News GESS

The Human Rights Approach to Social Protection

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:42:12 GMT

In this seminar, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Magdalena Sepúlveda, will explore the human rights framework for social protection. She will address how human rights obligations should be taken into account in the design, implementation and monitoring of social protection systems around the world.

The seminar will take place on May, 16th, 2013, from 12:30 to 14:00, in Geneva.

Click here for more information on the seminar and the registration.

Launch of the report "Social protection assessment based national dialogue: Towards a nationally defined social protection floor in Thailand"

Thu, 09 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

A report laying out a plan for expanding social protection in Thailand will be launched in the presence of the Thai Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, on Friday 10 May 2013.

The report “Social protection assessment based national dialogue: Towards a nationally defined social protection floor in Thailand” gives an assessment of the social protection situation in Thailand, identifies policy and implementation issues, offers policy recommendations as well as cost estimates of proposed social protection benefit packages, for creating a comprehensive social protection floor (SPF) in Thailand. The goal of an SPF is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable essential health care, and that everyone, including children and the elderly, have a guarantee of income security throughout their lives.

This report was developed as part of the United Nations Partnership Framework (UNPAF) between the royal Thai Government and the UN; the report has been drafted by the United Nations/Royal Thai Government joint team on social protection, which is co-chaired by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

The event will take place at Government House on Friday 10 May 2013, starting at 09.00 (with registration from 08.00) and last until midday (please see the attached agenda for more details). In addition to the Prime Minister the event is expected to be attended by the Minister of Labour Mr. Padermchai Sasomsap, the Minister of Social Development and Human Security Mr. Santi Promphat, the ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Mr. Yoshiteru Uramoto, and the UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Luc Stevens. More than 150 guests representing Thai workers’ and employers’ organisations, civil society, academia, embassies and international organizations have also been invited.

The event is open to the press. Read more details of the report.

Webinar on how global enterprises are responding to the global call for the extension of social protection

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Social protection, and more specifically its global extension through national social protection floors, is on the agenda of major international summits, such as the G20, the International Labour Conference 2012, Rio+20 and post-MDGs discussions, among others. This one hour webinar will shed light on how multinational enterprises (MNEs) can contribute to this global challenge as part of their commitment to socio economic development, addressing social challenges, and the potential benefits for employers, workers and society. Drawing on concrete examples from corporate policies and practices, the webinar -conducted by experts of the ILO Social Protection Department- will explore the drivers, corporate strategies and concrete results of MNEs providing a minimum level of social protection for all their employees worldwide. The webinar will draw on the conclusions of the recent publication : “The extension of social security and the social responsibility of multinational enterprises: An exploratory study”(available also in French), and will count with the participation of a representative of Danone.

The webinar is taking place on Tuesday 14 May at 3:30 PM (Geneva time), 9:30 AM (New York time), Registration is required to participate. Please register for free via the United Nations Global Compact page. You will receive a confirmation message together with the instructions for webinar participation.

Contact: multi@ilo.org

ODI launches country reports on unconditional cash transfers and their impact

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) carried out a one-year study on investigating beneficiary and community perspectives on cash transfer programmes in five countries - Kenya, Mozambique, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (both Gaza and West Bank), Uganda and Yemen. The results of the study Transforming Cash Transfers have been recently released, making available country reports and briefings that provide in-depth, robust evidence that intends to improve the quality and effectiveness of cash transfer programmes.

ODI also released the final report which summarises key features of the cash transfer programme in each country and the extent to which programme objectives address empowerment, social justice, social cohesion and citizenship alongside economic vulnerability. It considers positive experiences and concerns at the individual, household and community levels, as well as beneficiary and community views on programme governance and accountability.

Read ODI's country and final reports on Transforming Cash Transfers.

Outcome documents of the Global Consultation on Population Dynamics and the Post-2015 Development Agenda have been launched

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The Global Leadership Meeting, jointly hosted by the governments of Bangladesh and Switzerland with the collaboration UNFPA, UNDESA, UN-Habitat and IOM from 12-13 March 2013 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, concluded the Global Consultation on Population Dynamics and the Post-2015 Development agenda.

The outcome documents of the global consultation have now been launched on 22 April: the Outcome Report and the Dhaka Declaration, which resulted from the Global Leadership Meeting in Dhaka. These documents not only highlight how population dynamics affect the principle social, economic and environmental challenges of the 21st century and why they must be included in the post-2015 development agenda; they also highlight how this can be achieved.

Read the Report of the Global Thematic Consultation on Population Dynamics and the Dhaka Declaration.

World Report on Child Labour: Economic vulnerability, social protection and the fight against child labour

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

This new report is the first in a series to be published annually by the ILO’s International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. It brings together research on child labour and social protection, identifying policies that are designed to achieve multiple social goals. It discusses the role of poverty and economic shocks in rendering households vulnerable to child labour and considers the impact on child labour of cash transfers, public employment programmes, social insurance and other social protection initiatives as they have been implemented around the world. The report distils a broad range of research in economic and social policy and should be of interest to those looking for ways to combat poverty in the present and reduce its burden on the next generation.

Read the press release.

Read the report's executive summary.

Release of the 2013 Americas Social Security Report

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The 2013 Americas Social Security Report has been released. This report presents several aspects and stages of social security in America: Labour markets and well-being at the beginning of the XXI century, pension policy, family programs, employment policy, health insurance, management and organizational policies, and social security financing.

To read more, click here.

ILC Report on Employment and social protection in the new demographic context has been released

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The Report IV - Employment and social protection in the new demographic context has been recently released. The report elaborates on the implications of the changes on age structure of the populations for economic development. It also analyses the policy directions being developed and debated, and discusses the challenges of demographic transitions in developing countries.

This report has been produced to facilitate the general discussion on employment and social protection in the new demographic context during the 102nd Session (2013) of the International Labour Conference (ILC).

Read the Report IV - Employment and social protection in the new demographic context.

Celebrating five years of innovation

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The ILO’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility (MIF) is celebrating five years of pushing the innovation frontier in microinsurance. Over the next four months we will showcase lessons on the featured theme of the month, including innovative distribution (May), enabling scale and efficiency through technology (June), product innovation to achieve client value and viability (July) and market development (August).

Follow the campaign to explore practical solutions and real-life examples provided through a series of in-person and online events, emerging insights, articles, videos and blogs.

The ITC/ILO publishes in Portuguese a guide on the Governance of Social Security Systems in Africa

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The International Training Centre of the ILO has recently published in Portuguese a guide on the governance of Social Security systems in Africa, intended to help board members carry out their duties as members of the governing body of a public social security organization in the region, in particular their responsibilities for the financial governance of a scheme.

The guide Governação dos Regimes de Segurança Social: Um Manual para Membros dos Conselhos de Administração em África was originally published in English and French under the project QUATRAIN AFRICA, which had as main objective to strengthen the financial governance of social protection schemes in Africa. It has now been revised and updated, and presents examples from the eight Portuguese countries whose offical language is Portuguese: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé e Príncipe and Timor-Leste.

Read the guide Governação dos Regimes de Segurança Social: Um Manual para Membros dos Conselhos de Administração em África.

The guides in English and French are also available on GESS.

Publication of the Human Development Report 2013

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The 2013 Human Development Report has been published. It is entitled "The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World".

This year, the Human Development Report examines the profound shift in global dynamics that is being driven by the fast-rising powers of the developing world, and the implications of this phenomenon for human development. Looking ahead at the critical long-term challenges now facing the international community, from inequality to sustainability to global governance, the 2013 Report identifies policies and institutional reforms reflecting the new reality of the rising South that could promote greater human progress throughout the world for decades to come.

To read the summary of the report, click here.

Rwanda. Lawmakers push for Mutuelle de santé autonomy

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The Senate has requested the government to set up an independent organ to manage the country’s community-based health insurance scheme to improve its services, end its debt to healthcare providers, and ensure a better management of its funds in the future.

Development of a Good Practices Guide on Social Protection: Assessment, Costing and Beyond

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

In October 2012, the ILO Decent Work Team and the Faculty of Economics of the Chulalongkorn University in Thailand organized a workshop on “Social Protection: Assessment, Costing and Beyond”. A Good Practices Guide was developed and tested during the workshop.

The Guide presents tools and methodologies for assessment, costing and design of social protection and poverty alleviation programmes in a country and is based on real experiences. A new version of the Guide is being developed in electronic format and it is expected to be published later in 2013. The Guide will serve as a source book for conducting Assessment Based National Dialogue exercises and for organizing training sessions.

For more information, click here.

Rwanda and World Bank sign US$ 50 million grant in support of national social protection programme

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The Government of Rwanda and the World Bank signed on 19th March 2013 an International Development Association (IDA) Grant of US$50 million to help Rwanda expand and manage its National Social Protection System. This is the second support provided by the WB to the Social Protection System programme. Among Government programs that will benefit from this support are the Genocide Survivors Support Fund and the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Program, all under the single Vision 2020 Umurenge Program (VUP) system.

Read the article.

Hope Magazine, 19 March 2013.

Lebanons long awaited pension reform within reach

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

For many workers in the Lebanese private sector, reaching retirement age means facing an uncertain future with little access to social protection. But that’s about to change thanks to the collaborative work of the government, its social partners, the ILO and the World Bank.

Click here for more infomation.

World Social Security Forum, Doha, Qatar. 10 - 15 November 2013

Sat, 09 Nov 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The World Social Security Forum will take place in Doha, in the State of Qatar, from 10 to 15 November 2013. The World Social Security Forum will provide an exclusive platform for more than 1,000 social security professionals and policy-makers to share knowledge, recognize good practices and identify successful strategies to make administrative excellence in social security a reality everywhere.

Best Practices in Social Security in Brazil

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The publication entitled "Best Practices in Social Security in Brazil" will be presented to the press on March 6th, 2013. This document has been prepared by the Office of the ILO in Brasilia, in collaboration with the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A press conference will be held and the Minister of Social Security, Garibaldi Alves Filho, and the Director of the ILO in Brazil, Lais Abramo will attend.

Download the document.

The World Bank launches Universal Health Coverage Study Series

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The World Bank has recently launched the "Universal Health Coverage Study Series", looking at the experiences of 22 countries and Massachusetts in the extension of access to health care in the last decade. The studies offer knowledge and operational tools to help countries tackle challenges in ways that are fiscally sustainable and that enhance equity and efficiency. They analyze the “nuts and bolts” of programs that have expanded coverage from the bottom up—programs that have started with the poor and vulnerable rather than those initiated in a trickle-down fashion. The protocol, studies, and technical papers intend to contribute to discussions about universal health coverage, provide implementers with an expanded toolbox, and inform the universal health coverage movement as it continues to expand worldwide.

In 2013, the World Bank health team plans to produce a comparative analysis of all 22 countries and Massachusetts. The team will also test the UNICAT, a new universal coverage assessment tool, which they developed based on lessons from the studies. The tool intends to help countries assess their strengths and weaknesses in implementing universal health coverage.

Read the Universal Health Coverage Studies.

Course on Designing and Implementing Social Transfer Programmes

Sun, 29 Sep 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The course on Designing and Implementing Social Transfer Programmes will take place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 30 September to 11 October 2013. This course is organized by HelpAge International and EPRI.

It is aimed at policymakers, government officials and practitioners around the world.

The first five days of the course include a coordinated series of theme-oriented sessions, practical skills-building workshops, field trips to visit social transfer sites and relevant technical skills training. The course will be taught using formal lectures, practical case studies and hands-on exercises.

Topics will include:

Role of cash transfers in reducing poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion;
Identification of appropriate social transfer instruments for specific country contexts;
Design of cash transfer programmes;
Implementation issues, including registration, targeting, payment and information systems;
Monitoring and evaluation approaches for social transfer programmes;
Case studies of successful programmes around the world;
Field trips to see Thailand’s social transfer system in action.

For more information, click here.

Regional Social Security Forum for Europe 2013

Mon, 27 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

The Regional Social Security Forum for Europe will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 28 to 30 May 2013. The Forum is organized by the ISSA and hosted by the Social Security Institution of Turkey.

The Forum will bring together social security administrators, policy-makers, researchers and representatives of international and regional organizations. It will offer an opportunity to discuss the way forward and the role of dynamic social security in Europe and will be an important milestone towards the World Social Security Forum, which will be held in Doha, Qatar, in November 2013.

For more information, click here.

Workshop: Mapping existing international social protection statistics and indicators that would contribute to the monitoring of social protection extension through social protection floors

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

13 - 15 March 2013. ILO, Geneva.

The workshop will aim at sharing knowledge and information among persons responsible of social protection statistics from various international / regional organizations. It will focus on social protection data, statistics and indicators produced or to be produced in order to assess and monitor social protection extension and its contribution to basic income security throughout the life cycle.

The workshop will address specifically:

How to assess social protection extension and basic income security for children, active age persons and persons in old age (scope, statistical definition, comparability at the global level);
What data, statistics and (possibly) indicators are currently available?
Who collects what?
What are the gaps in current data collection and indicators production and what could be developed or improved (short and medium term perspective depending on priorities)? What would be the related technical feasibility of data collection and production of such indicators?

The workshop also aims at strengthening collaboration between institutions which collect data relevant to the monitoring of social protection extension through social protection floors. It would also give a complete mapping of:

The current availability of social protection data (including definition and classifications, sources, institutionalised data collection process, etc.) as well as major gaps (if any).
The existing indicators and the major gaps in indicator production. This mapping will contribute to the discussions aiming at building a consensus on a limited set of comparable SPF indicators at the international level.

ISSA report on the extension of social security coverage in the BRICS

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The International Social Security Association has launched the report Social security coverage extension in the BRICS: A comparative study on the extension of coverage in Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa. ISSA's report highlights the diverse approaches of the BRICS to the challenges each country faces in respect of extending social security coverage. They show how responses take into account the local realities and environment in each country.

Read the report here.

ODI celebrates International Women's Day with a book launch on gender and social protection

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Celebrating International Women’s Day 2013, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) is launching a book encapsulating the theme of voice, empowerment and agency, to discuss what these concepts mean in practice and how they can be achieved through different pro-poor policy and programming measures and in different contexts.

Rebecca Holmes and Nicola Jones draw on the findings from their book Gender and Social Protection in the Developing World: Beyond Mothers and Safety Nets to illustrate the progress made in the social protection sector in incorporating objectives of voice and agency, and also highlight the significant challenges that remain in moving the social protection poverty agenda beyond a focus on income and “traditional” gender equality goals.

For more information on the book launch, visit ODI website.

The World Bank launches case study on Mexico's social health protection system

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The World Bank has recently published a case study on "The Mexican social protection system in health", the first issue of Universal Health Coverage (UNICO) studies series. This case study assesses key features and achievements of the Social Protection System in Health (Sistema de Proteccion Social en Salud) in Mexico, and particularly of its main pillar, Popular Health Insurance (Seguro Popular, PHI). It analyzes the contribution of this policy to the establishment and implementation of universal health coverage in Mexico. In 2003, with the reform of the General Health Law, the PHI was institutionalized as a subsidized health insurance scheme open to the population not covered by the social security schemes. Today, the PHI covers all of its intended affiliates, about 52 million people.

To access the case study, click here.

The Impact of Universal Coverage Schemes in the Developing World: A Review of the Existing Evidence

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The World Bank has published the report "The Impact of Universal Coverage Schemes in the Developing World: A Review of the Existing Evidence"

This report reviews and syntheses evidence concerning the impact of universal coverage schemes and combines it with a structured assessment of the robustness of such evidence.

The review indicates that UHC interventions in low- and middle-income countries improve access to health care. It also shows, though less convincingly, that UHC often has a positive effect on financial protection, and that, in some cases it seems to have a positive impact on health status.

The review also shows that the effect of UHC schemes on access, financial protection, and health status varies across contexts, UHC scheme design, and UHC scheme implementation processes.

For more information, click here.

Global social protection scheme moving from charity to solidarity

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Medico international and the Hélène-de-Beir Foundation have just published the document "Global social protection scheme moving from charity to solidarity".

This document is a compilation of papers presented at the workshop on Global Social Protection held in Berlin from May 14th to 16th, 2012. This workshop brought together experts working in various fields related directly or indirectly to global health, such as the right to health, international taxation and financing mechanisms, and social protection. The objective of the workshop was to identify and present ideas, concepts and strategies for converting the current paradigm of charity-based international aid for universal health coverage into rights-based and operational solidarity. The document is designed as a background document for a policy paper on Global Social Protection.

Consult the document here.

South-South exchange Sub-regional Workshop on strategies for universal health coverage, 20th-22nd February 2013, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Between 20^th and 22^nd February, as part of an on-going ILO South-South cooperation project, line ministers from Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Senegal will participate in a sub-regional conference on strategies to promote and extend universal health coverage. The conference is co-hosted by the World Health Organization, and will provide an opportunity for government representatives, who are currently developing strategies to extend health coverage as part of establishing social protection floors, to learn from the experiences of two other countries in the South: India and Thailand. Dr. Thaworn Sakulphanit will present on Thailand’s Universal Coverage Scheme – its design, implementation and financing mechanisms and Dr. Nishant Jain will discuss the innovative use of technology and information management in India’s Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY). Both experts will also be on hand to share their knowledge during workshops and group discussions.

This conference is organized as part of the broader South-South and triangular cooperation initiative for the implementation of gender sensitive social protection floors, which is a collaboration between the UNDP Special Unit for South-South Cooperation and the ILO. Find more information about the role of South-South cooperation in building National Social Protection Floors here.

Publication of an exploratory study on the extension of social security and corporate social responsibility

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The Social Security Department of the International Labour Office and the French observatory on corporate social responsibility (ORSE) published the following exploratory study: "The extension of social security and the social responsibility of multinational enterprises”. After a presentation of the conceptual framework of CSR potential contribution to the extension of social security and ILO findings on this issue, the study reports the results of a survey conducted with the ORSE on the practices of 15 French multinational companies in the field of social protection to all employees in all locations.

The launch of the publication, jointly organized by the ILO office in Paris and the ORSE, was held Wednesday February 6th 2013 in Paris, at the Ministerial Conference Centre.

Master of Management in the field of Social Security

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

For potential students working or interested in post-graduate studies specialising in the field of Social Security, the Graduate School of Public and Development Management (P&DM) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesbourg, South Africa, together with the International Labour Office now offers a comprehensive master’s degree focused entirely on the competencies required for policy-makers, researchers, and managers. This degree was initiated for the first time in 2012 and is the most advanced of its kind offered in Africa.

For more information, click here.

Portugal: Social benefits target lower income population

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

An article recently published by the Bank of Portugal indicates that Portugal is, within the European Union, one of the countries that most efficiently targets cash benefits (excluding pensions) to lower income population. The author of the article points out that the impact of cash benefits in Portugal is lower than the average impact in the EU countries. Although this is usually interpreted as the result of less efficiency in the delivery of benefits, according to the author the lower impact is actually due to the modest amount of the delivered cash benefits.

The author also considers that recent changes in the regulations concerning the delivery of cash benefits (which caused a reduction or the termination of certain benefits, such as in the case of unemployment and family benefits) might have limited the redistributory impact of the cash benefits, thus contributing for an increase in the inequality of income distribution.

Read the article (in Portuguese).

CIPS - Information Centre on Social Protection, January 18, 2013

Angola: 2013 State Budget sets social protection as priority

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The National Assembly of Angola has approved early this month the State Budget for 2013, allocating 33,5 per cent of total expenditure to the social protection sector. The State Budget allocated 10,83 per cent of total social expenditure to the social protection system, thus setting social protection as a priority for Government actions in 2013. Social expenditure also comprises education (8,09 per cent), social housing (7,02 per cent) and health (5,29 per cent).

Read the article (in Portuguese).

CIPS - Information Centre on Social Protection, January 18, 2013.

Social Security Institute of Portugal provides technical assistance for setting up the social security system in East Timor

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The Social Security Institute of Portugal carried out a visit to East-Timor to prepare the workplan concerning the setting up of the social security system in the country. This was the first mission under the cooperation protocol signed between East-Timor and Portugal.

The cooperation protocol foresees technical assistance in three different levels: (i) to carry out studies on the future social security system and the level of contributions; (ii) general and specialized training for the capacity building of national human resources; (iii) development of an information system that comprises registration of all data and processes concerning the social security system.

Read the article (in Portuguese).

CIPS - Information Centre on Social Protection, January 25, 2013.

Annual conference - Universal health coverage in low-income countries: Ethical issues

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

April 18-19 2013

The Harvard University program in Ethics and Health organizes a conference entitled "Universal health coverage in low-income countries: Ethical issues"

For more information, click here.

To see the agenda, click here, and click here for registration.

Mozambique: ODI launches report on cash transfers

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

This study is one of several reports carried out by Overseas Development Institute (ODI) at the request of the Department for International Development (DFIF), UK. The purpose of this research was to obtain solid evidence from the views, experiences and perceptions of cash transfer programme beneficiaries and other community members, in order to improve the quality and efficiency of social transfer programmes. In the case of Mozambique, the study analyses the Basic Social Subsidy Programme which grants a social benefit to about 300,000 extremely vulnerable households.

Read the full article (in Portuguese).

Read the study Transforming Cash Transfers: Beneficiary and community perspectives of the Basic Social Subsidy Programme in Mozambique (in English).

Portugal: Report points out an increase of social protection expenditure in recent years

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The document Social Indicators 2011 prepared by the National Institute of Statistics of Portugal analyses, among other issues, the evolution of the social protection expenditure and revenue in recent years. According to the document, from 2005 to 2010 social protection revenue increased 21,5%, whereas expediture increased 23,1%. In 2010, social protection revenue increased 2,2% compared to the previous year. Also in 2010, social protection expenditure rised 2,5% due to an increase in social benefits (2,0%).

Expenditure with social benefits represented 92,1% of total social protection expenditure. There was an increase in expenditure with unemployment benefits (8,3%), and old-age and survivors benefits (3,9%). The document also points out an increase of 21,4% of unemployment benefits, from 2005 to 2010.

Read the full news (in Portuguese).

ISSA: Social Security Observer 19 - December 2012 has been launched

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The International Social Security Association has launched the newsletter Social Security Observer n° 19 - December 2012. It highlights a review of Argentina's pension system reform, pointing out the measures implemented to takle the problems concerning financial sustainability, coverage and the adequacy of benefits.

Other issues in the newsletter are presented, such as China's winning of the ISSA Good Practice Award for Asia and the Pacific for the extension of health-care coverage in the country, and the results of ISSA's research on the extension of social security to the self-employed.

Read ISSA's Social Security Observer nr. 19 - December 2012.

Angola: MINARS reviews activities carried out in 2012

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Social Assistance and Reintegration of Angola reviewed its main activities carried out during 2012. The review focused mainly on the implementation of social projects for children, elderly and disabled people, and also the social and professional integration of former Angolan refugees, who had taken shelter in neighbouring countries during the civil war.

Read the full news (in Portuguese).

Brazil: Over R$ 3 billions in 2012 were invested in the extension of social protection

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

According to the Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger of Brazil, the extension of basic and special social services, which are part of the Brasil Sem Miséria Plan, is one of the major achievements in fighting extreme poverty and improving the quality of life of the population. Over R$ 3 billion were invested in 2012 in public facilities and services, offering assistance services to families in a situation of social risk or vulnerability.

Read the full news (in Portuguese).

Social Health Protection: addressing inequities in access to health care

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Pre-course e-learning: 18 February - 8 March 2013
Residential phase: 11 - 22 March 2013

This course is organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO. Held in English and French (simultaneous interpretation provided) the course will identify inequities in effective access and main causes, review the importance of universal access to health care in crisis and post crisis situations, issues related to the feasibility of introducing a scheme and planning for implementation; designing the appropriate contribution levels and benefi ts, monitoring the provision of services and ensuring the sound governance and financing of the scheme.

Target group : The course is designed for executives, managers, planners, financial officers and other responsible professionals of health care and health insurance schemes, both in government and non-governmental sectors.

For more information, please see the full course description.

Financing and governance of social security

Sun, 03 Nov 2013 23:00:00 GMT

This course is organized by the ILO International Training Centre and will take place from 4 to 8 November 2013. It will develop conceptual and technical capacities to understand actuarial studies and analyze the financing of social security systems. This course is in Spanish.

Target group : Directors, technical officers and advisors of social security systems and private pensions systems. Social partners in supervision institutions.

Click here for more information.

HIV/AIDS and the world of work: a prevention and social protection perspective

Sun, 17 Nov 2013 23:00:00 GMT

Dates: 18 - 29 November 2013.

This course is organized by the ILO International Training Centre in Turin in English and French. It aims to strengthen the capacity of planners and social actors to develop and implement workplace policies and programmes on HIV and AIDS that build on and benefit from the decent work approach, covering rights, prevention, gender equality, employment issues, social protection aspects and social dialogue.

Target group : Officials of various institutions and ministries dealing with HIV/AIDS; representatives of workers' organizations; representatives of employers' organizations; NGOs.

Click here for more information.

Actuarial modelling of public pension schemes, 25th November - 6th December 2013

Sun, 24 Nov 2013 23:00:00 GMT

25th November - 6th December 2013

This course will be held in English, in the ITC (Turin).

The workshop provides advanced knowledge and modelling tools needed for the effective design, management and monitoring of pension schemes. The main aim of the workshop is to enhance the capacity of participants to use projection methods, develop actuarial models and build their own country-specific model based on the generic model of the ILO.

At the end of the workshop, participants will be more equipped to understand and participate in the financial planning of their institutions through actuarial projections.

Click here for more information.

Fostering the social and professional reintegration of return migrants

Sun, 27 Oct 2013 23:00:00 GMT

28 October - 1 November 2013

The 5-day training course at ITC-ILO will:

• address the social and professional reintegration as well as their realities

• set out to gather innovative and comparative data on returnees’ conditions back home, with reference to field surveys carried out in various countries of return

• combine a top-down with a bottom-up approach to return migration and reintegration

• aim to raise awareness of the need to develop adequate mechanisms sustaining the reintegration of returnees while redefining current policy priorities as applied to return

The course will be offered in French and in English with simultaneous interpretation.

Click here for more information.

Formación de Formadores SOLVE: Integración de promoción de la salud en las políticas de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo

Sun, 23 Jun 2013 22:00:00 GMT

24 de Junio – 6 de Julio 2013

El objetivo general de este curso organizado por el Centro Internacional de Formación de la OIT y dictado en español es desarrollar conocimientos y habilidades que conduzcan a la integración de los temas psicosociales y de promoción de la salud en una política global de seguridad y saluden la empresa y al desarrollo de un marco para la acción preventiva.

