of five die every day from largely preventable diseases (UNICEF/WHO).

The Social Protection Floor (SPF) Advisory Group, chaired by Mrs Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, was convened in August 2010 to enhance global advocacy and provide guidance on the conceptual and policy aspects of the social protection floor. Since then social protection – and in particular the concept of a social protection floor – has been increasingly recognized as a key development instrument at different international fora, including at the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Summit in September 2010.

The SPF Advisory Group was entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the global report, also called the Bachelet Report, to be used as a background and advocacy document for the G20 discussions on social protection.

The extension of social security has also been taken up as a priority at the regional level by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), with a resolution passed in May 2011 on “Strengthening Social Protection Systems in Asia and the Pacific” along with a major publication, The Promise of Protection.

Thailand has recently made a significant move towards universal basic social protection by introducing two major universal schemes that constitute the main pillars of the Thai social protection floor. The Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) was introduced in 2001 to provide universal health care coverage to the majority of the public not covered by existing public health protection schemes. The package is comprehensive and includes prevention services, ambulatory care and in-patient care. In addition, the universal tax-financed 500 baht (US$18) support scheme was established in 2008 to provide income security to persons over age 60 (except for civil servants). The assessment of the social protection situation in Thailand conducted in 2011 by the UN SPF Team and relevant line ministries, as well as social partners and the civil society, identified several policy gaps. It also helped formulate the following recommendations: (1) the introduction of a child allowance which will improve children’s access to health, nutrition and education; (2) the implementation of measures to provide income security and access to the labour market for seasonal agriculture, informal economy and low-skilled workers.

With the flooding situation in Thailand, it is now well recognized that the pre-existence of social protection measures can facilitate the recovery from natural disasters and economic crises. The implementation of emergency responses also provides the basis for the future development of new social protection mechanisms in Thailand.

The conclusions and recommendations of the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group’s report and the ESCAP regional study will be shared on Friday 9 December 2011, 08:00-12:30 hours at the United Nations Conference Centre, Rajdamnernnok Avenue, Bangkok. The press is invited to attend.

Mr Martin Hirsch, President of the French Civic Service Agency, will present the Bachelet report. He served as High Commissioner for Active Solidarity against Poverty and High Commissioner for the Youth of France (2007-2010). He implemented a new policy towards poverty, a minimum income support for persons actively looking for a job and a programme dedicated to youth. In July 2010, he joined the Social Protection Floor Initiative Advisory Group chaired by Michelle Bachelet.

For more information please contact:

Ms Valerie Schmitt
Security Specialist
ILO Bangkok
Tel. 02 288 1767
Email

Ms Jittima Srisuknam
Programme Officer, ILO
Tel. 02 288 1739
Email

Ms Krisdaporn Singhaseni
Information Officer, ILO
Tel. 02288 1664
Email