ILO continues work on comprehensive review of Suriname’s Social Protection System
The work that is being conducted is intended to lead to a reform proposal aimed at providing rights-based, universal, adequate, sustainable and responsive social protection coverage throughout one’s life cycle.
One of the priority needs identified by the Government of Suriname is a major reform of its social protection system. In response, the ILO is providing ongoing technical support to the Government for the completion of the comprehensive expenditure and performance review (SPER), initiated under the Decent Work Country Programme II. Ms. Joana Borges Henriques, ILO Specialist in Social Protection and Occupational Safety and Health and Mr. Arthur Van Meerdonk, ILO Consultant, undertook a mission to Suriname from the 13-17 February 2023 to validate data received and to close some gaps of data already identified as well as to start the dialogue around the overall social protection system and the policy options/ possible scenarios that will be addressed in the review.
The work that is being conducted is intended to lead to a reform proposal aimed at providing rights-based, universal, adequate, sustainable and responsive social protection coverage throughout one’s life cycle. Additionally, it will pay particular attention to vulnerable groups such as children, women, youth, people with disabilities, workers in the informal economy and the elderly.
A series of participatory bilateral meetings and workshops were organized with ministry officials and social partners including the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Planning, and different State institutions such as the General Pension Fund, Pension Fund (public sector), Care Council Basic Care, Bazo, Poverty Line Commission, National Wage Commission and the ILO. The sessions afforded social partners an opportunity to discuss SPER, promote dialogue and strengthen their capacity on the identified linkages with other public policies for an integrated approach to national social protection systems.
The different activities had the participation of more than 50 persons coming from more than 15 ministries and State institutions, among others.
On 17 February 2023, the ILO Officials met with the Hon. Steven Mac Andrew, Minister of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs, for a progress update. The final report and an action plan on the SPER will be presented to the Ministry and stakeholders later this year.
In photo: L to R: Jason Menso (Acting head of International Affairs Ministry of Labor Employment & Youth Affairs, Suriname), Glenn Piroe (Vice Director Legal and International Affairs, Ministry of Labor Employment & Youth Affairs, Suriname), Hon. Steven Mac Andrew (Minister of Labour, Ministry of Labor Employment & Youth Affairs, Suriname), Joana Borges Henriques (Specialist, Social Protection and Occupational Safety and Health, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean) and Arthur Van Meerdonk (ILO consultant).
The work that is being conducted is intended to lead to a reform proposal aimed at providing rights-based, universal, adequate, sustainable and responsive social protection coverage throughout one’s life cycle. Additionally, it will pay particular attention to vulnerable groups such as children, women, youth, people with disabilities, workers in the informal economy and the elderly.
A series of participatory bilateral meetings and workshops were organized with ministry officials and social partners including the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Planning, and different State institutions such as the General Pension Fund, Pension Fund (public sector), Care Council Basic Care, Bazo, Poverty Line Commission, National Wage Commission and the ILO. The sessions afforded social partners an opportunity to discuss SPER, promote dialogue and strengthen their capacity on the identified linkages with other public policies for an integrated approach to national social protection systems.
The different activities had the participation of more than 50 persons coming from more than 15 ministries and State institutions, among others.
On 17 February 2023, the ILO Officials met with the Hon. Steven Mac Andrew, Minister of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs, for a progress update. The final report and an action plan on the SPER will be presented to the Ministry and stakeholders later this year.
In photo: L to R: Jason Menso (Acting head of International Affairs Ministry of Labor Employment & Youth Affairs, Suriname), Glenn Piroe (Vice Director Legal and International Affairs, Ministry of Labor Employment & Youth Affairs, Suriname), Hon. Steven Mac Andrew (Minister of Labour, Ministry of Labor Employment & Youth Affairs, Suriname), Joana Borges Henriques (Specialist, Social Protection and Occupational Safety and Health, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean) and Arthur Van Meerdonk (ILO consultant).