Haga clic aquí para obtener más información.

Academy on Labour Migration

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

LABOUR MIGRATION ACADEMY Facilitating Good Governance, Enhancing Protection and Promoting Development

The Labour Migration Academy aims at providing advanced knowledge and enhancing the capacity of key migration actors to better understand labour migration challenges and opportunities in a changing global political, economic and social context.

Click here for more information.

Assessing the feasibility, fiscal cost and impact of national social protection floors

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 22:00:00 GMT

8 – 12 July 2013

This course is organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO. It will be held in English.

It proposes to focus on the practical ways to establish the analytical facts base for the implementation of the SPF concept at the national level. It is intended as the introductory course on technical assessments while specialized training is planned to master with more depth techniques such as institutional building, modelling, impact assessment and national accounts and budgeting.

Click here for more information.

Ageing societies, employment and social protection

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Pre-course e-learning: 12 – 30 November 2012
Residential phase: 3 – 7 December 2012

This course is organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO. Held in English, it aimed to provide participants with comprehensive understanding of implications of ageing on social protection systems and the labour market and will enable them to develop adequate responses to its impacts.

Click here for more information.

Decent work for domestic workers

Sun, 07 Jul 2013 22:00:00 GMT

Start Date : 08/07/2013
End Date : 12/07/2013

This course is organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO. Held in English, it will focus on increasing awareness of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (Nº 189) and the Domestic Workers Recommendation, 2011 (Nº 201), to strengthen the broad protection of vulnerable groups such as migrant domestic workers and victims of child domestic labour. Exchange of good practices will be encouraged.

Click here for more information.

Employment injury schemes and the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases

Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:00:00 GMT

9 – 20 September 2013

This course is organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO. Held in English, its general objective of the course is to strengthen the capacity of employment injury institutions for the improvement of the coverage and management of the occupational accidents and diseases and for the promotion of the prevention of occupational safety and health.

Click here for more information.

Academy on Social Security

Sun, 22 Sep 2013 22:00:00 GMT

23 September – 4 October 2013

Academy on Social Security: A Modular Approach for Individual Learning Needs

This course is organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO. It will be held in English.

It offers a unique opportunity to benefit from a diversified training package on governance and financing, reforms and extension of social protection systems. Participants will tailor-make their own two-week course within several elective courses, as well as benefiting from an innovative and dynamic learning environment.

Click here for more information.

Strengthening financial governance of pension schemes in Arab States

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

20 – 31 May 2013

This course is organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO. Held in Arabic, it will provide advanced knowledge and management tools needed for the effective design,management and governance of pension schemes. The main aim of the course is to enhance the capacity of key actors involved in the pension sector to better advice, design, manage, administer and supervise national pension schemes in a changing global economic and financial context.

Click here for more information.

National governance of occupational safety and health

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 22:00:00 GMT

14 – 25 October 2013

This course is organized by the International Training Centre of the ILO. Held in English, it will promote the ILO Strategic approach to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). It facilitates the knowledge and skills for the elaboration, implementation, evaluation and review of a National OSH Policy, and a National OSH Programme.

Click here for more information.

G20 capacity building on social protection: executive course (NEW)

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Following the E-Learning phase, this course provides a comprehensive overview of the present state of social security around the world, an identification of the main social security challenges in terms of coverage, adequacy and financing, and an overview of national and ILO policy responses to the challenges.

Click here for more information.

Master in Occupational Safety and Health

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:00:00 GMT

The programme will be held in English and will last one year with the following timetable:
• distant learning: from 1 October 2013 to 31 January 2014;
• residential phase: from 3 February 2014 to 17 April 2014;
• distance: preparation and submission of the thesis. The dissertation is to be completed before the end of September 2014.

The residential phase of the programme will be held at the campus of the ITC-ILO in Turin, Italy.

The general objective of the course is to facilitate the knowledge and skills required for dealing effectively with safety and health management in the enterprise. The course has been specifically designed for hygienists, physicians, chemists, engineers, inspectors, practitioners and civil servants with a university degree but without previous specialization in OSH, who are working, or wish to work, as OSH specialists.

Click here for more information.

G20 capacity building on social protection: E-learning platform (NEW)

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

This e-learning course will help governments in making informed decisions on the design and development of their social protection systems. The platform will strengthen the capacity of key actors and stakeholders involved in the policy, governance, quantitative analysis and implementation of social protection extension strategies.

Click here for more information.

Master of Science in Health Security Financing and Management

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Master of Science in Health Security Financing and Management at the Naresuan University, offered in partnership with the International Labour Office, is designed to provide current and future social security experts with high level quantitative and analytical skills to meet the challenges of achieving comprehensive health systems in various Asia and Pacific countries.

Participants will be trained to formulate, improve, implement, monitor and evaluate policies. They will be provided with a variety of skills, tools and knowledge which will enable them to work as policy designers and policy analysis in public and private institutions.

The Master of Science in Health Security Financing and Management aims to recruit academicians, postgraduate students and other interested professionals in the Asia and Pacific region. They should have strong academic records, a demonstrated commintment to public (international) affairs and /or an outstanding potential for career growth and leadership.

For more information, see the flyer or write to Ms. Phawinee Yenjai. Applications deadline 31 March 2013.

Better microinsurance models, products and processes for microfinance institutions

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Micro-insurance Innovation Facility of the ILO has just published the document "Pathways towards greater impact: Better microinsurance models, products and processes for MFIs". This paper provides a comprehensive review of the challenges and successes of microfinance institutions and offers ten key recommendations.

Report Launch: Social Protection Assessment Based National Dialogue: Towards a Nationally Defined Social Protection Floor in Indonesia

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

On December 6th the ILO-Jakarta and the Indonesian Ministry of Planning, Bappenas, jointly launched the report “Social Protection Assessment Based National Dialogue: Towards a Nationally Defined Social Protection Floor in Indonesia”.

Click here for more information.

Portugal: Unemployment benefits will be available for small and medium entrepreneurs by the end of the year

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Portuguese Government has announced that an unemployment benefit will be provided to small and medium entrepreneurs until the end of the year. This measure, which will be presented to social partners, intends to provide a response to the growing unemployment rate in the country.

Read the article (in Portuguese).

CIPS - Information Centre on Social Protection, 7 December 2012.

Brazil: Number of beneficiaries of disability benefits (BPC) doubled in recent years

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

According to the brazilian Minister of Social Development and Fight Against Poverty, the number of people benefiting from disability programmes and benefits (Benefício de Prestação Continuada) more than doubled in recent years, reaching today over two million persons. The Minister also highlighted great improvements in covering disabled children enroled in school, currently reaching 300 thousand children.

Read the article (in Portuguese).

CIPS - Information Centre on Social Protection, 7 December 2012.

Cape Verde: National Institute of Social Security promotes workshop on strenghthening Social Protection

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The National Institute of Social Security (INPS) of Cape Verde organized, with the support of the International Labour Organization, a workshop on 10-11 December 2012 to discuss with social partners the strengthening of social security in the country. Several issues were under discussion, namely the ratification of the ILO Convention nº 102, the legal and management framework of INPS investments and the control of payments and debt collection.

Read the article (in Portuguese).

CIPS - Information Centre on Social Protection, 7 December 2012.

ILO/Korea Fellowship training on strengthening social protection in Asia: Learning from Korean experience on Employment Insurance (EI) and Employment Injury Insurance (EII)

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO/Korea fellowship training on employment insurance and employment injury insurance has been held from 25 October to 2 November 2012 in Seoul, South Korea.

The training focused on the development of social protection in ASEAN countries through building capacity of its operation for EI or EII-implementing nations, raising awareness of social insurance type scheme against unemployment and occupational injury or disease for especially countries with employer liability system and sharing experiences among participants.

The objectives of the training were to:

identify priority needs in establishing or improving EI and EII in line with ILO Social Security Conventions, notably ILO Convention No. 102 (Minimum Standards) and international good practices, especially of the Republic of Korea;
have a clear vision and ideas in establishing or strengthening EI and EII in terms of legislation, scheme design, administrative procedure, awareness-raising, training, etc;
develop EI and EII policy measures aimed at addressing external shocks such as global economic crisis through studying global initiatives and case studies of peer participants.

See the programme of the training activity.

Social benefits and targeted assistance to increase in Azerbaijan in 2013

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The average amount of social benefits and targeted social assistance (TSA) will increase in Azerbaijan in 2013, annouced the Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection.

Click here for more information.

Brasil extends coverage of the programme "Brasil Carinhoso"

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, has recently signed a law extending the coverage of the programme "Brasil Carinhoso". This programme will now also cover children between 7 and 15 years old, reaching 8.1 million children living in extreme poverty. "Brasil Carinhoso" is part of the Plan "Brasil Sem Miséria" which is under the coordination of the Ministry of Social Development and Fight Against Hunger.

Read the article (in Portuguese).

CIPS - Information Centre on Social Protection, 30 November 2012.

Understanding Social Protection in Zambia - Budget Perspective

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

An prepared by the Zambian Platform for Social Protection provides an analysis to budgetary allocations for Social Protection. The article gives an overview of allocations for different programmes on Social Protection as well an analysis on the same.

Read the article.

Africa Platform for Social Protection, November 2012.

Cours EN3S: Comprendre la Protection sociale, Saint Étienne, 7 et 8 décembre 2012

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Les objectifs du cours de l'École Nationale Supérieure de Sécurité Sociale sont: (i) comprendre les principes fondamentaux d’organisation du système de Protection sociale français, (ii) appréhender les principales politiques publiques de Sécurité sociale et leur actualité et (iii) identifier les enjeux de la gouvernance d’un organisme local.

Pendant deux jours il sera discuté des questions concernant: la construction de la Protection Sociale, l'Economie, Démographie et Protection Sociale, la gouvernance de la Protection Sociale et la Performance et protection sociale .

Visitez la page EN3S.

The International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin publishes its 2013 training catalogue

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

To ensure that its training is relevant and meets the needs of the rapidly changing world of work, the Centre's annual training programme is regularly updated. It reflects recent changes in the economic and social environment which affect the workplace, businesses and the wider development agenda.
This year's training programme offers new courses on important topics which have seen significant recent developments. In addition to new courses, some existing courses have been revised to reflect key social and economic developments or to address emerging policy debates and challenges.

Click here for more information.

Two new research papers from the Microinsurance Innovation Facility

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Do Caste and Social Interactions Affect Risk Attitudes and Adoption of Microinsurance? Evidence from Rainfall Insurance Adoption in Gujarat, India

Ashish Singh, Sarthak Gaurav and Thiagu Ranganathan

The paper looks into the social context within which risk attitudes are formed and participation decisions are made, using microdata from rural households in Gujarat, India. Both caste affiliation and social interaction are found to significantly affect the risk attitudes of farmers. Furthermore, social interaction seems to have a significant influence on the adoption of rainfall insurance.

The Demand for Micro-Insurance: A Literature Review

Ombeline De Bock and Wouter Gelade

Why are demand and renewal rates for microinsurance so low despite the important protection it may offer? To address the puzzle this paper provides a selective overview of the current state of research on demand for microinsurance. It first looks at the theoretical research and then reviews the empirical evidence on the factors influencing demand for insurance.

Webinar Invitation: Good Practices in Promoting Microinsurance Products

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Good Practices in Promoting Microinsurance Products

Join us for a Webinar on November 28

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/440220822

Various studies on demand show that trust, behavioural constraints and perception of the customer value proposition are among the key factors influencing microinsurance purchase decisions. A good promotion strategy has a potential to make a difference.

How can microinsurance providers develop promotional campaigns that are designed to strategically position their microinsurance offering? What are some tips in planning a promotional campaign that is suited to the target audience? What are examples of appropriate and well-designed promotion activities using a variety of different media channels?

Join us as we explore these questions in a webinar on “Good Practices in Promoting Microinsurance Products” on 28 November, from 15:00-16:15 CET, with panelists:

• Nancy Lee, President of Social Marketing Services (www.socialmarketingservice.com/) and lead author of the upcoming Facility publication entitled “Best Practices in Promoting Microinsurance Products”
• Miguel Solana, Microinsurance Officer at the ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility and co-author of the same upcoming publication;
• Jasmin Suministrado, Knowledge Officer at the ILO Microinsurance Innovation Facility who will be moderating the event.

The webinar will feature promotion strategies of the following, among others:

• Alternative Insurance Company in Haiti (www.aic.ht), with Isabelle Delpeche, Microinsurance Manager
• Aseguradora Rural in Guatemala (http://www.banrural.com.gt), with Leticia Gonçalves, ILO Microinsurance Fellow
• Old Mutual Life Assurance Company in South Africa (http://www.oldmutual.co.za), with Tlalane Ntuli, Marketing Manager, Mass and Foundation Cluster

Title:	Good Practices in Promoting Microinsurance Products
Date:	Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Time:	3:00 PM - 4:15 PM CET

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

ODI publishes Background Note on social exclusion and social protection

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

This ODI (Overseas Development Institute) Background Note suggests that social exclusion is a useful lens for researching and analysing the effects of social protection policies and programmes in low- and middle-income countries. It discusses current trends in social protection discourse, and some specific examples of how social protection could promote social inclusion by addressing some of the main outcomes and drivers of exclusion.

Read ODI Background Note, October 2012.

Forum on social protection in Banjul, Gambia

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:46:36 GMT

A one-day consultative forum on social protection in The Gambia opened Tuesday, November 13, at the Laico Atlantic Hotel in Banjul. The forum was jointly organised by The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The main goal of the forum was to provide a platform for policymakers, researchers, national and international development partners and civil society to exchange ideas, knowledge, experiences and views on social protection system in The Gambia and worldwide. It also aimed at exploring future directions for designing and implementing inclusive and integrated social protection systems in The Gambia.

Daily Observer, Forum on social protection opens in Banjul, November 14, 2012.

Brunei: ASEAN workshop on extending social protection to the self-employed

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:16:32 GMT

Hosted by Brunei's Department of Labour, with the cooperation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the two-day workshop (November 13-14) was aimed at helping ASEAN member states better understand where national policies are falling short when it comes to extending social protection mechanisms to all.

During the workshop it was stated that globalisation and the effects of the economic downturn have pushed the need for comprehensive social protection policies in the ASEAN region. Therefore Governments must extend social protection policies to all levels of society, including the self-employed.

The Brunei Times, Self-employed need social protection too, says MoHA, November 14, 2012.

Togo Towards a national social protection policy and strategy

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The World Bank has launched a report on social protection in Togo, which is part of the overall packet of analytical work prepared to support the formation of a national social protection policy and strategy. The objectives of this report are to: a) synthesize the situational analysis on poverty and vulnerability and the current state of social protection policies and programs from the set of background documents; and b) assist the government through providing general orientations and strategic choices in developing a national social protection policy and strategy that would integrate the various ongoing efforts and components of social protection with a view to achieving the Government's longer-term goal of social protection for all.

Read the report Togo – Towards a national social protection policy and strategy, The World Bank, 2012.

NASI launches video on "Social security: just the facts"

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

This video from the National Academy of Social Insurance (www.nasi.org) of the United States of America explains the basics about Social Security, its purpose, who pays for it, who gets it, and what it means to seniors, working families, and children now and in the future. To learn more, visit the "Learn" section of NASI's website.

Watch the video "Social security: just the facts" below:

5th Africa Regional Social Protection Conference takes place in Rwanda, 15-16 November 2012

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The 5th African Regional Social Security Conference (ARSPC-C5) is being organized to promote uptake and coverage of social security benefits to all peoples within East and Central Africa region. Under the theme "Social security: a driver of socio-economic development", the Conference aims to: (1) appraise the impact of social security investments in the socio-economic development of the region; (2) share experiences and discuss the feasibility of introducing Universal Pensions in developing countries; (3) describe the Decent Work Programme and its applicability to the socio-economic development of a country.

The Conference is taking place on 15-16 November in Kigali, Rwanda.

For more information, visit the East and Central Africa Social Security Association (ECASSA) website.

More than 70 per cent of workers lack unemployment protection

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:10:44 GMT

The recent global economic crisis has served as a stark reminder of why unemployment insurance matters. But the reality is that fewer than half of almost 200 countries monitored by the ILO offer such protection.

Read the article.

South-South Cooperation projects in Timor-Leste and Paraguay

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Alliance Program Brazil-ILO for the Promotion of South-South Cooperation in Social Security was launched in 2009. This Alliance constitutes a framework based on experiences and good practices in Latin America – in particular in Brazil – with the technical support provided by the ILO to various countries in the field of social security. The South-South Cooperation country-projects in social security implemented in Timor-Leste and Paraguay were launched in the framework of this Alliance Program:

The project “Promoción de la Cooperación Sur-Sur en el área de la Seguridad Social en Timor-Leste” (Promotion of South-South Cooperation in the field of Social Security in Timor-Leste) runs from June 2010 to December 2012. The project, funded by the Government of Brazil and the ILO and managed by the ILO Office in Brazil, aims at:

Strengthening social protection policies in Timor-Leste through the creation of social security public policies.
Developing training activities in order to strengthen the institutional capacities of the Timorese State in the field of social protection.

More information on the Timor-Leste project

The project « Promoción de la Cooperación Sur-Sur en el Área de la Seguridad Social en Paraguay » (Promotion of South-South Cooperation in the field of Social Security in Paraguay) runs from January 2011 to December 2012. The project is funded by the Government of Brazil and managed by the ILO Office in Brazil. The intervention is in response to the need of meeting the requests for support expressed by the Government of Paraguay to the ILO in order to:

Develop preliminary studies on options of unemployment social protection schemes in the country, considering the possibility of establishing an unemployment protection scheme in Paraguay, as well on the concept of the Social Protection Floor;
Develop a study on the Paraguayan social security legislation as compared with the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) and analyze options for a possible ratification of this instrument by Paraguay.

More information on the Paraguay project

Main page on South-South Cooperation

The strategy of the International Labour Organization: Social Security for All

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO has published it's social security strategy as agreed by a consensus of governments and employers' and workers' organizations of 185 member States. After having agreed on the strategy in 2011, the International Labour Conference adopted the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (N° 202) in June 2012.

The ILO's two-dimensional strategy provides clear guidance on the future development of social security in countries at all levels of development. Its horizontal dimension aims at establishing and maintaining social protection floors as a fundamental element of national social security systems. The vertical dimension aims at pursuing strategies for the extension of social security that progressively ensure higher levels of social security to as many people as possible, guided by ILO social security standards. Together, these two dimensions aim at building comprehensive social security systems in line with national priorities, resources and circumstances.

The ILO's two dimensional strategy opens a new chapter in social security. Reaffirming the human right to social security, it acknowledges that this right is, along with the promotion of employment, an economic and social necessity for development and progress.

Read the ILO's strategy.

UNDP Report: Towards Human Resilience: Sustaining MDG Progress in an Age of Economic Uncertainty

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:48:47 GMT

The United Nations Development Programme has recently launched its report on "Towards Human Resilience: Sustaining MDG Progress in an Age of Economic Uncertainty". This report addresses essential questions about economic vulnerability and resilience, namelly: How do macro-economic crises affect the world’s most vulnerable economies? What structural characteristics make some economies more susceptible to the harmful effects of such shocks? And what policies can help developing economies build resilience in the face of unpredictable economic change globally? In doing so, it identifies key structural determinants that shape how countries experience and adapt to economic and financial shocks while considering policies and practices that minimize susceptibility.

A specific section of the report focuses on social protection, addressing the social protection floor initiative and providing with some country examples.

Read the report.

Cours EN3S: La responsabilité sociétale des organismes, Saint-Étienne, 13-15 novembre 2012 et 27-29 mars 2013

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT

L'École Nationale Supérieure de Sécurité Sociale (EN3S) organise un cours sur "La responsabilité sociétale des organismes". Il sera discuté: (i) la RSO dans la Sécurité sociale, (ii) les impacts d’une politique de RSO dans la stratégie de l’organisme, (iii) la construction d’une politique de RSO et (iv) le management responsable.

Cette formation est destiné aux directeurs, agents de direction et cadres supérieurs souhaitant faire évoluer leurs modes de management et de gestion pour établir des relations plus constructives en interne et externe.

Pour en savoir plus, visitez le site EN3S.

New Fellowship Opportunities from the ILOs Microinsurance Innovation Facility

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility is offering three new microinsurance fellowship opportunities in Burkina Faso, Haiti and South Africa. The fellowships provide an opportunity for hands-on experience in microinsurance, while also building the capacity of the host organization. See below for details of each opportunity and apply online before the 30th November.

Fellowship with UAB VIE, Burkina Faso

UAB VIE is the first Life insurance company in Burkina Faso. Since 2003, UAB VIE has offered a saving and life insurance product specially tailored to the informal sector. The product is distributed through 70 agents, ensuring daily collection among the target market. After having improved the back-office processes in 2011, with usage of mobile phones to support the daily saving collection, UAB Vie is entering its expansion phase and is looking for a fellow to: contribute to establishing a new distribution strategy enabling fast growth of the microinsurance portfolio, conduct market research to develop appropriate new microinsurance products and support the extension of the Cauri d'Or product to new zones. See the Terms of reference (in French) - (pdf 165 KB) and apply through the online application form

Fellowship with Cenfri, South Africa

The Centre for Financial Regulation and Inclusion (Cenfri) is a research/capacity building center focusing on financial inclusion in general and microinsurance in particular based in Cape Town, South Africa. Cenfri is developing a microinsurance innovation lab, with the objective of using applied research to support insurers or insurance channels in identifying the required disruptive innovations which will enable microinsurance to reach scale on a sustainable basis. The Innovation Lab is looking for a fellow to provide support to selected organizations which agreed to test the innovation lab concept in setting and monitoring their research agenda and documenting the experience for further development of the innovation lab concept. See the Terms of reference - (pdf 202 KB) and apply through the online application form

Fellowship with Fonkoze and ILO Crisis Programme, Haiti

Fonkoze and the ILO Crisis programme in Haiti are looking for a fellow to provide support to both organizations in a shared fellowship opportunity. For the ILO Crisis programme the fellow will work on the coordination of the microinsurance and microfinance activities while for Fonkoze the duties are around supporting the organization in the implementation, evaluation and improvement of its catastrophic insurance product. Fonkoze Financial Services (Fonkoze) is Haiti's largest microfinance institution and is committed to reaching the poorest through innovative approaches and helping them take the first steps out of poverty. The ILO Crisis programme, supports the new Haitian government and the international community in the program for the reconstruction of the country. See the Terms of reference - (pdf 134 KB) and apply through the online application form.

Chinas latest revolution: Basic health care for all

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

On 6 April 2009, China unveiled an action plan for a radical and ambitious health-care reform aimed at attaining universal health insurance coverage by 2020. Three years later, the country has almost reached this goal. What’s the secret behind the success?

Read the article.

Can China get old and rich at the same time?

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Can China get old and rich at the same time? China has already done a lot to adapt labour markets and social protection systems to an ageing society. But it will have to do more to balance its economic and social needs.

China's 12th Five-Year Plan for a better access to healthcare

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Dr Chen Zhu, Minister of Health, presented the highlights of China’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) for healthcare development. This plan aims to improve health insurance to prevent patients from falling into poverty.

The plan states that a national basic medical and healthcare system will be formed by 2015, allowing all Chinese to have access to basic public healthcare services.

To address high medical costs, the plan stipulates that annual medical insurance subsidies for non-working urban residents and rural residents will be raised from about 240 yuan ($38) to 360 yuan by 2015.

According to the plan, health insurance can cover as much as 75 percent of total medical care expenditures, reducing patients' out-of-pocket spending.

Furthermore, more diseases will be covered by a medical insurance program designed to provide financial aid to seriously ill patients. The program was expanded to cover eight diseases in 2011, and will further rise to 20 this year.

Brazil - New social support program - Tenderness Brazil

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

President Dilma Rousseff signed a law establishing a new social program called Tenderness Brazil. It is designed to overcome the problem of extreme poverty among children, supplementing the Bolsa Familia guaranteed minimum income of seventy reales per capita (about $35 dollars) for families with children under 6.

This social action plan includes nursery, special and differentiated assistance in health, adding medication delivery. This program actually benefits nearly 9 million people.

For more information, click here.

The European Development Days held a panel discussion on social protection in development

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The European Development Days, organized by the European Commission and considered as one of Europe’s premier forum on international affairs and development cooperation, attracted representatives of the development community from all corners of the globe. The two-day meeting held a panel discussion on the 16^th October 2012 entitled “Placing Social Protection at the Heart of the Development Agenda”. The panelists included Sharan Burrow, Secretary-General of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Michael Cichon, Director of the Social Security Department at the International Labour Organization (ILO), Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development, and other high-level speakers who contributed substantively to the debate.

During the panel discussion was highlighted, among other key points, the need to help partner countries to include social protection in their development policies for a country’s long-term growth. The panelists emphasized that the new paradigm is to support measures to build more integrated social systems, recognizing the need to introduce social protection floors to provide a stable social environment. Further, it was pointed out that while the right to social protection remains universal, each country should develop its own models based on local experience. Finally, an important question raised was the many ways to access domestic finance to pay for social protection, the European Commissioner stating that social protection systems should be national in character and financed out of national budgets.

Michael Cichon, Director of the Social Security Department of the International Labour Organization: "Social protection is an investment. There is no way society can unlock the productive capacity of people unless we invest in children and to invest in children we have to invest in society […] The trick is to use the fiscal space provided by growth to fund social security protection. In 10 years we can build up the funds needed."

More information on the panel "Placing Social Protection at the Heart of the Development Agenda"

Briefing paper and report : The implications of the Coalition Governments reforms for members of the public service pension schemes

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) has published a briefing paper which sets out the PPI's independent assessment of the impact of the Coalition Government's proposed reforms of the four largest public service pension schemes on the value of the pension benefit for members.

The analysis covers the potential impact of the proposed reforms to members of the NHS, Teachers, Local Government and Civil Service pension schemes. The PPI's analysis suggests that the Coalition Government's proposed reforms to the NHS, Teachers, Local Government and Civil Service pension schemes will reduce the average value of the benefit offered across all scheme members by more than a third, compared to the value of the schemes before the Coalition Government's proposed reforms. Nevertheless, even after the Coalition's proposed reforms the benefit offered by all four of the largest public service pension schemes remains more valuable, on average, than the pension benefit offered by Defined Contribution schemes that are now most commonly offered to employees in the private sector.

To view a copy of the briefing paper please click here. To view the full report please click here.

You can visit www.pensionpolicyinstitute.org.uk and you can download the report from the homepage.

First beneficiaries of the recently-introduced pension scheme for public officials in Timor-Leste

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The ceremony of the first old-age benefit concessions of the social security scheme was held on 16 October 2012 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MNEC) in Dili, Timor-Leste. The ceremony was attended by the Presidency, the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, the Public Service Commission, the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ambassador of Brazil to Timor-Leste, and featured the granting of pension benefits to the first beneficiaries of the scheme.

See the press release of the ceremony (in Portuguese).

See the press release of the ILO Office in Brazil on the ceremony (in Portuguese).

This ceremony is considered to be an important milestone in the development of social security in the country.

In early 2012, Timor-Leste, with the technical support of the ILO, approved a law establishing a Transitional Social Security Scheme in order guarantee the basic social protection needs of civil servants and their dependent family members. The law is seen as the first step to develop a General Regime covering workers of the public and private sectors.

China: High level Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Poverty Reduction and Development Forum took place in Beijing, China, on 17 October 2012, to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The high level forum was held under the theme "Inclusive Development and Poverty Reduction". A morning panel discussion focused on China’s poverty reduction structure and policy in the first decade of the new century and latest international trends and challenges in responding to poverty. Afternoon sessions then moved on to social protection and integrating approaches to poverty to increase their impact.

The Forum was jointly hosted by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development of China (LGOP) and the United Nations, and it was organized by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) and UNDP China.

UNDP China, Press Release, 17 October 2012.

National Forum on Employment and Social Protection

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

On October 9th and 10th the National Forum on Employment and Social Protection took place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This workshop was undertaken as part of the ILO/EU project "Improving Social Protection and Promoting Employment," and the participants included tripartite representatives from various organizations and government ministries.

Agenda and presentations

International Symposium: Extension of social protection, 18 and 19 October 2012, Skhirat, Morocco.

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

An international symposium based on a multisectoral approach to social security coverage will take place on 18-19 October 2012, in Skhirat, Morocco. It is organized by both the Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG) and the Pôle Prévoyance CDG. Researchers and high-level specialists will be involved, as well as international organizations and stakeholders in social protection in Morocco and the rest of the world. The symposium will focus on three key topics:

Issues on social protection
Social protection as a driving force for a pro-poor growth
The implementation of social protection in Morocco and the rest of the world

This symposium will emphasize the importance of the extension of social protection as a tool to reduce poverty and inequalities and contribute to economic growth and sustainable human development. It will also bring about a debate on the future of social protection in Morocco as it faces unemployment and on universal social protection. The panellists will be able to confront their points of view and their analysis results. Besides, they will be able to learn from successful experiences, especially from the implementation of the Social Protection Floor.

See the full symposium description (available only in French).

85 Anniversary of the International Social Security Association (ISSA)

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The International Social Security Association (ISSA)’s 85 years anniversary last week marked the opportunity to look back at the almost nine decades of the organization’s decisive role in promoting social justice in all regions.

Created in October 1927 under the auspices of the International Labour Organization, the foundation of the ISSA emerged from the common desire of several mutual benefit societies and sickness insurance funds from a number of European countries to exchange experience, information and to coordinate their national social insurance schemes. Initially known as the International Conference of National Unions of Mutual Benefit Societies and Sickness Insurance Funds, its original members were soon joined by social insurance organizations from other regions. As a consequence, over the next three decades the ISSA broadened its cope of activities, integrating wide-ranging research projects and establishing a series of Technical Commissions, each of them focusing on a specific area of social security.

The ISSA brings together over 340 social security institutions from more than 150 countries, and from diverse social realities in Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia and the Pacific. It constitutes a global platform for social security professionals, enabling the share of ideas, expertise and analysis on social security administration.

In the last decades, the ISSA strengthened its international profile and advocated for the vital role of social security, promoting a balanced an informed dialogue among policy-makers while consolidating its publication programme, in particular the International Social Security Review.

See International Social Security Association’s multi-lingual website.

South-South Cooperation Initiative to fund fellowship to support the implementation of a National Social Protection Floor in Cambodia

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

During two South-South exchange missions in June, IT experts from Thailand’s National Health Security Office (NHSO) and Health Insurance System Research Office (HISRO) gave support to technicians in Cambodia’s Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training in designing a Management Information System (MIS) for the new National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Health Insurance System. Following on from the success of these missions, the South-South Cooperation Initiative will now provide funding for a fellowship, allowing one member of NSSF staff to complete the Master’s Degree in Health Security Financing and Management at Naresuan University, Thailand. The course, which has been developed with technical input from the International Labour Organization (ILO), gives students the opportunity to learn from the Thai experience of managing and financing health security, as well as from broader theories and practice from across the globe.

The South-South Cooperation Initiative is the result of an increased collaboration between the UNDP Special Unit for South-South Cooperation and the ILO. It is a two year project which aims at supporting countries from the South in the design, implementation, monitoring and harmonization of Social Protection Floor policies or components. More information on the role of South-South Cooperation in the implementation on National Social Protection Floors is available here.

International Conference: The challenges of social protection in the BRICS and beyond, 19th November, Paris, France

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

An international conference on "The challenges of social protection in the BRICS and beyond" is to be held at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris, France from 13:30 to 17:30 on Monday 19^th November. The conference - jointly organized by the French Prime Minister’s Centre d’analyse stratégique (CAS), the Social Security Department of the International Labour Office (ILO) and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Public Interest Group on Health and Social Protection in the International Arena (GIP SPSI) – will seek to address two key questions:

What is the role of international cooperation in implementing National Social Protection Floors?
What forms of labour market regulation will lead to inclusive growth?

More information on the conference and registration details are available here.

Senegal - The Goverment wants to extend social protection coverage to all the population

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Only available in French.

Financing and governance of social security, 5 - 9 November 2012, Latin America

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

ILO International Training Centre

This course develops the conceptual and technical skills to understand actuarial studies and to analyse the financing of social security systems.

Targeted participants are directors, technical staff and advisors of social security and private pension schemes, as well as social interlocutors in supervision organisms.

See the full course description (in Spanish only).

Guiding Principles on extreme poverty and human rights adopted

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

On 27 September 2012, the Human Rights Council adopted the Guiding Principles on extreme poverty and human rights, by consensus.

In her press release, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights urged States to embrace the Principles, stating: "The Guiding Principles seek to provide for the first time a global standard in the fight against extreme poverty, focusing on the rights of people living in poverty... This is a practical tool for policy makers which will guide States in designing their public policies, particularly their poverty eradication efforts, based on a human rights approach."

Read the press release from the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.
Read the Guiding Principles on extreme poverty and human rights.

Ageing societies, employment and social protection, 12 - 30 November and 3 - 7 December 2012, Turin, Italy

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:20:20 GMT

ILO International Training Centre

Demographic ageing requires advanced welfare states as well as low- and middle-income countries to address the challenges and opportunities in terms of affordable health and long-term care, gainful labour market participation, sustainability of social protection systems and income security. This course seeks to boost both, individual and institutional capacity to formulate adequate social protection responses to ageing societies.

Policy planners, managers and advisers from relevant governmental structures (Ministries of Health, Social Affairs, Welfare, Planning, and Labour) and social security institutions, representatives of employers’ and workers’ organisations, practitioners from UN agencies and NGOs.

See the full course description.

Actuarial modelling of public pension schemes, 5 - 25 November & 26 November - 7 December 2012, Turin, Italy

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

ILO International Training Centre

In the context of the Workshop, quantitative specialists working for public pension schemes will be trained to develop and build their own scheme-specific model based on the generic models of the ILO. At the end of the Workshop, participants will be in a position to support the financial forecast of their institutions.

This course addresses the needs of quantitative specialists such as economists, actuaries, statisticians, mathematicians, computer programmers, accountants and financial managers involved in the financial planning of public pension schemes.

See the full course description.

Fostering the social and professional reintegration of return migrants, 26 - 30 November 2012, Turin, Italy

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

ILO International Training Centre

The course provides advanced knowledge with which to foster the contribution to development of return migrants and it offers ground-breaking information about their patterns of social and professional reintegration. The course will also analyze the role of the different institution involved in the whole process of return and the needs of returnees to facilitate their reintegration in the country of origin.

Targeted participants are officials from various institutions dealing with labour migration, representatives from workers and employers’ organizations, NGOs, migrants’ associations, international development agencies, regional economic communities and research institutes.

See the full course description.

HIV/AIDS and the world of work, 12 - 23 November 2012, Turin, Italy

Sun, 11 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

ILO International Training Centre

The course provides training of trainers on the ILO Recommendation, the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work, including a specific approach for the informal economy, as well as social protection, gender and social dialogue.

Targeted participants are government officials, employers, workers, civil society organizations and others.

See the full course description.

International Conference: The challenges of social protection in the BRICS and beyond, 19th November, Paris, France

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

What is the role of international cooperation in implementing National Social Protection Floors?
What forms of labour market regulation will lead to inclusive growth?

More information on the conference and registration details are available here.

Assessing the feasibility, cost and impact of national social protection floors, 29 October - 2 November 2012, Turin, Italy

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 23:00:00 GMT

This course is designed to help governments in making informed decisions on their social protection extension strategies. Participants will assess the costs and impacts of the implementation of various components of the Social Protection Floor in the context of the fiscal space framework.

Targeted participants are policy planners, advisers and technical staff working in relevant governmental structure and social security institutions as well as representatives of workers and employers' organizations involved in the extension of social protection coverage.

See the full course description.

Publication of the meeting summary report for: "Measuring and Monitoring Country Progress towards Universal Health Coverage"

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

In recent years, many countries have declared their commitment to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and introduced policies and approaches to achieve that goal. However, currently, there are few guidelines for measuring and monitoring countries’ progress towards UHC. Health Systems 20/20 has been working with several development partners in identifying and agreeing upon a set of key indicators.

The Health Systems 20/20 Project reviewed UHC indicators that have already been defined in the literature, assessed the feasibility of producing those indicators from already-available data sources in five countries, and reflected upon the strengths and weaknesses of those indicators.

The Project also brought together representatives of several international development organizations and implementing partners in July 2012 to advance the dialogue and move toward consensus on an approach to UHC measurement.

The summary report is now available.

Read full article.

Webinar on Enhancing Microinsurance Products and Processes in Microfinance Institutions

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) are now increasingly including microinsurance in their portfolio of financial services to low-income communities. A recent survey of 450 MFIs showed that almost 70% now provide insurance cover to their clients, with products evolving beyond just basic credit life. Innovative approaches are emerging, offering insights on how MFIs can provide valuable risk management services that have a potential impact on both clients and the MFIs alike.

This webinar will look into the key successes and challenges of microfinance institutions that provide insurance to low-income persons and microenterprises. How can an MFI make its microinsurance program more successful and beneficial both for their clients and for itself? What can be learned from innovative MFIs that can make microinsurance operations more sustainable and impactful?

Learn and interact with the following panelists:
• Aparna Dalal, Facility team member and one of the authors of the upcoming Microinsurance Paper called "Pathways toward Greater Impact: Better Microinsurance Models, Products and Processes in MFIs".
• Fatina Abu Okab, Deputy General Manager of Microfund for Women (http://www.microfund.org.jo), a Jordan-based MFI offering both credit-life and hospital cash products
• Anne Hastings, Chief Executive Officer of Fonkoze (www.fonkoze.org), an MFI based in Haiti offering both credit life and catastrophe covers.
• Jasmin Suministrado, Knowledge Officer of the Facility who will moderate the event.

The webinar will take place on 10 October 2012, from 2:30 PM to 3:45 PM CEST.

To register, click here.

South-South exchange mission to support the implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy, 22nd-25th October 2012, Lomé, Togo

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

A South-South exchange mission is to be held in Lomé between 22nd and 25th October, to support the design and implementation of a National Social Protection Floor in Togo, following the adoption of a National Social Protection Strategy in June. The 4-day mission will include a workshop on 23rd and 24th and will bring Togolese line ministers and development partners together with Social Protection specialists Ms. Patricia Audi from Brazil and Ms. Vandana Singh from India. The workshop will focus on the development of delivery and implementation mechanisms that will encourage effective coordination between schemes, institutions and different technical ministries and levels of government. Ms. Audi and Ms. Singh will share their experiences with Togolese counterparts and explore how similar coordination and delivery mechanisms can be designed and implemented in Togo. For more information on Social Protection in Togo, visit the Togo country profile on GESS.

The workshop is organized as part of the broader South-South and triangular cooperation initiative for the implementation of gender sensitive social protection floors, which is a collaboration project between UNDP Special Unit for South-South Cooperation and ILO. Find more information about the role of South-South cooperation in building National Social Protection Floors here.

Ageing in the Twenty-First Century. A Celebration and A Challenge

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT

In the commemoration of the International Day for Older Persons on the 1^st October 2012, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and HelpAge International have launched a substantive report entitled: “Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and a Challenge”.

The study stresses that the global economic crisis has exacerbated the financial pressure to ensure both economic security and access to health care in old age. In this context, the report calls for, among other actions:

the implementation of social protection floors in order to guarantee income security and access to health and social services for older persons and the provision of a safety net that contributes to the postponement of disability and prevention of impoverishment in old age;
support systems for families and communities which ensure that older persons receive the long-term care they need and promote active and healthy ageing at the local level;
the extension of social security coverage for all workers as the best investment to improve the lives of future generations of older persons;
the mainstreaming of ageing into all gender policies and gender into ageing policies, taking into account the specific requirements of older women and men.

More information on the report: Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and A Challenge

World Pension Summit 2012

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The World Pension Summit 2012 will take place from 14th to 16^th November in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The event is planned to offer a global platform for cross-border knowledge sharing on both retirement management and pension fund strategy, and a forum for discussion on:

practices and developments in social security and employee benefits schemes
emerging trends in information, administration and communication

The three-day programme for this year will begin with a pre-summit event led by the International Social Security Association (ISSA), during which speakers will present the ILO and the ISSA strategies for extending social security coverage and adequacy worldwide. Other key topics include: pension reform, pension fund asset management, solidarity in social security and old-age income provision, risk and its management in pension schemes, and socially responsible investment for pension funds.

More information: http://www.worldpensionsummit.com/Home.aspx

National Conference on "Social Protection Floor in Jordan"

Mon, 28 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The national conference on Social Protection Floor is organized between the ILO and the Social Security Corporation in Jordan and in collaboration with UNICEF and WHO with an objective to assist the Government of Jordan in the progressive extension of social protection measures through introducing the SPF-Initiative and it aims also to assist UN member States in providing a minimum of income security and access to essential health care to all those in need, in particular to the unemployed and to workers in the informal economy.The extension of social protection measures should build on already existing initiatives and programmes of the national social security institutions and should promote dialogue between the social partners and other key stakeholders to this end.

ODI launches Background Note on public works programmes to promote social protection

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Overseas Development Institute has launched the Backgound Note "The politics of social protection: why are public works programmes so popular with governments and donors?"

This paper makes an initial exploration of the political economy of adopting public works programmes to promote social protection and employment in low-income countries and fragile states. It examines the reasons for the popularity of public works programmes, reviews the evidence base and draws implications for both policy choice and programme design.

Read ODI Background Note, September 2012.

UNRISD publication emphasizes the gender dimension of social protection in the context of globalization

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) released a new publication on “Gendered Impacts of Globalization: Employment and Social Protection”. The document observes that many governments, development agencies and advocacy groups have turned to social insurance programmes, adopted as key mechanisms for reducing the adverse impact on people of increasing insecurities in the context of globalization. However, it points out that social insurance programmes have tended to exclude women as direct beneficiaries, given that many women are employed in informal or casual forms of labour and are often not eligible for benefits associated with formal employment. As follows, the paper demonstrated that:

pension benefits often penalize women for their shorter labour market history, lower earnings and higher life expectancy
child/family cash transfer schemes can enhance access to public services but work well in countries with strong public provision of essential social services
an increased access to paid leave and services can enhance women’s employment prospects and can constitute an important source of jobs if these do not rely on informal market and voluntary provision

More information on the publication.

Source: Gendered Impacts of Globalization: Employment and Social Protection, UNRISD Gender and Development Paper No. 16, March 2012

Strengthening social protection in the EU development cooperation

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The European Commission presented the first ever Commission Communication on social protection in international development. It outlines how future EU aid should work to help putting in place social protection policies and systems. Topics include: equity, social inclusion and social cohesion; social protection at the centre of dialogue on national development strategies; revenue reform for fiscal space; support for job creation and employment; and gender in social protection.

Read the Communication from the Commission on Social Protection in European Union Development Cooperation.

EN3S Training: Social Protection Main Issues

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The École Nationale Supérieure de Sécurité Sociale (EN3S) organizes a training session from 24 to 28 September that will allow the analysis of current main challenges and different problematics, carried out by major actors in the French Social Protection. Each day will approach a different aspect of Social Protection.

The objectives are (i) to obtain a transversal vision of Social Protection in France and in Europe, (ii) to provide an overview of current challenges and guidelines regarding Social Security and Social Protection networks and (iii) to bring up to date the knowledge concerning the main issues and meaures taken into consideration by the public authorities.

For more information, read the brochure (in French).

EC report on Pension Adequacy in the European Union 2010-2050

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:00:20 GMT

The Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission and the Social Protection Committee jointly produced a report on "Pension Adequacy in the European Union 2010-2050".

Read the full report.

Zimbabwe: Monthly Cash for the Poor

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Zimbabwe has started paying poor families between US$10 and US$25 monthly cash grants, depending on family size, through the Harmonised Social Cash Transfer Scheme. The programme is a non-conditional cash transfer scheme that targets poor households and is funded by donors and the Government.

At least US$1.7 million has been spent so far on over 18 000 households in 10 districts. The Government plans to help 250 000 poor families, in the 65 districts of Zimbabwe by 2015.

Targetted households are headed by children and the elderly.

Read full article.

Source: allafrica.com

International Seminar "Using social security to empower people and enhance their responsibility"

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT

An International Seminar on the theme "Using social security to empower people and enhance their responsibility" will be organized by the ISSA in Paris on 11 and 12 September 2012, at the invitation of the French National Family Allowances Fund (Caisse nationale des allocations familiales – CNAF).

The International Seminar will provide participants with a platform to discuss proactive approaches to social security based on the empowerment of individuals and the enhancement of their capacities when faced with risks.

Read full article.

Source: International Social Security Association

The International Social Security Week 2012 will explore the theme of building a culture of prevention in social security

Sun, 05 Aug 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The International Social Security Week 2012 will take place from the 4^th to the 6^th September 2012 in Quito, Ecuador. This event, which holding was agreed by the International Social Security Association (ISSA), the Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS), the Ibero-American Social Security Organization (OISS) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), aims at encouraging international dialogue and collaboration and fostering the development of inclusive social protection schemes based on the Declaration of Guatemala. The International Social Security Week 2012 lends continuity to the event held in April 2011 in Mexico City, and in this framework, advances and tendencies in the development of preventive and proactive strategies in social security will be discussed based on different types of benefits and services provided to the population, particularly to the most vulnerable groups of the population, striving to build a Social Security Culture.

Source: http://www.ciss.org.mx/pdf/en/week2012/social-security-week-2012-announce-v2.pdf

South Africa is investigating Bolsa-Familia-type grant

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Ministry of Social Development is working in the possible adoption of a household or family grant scheme modelled on Brazil's Bolsa Familia programme

The main goal is to implement a much more targeted programme that is able to identify in chosen areas, households according to their needs.

The department is also studying Bolsa Familia's use of conditionalities in the provision of social grants.

Read the full article.

Source: 7thspace.com - 25/07/2012

Sierra Leone: Health fees scrapped but gaps remain

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

While one in five children die before age five and one in eight women die from pregnancy-related complications (source: UN Children’s Fund - UNICEF), the Sierra Leone Government launched on 27 April 2012 free health care for some 1.5 million women and children. But according to health experts, it is just one step in a long, complex process as critical gaps in the health system remain.

Read the full article.

Source: irinnews.com

The New Global Health Agenda: Universal Health Coverage

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The field of global health is witnessing a shift in focus from disease-driven initiatives to projects aimed at increasing the sustainability and strengthening of health systems. A crucial component to this is universal health coverage (UHC), which seeks to address financing schemes for health, separate from efforts to provide both adequate numbers of health workers and structures for health-care delivery. UHC may be provided by government or through a combination of private insurance schemes, public-sector planning, and employer-based programs. Countries across the world, from China and India to Rwanda and Mexico, are beginning to implement different universal health coverage schemes, marking a rise in interest and political will for universal health coverage. In The New Global Health Agenda: Universal Health Coverage, authors Oren Ahoobim, Daniel Altman, Laurie Garrett, Vicky Hausman, and Yanzhong Huang discuss this rise in support for universal health coverage and the financial benefits that may be reaped by implementing such schemes, and provide examples of models used to date by countries in establishing universal health coverage.

Read the full article.

The regional fair Knowledge from the South identifies successful South-South Cooperation experiences in the field of social protection systems

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The first regional South-South Cooperation fair Knowledge from the South, organized by UNDP and the Panamanian Government, took place from May 8 to 10, 2012 in Panama City. The event aimed to highlight enriching experiences of knowledge exchange and transfer between countries of the region, the main actors being representatives of successful South-South Cooperation experiences conducted between countries in the region in the field of social and sustainable development. The Fair selected, among more than 60 experiences, the Programme Puente para el Caribe carried out by the Inter-American Social Protection Network, as well as the Social Protection System Saso Pyahu (Paraguay Solidario), programmes which both rely on technical cooperation of the Chilean Government.

In the area of Social Programmes and Social Protection Systems, a series of agreements were documented and the exchange of knowledge was facilitated. In this regard, noteworthy are the agreements made between representatives of Brazil, Peru, Chile and Cuba in the themes of literacy and development of self-employment initiatives for young people. In addition, representatives of Panama, Argentina and Ecuador expressed their willingness to achieve further progress in cooperation in the field of health care for the elderly. Moreover, Colombia, Peru, Guatemala and Barbados agreed to achieve progress on the dialogue on youth self-employment and entrepreneurship and on banks of opportunities.

Source: http://saberdelsur.org/en/fair

Cape Verde: How social protection can help the elderly

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The International Labour Conference is considering adoption of a Recommendation on Social Protection Floors. The ILO is convinced every country can move towards social security for all, and cites the example of impoverished Cape Verde.

Read the full article.

Sri Lanka: Senior Minister calls for changes in Social Protection Policy

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

According to Senior Human Resources Minister, D E W Gunasekera, adequate revisions and amendments need to be enforced to the existing National Social Protection Policy to avoid future crisis as Sri Lanka's population is aging rapidly. Changes to the Social Protection Policy needs to reflect the demographic shift that the country is undergoing to prepare for the rising numbers of retirement age people.

Read the full article.

Source: Daily News, 28 June 2012

STEP Portugal supports Cape Verde in extending social protection

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

STEP Portugal, a Programme executed by the ILO Social Security Department and financed by Portugal, offers support to the Governments of African Portuguese-speaking countries for the extension of social protection and the strengthening of its effectiveness. It mainly supports public institutions that are responsable for contributory and non-contributory social protection in these countries.

In Cape Verde, STEP Portugal has been working over the past years with the National Social Security Institute (INPS) to strengthen and extend social insurance coverage, by reinforcing INPS capacity in terms of quantitative management and the extension of coverage to the self-employed, domestic workers and workers in micro and small enterprises.

It has also been cooperating with the National Social Pensions Centre (CNPS) in the establishment of a unified system of non-contributory social pensions for the elderly, disabled and invalid people as well as children with disabilities in poor families.

Read more about STEP Programme work in Cape Verde.

Ministerial Declaration of ECOSOC urges the creation of social protection floors

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

In the Ministerial Declaration produced by the participants in the high-level segment of the substantive session of the Economic and Social Council, held in New York from 2 to 9 July 2012, and in what concerns social protection, the Ministers and Heads of Delegations stress the need to provide social protection to all members of society, fostering growth, resilience, social justice, and cohesion, and encourage national and local initiatives aimed at providing social protection floors for all citizens.

They recognize the importance of providing social protection schemes for the formal and informal economy as instruments to achieve equity, inclusion and stability and cohesion of societies, and urge Governments to develop systems of social protection and to extend or broaden their effectiveness and coverage, recognizing the need for social protection systems to provide social security and support labour-market participation. They also urge Governments to give particular consideration to universal access to basic social security systems, recognizing that social protection floors can provide a systemic base to address poverty and vulnerability.

A specific mention is made to the importance of promoting universal access to social protection systems including by establishing nationally determined social protection floors as a fundamental element of national social security systems, and in line with ILO Recommendation 202 (2012) on National Social Protection Floors and bearing in mind ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention 102 (1952). This is seen as an important means of assisting those living in or vulnerable to poverty while also helping to stabilize the economy, maintaining and promoting employability and protecting and further consolidating the gains towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Finally, the Ministers and Heads of Delegations call upon the UN agencies, funds and programmes to continue to coordinate in a coherent manner their activities in order to support national governments to develop and expand social protection floors, in line with ILO recommendation 202, including through the facilitation and promotion of South-South cooperation.

Read the HLS Ministerial Declaration of ECOSOC 2012.

Nigeria: Social Security Services Commission

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Nigerian National Assembly has called for the establishment of a commission to oversee the implementation of all social protection services in the country, thus helping to galvanise and set standards in activities of agencies that offer social protection services.

This has raised issues since the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), responsible for the administration of the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS), already coordinates the implementation of social security programmes in the country. According to stakeholders, this would cause a duplication of roles.

Read the full article.

Source: This Day Live, 27 June 2012.

EU Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review June 2012

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The European Commission has released in June the latest EU Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review. According to the Review, the labour market and social situation in the EU have continued to be unfavourable overall and to show clearer signs of polarisation.

Read the article.

Source: European Commission - Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, 27 June 2012.

India: Expedite smart cards scheme

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Authorities have urged bankers to committ themselves to the implementation of biometric Smart Cards scheme which alows the disbursal of pension - and soon all other Social Security Schemes. This enables pensioners to withdraw their Old Age Pension in their villages through Business Correspondents appointed by public sector banks.

Read the full article.

Source: The Hindu, 29 June 2012

3-6 October European Health Forum

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Bad Hofgastein, Austria

Crisis and Opportunity: Health in an Age of Austerity

This year the 15th European Health Forum will try to answer the question "What do our health systems require for being sustainable in the long run in order to ensure a lifetime spent in good health?". The Conference focuses on the increasing demand for healthcare due to demographic change and innovation and steadily improved technology and on how health policy and healthcare systems are going to be shaped in the current times of austerity. Maastricht University, together with Global Health Europe, co-host a parallel forum in Gastein entitled "Global Health Governance: Europe and the world". The three sessions of the parallel forum will focus on global health governance in the European context, global governance for health in practice exemplified with communicable diseases and foreign policy for health.

Detailed programme of the Conference.

World Health Summit; Berlin, Germany; 21-24 October 2012

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The theme of the 2012 World Health Summit: "Research for Health and Sustainable Development" articulates this year's focus on finding novel solutions for non-communicable diseases and conditions of global concern, like obesity, diabetes and mental illness. Greater awareness of the global economic risks and human suffering related to the epidemiologic transition, as well as sustainable solutions for healthcare systems to meet the challenge of non-communicable diseases and conditions are urgently needed. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will share the Presidency of the 4th World Health Summit this year. The new official publication "World Health Summit" will be launched at the event and is published by Newsdesk Media and edited jointly by the World Health Summit and the Global Health Programme.

More information

Curso de Dirección y Gestión de Organizaciones Sanitarias: septiembre - diciembre de 2012

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

(In Spanish only)

El Centro de Desarrollo de Proyectos Avanzados (CEDEPAP), con el auspicio del Consejo de Médicos de la Provincia de Córdoba (CMPC), Argentina, organiza su primer curso a distancia sobre dirección y gestión de organizaciones sanitarias.

El curso tiene una duración total de tres meses, comienza el 3 de septiembre y termina el 9 de diciembre de 2012. Está dirigido a profesionales integrantes de equipos de salud, gerentes y administradores que desarrollen su actividad en organizaciones prestadoras y/o aseguradoras de salud tanto públicas como privadas.

Propósitos generales

Introducir a los participantes en el conocimiento de las fuerzas externas a la Organización y aquellos factores internos a ser tenidos en cuenta para la generación de objetivos y el planteamiento de las acciones estratégicas acordes a los objetivos de supervivencia y evolución de cada Organización de Salud.
Generar los conocimientos necesarios para la Gestión del Recurso Humano organizacional reconociéndolo como el elemento clave para la supervivencia organizacional.
Diagnosticar,reconocer e implementar mejoras en mecanismos internos de control organizacional,para asegurar el correcto rumbo de lo actuado.
Incluir el concepto de Costos en cuanto a componente importante para la evaluación de proyectos y la toma de decisiones.
Reconocer la existencia,diagnosticar y proponer modificaciones en los procesos y sistemas de Gestión de la Calidad en organizaciones de Salud.

Mayor información: www.cedepap.tv ¦ info@cedepapedu.org ¦ teléfono +54 351 4251800 (8-17 hs. de Argentina)

US health care law can help close gaps in social security coverage

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The national debate that has sprung up in the US around the new legislation on health care is actually quite beneficial, according to an ILO expert on social protection.

Read the article

Extension of old age coverage in China

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

China has launched a campaign with the purpose of providing old age pensions to all residents and unemployed-urban residents in order to resolve the challenge posed by the ageing population.

More than 3 800 million Chinese have benefited from the retirement scheme as for urban-rural residents in the course of the last three years, whereas approximately 100 million of old persons benefit from a basic State-funded pension retirement. Some 123 million Chinese were aged more than 65 years old at the end of 2011, accounting for 9,1% of the total population, according to official figures.

Source: La Chine élargit la couverture de pension de retraite face au vieillissement de la population (in French)

How did the Microinsurance Compendium help your organisation?

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Check out how the Microinsurance Compendium, Volume 1 helped microinsurance practitioners: http://youtu.be/uncQPmigtUQ

What was your experience? Send us a short quote or short video to microinsuramcemedia@ilo.org to tell us how useful you found the Compendium. Please include your name, organisation and email so that we can get in touch. If you are sending a video it would be great if you could include the transcript.

We will compile the messages we receive and promote them in the microinsurance community.

Also, don't forget that we launch the Compendium, volume 2 on Tuesday in a live interactive online and offline event – there is still time to register, please do so here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BJZSXWS

Working for Equity in Health launches report on the role of social protection in combating the financial crisis

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Working for Equity in Health report "The Pan-European macro-drivers: Work, worklessness, social protection and health inequalities" intends to help decision makers to think differently about the role of social protection systems in a period of crisis. It shows that governments should promote and invest in social protection measures, for example on Active Labour Market programmes or active inclusion, as a way to mitigates risks by improving resilience and the likelihood of job reintegration. In the context of austerity, these programmes offer strong public-investment value both for protecting public health and readying the economy for recovery.

The Working for Equity in Health is a project funded by the European Commission PROGRESS programme, aiming to explore the relationship between work, worklessness and social protection as key social determinants of health inequalities, with an assets based approach.

Read the report "The Pan-European macro-drivers: Work, worklessness, social protection and health inequalities".

Development Pathways releases first issue of Pathways' Perspectives: Safety Net / Social Assistance

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Pathways' Perspectives is a series of papers that aims to provide people with the opportunity to debate key issues in international development. The first issue of this series is "Safety Net Social Assistance", which is a reaction by the author Nick Freeland to what he perceives is a misuse of the term 'social safety net'.

Read Pathways’ Perspectives 1 – Safety Net Social Assistance – Nick Freeland.

2012 as year of voluntary insurance for all in Burkina Faso

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The National Social Security Fund (CNSS) in Burkina Faso intends to make the year 2012 a year of voluntary insurance for all. In this context, the CNSS has launched an awareness campaign for voluntary insurance in the central region of the country, in which 65% of workers are engaged in the informal sector. The aim of this campaign is to draw attention to the benefits of old-age insurance among Burkina Faso citizens, and to make them know that any worker can register to the CNSS contributions according to his/her monthly income in order to receive a pension after 15 contribution years.

Sources: “Better access to pension insurance for Burkina Faso’s workers”, Making Finance Work for Africa, 22 May 2012, http://www.mfw4a.org/news/news-details/better-access-to-pension-insurance-for-burkina-faso-s-workers.html

« Sécurité sociale au Burkina : 2012, une année de l’assurance volontaire pour tous », Agence de Presse Labor, 27 janvier 2012, http://www.laborpresse.net/ouagadougou-les-2-yeux-dun-cambrioleur-creves/

Rio+20 Agrees on the Importance of Social Protection Floors for Sustainable Development

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 20-22, 2012, gathering heads of state and government and high-level representatives to discuss how to build a green economy, achieve sustainable development and lift people out of poverty, as well as support for developing countries that would allow them to find a green path for development.

In the outcome of the Conference, the leaders agreed on, among other issues, the importance of supporting developing countries in their efforts to eradicate poverty, including the provision of social protection floors. They encouraged national and local initiatives aimed at providing social protection floors for all citizens and supported global dialogue on best practices for social protection programmes, taking into account the three dimensions of sustainable development and emphasizing ILO Recommendation 202 concerning national social protection floors, adopted during the International Labour Conference on June 14, 2012.

During the Rio+20 the International Labour Organization (ILO) organized a side-event on Decent Work and Social Protection Floors for Sustainable Development, highlighting examples from several countries around the world of coherent policies and effective programmes linking social protection, employment, and economic and environmental issues. The Director-General of the ILO, Juan Somavia, participated in this side-event, focusing on the role of social policies in the development of a greener economy.

Read the Conference outcomes "The future we want".

Read the ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (no. 202).

Read the ILO Director-General speech during the side-event on the Rio+20.

G20 Leaders Recognize the Importance of Establishing Social Protection Floors

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The leaders of the G20 gathered in Los Cabos, Mexico, on June 18-19, 2012. In their final declaration, they recognized the importance of establishing nationally defined social protection floors.

The leaders also stated that they will continue to foster inter-agency and international policy coherence, coordination, cooperation and knowledge sharing in order to assist low-income countries in capacity building for implementing social protection floors. They urged international organizations to identify policy options with low-income countries for the development of effective and sustainable protection floors.

Read the G20 Leaders Declaration.

National Tripartite Policy Dialogue - Burkina Faso

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

In the framework of the joint ILO-EU Project, a two-day national tripartite dialogue on integrated approaches of the extension of social protection and the promotion of employment was held in Ouagadougou, from June 25-26, 2012. The event aimed to support the design of coherent social protection and employment policies to reduce poverty in Burkina Faso. Organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in cooperation with ILO and EU, the national dialogue participants were members of government, employers’ and workers’ representatives who discussed a draft action plan, collected ideas from the dialogue members and to provided recommendations. The two-day dialogue was organized into different sessions in order to examine employment and social protection strategies, policies and programmes.

Access presentations and other documents of the National Dialogue (in French)

ISSA Annual Review 20112012

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The ISSA has just issued its Annual Review for the 2011-2012 period.

The Annual Review 2011–2012 highlights the achievements of the past year and confirms the unique contribution of the International Social Security Association to the promotion and development of social security worldwide.

Together with summaries of major meetings and projects during the last year, the Annual Review lists the range of information tools and resources on social security made available by the Association. The publication also includes details of the ISSA's structure and organization.

Read the Report.

What pension should todays 30-year-old receive ?

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

In the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, a pension panel discussion with ILO, WB, and CEO's from ISSA member organizations (from Russia, Kazakhstan, Sweden) will take place on June 21st at 16:00 (Geneva time 14:00).

The demographic slump, the unstable macro-economic situation and the structural changes on the labour market are global challenges to the pension systems of all the developed countries. The aim is the same: long-term sustainability for the pension system and adequate pension provision. The forum will deal with questions as: what will pensions be like in 30 years’ time? what will tomorrow’s insurance contributions be like?

Direct link: http://2012.forumspb.com/

ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation adopted

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The International Labour Conference has adopted a new international labour standard, the Recommendation concerning national floors of social protection (referred to as Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202)), with overwhelming majority (453 votes in favour and one abstention) of government, employer and worker delegates of the ILO's 185 member States.

This Recommendation provides guidance to countries in establishing and maintaining national social protection floors as fundamental element of comprehensive social security systems and in developing extension strategies that progressively ensure higher levels of social security to as many people as possible and as soon as possible, reflecting national objectives, economic and fiscal capacities and guided by other ILO social security standards.

This double objective of the Recommendation reflects the International Labour Organization's two-dimensional strategy to the extension of social security coverage, which was adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 2011. Reaffirming that social security is a human right and a social and economic necessity, the Recommendation sets out that countries should establish and maintain national social protection floors. These constitute of a set of nationally-defined basic social security guarantees, including effective access to essential health care and basic income security throughout the life course, that contribute to preventing or alleviating poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion, and building more inclusive societies and economies.

ILO and IMF joint work to explore the feasibility of national social protection floors

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The ILO and the IMF prepared a preliminary report for the meeting of the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers in Guadalajara (Mexico), 17-18 May 2012, on the state of their joint collaboration in exploring the fiscal feasibility of national social protection floors in selected countries. The finding and results of the three most advanced pilot studies, Mozambique, Viet Nam and El Salvador are briefly described in the current report.

Read the report.

Portugal: austerity measures affect the most vulnerable social groups

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Mr. Nils Muinieks, stated upon conclusion of his three-day visit to Lisbon that fiscal austerity measures implemented so far in Portugal have disproportionately affected the human rights of the most vulnerable social groups, especially children, the elderly and Roma. The Commissioner for Human Rights welcomed the 2011 “social emergency” measures adopted in order to alleviate the adverse effects of the crisis on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly. However, he emphasized that much more and systematic work was necessary in order to protect and respect the social and economic rights by which Portugal is bound by the provisions of the European Social Charter.

Source: Council of Europe, Commissioner for Human Rights, http://www.coe.int/t/commissioner/News/2012/120509Lisboa_en.asp

Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development: Action and Impact. 8-12 July 2012, Stockholm

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The “2012 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development: Action and Impact” will be held in Stockholm from 8-12 July 2012. The event, whose main language is English, is organized by three leading organizations for social research and education, the social work professionals, and socio-political actors: the International Association of Schools and Social Work (IASSW), the International Federal of Social Workers (IFSW), and the International Council on Social Welfare (ISCW). The 2012 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development is built on three major themes: (i) Human Rights and Social Equality; (ii) Environmental Change and Sustainable Social Development; and (iii) Global Social Transformation and Social Action. The opening ceremony of the event will open with a video greeting of Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, and will count on the presence of many high-profile experts, including Mr. Christian Rollet, President ICSW and Conference Global Coordinator, and Mr. Assane Diop, Executive Director responsible for the Social Protection Sector, International Labour Organization, present at the opening of the event as one of the keynote speakers.

Source: 2012 Joint World Conference on Social Work and Social Development: Action and Impact, http://www.swsd-stockholm-2012.org/

Academy on Social Security. 24 September - 05 October 2012, Turin, Italy

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Academy provides advanced knowledge and management tools needed for the effective design, management and governance of social security systems. The main aim of the Academy is to enhance the capacity of key actors involved in the social security sector to better advice, design, manage, administer and supervise national social security schemes in a changing global economic and financial context. The Academy covers a wide range of social protection cross-cutting themes such as extension, governance, financing and reforms.

See the full course description

Indonesia promotes universal health coverage

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

During the World Health Assembly (WHA) that took place in Geneva, from May 21^st to May 26^th, Indonesian Deputy Health Minister, Ali Ghufron Mukti, said that successfully implemented universal coverage can significantly reduce the economic impacts of catastrophic diseases.

As of 2011, 145.3 million people were covered through different schemes and the Jamkesmas, a government-funded protection scheme designed for low-income earners, has covered 76.4 million people.

With the start of the social security law on January the 1^st, 2014, the Indonesian Government aims at making social coverage universal.

Read the article.

The Jakarta Post, 2012, May the 23^rd

Participate in the interactive launch of the Microinsurance Compendium, volume II - July 3rd 2012 (Geneva and Live Webcast session)‏

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Meet with the authors of the Microinsurance Compendium and get an overview of the sector's trends
Tuesday 3rd July from 4 to 6:30 PM - ILO Headquarter (Library) / Geneva &Rencontre avec les auteurs du Compendium de la micro-assurance Live WebCast

Register as soon as possible to guarantee your participation: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BJZSXWS

The interactive session will bring the opportunity to meet with key microinsurance stakeholders, to dialogue in small groups around specific topics and to network with peers. By attending, participants will get an overview of the major trends of the microinsurance sector and have the possibility to interact with some authors in 'Questions corners'. We'll end the event with a cocktail so as to continue exchanging in an informal way.

The authors and experts who are (tentatively) lined up to contribute to the session are: Craig Churchill (trends), Jeanna Holtz (health), Michal Matul (client value), Pranav Prashad (agriculture and disaster risks) from the ILO's Facility, Samia Kazi Aoul (microinsurance for migrant - ILO), John Woodal (microinsurance and social protection - ILO), Peter van den Broeke (regulation-IAIS), Eric gerelle (the role of technology - IBEX) and Brandon Mathews (the experience of commercial insurers - Zurich Financial Services).

For those of you who cannot attend physically, we'll organize a Webcast to share with you the plenary and we'll set up for onliners a special Q&A session with the authors.

We hope to see you in Geneva or to interact virtually on July 3rd.

MORE: http://www.microinsurancefacility.org/en/interactive-launch-microinsurance-compendium-volume-ii

Hands-on Training Course: How to Cost, Finance and Monitor Social Protection Schemes?

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

On behalf of the UN SPF team in Thailand, the ILO organised in close collaboration with the Health Insurance System Research Office (HISRO), the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) and the Faculty of Economics of Chulalongkorn University a three days hands-on training course on “How to cost, finance and monitor Social Protection Schemes?” from Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 May 2012.

This 3 days course is designed for technical staff from relevant government and non-government institutions, workers and employers organizations, the Academia, UN agencies involve in the design, costing and implementation of social protection policies.

Objectives of the course:

This course enables participants to:

Gain technical expertise on the design and costing of social protection policies
Discuss issues related to financing (e.g. fiscal space analysis to identify relevant budget allocations & tax policies that could fund the extension of social protection)
Learn how to assess and measure the impact of social protection programmes on poverty reduction and other indicators

To learn more about the course, click.

101st Session of the International Labour Conference

Tue, 29 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The 101st session of the International Labour Conference of the ILO is to be held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 30 May to 15 June 2012.

G20 Labour and Employment Ministers agree on social protection as a way to promote creation of quality employment

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The G20 Labour and Employment Ministers gathered at Guadalajara, Mexico, 17-18 May 2012. At this meeting, the leaders agreed to promote quality employment, committing themselves to adopt actions that address the social and labour-related effects of the economic crisis. In this regard, the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers stressed the important role played by social protection systems as automatic stabilisers in the crisis. They committed themselves to contribute to the development of policies that improve the countries' social security systems, and encourage better cooperation with the G20 Development Working Group to assist developing countries in capacity building for implementing nationally determined social protection floors.

The leaders highlighted the cooperation between the ILO and the IMF, in collaboration with other international organizations, on sustainability of social protection floors and encouraged its continuation, and look forward to the possible adoption of an ILO recommendation on social protection floors during the upcoming International Labour Conference in June 2012.

For more information read the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers' conclusions.

Read the "Short-term labour market outlook and key challenges in G20 countries", a statistical update on employment and the labour market prepared by the ILO and the OECD for the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting in Mexico.

Read also the joint ILO/OECD statement encouraging the G20 agenda on economic growth and on jobs to consider the expansion of basic social protection. Social protection policies are a critical component, together with employment, labour market and environment policies, to ensure a rapid recovery in economic growth and ensuring, at the same time, more equity for people.

How to beat a crisis: Interview with Argentinean Vice President

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

In 2001 Argentina defaulted on its debt and ended the parity of its currency with the US dollar. The South American country plunged deeper into crisis, but within months economic growth set in. Argentine Vice President Mr. Amado Boudou presents Argentina experiences.

Interview with Argentine Vice President.

ILO News, 17 May 2012.

Decent Work and Social Protection Floors for Sustainable Development

Sun, 20 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The new vision of development links economic growth with low environmental impact, social inclusion and decent jobs. This requires a strong social pillar of sustainable development and policies which reinforce the synergies and mitigate the trade-offs between the environmental, economic and social pillars. The transition to a greener, fairer and sustainable development will create opportunities but also enormous challenges. With the right policies, however, such transformation can lead to social inclusion and more and better jobs. It provides significant opportunities for the creation of new jobs in sustainable enterprises, for the upgrading of existing jobs to lift millions out of poverty and to improve livelihood through access to basic social protection and services in the form of social protection floors.

At the occasion of the RIO+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, the ILO leads the organization of the side event “Decent Work and Social Protection Floors for Sustainable Development”, together with UNEP and the IMF.

Additional information .

Joint ILO/OECD Statement for G20 Labour Ministerial Meeting

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The ILO's Director-General, Juan Somavia, and the OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurría, produced a joint statement on the occasion of the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting, in Guadalajara, Mexico, 17 May 2012.

The statement encourages the G20 agenda on economic growth and on jobs to consider, among other things, the expansion of basic social protection. Social protection policies, together with employment, labour market and environment policies, are considered to be critical components of an overall policy package to ensure a rapid recovery in economic growth and more equitable outcomes for people.

Read the ILO/OECD Joint Statement.

Microinsurance Innovation Facility Webinar: "Insights from Indias Microinsurance Success"

Wed, 30 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The ILO’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility invites you to the live Webinar: "Insights from India's Microinsurance Success" on May 31.

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/131939878

India is the global leader in microinsurance. Innovation is blooming and new products and delivery models are being explored. More than 300 million low-income risks are insured. Indeed, more than 60% of microinsurance policyholders are to be found in India!

What are the catalysts for the success of microinsurance in India? What role has the government as well as market forces played in the exponential growth of the sector? What can insurers learn from India's experience?

Join us in exploring these questions in a webinar that will focus on "Insights from India's Microinsurance Success", one of the chapters of the newly launched "Protecting the Poor: A Microinsurance Compendium, Volume II" published by the Munich Re Foundation and the International Labour Office, available at www.microinsurancecompendium.org.

Learn and interact with the following panellists:

· Michal Matul, co-editor of the Compendium and Senior Research Officer of the Facility, who will highlight key global microinsurance trends,

· Rupalee Ruchismita, author of the chapter on "State and market synergies: Insights from India's microinsurance success" and Executive Director of the Center for Innovation and Risk Management, who will discuss key success factors in India,

· Samrat Nandy, Vice President for Client Markets of Swiss Re Services India, who will provide insights on what the insurance industry can learn from India's experience, and

· Jasmin Suministrado, Knowledge Officer of the Facility, who will moderate the event.

Register now to be guaranteed a seat in this knowledge sharing event!

Title:Insights from India's Microinsurance Success

Date:Thursday, May 31, 2012

Time:2:00 PM - 3:15 PM CEST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar

System Requirements

PC-based attendees - Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees - Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Quotes from international leaders in support of social protection systems for all

Mon, 14 May 2012 14:15:20 GMT

International leaders including the presidents of Brazil and France welcomed the report issued on Thursday 27 October by the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group headed by UN women chief Michelle Bachelet. The report calls on the G20 leaders to consider an “action plan” for implementing social protection floors through existing and new financing mechanisms.

Read the quotes.

Can Europe still afford health and long-term care for its elderly?

Sun, 13 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Ageing is a slow-burning fuse with a strong impact both on public expenditures and the social mood, as shown by this week's strike in the UK over pensions. The situation is particularly serious in terms of health and long-term care. Even more alarming is the financial burden on households looking after the elderly.

An interview with Ms. Xenia Scheil-Adlung, Health Policy Coordinator at the ILO.

ILO head says social protection is key for crisis-recovery

Wed, 09 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

"I believe that social protection floors will be indispensable in moving towards models of growth that are inclusive and just,” said Mr. Somavia while observing that developing countries that invested in social protection have emerged faster from the crisis than those that have not.

Read the article.

Financial burden of health and long-term care expenditure on older persons in Europe

Wed, 09 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

New ILO publication on the financial burden of health and long-term care expenditure on older persons in Europe. This research report assesses the financial impact of private health and long-term care expenditure on households of the elderly, in particular, the impact of out-of-pocket payments at the time of service delivery and related policy implications.

Download the report: Can the European elderly afford the financial burden of health and long-term care? Assessing impacts and policy implications

Video on the Social Protection Floor: public policies in Argentina

Wed, 02 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The ILO launches a new video on the Social Protection Floor in Argentina. This video presents the concrete policies and programmes implemented in Argentina to guarantee population's access to social services throughout the life cycle.

See the video.

The Social Protection Floor Initiative website has been launched

Tue, 01 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Social Protection Floor Initative (SPF-I) has now a website providing the latest information on the Initiative, highlighting country experiences and offering other resources that will help practitioners and country-level staff to foster their interest and knowledge on the subject.

Visit the Social Protection Floor Initiative website.

National Tripartite Policy Dialogue - Cambodia

Tue, 01 May 2012 22:00:00 GMT

ILO-EU Project held a two-day National Tripartite Policy Dialogue on March 28-29 in Phnom Penh. The event aimed to support the design of a coherent social protection and employment policy in order to reduce poverty in Cambodia. Organized by the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MoLVT) in cooperation with ILO and EU, the national dialogue counted on the participation of government, employers and worker representatives to discuss a draft action plan, and to collect ideas from the dialogue members and provide recommendations.

See more in the ILO E-Newsletter

Access presentations and other documents of the National Dialogue

Asian Development Outlook 2012 has been released

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:44:53 GMT

The Asian Development Bank has released this month the "Asian Development Outlook 2012: Confronting Rising Inequality in Asia". In spite of developing Asia’s great success in raising living standards and reducing poverty, swelling income disparities threaten to undermine the pace of progress. Regional policy makers need to ensure that the benefits of growth are widely shared. In that sense, and among other measures, social protection can play an important role to reduce inequalities in the region.

Read the "Asian Development Outlook 2012: Confronting Rising Inequality in Asia"

Protecting the poor: A microinsurance compendium. Volume II has been released!‏

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Published by the ILO and the Munich Re Foundation, the second volume of the Microinsurance Compendium examines the recent developments and achievements of the microinsurance sector by bringing together the
latest thinking of leading academics, actuaries, and insurance and development professionals in the microinsurance field.

Since the publication of the first edition, the landscape of microinsurance has changed enormously. With almost 500 million people now covered by microinsurance, the book discusses the main trends and evolution of the sector while also considering where it currently stands from a global point of view. The focus of the book is on how insurance products and services can successfully tackle the needs of low-income populations and help to reduce their vulnerability.

Essential reading for insurance professionals, practitioners and anyone involved with offering insurance services to low-income persons, the second volume covers many of the new challenges faced by stakeholders in the sector. These include the potential impact of microinsurance, consumer education and client value, designing products for specific target groups, distribution and intermediation, price with limited data, conducive regulations and appropriate consumer protection, and innovations in technology.

Read more and download the publication at: http://www.munichre-foundation.org

CEPR launches report on the impact on inequality of raising retirement age

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Centre for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) has recently launched a new report: "Impact on inequality of raising the Social Security retirement age". The analysis provided in this report based on the projections produced by the authors reveal that raising retirement age will increase inequality for certain groups.

Read the report.

Burkina Faso: Séminaire sur la bonne gouvernance de la sécurité sociale

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

La Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale du Burkina Faso, sous l'égide de l'Association internationale de la sécurité sociale (AISS), a organisé un séminaire technique autour du thème : "La bonne gouvernance des institutions de sécurité sociale". Le séminaire a eu lieu le 27 et 28 mars à Ouagadougou et a réuni des responsables des institutions de sécurité sociale d'une dizaine de pays africains pour réfléchir à la problématique de la bonne gouvernance au sein de leurs structures.

Lire l'article.

All Africa, "Afrique de l'Ouest: Sécurité sociale - La bonne gouvernance comme ligne directrice", 27 mars 2012.

Vietnam: ILO organizes seminar on employee protection

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Representatives of ASEAN governments and workers and organisations of employers gathered at a three-day seminar organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Participants discussed strategies to protect workers against unemployment and help them find better work.

Read the article.

Báomói, "ASEAN discusses employee protection", March 2012.

Colombia: Balance de la Ley 100 en salud y pensiones

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Casi 20 años después de aprobada la Ley 100 de 1993, que partió en dos el esquema de protección laboral y de salud de los colombianos, se hace un balance de los resultados: aunque se ha aumentado la rentabilidad de los ahorros de los afiliados de los fondos de pensiones, cada vez son menos los que acceden a esta protección.

Leer este artículo.

El Universal, "Los primeros jubilados de la Ley 100 de 1993", 22 de marzo de 2012.

ILO to validate Ghana's National Employment Policy

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has presented the final National Employment Policy (NEP) and Implementation Plan at the National Tripartite Validation workshop, in Ghana. The purpose of this validation is to provide a framework and content to achieve goals set by the government and social partners towards the ratification of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No.122).

Read the article.

Ghana Business News, 22 March 2012.

European Commission makes policy statement to boost social security rights for migrants

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The European Commission (EC) has produced a policy statement on social security rights for people migrating from and to the European Union (EU). Despite effective social security coordination system within the EU, there is a fragmented approach to social security coordination as regards the rest of the world. For this reason, the EC is putting forward fresh ideas to clarify the social security rights of people migrating into and out of the EU, to ensure better protection of workers' rights, in particular acquired state pension rights.

Read the article and view related documents and links.

European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, 30 March 2012.

Tamil Nadu: state's budget focuses on growth and social security

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Tamil Nadu's government presented a growth-oriented Budget that retained the State's traditional focus on social security. Several welfare measures were announced, namelly an allocation for the social security pension schemes, an increase of the coverage amount of the health insurance scheme for government employees, as well as the increase of the amount of financial assistance, being given under the Tamil Nadu Government Pensioners Family Security Fund Scheme, in the event of death of the pensioner, among other measures.

Read the article.

The Hindu, 26 March 2012.

ECLAC book on Inclusive Social Protection in Latin America

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) recently launched a book on "Inclusive Social Protection in Latin America: A Comprehensive, Rights-based Approach". It examines issues concerning inequality in Latin America and identifies the scope and role of social protection in extremely unequal societies subject to a high incidence of persistent poverty.

Read the book.

Course on Managing Social Security and Pensions: 23 July - 4 August 2012

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partnership with the International Labour Organization, is presenting a Course on Managing Social Security and Pensions. The course provides practical knowledge of social security systems and their associated pension systems, how they are designed and managed, with a focus on the South African system and reforms.

The course will take place from 23^rd of July to 4^th of August.

Read the Certificate Programme brochure for more information.

Étude AISS sur la couverture des travailleurs en Afrique du Nord

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

L'Association internationale de la Sécurité sociale (AISS) viens de lancer une étude comparative sur la "Couverture sociale des travailleurs salariés et non salariés en Afrique du Nord". Cette étude donne un aperçu général du contexte socioéconomique de la région et fait une brève présentation des systèmes de sécurité sociale et de la couverture sociale. Il présente également une analyse comparative de la couverture des travailleurs non salariés en Afrique du Nord.

Lire l'étude comparative (en français).

UNICEF launches its first Social Protection Strategic Framework

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:00:00 GMT

UNICEF announced recently the launch of its first global Social Protection Strategic Framework. This document presents UNICEF's approach to social protection, and proposes a collaborative policy agenda for social protection including its potential role as a platform to engage development partners in leveraging social protection for children.

Read UNICEF's Social Protection Strategic Framework.

ISSA and ILO sign historic co-operation agreement on social security

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:09:11 GMT

The International Social Security Association and the ILO have forged a new link aimed at promoting extension of social security to the 80 percent of the world's people who lack coverage.

Read the article published by the ILO.

Recent films on the SPF

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:00:00 GMT

"A Social Protection Floor for All", a film developed by the ILO in collaboration with SPF-I members (2011)

"Social protection, a lifelong necessity", a film developed and produced by GIPSPSI with ILO collaboration (2011)

"The SPF in Thailand", a film developed by the ILO Bangkok Office (2011)

ILO and UNDP SU/SSC launch project "South-South and triangular cooperation for the implementation of gender sensitive social protection floors at country level"

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The UNDP Special Unit for South-South Cooperation (UNDP SU/SSC) and the ILO will collaborate on the project “South-South and triangular cooperation for the implementation of gender sensitive social protection floors at country level” during the next four years. Five countries have been initially selected: Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Cambodia and Lao PDR.

More information.

ODI launches report on social protection fiscal space in Nigeria

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Overseas Development Institute launched a report on the identification of the potential fiscal space for social protection in Nigeria. It forms part of a wider study that examines social protection provision in the country, intended to support the government in strengthening social security and social assistance in the country.

Read the ODI report (in English) "An analysis of fiscal space for social protection in Nigeria".

IDS Programme Briefing on communities of practice

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:00:00 GMT

This Briefing, published by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) on March 2012, explores how communities of practice on Social Protection, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction could work together to create tools and spaces that strengthen household resilience and make better contributions to sustainable development.

Read the IDS Programme Briefing.

The World Bank publishes discussion paper on Climate-Responsive Social Protection

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The background paper for the World Bank 2012–2022 Social Protection and Labor Strategy was launched in March, setting out the case for climate-responsive social protection and proposing a framework with principles, design features, and functions that would help Social Protection systems evolve in a climate-responsive direction.

Read the Social Protection and Labor - Discussion Paper n.º 1210: Climate-Responsive Social Protection.

Presentación de Libro sobre Seguridad Social en Argentina

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:39:01 GMT

Se presentará el libro “Protecciones y desprotecciones: la Seguridad Social en la Argentina,1990-2010” de Alejandra Beccaria, María Ignacia Costa, Javier Curcio, Claudia Danani, María Victoria Deux, Susana Hintze y Gonzalo Vázquez, coordinado por Claudia Danani y Susana Hintze.

Los panelistas serán: José L.Coraggio (ICO-UNGS), Carla Degliantoni (CCC), Estela Grassi (IIGG-UBA) y Laura Golbert (CEDES), con la moderación de Silvio Feldman (ICI-UNGS).

La cita es el jueves 12 de abril de 2012 en la Sala Jacobo Laks en el 3º piso del Centro Cultural de la Cooperación de 19 a 21 hs. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

ISSA 13th Conference on Information and Communication Technology in Social Security

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

The International Conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Social Security, which will take place in Brasilia, Brazil, from 17 to 20 April 2012, will deal with the strategic impact of ICT in the implementation of social security systems as a cornerstone of an integrated and citizen-centred social security.

See the Scope and objectives of the Conference.

See the Preliminary Agenda.

Argentina: Report on Universal Child Allowane indicates the State has recognized more rights

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:00:00 GMT

A report produced by the National University of Cuyo on the Universal Child Allowance for Social Protection (AUH), indicates this allowance has placed the emphasis on the recognition of rights and has caused an undeniable impact in reducing poverty rates as well as poverty and social inequality indicators. The report also highlights the new configuration of beneficiaries - in this case, informal workers who earn less than the minimum wage, domestic workers and the unemployed who do not receive other benefits.

Read the article (in Spanish).

Administración Nacional de la Seguridad Social (ANSES), 26 fev. 2012.

Seminar "Universalization and sustainability: challenges for social protection"

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

From February 27 to 29, an International Seminar on "Universalization and sustainability: challenges for social protection in America" was held in the Interamerican Centre for Social Security Studies in Mexico City. The purpose of the Seminar was to revise current status, challenges and projections for social protection in America, analysing the conditions of the social security systems in order to identify experiences that could be used in producing legislation proposals in terms of pensions, family benefits and health care services.

See the photos of the event.

Seguridad Social para Todos, 28 feb. 2012

Kenya: Universal Healthcare by 2030 is possible

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Minister of Medical Services of Kenya has recently stated that the government is committed in providing universal health care to citizens by 2030, while launching the Strategic Review of the National Hospital Insurance Fund, and a market assessment of the prepaid health insurance schemes. Major reformas are being undertaken in the health sector in order to improve access of citizens to health services and reinforce the Fund as a strong social health insurer with broad social goals, promoting at the same time the growth of private health insurance schemes which will operate complemantary to the public shceme.

Read the article (in English).

Nairobi Star, 20 feb. 2012

Argentina: An historical opportunity for moving towards an effective social protection floor

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Following the launch of the report "Social Protection Floor for a fair and inclusive globalization", under the leadership of the ILO, national experts think Argentina is living a propitious moment for moving towards an effective and high level social protection floor (SPF). Considering the report's main recommendations on social policies, funding and institutional process to support the implementation of the SPF, experts consider Argentina has already taken important steps, especially in the first two sets or recommendations.

Experts also consider Argentina's main challenge to be the strengthening of the institutional framework for implementing the SPF, suggesting the setting up of a national social protection office, as well as the approval of a comprehensive national law on social protection that fosters the articulation of policies, programmes and services based on the principles of universality, sustainability and transparency.

Read the article (in Spanish).
Read the report "Social Protection Floor for a fair and inclusive globalization" (in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese)

F. Repetto and G. Diaz Langou, "Piso de protección - la politica social, el financiamento y el proceso institucional", Página 12, 19 Feb. 2012.

China: Social Security is top priority

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

An online public poll conducted by The People's Daily indicates social security is the top priority among 20 topics, collecting more than 41,000 votes from February 7 to 14. In 2011, social security also topped the list, whereas in 2010 participants chose as top priority the pension programme, which is an essential component of the social security system.

Participants in the poll also gave their opinion, calling for a raise of the pension of laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises as well as the social security benefits of veterans.

Read the article (in English).

The People's Daily Online, 14 Feb. 2012

Resource on maternity protection for paid domestic workers in Latin America and the Caribean

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

A new resource, from the 'Notas OIT' series, is available in the Library concerning maternity protection for domestic workers in Latin America and the Caribean. The newsletter presents the main factors for the vulnerability and the lack of social protection coverage of these women. Some recent initiatives in the region are highlighted, showing that it is possible to increase the protection level of mothers performing paid domestic work.

Read the newsletter.

The Swaziland National Provident Fund (SNPF) will become a National Pension Scheme in 2013

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The former Minister of Labour and Social Security has recently announced that the Swaziland National Provident Fund (SNPF), in existence since 1974, will become next year a social security scheme that aims at providing social protection which includes old age pensions, unemployment insurance benefits, health insurance benefit, employment injury, death benefits, income replacement and maintenance, poverty alleviation and income equalization.

Read full article (in English).

The Swazi Observer, 18 Feb. 2012.

EU presents strategy for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The European Commission has recently launched a White Paper presenting an agenda for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions. The paper proposes six main reform measures to meet the challenges of an ageing Europe, with less people entering the labour market supporting an increasingly growing number of pensioners.

Read the press release on the launching of these reform measures (in several languages, including English, French, Spanish and Portuguese) and watch a video interview with EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor.

European Commission, press release, 16 Feb. 2012.

India: Provident fund for international workers

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The introduction of a new category for "international workers" in the Provident Fund in 2008 has been followed by a series of amendments and clarifications as the applicability of the scheme arouse many questions among foreign nationals working in India as well as their employers.

The main question currently asked concerns the term "total salary", not being clear what constitutes "salary" for calculation purpuses of the Provident Fund contributions, if the salary before or after taxes.

Read the article (in English).

The Indian Express, 13 Feb. 2012.

Mexico: Workers in the informal economy reached 14 million last year

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

According to the the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, in 2011, 14 million mexican workers were operating in the informal economy, which corresponds to 29.2 per cent of the employed population. The number of workers in the informal economy outruns insured workers covered by the national Social Security Institute.

Read the article (in Spanish).

Milenio online, 11 Feb. 2012.

Mauritania: secure text messages for health insurance reimbursements

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The project is part of a broader initiative aimed at improving the impact of the National Health Insurance Fund (Caisse nationale d'assurance maladie, CNAM) of Mauritania through the use of mobile phones. In a situation characterised by the lack of infrastructures, text messages come to the rescue of health. As a result, the delays in reimbursement have dropped from 3 months to 4 days and the administration costs have been reduced by 50%. Abdel Aziz Ould Dahi, one of the instigators of the project, explains the impact of this solution in Mauritania.

Read full article (in French).

M. Diallo, "Mauritanie: le SMS sécurisé pour rembourser les prestations d'assurance maladie", CIO Mag, 25 Nov. 2011.

Sign up the petition in support of a universal Social Protection Floor for all people

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Please send this information to all your friend networks, schools, parishes, and ministries.

So far, 4 555 people have signed the petition (in four languages).

Sign up the petition (also available in Portuguese).

Training on participative micro-insurance and universal coverage system in Africa: CIDR, France

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 22:00:00 GMT

(Information available only in French)

Le département Systèmes de santé et de prévoyance sociale (SSPS) du Centre International de Développement et de Recherche (CIDR) organise une formation sur « La micro-assurance santé participative et l’assurance maladie universelle en Afrique », du 18 au 29 juin 2012.

Les enseignements se dérouleront au siège du CIDR, à Autrêches, département de l'Oise, à 100 km de Paris.

Ce programme a pour objectif de renforcer les compétences techniques et de plaidoyer des promoteurs et opérateurs de programmes de micro-assurance santé destinés aux populations aux revenus modestes.

Les programmes détaillés et autres documents relatifs aux séminaires sont téléchargeables sur le site du CIDR : http://www.cidr.org/Seminaire-sur-la-micro-assurance,627.html

Côte d'Ivoire. Increase in the retirement age: The reasons

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

(Information available only in French)

Le gouvernement a adopté, le mercredi 11 janvier dernier, un projet d'ordonnance qui fait passer de 55 à 60 ans l'âge de départ à la retraite du secteur privé en Côte d'Ivoire.

Lire l'article.

@bidj@n.net , 1 février. 2012.
Coulibaly N'Golo A.

Facility's Next Webinar on Managing Partnerships in Microinsurance

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility invites you to participate in our next live webinar:

Managing Partnerships in Microinsurance

Join us on March 1

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/916202206

Many microinsurance programs involve some type of partnership structure and good management of such partnerships is often a pre-requisite for the success of the program. What are the success factors in managing these partnerships? What strategies have worked so far and what pitfalls should be avoided? What tools can be used in partnership management?

To initiate discussions around these questions, the ILO's Microinsurance Innovation Facility invites you to a 75-minute interactive session on "Managing Partnerships in Microinsurance". Learn about the initial findings of a thematic study by the Facility on this topic and engage with practitioners who will share their experiences on partnership management. Join us and interact with:

Kelly Rendek, microinsurance consultant and author of the Facility study on managing partnerships, who will discuss the key findings of the study based on an analysis of ten organisations;
Richard Leftley, President and Chief Executive Officer of MicroEnsure, and a member of the Facility's Steering Committee, who will share his insights on partnerships from an intermediary's perspective;
Jeremy Leach, microinsurance consultant and former head of the Business Development unit of the Hollard Group, who will share his personal experience in partnership management; and
Jasmin Suministrado, Knowledge Officer of the Facility who will moderate the event.

Webinar seats are limited so register now to be guaranteed a place in this knowledge exchange event.

Title: Managing Partnerships in Microinsurance
Date: Thursday, March 1, 2012
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM CET

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Académie de la sécurité sociale (in French)

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Pre-course e-learning 2 - 22 April 2012 | Residential phase 23 April - 4 May 201, Turin (Italy) and Lyon (France)

In a dynamic training environment gathering several optional courses, attendants will analyze social security programs management and financing and the design and implementation of strategies for the social protection floor extension.

See the full course description [click here], contact us [click here] or apply directly [click here]

ILO-EU Project Tripartite Consultative Group Meeting, Cambodia

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The ILO-EU Project Tripartite Consultative Group Meeting held the 31st January 2012 in Phnom Penh gathered 30 attendants, including representatives from the EU, the Cambodian Labour Ministry - among other ministries - the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) and other members of the Consultative Group.

This meeting aimed at contributing to the preparation and execution of the National Dialogue Forum in Cambodia. Two major studies were presented and dicussed, namely the Social Protection and Performance Review (SPER) and the Integration of social protection and employment strategy report, as well as preliminary findings of the Assessment and research on PEOPLE service.

New discussions should take place before the National Dialogue Forum, which will be held in March.

Access the SPER presentation (236KB)
Access the Integration of Social Protection and Employment Strategy presentation (449KB)
Acces the PEOPLE service presentation (7,7MB)

Trade unions focus on employment and social protection

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

In a joint statement, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) express their support to the concept of the Social Protection Floor (SPF), in which they see the missing piece to a fair globalisation, and call for the EU, and the Commission in particular, to integrate the SPF approach into EU social protection support to developing countries.

In the same vein, the ITUC has welcomed calls by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for governments to act in favor of job creation and universal social protection.

For more information, read the article published on the ITUC website.

Thailand's Universal Coverage Scheme: Achievements and Challenges

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

After four decades of designing and implementing a number of different health insurance schemes, Thailand finally achieved universal coverage in 2002. Although there were many contributing factors — political, economic, social, and health‐system related — the most significant was an ambitious reform known as the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS).

This report, published by the Health Systems Research Insitute (HSRI), an autonomous state agency, is an assessment of how the UCS performed in its first 10 years. The assessment was undertaken to better understand the extent to which the scheme was implemented and designed and the extent to which it has achieved its intended impact. Another aim of the assessment was to capture any lessons that may help other countries on the path towards universal coverage.

To read the report, click here.

En agosto de 2011 se promulgó la Ley que elimina el pago de 7% en salud para los jubilados más vulnerables

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

El 25 de marzo de 2011 el Instituto de Previsión Social (BPS) realizó la Conferencia "Mujer y Seguridad Social"

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Third Party Payment Mechanism in Health Microinsurance

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Some health microinsurance (HMI) schemes require that patients pay cash at the time of receiving health care services, and then seek reimbursement from the insurer at a later date. For low-income households, this can be a severe financial barrier. One common way to alleviate this barrier is to set up a third-party payment (TPP) mechanism with selected health care providers. A TPP mechanism is a model for claims payment in which insured patients are not required to pay the entire cost of health services covered by the HMI scheme at the time the services are rendered. This paper draws on the experience of various health microinsurance schemes and presents the pros and cons of using a TPP mechanism. It also presents key issues to address when establishing and managing a TPP mechanisms, as well as tips and solutions collected from case studies and experts` interviews.

To view the full paper please click here.

A contar de diciembre de 2011 se amplía la cobertura médica de los cónyuges o concubinos, a través del Sistema Nacional Integrado de Salud.

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Emerging Insights #31. Discounted outpatient services: a way to keep clients

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

This issue of Emerging Insights is dedicated to the Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP)'s microinsurance project concerning links between outpatient services and clients increased renewals.

SSP observed that clients who had accessed discounted outpatient services were three times more likely to renew their membership. Clients who did not use either outpatient or inpatient services had a 15 per cent renewal rate compared to a 45 per cent renewal rate for those who used outpatient services, and a 69 per cent renewal for those who used both outpatient and inpatient services.

Read full article in Emerging Insights #31
Further information about Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) in their Learning Journey (a narrative account of the lessons being learned by the Facility's innovation partner as it implements its microinsurance project).

Indonesia allocates 708.8 million USD to health insurance for poor people

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Indonesian Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih said on Friday that her ministry has allocated some 6.5 trillion rupiah (about 708.8 million U.S. dollars) to fund health insurance program for the poor this year.

Read full article.

Xinhua (Beijing), 13 Jan. 2012.

Nigeria: Fuel subsidy - Informal sector workers demand social protection

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Informal sector workers in the country have raised alarm over removal of subsidy on petroleum product, saying it will worsen their burden and hardships.

Read full article.

Vanguard (Lagos), 12 Jan. 2012.

New study on French health care system

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The study, carried out by the consulting firm Deloitte among 15,735 people in 12 different countries including France, reveals a number of paradoxes and warns about the state of the French health care system. Although more than two thirds (71%) of the French population see it as one of the most effective in the world, they are critical of many aspects. The study highlights their expectations from political leaders regarding health.

Read full article (in French).

The Web Consulting (Paris), 18 Jan. 2012.

Pensions to be raised by 20% in Belarus

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Recalculations of pensions and adjusting pensioners' actual earnings to the average wage in the country, will be held in Belarus in February, May, August and November. The relevant decree "On increasing pensions" was signed by President Alexander Lukashenko on January 16. According to the Ministry of Labor, the pension will rise by an average of 20% in February.

Read full article.

Telegraf (Minsk), 17 Jan. 2012.

En octubre de 2011 entró en vigencia en Chile el descanso "postnatal parental"

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

A contar del año 2011 comenzó un proceso de revisión y mejora de la Ficha de Protección Social, instrumento esencial para la focalización de las políticas públicas en Chile

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

El Ministerio de Desarrollo Social, en un esfuerzo por mejorar la Ficha de Protección Social y focalizar más efectivamente los beneficios otorgados por el Estado, se encuentra introduciéndole una serie de cambios para transformarla en la Nueva Ficha Social.

La Nueva Ficha Social busca identificar mejor a las personas que requieren de los beneficios sociales y también las necesidades específicas que cada uno tiene. Algunos de los cambios que están siendo implementados, son:

El puntaje se construirá en conjunto con información provista por distintos Ministerios, de manera de poder identificar necesidades específicas en el ámbito de la salud, vivienda, educación, entre otros.
Se incorporarán preguntas de gastos familiares en bienes y servicios como: agua, gas, electricidad, educación, etc., los cuales deberán ser debidamente acreditados.
Se agregarán preguntas que permitirán identificar a personas que sufren de enfermedades de alto costo, como: VIH/SIDA, cáncer, diabetes, etc., cuyo diagnóstico deberá ser debidamente documentado.

Con estas modificaciones se espera lograr un mejor instrumento de focalización, que favorezca una distribución de los beneficios estatales más equitativa. Si desea conocer más respecto a la Nueva Ficha Social, ingrese aquí.

En 2012 comienza a regir en Chile la contribución al sistema de pensiones de los trabajadores independientes

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Paraguay busca ampliar la cobertura previsional a los trabajadores independientes y las amas de casa

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

La Universidad de Kassel difunde la Relatoría del Simposio ¿De la desigualdad a la justicia social? Las políticas socio-laborales de América Latina en la disyuntiva, realizado en Buenos Aires el 28 y 29 de septiembre de 2011.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

El simposio organizado conjuntamente por la Universidad de Kassel (Alemania), la Revista Latinoamericana Nueva Sociedad y la Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) de la República Argentina se enfocó en la comparación sistemática de las relaciones socio-laborales contemporáneas en la región, buscando conceptualizar las políticas sociales y laborales como una unidad.

La relatoría del evento se encuentra disponible aquí.

Fuente: Universidad de Kassel, 16 de enero de 2011.

El Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos de la República Argentina (INDEC) difundió nuevos datos del Censo de Población, Hogares y Viviendas de 2010.

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Se presentan datos cuantitativos, del total agregado y desagregados por provincia, referidos a: Previsión Social, Cobertura de Salud, Dificultades o Limitaciones físicas o mentales permanentes, Situación Conyugal y Composición de los Hogares.

Además, se amplía la información sobre las Características habitacionales de los Hogares y las Viviendas y, adicionalmente, se presentan Indicadores demográficos sobre envejecimiento poblacional.

La información se encuentra disponibles en:

www.censo2010.indec.gov.ar

http://www.censo2010.indec.gov.ar/resultadosdefinitivos_totalpais.asp

http://www.censo2010.indec.gov.ar/resultadosdefinitivos.asp

Fuente: INDEC (www.indec.gov.ar) 29 de diciembre de 2011.

Paraguay. IPS presents project on pensions for housewives domestic workers

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Social Security Institute (IPS) submit to the Congress a draft bill on pensions for housewives and domestic workers.

Read the full article. (unicamente en español)

Diario Digital Vanguardia, IPPARAGUAY. 11 January 2012

Paraguay establece la "Semana de la Seguridad Social"

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Commission for Social Development, UN headquarters New York

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Fiftieth Session of the Commission for Social Development will be convened from 1 to 10 February 2012 in conference room 4 at the United Nations North Lawn Building (NLB) in New York. The priority theme this year is "Poverty Eradication".

Civil Society Forum "The Social Protection Floor Initiative" - UN Headquarters, New York

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The NGO Committee for Social Development invites you to the Civil Society Forum.
Co-sponsored by United Nations’ DESA’s Division of Social Policy and Development & Freidrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

“The Social Protection Floor Initiative”: Universal access to basic social protection and social services is necessary to break the cycle of poverty and reduce inequality and social exclusion. A basic social protection floor is affordable; its benefits need to be weighed against the potentially high human, social and economic costs of not investing in social protection.

Program: 10 AM – 4 PM
Venue: UN Headquarters, New York.

For further information, please click here

Fourth Inter-agency Technical Meeting on the Social Protection Floor Initiative - New York

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The fourth Inter-agency Technical Meeting on the Social Protection Floor Initiative is taking place January 30, 2012 at UNICEF House in New York.

CIPS NEWS 13, December 2011

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

In this issue:
•   Cape Verde: Country receives certificate of merit for good practices in social security
•   Guinea-Bissau: INPS Conference on “Setting a path for the future of Social Protection”
•   Moçambique: MMSA publicizes new package of social security programmes

For furter information...

Download the CIPS News 13 now!

www.cipsocial.org

Switzerland: consultations on the future of the pension system

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Swiss Federal Department of the Interior has released its draft report on the future of the second-pillar pension system. The report, modified after the Swiss voters rejected the reduction of the minimum conversion rate, addresses the challenges facing the pension system and suggests a number of measures to overcome them. The solutions suggested are open to discussion and the interested parties have until March to comment, then the final report will be submitted to Parliament.

For more information, click here (only available in French, German and Italian).

"Emerging Insights #29" from the Microinsurance Innovation Facility: Scale through compulsory enrolment, but what about client value?

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

For microinsurance initiatives to be profitable they need to achieve scale; one way to achieve scale is to offer compulsory products. But, can compulsory products provide client value? Two Kenyan insurers, highlighted in new studies on client value and business case, show how compulsory insurance products can provide value to clients. Insurers need to factor client value considerations even when designing compulsory products, because long-term viability depends on products meeting client needs and providing value.

Read the full Emerging Insight here:

http://www.microinsurancefacility.org/en/ei29_en?utm_source=Microlinks&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=bcoutreach

IDS/ World Bank report calls for integration of Social Protection, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

A new report entitled Social Protection and Climate Resilience highlights the importance of interaction among three areas of research and policymaking: social protection, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Read full article.

Institute of Development Studies (Sussex), 4 Jan. 2012.

Expanding health insurance coverage in Nigeria

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The evolution of the National Health Insurance Scheme dates back to 1962, when the need for health insurance for Nigerian citizens was first recognised.

Read full article.

M. Dogo-Mohammad, "Expanding health insurance coverage in Nigeria", The Moment, 31 Dec. 2011.

Germany: Pension reform to enter into force on 1 January

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The pension reform voted in 2007 will become effective on 1 January 2012. The retirement age to obtain a full pension will rise from 65 to 67 by 2031.

Read full article (in French).

M. Pellennec, "En Allemagne, la réforme des retraites entre en vigueur à compter du 1^er janvier", La Croix, 30 Dec. 2011.

The Universal Health Insurance Scheme (RAMU) launched in Benin

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The population of Benin will now have easy access to medical care thanks to the Universal Health Insurance Scheme (RAMU), officially launched on Monday in Cotonou by the President of Benin, Boni Yayi.

Read full article (in French).

China Radio International (Beijing), 20 Dec. 2011.

Indonesia: Unified service proposed for social protection program

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

A new single-window service for social insurance will be tested in three provinces in Indonesia. This ILO project has been devised in order to respond to the problem of overlapping benefits delivered by different governmental agencies.

The single-window service would allow beneficiaries to register in one place and receive a social insurance card or 'smart card'. This would allow for one governmental agency to manage all the beneficiaries’ information in order to determine which benefits they are entitled to. Equally, the single-window service aims at giving access to the labour market and decent jobs through vocational trainings and education.

Read full article

Elly Burhaini Faizal, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, 15 Dec. 2011

Social services of general interest talks making headway

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

Faced with the prospect of fragmentation, the idea of recognising the specificities of services of general interest “for the purposes of social protection, social and territorial cohesion, national solidarity and the implementation of fundamental rights,” such as social housing, has gradually emerged from European discussions. It was even one of the work priorities for the Belgian authorities during their Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in the second half of 2010.

Read full article.

S. Petitjean, "SSGI talks making headway" in Europolitics, 15 Dec. 2011.

Cameroon: Civil society embrace social protection

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

From December 13^th to 15^th, a workshop on the capacity building by civil society organizations for social protection was given in Douala, Cameroon. The objectives of the workshop are to increase the participation of civil society organizations of the Sub-Saharan region in the design and advocacy of a social protection floor, favouring the accomplishment of the UN millennium development goals by national governments.

Read full article

allafrica.com, 13 Dec. 2011

Congo: New bill for family and child benefits

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

On December 14, 2011, the Congolese government adopted a bill to promote the welfare of children and families. Once passed by Parliament the text will enable low-income families with children to receive social benefits. In addition, the bill will help to strengthen social structures such as shelters, schools and social centers. These measures will help to expand the coverage of social security which currently includes only 15 percent of the population.

Read full article (french only)

afriquinfos.com, Dec. 14 2011

Social security: NSSF budget for 2012 up by 12.5%

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

On 28 Dec. 2011, in Brazzaville, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) adopted its budget for 2012, reaching 55,287 billion CFA francs, following the budget session of its administrative board.

Read full article (in French).

Fortuné Ibara, "Sécurité sociale : le budget 2012 de la CNSS est en hausse de 12,5%"; in Les dépêches de Brazzaville, 29 Dec. 2011.

EU: Common rights and single work and residence permit for non-EU workers

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

As of December 13th 2011, non-EU nationals working in member-states of the EU regulation on the coordination of social security systems are entitled to the same social security coverage as EU nationals under a new "single permit" law passed by Parliament.

The directive ensures that non-EU workers will be able to receive their pensions when moving back to their home country under the same conditions and at the same rates as the nationals of the member-state concerned. Member-states will have two years to adapt their national laws to the new rules.

Read full article

European Parliament news, 13 Dec. 2011

Building a Social Protection Floor in Thailand - Film

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

A new video "Building a social protection floor in Thailand" was produced by ILO Bangkok in partnership with the SPF team in Thailand. It presents the main achievements in the field of the social protection floor in Thailand as well as key priorities for the future.

El Programa Jóvenes con Más y Mejor Trabajo festejó en Tecnópolis su tercer año de implementación

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

El Programa Jóvenes con Más y Mejor Trabajo llevó a cabo un acto en la megamuestra de las ciencias “Tecnópolis”, donde se compartieron los resultados de las experiencias acumuladas por el programa entre 1.200 jóvenes de la provincia de Buenos Aires y de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires.

Leer el artículo

Fuente: Gacetillas y noticias del MTEySS (www.trabajo.gov.ar), 16 de noviembre de 2011

Seminario sobre Economía Informal en Argentina

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

La Oficina de País de la OIT para la Argentina realizó un Seminario sobre Economía Informal en Argentina, con el objetivo de examinar y debatir sobre las políticas y porgramas destinados a incrementar la formalización y mejorar las condiciones de trabajo decente de los trabajadores y familias en la economía informal.

Leer el artículo

Fuente: OIT Argentina (http://www.oit.org.ar), 26 de octubre de 2011

Se declara el 2011 "Año del Trabajo Decente"

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Por Decreto 75/2011, publicado en el Boletín Oficial, se declara el “Año del Trabajo Decente, la Salud y Seguridad de los Trabajadores” al año 2011.

Leer el artículo

Fuente: Secretaría de Comunicación Pública, Presidencia de la Nación (http://www.prensa.argentina.ar), 27 de enero de 2011

La AUH incorporó a 140 mil chicos a las escuelas

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:45:03 GMT

El ministro de Educación, Alberto Sileoni, divulgó una investigación realizada por seis universidades, que contó con 1300 entrevistas en 28 localidades de ocho provincias, que demuestra el crecimiento de la matrícula escolar a partir de la implementación de la Asignación Universal por Hijo, y resaltó que "el aula desplazó al comedor como corazón de la escuela, cosa que se traduce en una mejor calidad educativa".

Leer el artículo

Fuente: Diario Página/12 (www.pagina12.com.ar), 8 de noviembre de 2011

Bossio y Sileoni presentaron un informe sobre la influencia positiva de la Asignación Universal en la educación

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:42:34 GMT

En relación a las percepciones generales de la AUH, los actores entrevistados coincidieron en que el requisito de la escolaridad “constituye un acierto”. Las estimaciones positivas, desde la perspectiva educativa, se refieren principalmente a la “revaloración de la educación pública y la institucionalización de derechos sociales como plataforma desde donde interpretar la inclusión social de los sectores históricamente postergados”, indica el informe.

Leer el artículo

Fuente: General/Prensa del ANSES (www.anses.gov.ar), 8 de noviembre de 2011

Luces y sombras de la Asignación Universal por Hijo. Una investigación indagó sobre los efectos educativos del plan del Gobierno

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

A dos años de la implementación de la Asignación Universal por Hijo, el “presentismo” y la “retención de matrícula” aparecen como las dos consecuencias educativas más importantes de la medida, según un informe donde se analiza el impacto cualitativo de la misma.

Leer el artículo

Fuente: Diario Clarin (www.clarin.com), 9 de noviembre de 2011

Social Health Protection: addressing inequities in access to health care. Pre-course e-learning: 20 February - 11 March 2012 / Residential phase: 12 - 23 March 2012, Turin, Italy

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The course will identify inequities in effective access and main causes, review the importance of universal access to health care in crisis and post crisis situations, issues related to the feasibility of introducing a scheme and planning for implementation; designing the appropriate contribution levels and benefi ts, monitoring the provision of services and ensuring the sound governance and fi nancing of the scheme.

Executives, managers, planners, financial officers and other professionals of healthcare and health insurance schemes, both in governments and non-governmental sectors.

Download the flyer.
For further information, please visit http://socialprotection.itcilo.org

Report highlights progress in social security coverage

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Significant progress in the extension of social security coverage to some of Africa’s most vulnerable population groups continues to be made, notably through innovative cash transfer and health-care programmes, according to a new report published by the International Social Security Association (ISSA).

Read full article.

IPPmedia (Dar es Salam), 6 Dec. 2011.

Cambodia launches social protection strategy for poor

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Cambodia on Monday officially launched the National Social Protection Strategy for the Poor and Vulnerable, aimed at protecting the poorest and most disadvantaged against chronic poverty and hunger, shocks, and destitution, said the government's press release.

Read full article.

People's Daily Online (Beijing), 5 Dec. 2011.

International Conference on Universal Health Coverage, Bangkok, 24-28 January 2012

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

The Prince Mahidol Award Conference 2012 will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, during the week of 24-28 January 2012. Sponsored by the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation and co-sponsored by other global partners, such as the World Bank and the World Health Organisation, the conference will focus on the extension of universal health coverage.

The participants will discuss issues such as: the need to position universal health coverage in the global and national development agendas; the necessity to identify factors contributing to the success of health financing reforms; and the opportunity to review and share experiences among various countries at different stages of development.

For more information, see the conference website and detailed programme.

Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Launch of the 2011 Human Development Report

Friday 9 December 2011 | 9:30 AM
Room Bungener, 22 rue Rothschild (ground floor), Site Rothschild
Free entrance but registration required

Development progress in the world's poorest countries could be halted or even reversed by mid-century unless bold steps are taken now to slow climate change, prevent further environmental damage, and reduce deep inequalities within and among nations, according to projections in the 2011 Human Development Report.

Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All argues that environmental sustainability can be most fairly and effectively achieved by addressing health, education, income, and gender disparities together with the need for global action on energy production and ecosystem protection.

The launch, preceded by a welcome coffee at 9:30 AM, will begin with a 30 minute presentation by:

Yannick Glemarec
Executive Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility and Director of Climate Change, United Nations Development Programme.

This presentation will be followed by a panel with:

Kees van der Ree
Coordinator of the International Labour Organization Green Jobs Programme

Steven Stone
Head of the Economics and Trade Branch, United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Europe

Poul Engberg-Pedersen
Deputy Director-General, International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Gopalan Balachandran
Professor, International History, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

Moderator
Jean Fabre
Former Director of Communications, UNDP Office in Geneva

More information about the 2011 Human Development Report

This event is organised by the Graduate Institute and the United Nations Development Programme

For registration please contact: salwa.al-dalati@undp.org by 7 December

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies

PO Box 136 - 1211 Geneva 21 - Switzerland - Tel. +41 22 908 57 00 - http://graduateinstitute.ch

Let's reach 1 million signatures by 1 February 2012

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The NGO Committee for Social Development is collecting signatures in support of a universal “Social Protection Floor” for all people. This petition asks all governments to ensure that all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, have access to the most basic services, such as food, shelter, education and health care. It is expected to present at least 1 million signatures in support of this initiative to the UN Commission on Social Development next February.

Please send this information to all your friend networks, schools, parishes, and ministries.

So far, 4 404 people have signed the petition (in four languages).

Sign up the petition (also available in Portuguese).
More information about the Social Protection Floor.

Expert Meeting on extension of social security and SPF- Learning from regional experiences, Jakarta, 12 to 15 December 2011

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The Meeting aims at sharing regional experiences concerning the implementation of the social protection floor, the expansion of social security coverage, and the provision of income security measures and employment services.

The first day will focus on sharing global and country experiences on the design and the establishment of a Social Protection Floor and the extension of social security. On the second day, tools and methods to assess social protection situation and provide recommendations will be discussed as well as ways to extend access to health care and provide income security for children. The third day will discuss the design and implementation options of unemployment insurance (UI) schemes, as well as initiatives to extend income security and active labour market policies to the informal economy workers. It is anchored in the ILO/Japan funded project “Promoting Unemployment Insurance and Employment Services in ASEAN (ASEAN UI Project)”. The fourth and last day will address income security for the elderly and the disabled as well as several critical issues to extend social security coverage.

Technology Makes Cash Transfers Safer in Kenya

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

In the slums of Kenya's capital, residents and aid groups are using new technology to send and receive money.

Read full article.

C. Majtenyi, "Technology Makes Cash Transfers Safer in Kenya", in Voice of America, 20 Oct. 2011.

ASEAN Seminar on Unemployment Insurance and Active Labour Market Policies, 20-21 March 2012, Ho Chi Minh City.

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The Seminar shared experiences and knowledge, rose awareness, and built synergies among initiatives to promote unemployment insurance (UI), as well as other income security measures and active labour market policies to support the unemployed and vulnerable workers in the ASEAN. Sixty represententatives of Ministries of Labour, Social Security Offices, Workers’ and Employers’ organizations, civil society organizations of the ASEAN member States, as well as experts, representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat and ILO Specialists participated in this Seminar.

The Seminar adopted thirteen recommendations to improve income security and the access to decent employment for all formal and informal economy workers in the region.

Ho Chi Minh City Recommendations on Unemployment Insurance, Income Security and ALMPs in ASEAN

The Seminar was kindly sponsored by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Welfare of Japan, through the ASEAN-ILO/Japan Project on Unemployment Insurance and Employment Services in ASEAN.

All material related to the Seminar is available here.

Zambia: Pensions - A compulsory state pension system-State plan on the cards

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The Zambian government is discussing the introduction of a compulsory state pension system after poor pension planning and the performance of some retirement industry players. However, this could take at least three years for the government to establish the infrastructure necessary to do so. The new system should retain much of the current three-tier structure, which is old age pensions, for those over 60 years of age; centralized defined benefit based on average lifetime earnings; and finally to contribute a percentage of income above R150000 to a national social security fund.

Read full article

fm.co.za. Naisoo, P., “Finanacial Mail”, “Pensions - A compulsory state pension system-State plan on the cards”, (17 November 2011.

Indian Cabinet Approves Bill to Overhaul Pensions

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

India's federal cabinet approved a pension-overhaul bill that could pave the way for foreign direct investment for the first time in managing the country's retirement savings.

Read full article

R. Rajesh, "Indian Cabinet Approves Bill to Overhaul Pensions", in The Wall Street Journal, 16 Nov. 2011.

International Conference on Social Determinants of Health, London, 21-22 November 2011

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

An international conference on the social determinants of health, organized by Health Action Partnership International (HAPI), a community interest company bringing together leading professionals and organisations involved in the field of health, with the support of the British Medical Association and University College London, will be held in the British Medical Association House, on 21-22 November.

Entitled "The Social Determinants of Health: European and Global Actions", the conference will involve international participants from the areas of research, NGO/civil society, industry, international development, practice and policy making. It will focus on the themes that have been developed at the WHO Global Conference, with particular emphasis on the practical actions that can be taken to build active European and global networks and partnerships.

For more information, see the conference website and programme.

The International Training Centre of the ILO, Turin, has published its 2012 training catalogue

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The catalogue can be consulted at http://www.itcilo.org/en/2012. It provides details on the academies, new courses linked to major policy developments in areas such as Domestic Workers, the Social Protection Floor, Labour Inspection, Gender Equality and non-Discrimination as well as a wide range of topics related to the Decent Work Agenda. ILO offices in the regions and technical units at headquarters are requested to actively promote these training courses with interested partners and institutions.

Hard copies of the catalogue are available from communications@itcilo.org.

The global jobs crisis: the G-20 must act now to avoid a lost decade - Op-Ed by ILO Director-General

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

At the G20 summit in Cannes, the Director General from the ILO, Juan Somavia, made a statement on the current situation of employment, referring to the alarming state of the global labor market and the need to take concrete action to restore economic growth for employment. One of the four measures mentioned is the establishment of a social protection floor.

Read the declaration

ILO, “The global jobs crisis: the G-20 must act now to avoid a lost decade – Op-Ed by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia”, 2 November 2011

Health at a Glance 2011, OECD Indicators

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

This sixth edition of Health at a Glance provides (forthcoming, OECD) the latest comparable data on different aspects of the performance of health systems in OECD countries. It provides striking evidence of large variations across countries in the costs, activities and results of health systems. Key indicators provide information on health status, the determinants of health, health care activities and health expenditure and financing in OECD countries. Each indicator in the book is presented in a user-friendly format, consisting of charts illustrating variations across countries and over time, brief descriptive analyses highlighting the major findings conveyed by the data, and a methodological box on the definition of the indicator and any limitations in data comparability.

More information | OECD Publishing, “Health at a Glance 2011” , 02 november 2011

More information on social determinants of health

OAS receives 1.73 million for Social Protection Network

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:00:00 GMT

On Saturday October 22^nd, the government of the United States donated 1.73 million dollars to the Organization of American States (OAS) in order to support the future activities of one of its programmes; the Inter-American Social Protection Network (IASPN). The IASPN’s mandate is to contribute to the reduction of inequalities and social disparities by advancing social protection and by doing so, forwards the realization of the Millennium Development Goals.

The network is mainly used in order to share knowledge, policies and lessons learned in the field of social protection. In the Caribbean, the network’s efforts resulted in the creation of numerous social protection programmes in countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St-Lucia and Barbados.

Caribarena News, “OAS Receives 1.73 Million for Social Protection Network”, 22 October 2011

Ground-breaking report on social protection floor launched

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

October 27th, New York. The Social Protection Floor Advisory Group headed by the former President of Chile, Michele Bachelet, presented a ground-breaking report arguing that a social protection floor could boost economic growth and enhance social cohesion. The “Social Protection Floor for a Fair and Inclusive Globalization” was presented at the G20 summit.

Read full ILO article | ILO New York - Press release - 27 October 2011

Read the report (now also available in French, Portuguese and Spanish)

Bangladesh: Old, alone and without support

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

According to local research organizations, Bangladesh’s population aged 60 and over is projected to grow up to 17 per cent by 2050. As their numbers grow and supports weaken, elderly Bangladeshis find themselves in situations of precarity. Moreover, the present social protection programme for the elderly, the Old Age Allowance, is unable to respond adequately to the situation. According to a study by HelpAge international, around 76 per cent of elderly people are excluded from government benefits. The largest group of elderly people living in poverty are women of rural areas; they do not receive help either from the government or NGO’s.

Read full article

IRIN Asia, "Bangladesh: Old, alone and without support", 21 October 2011

Gilles de Robien, for a global social protection floor

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

In his interview on October 13, Gilles de Robien advocates, on behalf of France, the project of extending social protection worldwide, "a development tool and a weapon to combat the crisis". The topic will be included on the agenda of the G20 Summit in Cannes, 3 and 4 November.

Reed full article (in French)

Caritas France, "Gilles de Robien, pour un socle mondial de protection sociale", 14 octobre 2011.

Hirsch's "Sécu: objectif monde" book review (in French)

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Julien Damon, Professeur associé à Sciences Po (Master d’urbanisme), fait une intéressante critique de l'ouvrage de Martin Hirsch, dans la rubrique "Le Cercle +" du journal Les Echos, en le présentant comme une analyse robuste du socle de protection sociale à faire partager.

Julien Damon, "La Sécu vraiment pour tous", 20 October 2011.

Martin Hirsch, "Sécu: objectif monde", Ed. Stock, 2011.

Zimbabwe: Govt mulls pension reforms

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Government is mulling pension reforms that will see the creation of a consolidated pension fund and abolish the prevailing Pay as You Go pension system that has failed to benefit retired public servants.

Read full article

Bright Madera, allAfrica.com, "Zimbabwe: Govt mulls pension reforms", 11 October 2011.

Argentina: ECLAC praises country's progress in social protection (in Spanish)

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

La entidad reconoce que “la AUH ha tenido un impacto positivo en la reducción de la indigencia y la pobreza”. Entre los desafíos señala que hay que articular un seguro colectivo de salud para evitar la fragmentación en esta área.

Read full article (in Spanish)

elargentino.com, "Argentina: CEPAL elogió los "múltiples avances" del país en la protección social", 11 Octobre 2011.

Lebanese Government launches programme to support poor families (in French)

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Le président de la République Michel Sleiman et le ministre des Affaires sociales Wael Abou Faour ont lancé lundi le programme national pour le soutien des familles pauvres "NPTP", financé par le gouvernement libanais, le ministère italien des Affaires étrangères (bureau de coopération pour le développement), la banque mondiale et l'ambassade du Canada.

Read full article (in French)

Beyrouth, iloubnan.info, NNA, "Lancement au Liban du programme de soutien aux familles pauvres", 17 October 2011.

United Nations official tasks nations on social concerns

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

UN Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Sha Zukang, on Tuesday urged countries to pursue economic policies that take social considerations into account to ensure that the poor, youth, persons with disability and the elderly do not continue to bear the brunt of fiscal austerity measures and unemployment in the uncertain global economy.

Read full article

Afrique en ligne (afriquejet.com), "United Nations official tasks nations on social concerns", Pana 05/10/2011.

Social VAT: a tool to fight unemployment in Tunisia?

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

In general terms, this tax entitled "social VAT" refers to an increase of some points in the rate of VAT and the channelling of the generated additional revenue towards financing social expenditure.

Read full article (in French)

Hedi Bchir and Taoufik Rajhi, leaders.com.tn, "La TVA sociale: une piste de lutte contre le chômage en Tunisie ?", 13 October 2011.

Malaysia, EPF wish list: Raise retirement age to 60

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) hopes the Government will consider raising the retirement age to 60 from 55 currently because long retirement period is one of the factors that contribute to inadequacy of retirement savings.

Read full article

Sharidan M. Aali, the star online (thestar.com.my), "EPF wish list: Raise retirement age to 60", 9 October 2011.

Singapore: Retirement planning 'now more vital'

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

As Singaporeans now live longer, it is increasingly critical that they make decisions which support their retirement and not compromise it, said Minister of State for Manpower and National Development Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday.

Read full article

asiaone.com, "Singapore: Retirement planning 'now more vital'", 10 October 2011.

1280 million Chinese people covered by the health insurance

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The three major social insurance programmes in China currently cover 1280 million people, i.e. 95.5 per cent of the population, announced the Chinese government last Wednesday.

Read full article (in French)

Xinhua press agency (french.china.org.cn), "1,28 milliard de Chinois couverts par l'assurance maladie", 13 October 2011.

Informal work and social security in Argentina (in Spanish)

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

"Lejos de la visión que comúnmente sostiene que la falta de registración es una suerte de convenio entre empleador y trabajador para obtener beneficios mutuos en detrimentos del fisco, la evidencia empírica muestra que los trabajadores no registrados, no sólo no acceden a la protección social, sino que también se encuentran más vulnerables frente a los ciclos de la economía y perciben remuneraciones menores que sus pares registrados" afirman los autores de este artículo en el que se analizan las diferentes causas que generan la informalidad laboral de los asalariados, principal problemática actual del mercado de trabajo argentino.

Se plantean asimismo los impactos en términos de desfinanciamiento del sistema de Seguridad Social.

A. Lieutier, G. Ludmer: "Informalidad laboral en la Argentina" en Revista REI, número 8, 1er semestre 2011, págs. 21-25.

PREVENIMSS: a strategic program of preventive health care in Mexico

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

(Information available in Spanish.)

Este artículo describe a grandes rasgos el Insituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS) y la transición demográfica y epidemiológica de la población derechohabiente como contexto de la estrategia de prevención del programa PREVENIMSS, dando un panorama del alcance del mismo, de los resultados de las medidas educativas de prevención, nutrición, detección y cuidados.

P. Morales Sánchez, "La Seguridad Social en México, Políticas de Prevención en Salud" en Revista REI, número 8, 1er semestre 2011, págs. 15-20.

Building a social protection floor in Mozambique

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Mozambique is a low-income country with high levels of poverty, informal and rural labour. Seriously affected by HIV and AIDS and exposed to climatic shocks and crises such as floods and droughts, the country’s institutions only have a limited capacity to deal with such shocks and offer social protection for the poor and vulnerable population. To address these challenges, an ILO technical cooperation project financed by Portugal works, together with other UN Agencies, to improve public policies and strengthen institutional capacity for the extension of social protection in Mozambique and other Portuguese-speaking African countries.

Read the full article.

ILO Online, 6 October 2011.

The Bolivian New Pension Law: article

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

(Information available in Spanish.)

En este artículo se exponen los principales cambios de la nueva Ley de Pensiones, los cuales implican otorgar pensiones más dignas, incluir mayores beneficios y establecer un modelo nuevo de seguridad social.

E. Balderrama. "La Nueva Ley de Pensiones en Bolivia: Inclusión de una visión netamente social y de mejoramiento de pensiones" en Revista REI, número 8, 1er semestre 2011, págs. 12-14.

A design and implementation analysis of the Argentinean Universal Child Allowance (in Spanish)

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

En este artículo se analiza el diseño e implementación de la Asignación Universal por Hijo para Protección Social (AUH), describiendo para ello las etapas que comúnmente siguen las políticas públicas. Se analiza luego el grado de seguimiento de dichas etapas y se destaca la importancia de la implementación de este tipo de políticas públicas para hacer frente a futuras transiciones demográficas y otras posibles crisis económicas que ponen en riesgo el financiamiento del Sistema. Finalmente, el autor hace una pequeña reflexión respecto de los fondos de financiamiento y afirma que "esta política pública aspira contar, en un futuro, con una población económicamente activa capaz de desarrollar fuentes de empleo suficientes para soportar un Sistema de Seguridad Social que cada vez resulta más difícil de sostener con respecto a la relación de Activos-Pasivos (Aportantes – Beneficiarios de las prestaciones)".

M.G. Liotta, "Asignación Universal por Hijo: Análisis de una política pública Equitativa e Inclusiva" in Revista REI, número 8, 1er semestre 2011, pp. 26-29.

Later Life; quality care matters

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:00:00 GMT

January 25^th, will be held the third annual Later Life conference, on the importance of quality care at the Barbican Centre in London. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from an outstanding programme of high-profile speakers about the latest developments in health and social care for UK’s ageing population.

For more information

EU/ILO Workshop: Review and Valuation of the Employment and Social Protection Studies in Honduras

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Workshop on the "Review and Valuation of the Employment and Social Protection Studies in Honduras" took place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on September 5 and 6 of 2011 and was followed by the “Training workshop on the Diagnostic Tools for Social Protection Extension and Employment Promotion” on September 7 to 9 of 2011.

The objectives of the SPER are to identify the scope of social protection in terms of risks and needs covered as well as existing gaps; determine the expenses and their financing structures; and analyze the effectiveness of the performance of existing social protection schemes regarding their coverage. Both studies were achieved in the framework of the UE/ILO “Improving social protection and promoting employment” project. The findings will form the basis for the drafting of a proposal for a national policy integrating the goals of promoting employment and extending social protection. This drafting will take place in the subsequent stages of the project in 2012.

For more information

October 2011: EU/ILO Workshop: Social Protection Expenditure and Performance Review (SPER) and impact study on support funds for the promotion of employment in Burkina Faso

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

On October 6 and 7, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, a technical workshop was held. The aim of the workshop was the review and validation of the Social Protection Expenditure and Performance Review (SPER) and the impact study on support funds for the promotion of employment in Burkina Faso. The SPER and the impact study were conducted in the framework of the EU-ILO project “Improving social protection and promoting employment.”

The objectives of the SPER are to identify the scope of social protection in terms of risks and needs covered as well as existing gaps; determine the expenses and their financing structures; and analyze the effectiveness of the performance of existing social protection schemes regarding their coverage. Therefore, the SPER provides a holistic analysis of the wider social protection system in Burkina Faso, complementing previous research by the World Bank and UNICEF that mainly focus on the country's social safety nets.

For more information

Inequities in health care access in the European region

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The objective of providing universal health coverage is high on the agenda of countries in the broader European region, yet vulnerable groups often do not have full access to health services, according to Dr. Xenia Scheil-Adlung, Health Policy Coordinator at the ILO’s Social Security Department. ILO Online spoke to Dr. Scheil-Adlung, who has published a study looking at the situation in the region, which includes the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Central and Eastern Europe.

Read the full article.

ILO Online, 6 October 2011.

The IHSP of McGill University develops a poverty reduction database

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Institute for Health and Social Policy (IHSP) of McGill University (Montreal, Canada) is in the process of finalizing a unique database aiming at helping individuals and families to exit poverty. The database consists of five components: minimum wage policies, family allowances, unemployment insurance and assistance programs, old-age pensions, and disability and work injury benefits.

More information

Zimbabwe and Donors Launch Program to Relieve Vulnerable Children

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:06:45 GMT

The Zimbabwean government and international partners including the United Nations Childrens Fund have launched a program to meet the basic needs of orphans and other categories of vulnerable children, reaching out to some 80,000 households.

Read full article

Sandra Nyaira, Tatenda Gumbo & Sithandekile Mhlanga. Voice of America, 6 October 2011.

DSWD recognizes the role of statistics in social protection programs, Philippines

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Secretary Corazon Dinky Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recognizes the value and role of statistics in implementing effective and efficient social protection programs geared towards uplifting the lives of the Filipino people especially the poor and other vulnerable members of society.

Read the full article

Neil D. Lopido, Philippine Information Agency, 5 October 2011

G20 Summit at Cannes: priorities, challenges and actions

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

In view of the forthcoming G20 Summit in Cannes, Ambassador Jean-David Levitte, Diplomatic Advisor and Sherpa of the President of France, met with ILO constituents and staff in Geneva to share some of the priorities ahead of the summit and inform on preparative work done so far. In his view, France places great importance on opening the G20 to the entire international community, as the Group cannot and must not become a closed and exclusive club. Even though G20 Member States account for 85 per cent of world GDP, opening up to other countries is a prerequisite for the Group’s legitimacy.

Since 2008, previous G20 Summits and preparatory meetings focused on the crisis, its aftermath and policy measures to be taken in recovery. Throughout the 2008-2010 recession and recovery period, G20 efforts concentrated mainly on restoring the financial system, finding appropriate measures to mitigate the crisis’ effects, reforming the international financial institutions and developing new models of growth. Recent economic developments in developed, emerging and developing countries show that these efforts must continue. The G20 Summit in Cannes will deal with the crisis affecting not only the eurozone and the United States, but also emerging and developing countries. In the immediate future, some countries will have to deal with measures to support the economy, others with the consolidation of their public finances, others still with shifting their economic model towards domestic consumption. At Cannes, France will urge the Leaders to adopt a plan of action for growth drawing on concrete economic policy measures taken by the United States, China and several countries in the eurozone, Japan, the United Kingdom and Brazil.

Jobs and unemployment remain a core concern among the G20 countries. ILO’s work in this respect – also through the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group led by Michele Bachelet – has been fully taken into account by the G20 in 2011 and will continue to remain on the agenda in the coming years. The G20 Presidency has facilitated the organization of a “Labour 20” to be held in parallel with the “Business 20” in Cannes.

Read the full article

ILO. 5 October 2011

Informe de la Caja del Seguro Social, Costa Rica (Only in Spanish)

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:31:23 GMT

El Informe de la Caja de Seguro Social de Costa Rica contiene 81 recomendaciones del equipo de especialistas nacionales nombrado para el análisis de la situación del seguro de salud, entre las cuales se destacan: la renovación de los mandos superiores en no más de 18 meses, la reducción del nivel central, la rendición obligatoria de cuentas a las jefaturas, la mejora del desempeño de las Juntas de Salud, y la participación de la población usuaria para salir de la crisis.

Lea el artículo completo

elpais.cr, 4 de octubre de 2011

The 6th ASEAN GO-NGO Forum on the establishment of Social Protection Floors (SPF) within ASEAN just happened!

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

During an intensive ICSW Preparatory workshop held on September 18-19 in Bangkok, Thailand, Representatives from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam participated in a one day training on the Social Protection Floor organized by the ILO to prepare for the GO-NGO Forum on the establishment of Social Protection Floors within ASEAN.

The material used during the training is now available online!

Pour une protection sociale mondiale

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

(Only available in French)

Faut-il sacrifier la protection sociale sur l’autel de la crise ? Ce que nous proposons aux dirigeants du G20, c’est l’inverse.

Et le rapport Bachelet, élaboré sous l’égide des organisations de l’ONU par une commission présidée par l’ancienne présidente du Chili, le démontre : la protection sociale est d’autant plus nécessaire parce qu’il y a crise et parce qu’elle contribue à prévenir la répétition des crises et ses tragédies humaines. Il ne s’agit pas d’une pétition de principe ou d’une bluette pour doux rêveurs. Mais d’une position étayée par une analyse économique, sociale et politique et partagée par des personnalités exerçant ou ayant exercé des responsabilités en Chine, en Inde, en Afrique du Sud, en Europe et dans les organisations internationales, confirmée par le travail des ONG sur le terrain.

Lisez l'article

Liberation, 26 septembre 2011, par Martin Hirsch, Membre du group consultatif, Pierre Salignon, Directeur général de Médecins du monde, Jean-Louis Vielajus, Président de Coordination SUD (solidarité urgence développement) 2011.

G20 Labour and Employment Ministers' Conclusions- Paris, 26-27 September 2011

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

G20 Labour and Employment Ministers recommended the strengthening of social protection by establishing social protection floors adapted to each country. Accordingly, they agreed on the following recommendations:

Develop nationally defined social protection floors with a view to achieving strong, sustaibable and balanced economic growth and social cohesion;
Encourage international organisations to coordinate their actions more effectively to help countries develop nationally determined social protection floors;
Ensure effective financing for the implementation of nationally determined social protection floors.

See the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers' Conclusions.

Aged need more social security, VietNam

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Vietnam’s 2009 elderly (above 60 years old) population (8.7%) has increased in 2010 to 9.4%, above predicted numbers, and now expected to reach 10.1% this year. Although it is perceived as an improvement of quality of life, the country is not prepared to deal with the arising challenges it faces. Acknowledgment of the role of policies on this aging population is put forth.

Read full article

vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn, “Aged need more social security”, 21 September 2011.

The G20 Employment and Labour Ministers are meeting in Paris on 26-27 September 2011

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The G20 Employment and Labour Ministers met in Paris on 26-27 September 2011 to assess the evolving employment situation in the context of the global financial crisis. Social protection and, particularly, the implementation of national social protection floors are at the heart of the discussions.

See the Joint Statement for G20 Labour Ministerial by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia and OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurría
See the Policy Note ILO-OECD: “Towards national social protection floors”
See the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Conclusions

The Sixth ASEAN GO-NGO Forum for Social Welfare and Development supports the establishment of a social protection floor on social welfare and development, 20 September 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The participants of the 6th ASEAN GO-NGO Forum for Social Welfare and Development held on 20 September 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand, agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation amongst ASEAN Member States towards universal coverage of social protection to the peoples of ASEAN.

Read the Forum Recommendations.

Experts meeting on Pension Reform in Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Poland, 6-7 October 2011

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Pension reform is high on the national agenda in many countries. Currently these problems are tackled at the national level. Recently, the European Union has taken an initiative to more deeply involve in the coordination of pension policy through inviting opinions based on the Green Paper published in 2010 and a forthcoming White Paper. In the on-going process of the regional convergence in Europe, there is a strong need for addressing these common problems at the sub-regional level through coordinated approach based on the exchange of best practices and lessons learned in these countries.To support the process to develop policy and strategy for pension reform, the ILO, in cooperation with the Institute of Labour and Social Studies of Poland, will organize an Experts meeting on Pension Reform in Central and Eastern Europe in Warsaw in the period of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

See the concept note
See the agenda of the meeting

Social Europe guide. Volume 1 - Employment Policy

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion has just published the Social Europe guide. This Guide is a bi-annual publication aimed at providing to an interested but not necessarily specialised audience a concise overview of specific areas of EU policy in the field of employment, social affairs and inclusion. It illustrates the key issues and challenges, explains policy actions and instruments at EU level and provides examples of best practices from EU Member States. It also presents views on the subject from the Council Presidency and the European Parliament. This first volume in this series focuses on the biggest challenges the EU is facing in the area of employment.

For further information, and to download the report, please visit the European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

Innovative responses to the social impact of the crisis

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

A ministerial conference of the Polish Presidency, to be held in Wrocław (Poland) on 26 September 2011, will discuss responses to the social impact of the crisis and how to intensify the support to innovation within social policies.

The conference will:

discuss the impact of the crisis on the European societies and on social protection schemes, and the need to intensify innovation for ensuring high level of protection to citizens.;
promote social experimentation as a key tool to improve the quality and the cost-effectiveness of social policies, and provide an overview of the best knowledge and expertise existing at EU level in this field.

For further information, please visit the European Commission Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion web site.

Seminario Internacional de Seguridad Social: "Protección social, inclusión y equidad", Argentina

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

El Observatorio de la Seguridad Social de ANSES, llevará a cabo el Seminario Internacional de Seguridad Social que reunirá a funcionarios y representantes de la materia de todo el mundo. El objetivo del seminario "Protección social, inclusión y equidad" es generar un ámbito plural para la discusión de las políticas relacionadas con la seguridad social en el mundo, compartir realidades, avances y desafíos en el área.

Leer el artículo

Genteba.com.ar, “Seminario Internacional de Seguridad Social: "Protección social, inclusión y equidad”, 29 de Agosto 2011.

France: What is the redistributive effect of family benefits?

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Redistribution of family support and housing benefits were analyzed in a study by the Direction de la recherche, des études, de l’évaluation et des statistiques (DREES) published in July 2011. This study integrates the direct taxation and vertical redistribution (i.e. from a wealthy family to a poor family of the same composition) and horizontal redistribution (i.e. a family with no children to a family with children).

Read full article (in French)

weka.fr / News, "What EST The redistributive effect of aid to the family?", August 22, 2011.

India: National responses to HIV/ AIDS need to adapt comprehensive social protection strategies

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Although social protection mechanisms in India have typically focused on people living below the poverty line (BPL), people living with HIV (PLHIV) have been identified as potentially requiring protection irrespective of their BPL status. The social protection mechanism for PLHIV helps dealing with the social and economic impacts from the epidemic.

Read full article

TruthDive, “National responses to HIV/ AIDS need to adapt comprehensive social protection strategies”, 24 August 2011.

EAC Ministers to Discuss Regional Framework, East Africa

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

From July 6th to 8th the East African Community (EAC) partner states met in Nairobi, Kenya in order to discuss the Draft EAC Social Development Framework. The main concerns for the partnership are health, medical services and education.

Other priority areas and issues have been identified along with the desire to develop regional monitoring evaluation mechanisms and an EAC protocol on gender equality. The development of the new framework is a recognition of the shared common interests, ideals, aspirations and challenges faced by the EAC as a whole.

Read full article

Eric Kabeera, allAfrica.com, “EAC Ministers to Discuss Regional Framework”, 3 July 2011.

Only 5% of workers are covered by social security in Africa

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Very few people in Africa are covered by social security. In Africa, 5% of workers, and only the formal sector have this coverage. Lack of institution or weakness of institutions already in place to promote this social protection has been noted, and it affects children, the elderly workers and unemployed graduates. Therefore, advocacy to governments are expected to take place in order to change the situation.

Read the article (in French)

afriquinfos.com, "Seulement 5% de travailleurs sont couverts par la sécurité sociale en Afrique", July 14, 2011.

L'Angola envisage d'augmenter les allocations familiales

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

A partir de juillet 2011, le gouvernement angolais, dans le cadre de son engagement à améliorer le niveau de vie et le bien-être du peuple angolais, prévoit augmenter les allocations familiales, en particulier celles destinées aux femmes et aux enfants. Ces nouvelles mesures augmenteraient les subventions versées aux bénéficiaires de l'ordre de 100 pour cent à plus de 500 pour cent.

Les secteurs concernés par ces allocations vont de l'élévage, aux allocations familiales en passant par les funérailles et les congés de maternité.

Lisez l'article

Afriquinfos, «L'Angola envisage d'augmenter les allocations familiales », 6 juillet 2011.

Cabinet okays pension-revamp bills, Czech Republic

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

On June 28th, Czech Republic’s government approved bills introducing modifications of the pension system and of the current private pension schemes. The Czech pension system rests on a “pillar” construction; in the bill a new voluntary pillar has been established in which beneficiaries may transfer percentage points from their social insurance to private pension funds.

This project has met with opposition from the trade union and employers who disagree with the second pillar and the proposed transfers. The new bill must still get the approval from the two houses of parliament and be signed by the president before being implemented.

Read full article

Prague Daily Monitor, “Cabinet okays pension-revamp bills”, 29 June 2011.

NSSF monthly collections rise to Sh40 Billion, Uganda

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Monthly savings by members of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) have grown substantially from Shs28 billion to Shs40 billion, according to Mr Richard Byarugaba, the fund's managing director.

These new resources strengthen the Fund's investments arm furthering its investments. In return, the Fund earns interest income from the investments which is passed on to its members as a return on their savings.

The Fund launched a call centre, SMS service and internet platform which can be used by members to monitor their savings without visiting its offices.

Read full article

Walter Wafula, allAfrica.com, “NSSF monthly collections rise to Sh40 Billion, Uganda”, 7 July 2011.

Colombia quedó ad portas de cobertura universal en salud

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

El Ministro de la Protección Social, Mauricio Santamaría, afirmó que Colombia está ad portas de alcanzar la cobertura universal en salud al pasar del 91 al 97 por ciento en el último año.

Los desafíos que se plantea el Ministerio de la Protección Social son el mejoramiento de la calidad y la equidad en el acceso a los servicios de salud, la actualización integral de los planes de beneficios de los regímenes contributivo y subsidiado y la unificación de estos planes de beneficios de manera a homogeneizar al acceso a los servicios de salud.

Leer el artículo

Source elespectador.com (07.08.2011)

World ministers to discuss work safety at Istanbul congress mid-September

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The 19th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work will be held in Turkey and will serve as an important step for an initiative regarding work safety, as a required topic, not only after accidents occur. Guest speakers, papers and technical sessions will be involved and will show progress made on the Seoul Declaration. Aside the congress, a fair will run parallel in which 250 companies related to world safety will display their products.

The 19th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, which will be held in Turkey, will serve as an important step for an initiative regarding work safety, a senior Turkish official has said.

Read full article

Ali Aslan Kiliç, sundayszaman.com, “World ministers to discuss work safety at Istanbul congress mid-September”, 11 July 2011.

Salarios bajos sustentan el sistema de pensiones

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

7th International Microinsurance Conference, 8-10 November, Rio de Janeiro

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The 7th International Microinsurance Conference will be held in Rio, Brazil from 8th to 10th November 2011. The Conference is hosted by the Munich Re Foundation and the Microinsurance Network.

Topics include: economic analysis of microinsurance markets, innovative and viable client-centred microinsurance solutions, distribution, technology and protecting against natural disasters. This will be an opportunity for experts to discuss about the challenges and opportunities for delivering access to insurance to the low-income sector.

For further information, please visit the Munich Re Foundation website. An information sheet is available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.

Alto costo de medicamentos amenaza seguridad social de algunos paises

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

La loi sur l'assurance sociale prend effet, Chine

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

In China, the first social insurance law came into effect. Perceived as an important social evolution, the new law implements a social security system for all Chinese citizens that includes benefits for health care, maternity, retirement, work related injuries and unemployment.

The Law is composed of 46 measures and regulations in order to easy its implementation in the next three years. Furthermore, it allows for a better protection of migrant workers. The law also helps to eradicate certain problems such as the misuses of funding.

Read full article

Le Quotidien du Peuple en ligne, «Chine: la loi sur l’assurance sociale prend effet », 4 July 2011.

América Latina dió demostración de fortaleza frente a la crisis

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

América Latina dió una “demostración de fortaleza” frente a la crisis económica internacional que permitió una rápida recuperación de los niveles de empleo, dijo la Directora Regional de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), Elizabeth Tinoco, al intervenir en un seminario del G20 que se realiza esta semana en Argentina.

Leer el artículo

Fuente: oitchile.cl (01.07.2011)

L'Afrique du Sud lance son projet national d'assurance maladie

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Istanbul gears up for Safety World Congress XIX

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

From September 11-15, 2011, nearly 3,000 policy-makers, experts, industry, and labor leaders from more than 100 countries are set to convene in Istanbul, Turkey, for the 19th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work.

Under the theme “Building a global culture of prevention for healthy and safe future”, the ILO and ISSA in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the congress participants will focus on the importance of building and maintaining a preventive safety and health culture by discussing comprehensive and proactive approaches to safety and health at work; the introduction and implementation of a system approach for occupational safety and health at the national level; developing mutually beneficial partnerships and innovation for occupational safety and health through social dialogue; new challenges in a changing world of work and the global economy.

The Seoul Declaration on Safety and Health at Work, adopted at the XVIII World Congress in 2008, states the right to a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental human right.

Read full article

Ohsonline.com, “Istanbul Gears Up for Safety World Congress XIX”, 19 august 2011.

National Health Insurance Process Unfolds, South Africa

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Over the week of August 8^th to 14^th, South Africa’s government released the awaited Green Paper on the National Health Insurance system. The new plan seeks to provide better health care for all given that the country's public health system does not meet the needs of South African citizens. Some identified problems are due to drug shortages and bad attitudes of health care workers which lead beneficiaries to the private health sector.

The new National Health Insurance plan aims at increasing coverage while ensuring that more people, particularly the most vulnerable, can access quality services at affordable costs. Financing for the first year of the NHI system will come from Treasury. The conditional grant will be put in what is called the NHI Fund. From then on, a section of the population will be required to make a direct contribution towards the Fund.

The Green Paper will be followed by consultations with various stakeholders and the public over the next three months before the publication of the White Paper and the following legislative process.

Read full article

Khopotso Bodibe, allAfrica.com, “South Africa: National Health Insurance process unfolds”, 13 August 2011.

PhilHealth to give free hospitalization to CCT beneficiaries, Philippines

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will now be providing free hospitalization services to the 5.2 million poorest families in the country, under the project called "No Balance Billing". Free hospitalization services will be provided to already qualified CCT beneficiaries, starting late August or early September.

Beneficiaries of the new program will be able to undergo any of the 22 most common medical and surgical procedures identified by PhilHealth in public or private hospitals that accept government payment without having to provide out-of-pocket payments. The new project will also be providing a cap of P900 for outpatient services.

Read full article

Kimberly Jane Tan, GMA News, “PhilHealth to give free hospitalization to CCT beneficiaries”, 10 August 2011.

La politique familiale en chiffres, France

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Social Security Commission launches mobile service, Namibia

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Saturday September 10^th, Namibia’s Social Security Commission (SSC) launched its first mobile bus called “SSC on Wheels”. The SSC has become a lifeline for the lower income groups in the Namibian society primarly by the financial assistance given to the poorest populations. Other services offered include: leave, sick, death, disability and retirement benefits.

The SSC bus will provide services, such as registering employers and employees, accepting contributions, issuing social cards and employer certificates of registration, general customer service and public education to populations living in remote areas where there are no commission offices.

Read full article

Fifi Rhodes, New Era, “Social Security Commission launches mobile service”, 8 August 2011.

Health ministry developing National Health Insurance System, Trinidad and Tobago

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

August 10^th, Health minister, Dr Fuad Khan, announced, on the occasion of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Insurance and Health Summit, that the Ministry of Health was developing a National Health Insurance System. The plan will include the treatment of mental health conditions as well as sexually transmitted infections since these are usually excluded from private health insurance.

As a part of the current Health Sector Reform Programme, the National Health Insurance System proposal would function on a private/public partnership in order to enhance access to treatment of persons with HIV/AIDS. Another part of this new plan is the furthering of the legislation of private insurers, providing protection against prejudicial conditions that are particularly detrimental to people living with the disease. For Chair and Director of Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) Coordinating Unit, Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, the hope is that, from an insurance perspective, HIV/AIDS will be treated as any other chronic illness.

Some of the difficulties that face this new plan are the porosity of the data made available to the insurance industry to enable an active review and a pricing mechanism to be able to offer accurate coverage. Once the data will be available, the pricing process can start and the plan will then be able to evolve.

Read full article

Janelle Desouza, Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday, "Health ministry developing Nat’l Health Insurance System", August 11th.

The precariat: The New Dangerous Class

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Lauching of the book "The precariat: The New Dangerous Class" by Guy Standing, at Palais des Nations, Geneva, at 12:30 on Monday September 26th 2011, organized by UNSRID. The book claims that a new class, the precariat, characterized by common precarious work experiences, is emerging due to neoliberal and institutional policies. Their lack of organization would render them sensible to producing societal instability. The book supports that re-engaging the precariat into civil society would benefit society, in which an unconditional state-provided basic income for everyone would be coupled by earned incomes, by addressing labour insecurity and civic disengagement.

A link to the talk poster

Designing and Implementing Social Transfer Programmes: 23 October - 5 November 2011, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

This training provides participants with an in-depth understanding of the conceptual and practical issues involved in the development of social transfer programmes. The course is aimed to building the capacity of policy-makers, government officials and practitioners around the world. Participants will acquire tools required for the appropriate identification and successful design and implementation of these programmes. EPRI and HelpAge International are offering this course together with Maastricht University, in partnership with the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), UK. A course for policy-makers, government officials and practitioners around the world.

For more information, see the 2011 brochure

The 2010 brochure (as an indicator of training content)

Visit the website www.epri.org.za

AISS Regional Social Security Forum for Africa 2011, Tanzania

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The ISSA Regional Social Security Forum for Africa will take place in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 5 to 7 December 2011, at the invitation of the National Social Security Fund. This Forum will provide a key platform for the sharing of information and discussion of the most important regional social security trends and priority issues in Africa - namely administrative and operational efficiency, extension of social security coverage, proactive and preventive approaches in social security and adequacy and quality of social security benefits and services.

For more information, click here

World Bank Core Course on Pensions, Washington, DC

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

This course aims to provide policymakers, pension fund administrators and other key stakeholders involved in pension policy and implementation with an overview of the latest thinking about pension design and management, analytical tools for formulation of reform options, and a review of lessons from recent pension reforms around the world. The program combines in-depth analysis of pension reform issues with country case studies and country reform exercises.

The list of speakers includes recognized experts in Pensions from the World Bank as well as from other international organizations, academics, private consultants and policy makers from around the World.

The costs of tuition and fees will be US$2,500 per participant from World Bank client counterpart countries, and US$3,500 for participants from international organizations, donor agencies and others.

Deadline for registration is September 30, 2011. You may register online, by email or fax by submitting the application form. Email registration: swarlop@worldbank.org and please copy mdorfman@worldbank.org or fax registration: (+1) 202-522-3252.

WorldPensionSummit 2011, The Netherlands

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The WorldPensionSummit is a platform organized 'for and by' pension professionals and industry leaders, exchanging knowledge and sharing the latest insights of the 'innovation agenda' in pensions.

This year, the WorldPensionSummit cross roads 2011 will take place from 2 to 4 November in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The 2011 program will focus on new strategic developments and innovations, with cases and new insights from representatives from all continents. Topics include: insights of 'DB - DC the hybrid solutions', Essential steps in Financial Literacy, Next generation Fiduciary Management, New propositions in Healthcare & Pensions, Governance, Risk Management, Social Media in Pensions, Pension Administration, Shifts in Social Security Policies, etc.

For further information, please consult this link

Global South-South Development Expo 2011, Italy

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:00:00 GMT

The Global South-South Development Expo is an Expo from the South and for the South that will take place in Rome, Italy. It showcases successful Southern-grown development solutions to address the need to meet Millennium Development Goals. It is designed as a concrete response to the strong commitment made by the Secretary-General and the UNDP Administrator to help the global South realize its shared aspirations for achieving sustainable and equitable development through the sharing and transfer of Southern-grown development solutions, with the support of the donor community and the multilateral system through innovative triangular and public-private partnership arrangements. It also constitutes one of the three global and United Nations system-wide South-South support platforms of UNDPS's Special Unit for South South Cooperation.

For more information, please consult this link.

Master of Science (MSc) in Social Protection Financing

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Master of Science (MSc) in Social Protection Financing at the University of Mauritius, offered in partnership with the International Labour Office, Maastricht University and other international organizations is a one-year degree programme, which began in 2010, designed to equip social security managers and financial specialists to meet the challenges of financing national social protection.

This year's sessions start in August 2011. The programme accepts a maximum of 40 students, working as social security managers and financial specialists. Priority for admission will be given to serving officials from African social security institutions and ministries (managers, actuaries, financial and policy analysts), and from organizations representing African workers and employers. Applicants from other parts of the world and with other professional and institutional backgrounds will be considered if space permits.

Visit the University of Mauritius Web site for additional information.

WHO Global conference on social determinants of health 2011

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:00:00 GMT

From 19-21 October 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) is convening a global conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to build support for the implementation of action on social determinants of health. The conference is being organized in response to a 2009 World Health Assembly Resolution and will be hosted by the Government of Brazil.

The event will provide a global platform for dialogue on how the recommendations in the final report of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008) could be taken forward and participants will discuss policies and strategies aiming to reduce health inequities. The conference's outcome document, the Rio Declaration, will help to build high-level international backing for the further development and implementation of national policies to address social determinants of health.

These determinants are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age; however, they are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices.

The conference will be attended by ministers of health, foreign affairs, the environment and other sectors; representatives of international agencies, philanthropic institutions and civil society organizations; leading academics and technical experts; and representatives from the private sector.

For more information, click here

UNICEF supports the Government of Tanzania to protect children

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:00:00 GMT

As a part of an effort to strengthen systems to keep children safe and strengthen families in the Sub-Saharan region, UNICEF is supporting the Government of Tanzania to translate the provisions of the Law of the Child Act (2009) into practice through the development of rules and regulations that will ensure that social workers, police, educators, and local government authorities, among others, are clear on their roles and responsibilities in protecting children from abuse, violence and exploitation.

In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 50 million children have lost one or both parents, almost 15 million of them due to HIV/ Aids. The region has the highest rates of child labour in the world, with more than one-third of children aged 5-14 years being engaged in the hardest forms of labour. Widespread poverty, conflicts, HIV/AIDS, climate change, and domestic violence are forcing more and more children to leave their homes to live and work on the streets, exposing them to harm and exploitation.

A Multi-Sector Task Force, under the coordination of the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children, is advancing the development of a national response plan to prevent and respond to violence against children. In selected Tanzanian districts, with the support of UNICEF, police, teachers, health workers, magistrates and social welfare officers are already working as a team to respond to child abuse cases. These local child protection systems, backed by the Department of Social Welfare and the Prime Minister’s Office, Regional and Local Governments are ensuring rapid and effective response to children at risk.

Tanzania moving towards children protection system. The Citizen. 4 July 2011. For more information, click here.

Uruguay ratified the Ibero-American Multilateral Agreement on Social Security

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:00:00 GMT

On 26 July, Uruguay ratified the Ibero-American Multilateral Convention on Social Security that is intended to ensure social protection and pensions to migrants in any country in Ibero-America. Currently applicable between Bolivia, Brazil, Spain and Ecuador, this Convention is intended to include 11 other Latin American countries, benefiting more than 6 million migrants – however, the area of protection covered should be extended to the population of 22 Latin American countries, i.e. some 600 million people.

Uruguay's arrival represents a "crucial" step to the commitments to protect the migrant population, according to the Secretary General of the Ibero-American Social Security Organization (OISS), Adolfo Jimenez. This initiative protects the equal treatment and the complete periods of contribution, favours the incorporation of labour law, and opens the possibility of return of migrants with no loss of rights.

The first Ibero-American Multilateral Agreement on Social Security was adopted at the XVII Summit of Heads of State and Governments, held in Santiago de Chile in November 2007. On the one hand, this initiative is "an answer" to a "globalized world that threatens social security systems" and, on the other hand, it also stands as "the first major common instrument of the Ibero-American community of nations," according to the Ibero-American General Secretary, Enrique Iglesias.

Read the full article (in Spanish).

Source: noticias.terra.com.arg, 26/6/2011

The Education International 6th World Congress adopted a Resolution on Social Protection Education. Cape Town, 18-26 July 2011

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

From 22 to 26 July 2011, the 6th World Congress of the Education International, “Building the Future through Quality Education”, was held in Cape Town, South Africa.

Education International (EI) is the world’s largest federation of about 400 education unions, representing 30 million education employees in 107 countries and territories around the world. It promotes that publicly-funded, high-quality education should be available to everyone. It advocates for equity in society and combats racism, xenophobia, and other forms of prejudice, while representing the interests of teachers and other education employees on the international level.

During its 6th World Congress, EI members met to strengthen bonds of solidarity among teachers and education workers. Delegates considered major contemporary issues affecting their organizations, the international teacher trade union movement, and the ongoing struggle to achieve quality public education for all.

In conclusion, several resolutions were adopted concerning education and employment, the economic crisis, public education, teacher migration, and vocational education among others. A resolution on Social Protection Education was submitted by Unions of four different regions, promoted by the Education and Solidarity Network and adopted unanimously. It urges countries to implement policies for the creation of Social Protection Floors, provide quality social protection for education professionals, and include social protection education in education and training systems to promote a social protection culture.

Governement to issue electronic ID cards for Filipino workers

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

In a bid to facilitate transactions and protect the agency from fraud, the Social Security institution of the Philippines will start issuing free chip-enabled identification cards to its members before the end of the month. See the article.

By Pia Rufino, Asia Pacific FutureGOV. 25/07/11

Only 5% of workers are covered by social security in Africa

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

(Only available in French)

Un continent déjà où les taux de travail décent n'atteignent pas les 10% selon le Bureau international du travail (BIT), 5% de travailleurs seulement et essentiellement du secteur formel sont couverts par la sécurité sociale en Afrique, a relevé une conférence sur la protection sociale en Afrique centrale tenue mardi et mercredi à Yaoundé. See the article.

Afriquinfo. 26/7/2011.

The IMF supports the extension of Social Protection in Mozambique

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Between March and June 2011, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed reports summarizing discussions with the government of Mozambique and analyzing the national situation and future economic, financial and social challenges. The reports highlight that economic growth has been disproportionate in Mozambique, not benefiting the poor properly. The IMF mission advised authorities to create a fiscal space, for example by redirecting public revenue from national resource exploitation, for the design of a sustainable social protection system, based on the priorities taken by national authorities in the Action Plan for Reducing Poverty (PARP) 2011-2014. It also stressed that strategic decisions to scale up social protection will be taken by the Council of Ministers in July 2011 based on an Expansion Plan of Basic Social Protection Programs. The formulation of this plan was carried out with the support of the United Nations, the ILO, the World Bank, the IMF and bilateral partners. The ILO led the costing exercise, based on the fiscal space available and consistent with the macroeconomic framework.

Another important point will be the reform of the National Social Security Institute (INSS), particularly in relation to strengthening its finance and organization, through the implementation of a new investment strategy or the reform of the information technology and actuarial system, for which the INSS will rely on the ILO's technical assistance.

See the documents (note that the three documents are together in one file):

Staff Report for the 2011 Article IV Consultation, Second Review Under the Policy Support Instrument, and Request for Modification of Assessment Criteria, prepared by the African Department (in consultation with other departments);
Joint World Bank/IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis - Update, prepared by the staffs of the International Monetary Fund andthe International Development Association;
2011 Article IV Consultation, Second Review Under the Policy Support Instrument and Request for Modification of Assessment Criteria Informational Annex, prepared by the African Department (in consultation with other departments)
Public Information Notice: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation with Mozambique

See the PowerPoint presentation by the Resident Representative of the IMF in Mozambique, Victor Lledó, on The IMF and the Social Security System in Mozambique.

For related information see the CIPS website

UN-DESA - Global Social Crisis: Report 2011

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Global unemployment rose sharply from 178 million persons in 2007 to 205 million in 2009, triggering an increase in vulnerability – especially in developing countries without comprehensive social protection. It is further estimated that between 47 million and 84 million more people fell into, or remained trapped in, extreme poverty because of the global crisis. The Report on the World Social Situation: the Global Social Crisis published by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations explores the ongoing adverse social consequences of the crisis and stresses the urgency that Governments take into account the likely social implications of their economic policies to ensure faster growth and socio-economic progress.

Download the Report

Young workers make up a third of the informal labour market in Peru

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

(This information is only available in Spanish.)

El país tiene más de 12 millones de personas con trabajo informal. Poco más de un tercio de esa cifra son jóvenes, además que cuatro de cada diez son pobres. En su estudio "Empleo informal y políticas de protección social en Perú. Retos y oportunidades para el nuevo gobierno", Tatiana Velazco precisa que dentro de este grupo siete de cada diez jóvenes tienen entre 14 y 24 años, lo cual quiere decir que aún están en una etapa de adquisición de capital humano y de metas formativas.

(Sonia Gilvonio, Gestion, "Jóvenes trabajadores representan un tercio del mercado informal," 7 de Julio de 2011, http://gestion.pe/impresa/noticia/jovenes-trabajadores-representan-tercio-mercado-informal/2011-07-07/34595)

Matthias Reusing and Lu Jianshe evaluate the EU-China Social Security Reform Cooperation Project (EUCSS)

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Matthias Reusing, second secretary of the Cooperation Section of the EU Delegation to China and Mongolia, and Lu Jianshe, acting project director of EUCSS, share their insights into the China-EU Social Security Reform Cooperation Project (EUCSS) project with China Daily. The project has been piloted in both developed parts of eastern China and in less developed areas and has played an active role advancing the country's social security reforms.

(China Daily, "Making an effort to overhaul the social security system" 5 July 2011, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-07/05/content_12833389.htm)

Central Africa Social Protection Conference: 11-12 July 2011

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The aim of the conference is to bring together civil society organizations from Central Africa to share experiences on Social Protection policies and programmes in their countries with a view to drawing lessons that will take the agenda forward at country level.

The Conference will have the following objectives:

To share experiences on social protection systems and programmes in the respective countries.
To discuss strategies of strengthening the voice of civil society in the region in the ongoing debates on social protection at the national and regional level.
To examine and chart the way forward on how civil society in the Central Africa region can engage with their governments.

For more information, click here

The European Commission's social policy forum, "The Social Protection Committee" (SPC) publishes strategy report

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Social Protection Committee (SPC), a policy forum for EU countries and the Commission, has issued a report on "The Social dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy" that examines actions to promote inclusion and reduce poverty, in line with the strategy's headline targets.

The report details the challenges in fighting poverty and social exclusion in the EU and assesses policy options for addressing them. It analyses actions focusing on:

sustainable and adequate reforms of social protection systems
active inclusion strategies
well-designed universal and targeted benefits for families and groups at risk
future pension adequacy and long-term financial sustainability of pensions
increased effectiveness of health care and long-term care

It also outlines findings of the SPC work carried out in 2010 on:

following the social consequences of the crisis
deepening the policy dialogue on the issue of pension sustainability and adequacy
social services of general interest

For opinions and other documents from the Social Protection Committee, click here.

The United Nations publishes "The Promise of Protection: Social Protection and development in Asia and the Pacific"

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

This report is a contribution to the policy debate on the direction of social protection in Asia and the Pacific. It shows that, while many countries of the region have in place some form of social protection, this benefits only a fraction of those who need it. Nonetheless, as the report argues, present-day programmes can be the building blocks of more integrated protection systems as a part of the inclusive growth and social equity agenda. The cost of such systems will vary according to the level of economic development, income distribution and affordability but as the report suggest, even at the lower end of the economic spectrum, comprehensive social protection is within the reach of most countries in the near future.

To read the report, click here

The Social Protection Floor Initiative Petition

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) coordinate the Social Protection Floor Initiative (SPF-I) as a joint UN effort to build a global coalition committed to supporting countries in building national social protection floors for their citizens.

A Social Protection Floor (SPF) is the first level of a comprehensive national social protection system that helps to realize human rights for all through guaranteeing:

Universal access to essential services (such as health, education, housing, water and sanitation and other services as nationally defined); Social Transfers in cash or kind to guarantee income security, food security, adequate nutrition and access to essential services.

By signing this petition endorsing the Social Protection Floor, you can express your support for income security and basic services for all.

For further information click on: The Social Protection Floor

By 2 November 2011: 1947 signatures...

Forum de la prévoyance professionnelle (occupational pensions), 4 November 2011, HEC Lausanne, Switzerland

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

This is a day of lectures and discussions on challenges faced by the occupational pensions pillar, with the participation of renowned experts.

Conference organised by the Actuarial Science Department for the celebration of the centennial of HEC Lausanne, the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne (UNIL).

More information at: HEC100 Lausanne

Philippines: 359,903 in the Bicolo Region enrol with Philipine National Health Insurance Scheme, June 29, 2011

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Government has assured the poorest of the poor among Filipinos of social protection through health and medical care benefits under the Universal Health Care Program in consonance with President Benigno Aquino III health agenda.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth has been in the forefront and tasked to cover all Filipinos with social insurance within a time frame of three years enlisting all qualified to become members, especially the indigent members of the community. More...

Marlon A. Loterte. "Philippine Information Agency." More Bicolanos enlist with PhilHealth. Lagazpi City, 1/7/2011. http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=40854

Philippines: Conditional cash transfer program reaches 1.6 million households, June 14, 2011

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman told members of the Senate Oversight Committee on Public Expenditures that the CCT program, a component of the Pantawid Pamilyang Philipino program (4Ps), has already reached 75 of the country's 138 cities. The DSWD has also registered beneficiaries in 950 of 1,400 municipalities, she added. This meant that P4.127 billion of 17 billion allocated for cash grants for education and health expenses has already been given out, she said. More...

SunStar, "Conditional cash transfer program reaches 1.6 million households,"

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2011/06/14/conditional-cash-transfer-program-reaches-16-million-households-161083

The extension of social protection in the Portuguese-speaking African countries

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

From now on a new space in the Gess platform presents the intervention of ILO's STEP Portugal Program in Portuguese-speaking African countries. It provides indicators of the extension of social security, testimonies of government officials and beneficiaries, among others.

Rwanda: Gov't Committed to Social Security - Mulindwa, 16 June 2011

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

During the 100th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) held in Geneva, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Samuel Mulindwa praised the inclusive social security policies that have been implemented in Rwanda. More...

Source: (Charles Kwizera, AllAfrica.com, "Rwanda: Gov't Committed to Social Security - Mulindwa"

http://allafrica.com/stories/201106160105.html)

Madurai chosen for Nabard rural pension scheme, 15 June 2011

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has chosen Madurai as one among the eight districts in the country for implementation of a micro pension project for the rural poor. More...

Source, (Business Line, "Madurai chosen for Nabard rural pension scheme," 15 June.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article2107393.ece)

International Labour Conference ends with a commitment to establish national social protection floors

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

ILO, Geneva, 17 June 2011. The International Labour Conference, at its 100th Session, has concluded its discussions on the role of social security with a commitment to establishing national social protection floors aiming at extending at least a minimum level of social security to all, as part of comprehensive social security systems.

The extension of social security to all has moved a decisive step forward. At its 100th Session, the International Labour Conference* has adopted a Resolution on social protection (social security) which reconfirms the role of social security as a human right and a social and economic necessity for countries at all levels of development. This Resolution expresses the commitment of governments, employers and workers in the 183 member States of the ILO to step up their efforts to build national social protection floor as part of their national strategies to develop comprehensive social security systems. The Resolution reflects the outcome of the second Recurrent Discussion on the ILO's strategic objectives in the context of the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization (2008).

The Resolution on social protection endorses a two-dimensional strategy to the extension of social security to all aiming at building comprehensive social security systems, as laid out in the ILO Report submitted to the Conference**. The horizontal dimension of the two-dimensional strategy aims at the rapid implementation of national Social Protection Floors, introducing basic social security guarantees that ensure that over the life cycle all in need have effective access to health care and a minimum level of income security. Such policies aim at facilitating effective access to essential goods and services, promote productive economic activity and be implemented in close coordination with other policies enhancing employability, reducing informality and precariousness, creating decent jobs and promoting entrepreneurship. The vertical dimension of the two-dimensional strategy seeks to provide progressively higher levels of protection, guided by the ILO up-to-date social security standards, to as many people as possible as soon as possible. The two dimensions of the extension of coverage are consistent with moving towards compliance with the requirements of the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) and are of equal importance and should be pursued simultaneously where possible.

The Conference stressed that social dialogue is essential in identifying and defining priority policy objectives; the design of the corresponding benefits, entitlements and delivery methods; the allocation of the financial burden between generations and between contributors and tax payers; and the need to find a fair balance between social expectations and financial constraints.

Representatives from the IMF, ISSA, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank declared their support for the Social Protection Floor and the extension of social protection. They welcomed the increasing collaboration between the agencies and the complementarities and synergies that this joint work brought which in the end benefitted countries around the world.

The Conference noted the need for a new Recommendation complementing existing ILO international social security standards "that would provide flexible but meaningful guidance to member States in building Social Protection Floors within comprehensive social security systems tailored to national circumstances and level of development." In view of the importance of, and the need for national Social Protection Floors, the Governing Body of the ILO has therefore decided that the 101^th Session of the International Labour Conference in 2012 should discuss this possible Recommendation as a follow-up to the discussion in 2011. If adopted, this Recommendation would provide a non-binding guideline to member States on the implementation of national Social Protection Floors as a means to reducing poverty and promoting sustainable economic and social development.

The Chair of the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group and Executive Director of UN Women, former President of the Republic of Chile, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, stated in her address to the Committee on the Recurrent Discussion on Social Protection on 13 June 2011 that "the extension of social protection, drawing on social protection floors, universalizing social rights and access to basic services, is not an utopia. It is necessary, possible and effective." The Executive Director of the Social Protection Sector, Mr. Assane Diop, noted that the adoption of the Resolution by the Committee marked a "day of hope ... for the five billion people around the world who do not enjoy the full range of social security benefits, whose pensions are too low, whose access to health care is not sufficient, who have no means of support in case of unemployment" and "for the about one billion people that have virtually no social security and face the risks of life and economic upheavals completely unprotected."

* The 183 member States of the ILO meet annually at the International Labour Conference, held in Geneva, Switzerland. Each member State is represented by a delegation consisting of two government delegates, an employer delegate, a worker delegate and their respective advisers. This year the International Labour Conference meets for its 100th Session.

** ILO (2011). Social security for social justice and a fair globalization: Recurrent discussion on social protection (social security) under the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, Geneva, International Labour Office.

Discussions on social security for all get under way

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The 100th International Labour Conference has started discussions on ways to establish social security for all as a powerful and affordable tool to promote economic growth, reduce poverty and mitigate the impact of crises. Yet, only about 20 percent of the world’s working age population has access to comprehensive social security systems, according to a new conference report, entitled “Social Security for Social Justice and a fair Globalization”. More...

Social security for social justice and a fair globalization: Questions and answers (3 June 2011)

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Over the past several years, the ILO has adopted a number of measures designed to promote social security coverage for the vast majority of the world’s workers who currently lack coverage. Yet, in a world marked by rapidly spreading financial and economic fluctuations, the capacity of individuals to cope alone with economic risks is even more limited than before. It is in this context that the 100th Session of the ILC in June 2011 will discuss the strategic objective of social protection and specifically focus on social security. More ...

Social Protection: Towards a universal system? 16.06.2011 Paris, France

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

This symposium, organized by l'Institut des Hautes Etude de Protection Sociale in Paris, France, hopes to:

promote a substantive debate on the future of the French welfare system concerning the many challenges in employment and universality of social coverage faced by the nation;
tackle some of the issues brought by specialists and researchers, while sharing the views of stakeholders;
continue the debate about the boundaries that exist between different schemes or constituent segments of welfare branches (compulsory / supplementary, insurance / solidarity / social assistance, specific features of occupational coverage..), and their modes of governance.

(Source: ISSA - Upcoming events)

South Africa shifts focus to child protection, 27 May 2011

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Protecting the nation's young and most vulnerable took centre stage, Monday, May 31, as South Africa entered a seven-day show of solidarity with the cause of the country's children. Child Protection Week was officially launched by Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini on Monday and the objective this year was no different than in previous years: looking after the children. The week-long campaign was an opportunity to raise the profile of children, and to mobilise community action and response to breaches of child protection.

To read the rest of the press release, click here.

"South Africa: SA shifts focus to child protection," Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System. 27 May 2011.

http://7thspace.com/headlines/384249/south_africa_sa_shifts_focus_to_child_protection_.html

Brazil declares war on 'chronic poverty', 7 June 2011

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

President Dilma Rousseff has launched an ambitious plan, Brazil Without Misery, which aims to eradicate dire poverty by 2014. Just over 16 million Brazilians – almost a tenth of the population – live in extreme poverty, with less than $45 a month. Half of them are under 19, 40% under 14. Almost two-thirds live in the Nordeste region and about one in five is illiterate. Of the 30 million living in the countryside, one in four is "very poor".

To read the rest of the press release, click here.

Jean-Pierre Langellier, Guardian Weekly, "Brazil declares war on 'chronic poverty'" 7 June 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/07/brazil-dilma-rousseff-poverty-eradication

India backs social protection floor, June 14, 2011

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

India has expressed support for the International Labour Organization's (ILO) proposal for a social protection floor for the vulnerable, but wants it to be linked to a country's financial resources. "Each country should decide the level of its social protection floor, which should be closely linked to the country's financial resources, employment strategy and other social policies," Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said at the 100th session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday.

To read the rest of the press release, click here.

The Economic Times, "India backs ILO's social support floor but with 'resources' rider," June 14, 2011

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-06-14/news/29657091_1_social-protection-informal-sector-workers-ilo-director-general-juan-somavia

Crisis Response in Haiti

Mon, 23 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

As a follow-up to the two workshops held in 2010 in Haiti, the ILO, UNICEF and the UN Social Protection Floor Coalition are promoting the Social Protection Floor Initiative in Haiti. A Show & Tell workshop took place in Port au Prince on May 24 2011. The objective of this workshop was to exchange information on developments and priorities of the new government that just took office on May 14 2011.

The workshop also focused on the Rapid Assessment Protocol (RAP) developed by the ILO and UNICEF to support joint Social Protection Floor initiatives. This workshop involved both the participation of one official of the ILO Social Security Department in Port au Prince as well as presentations from ILO officials in Geneva through video-link. The members of the UN Coalition on the social protection floor will organize a "Stock-taking" workshop with the new ministers as soon as they are appointed and will collaborate in a joint proposal for the gradual implementation of the social protection floor.

Tripartite capacity building in Barbados, Haiti and Costa Rica

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:00:00 GMT

In order to help countries enhance and strengthen the tripartite governance of social security schemes, the Social Security Department of the ILO, in collaboration with the respective Decent Work Teams and country offices in the Americas, launched tripartite "Executive Courses" in Barbados, Haiti and Costa Rica.

The Barbados course was organized in collaboration with the Business School of the University of West Indies at Cave Hill. The course in Haiti was organized in collaboration with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) and the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH). The course in Costa Rica was organized with the "Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social" (CCSS) and was part of an enlarged session of its Governing Body.

The primary focus of these courses was to present and revise social security principles, standards, financing and governance issues - for non specialists - considered in the ILO's Decent Work Agenda. The courses also aimed at updating participants on ILO's "World Social Security Report"; the Recurrent Discussion on Social Protection (Social Security) during the 100th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in June 2011 on social security; the latest developments on the Social Protection Floor Initiative and the current developments at the G-20 level supporting such initiative.

Symposium on social protection in Southern Africa, May 23-25 2011

Sun, 22 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

There is growing recognition globally that a basic set of social transfers is a key element to realizing human rights. UN agencies, with the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the lead, is promoting the social protection floor, which suggests that countries need to provide cash or in- kind social transfers to create minimum income security and access to essential services. At the same time, many countries in Africa have expanded social protection dramatically – whether it is social pensions in Lesotho, the child support grant in South Africa or the productive safety net programme in Ethiopia.To take stock of these recent developments and discuss ways forward, the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) hosted an International Symposium themed Social Protection in Southern Africa: New Opportunities for Social Development at the University of Johannesburg from 23-25 May 2011. The symposium brought together specialists from the ILO and other UN and donor agencies, Northern scholars and experts as well as African researchers and practitioners from countries such as South Africa, Uganda, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Source: Symposium on social protection in Southern Africa Brief

To read the brief on the main outcomes of from the Symposium, click here and for the programme, click here.

List of powerpoint presentations

Bockstal, C. The Social Protection Floor Global Initiatives. [Powerpoint]
Chikadza, K. F. Civil society support support for government led social cash transfer schemes in Malawi [Powerpoint] [PDF]
Freeland, N. Social protection: The way forward for development partners? [Powerpoint] [Word Document]
Kruger, J and Modise, B. Evaluation of Retirement Systems of Countries within SADC. [Powerpoint] [PDF]
Kurbiel, L. Searching for equity within the Cesta Básica: The emerging social protection debate in Mozambique [Powerpoint] [Word Document]
Laryea-Adjei, G.; Devereux, S.; Motepe M. Impact evalation of South AFrica's Child Support Grant [Powerpoint]
Lund, F. Working poor in the informal economy. [Powerpoint]
Marius, O. Social Protection in Lesotho: Innovative Developments and reform challenges. [Powerpoint]
Murungi, I. Expanding social protection in Uganda, [Powerpoint] [Word Document]
Mushunje. From Welfare to transformative social protection for OVC: A livelihoods based perspective [Powerpoint]
Mupedziswa, R; Ntseane D. The role of Social Protection in promoting social development in Botswana. [Powerpoint] [Word Document]
Nyenti MAT & Mpedi LG. Impact of SADC Social Protection Instruments on the setting up of a minimum social protection floor in Southern African Countries. [Powerpoint]
Patel, L.; Hochfeld, T. Gender, Social protection and child well being: A Gendered Analysis of the Child Support Grant in Doornkop. [Powerpoint]
Piachaud, D. Social protection, redistribution and economic growth. [Powerpoint] [Word Document]
Ulriksen, M. Financing soical protection in Southern Africa: Status and Implications. [Powerpoint] [Word Document]
Vitic, I. Social World Regions: A comparison of EU, ASEAN and SADC. [Powerpoint]
Zibagwe, S. Poor Child Focus in Social Protection and Resultant Unsustainable Social Development in Ethiopa. [Powerpoint] [Word Document]

Master of Science (Health Security Financing and Management) Faculty of Medicine Naresuan University , deadline June 15

Mon, 30 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Naresuan University has designed a course, which offers the opportunity to academicians, postgraduate students and other interested professionals in the Asia-Pacific region to study and learn from both the particular experience of Thailand in regard to Health Security Financing and Management and the wider range of international experiences in pursuit of the global goal of universal health coverage. The curriculum has been developed with technical inputs from the International Labour Office and with financial support from the National Health Security Office.

When? From July 2011 to June 2013.

Where? At the National Health Security Office, Chaengwattana Road, Bangkok, in Thailand

Tuition fee: The total fee for the completion of the course is 250,000 baht (app. $8,500)

For more information and possibilities of tuition fee waiver, go to www.med.nu.ac.th

Experts Meeting on Building Social Safety Nets for Employment - Strategies in Asia, 21-22 February 2011, Niigata, Japan.

Wed, 25 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Experts Meeting, organized by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan and the ILO, aimed at identifying key elements for the promotion of social safety nets for employment. The first part of the meeting covered an overview of the evolution of social safety nets in Asian countries. The second part focused on social safety nets for employment, review different types of safety programmes taking example for the response to the past two economic crisis.

Gilles de Robien, the Delegate of the French Government to the ILO, explains the social aspect of the French Presidency of the G20, 24 May, Geneva

Mon, 23 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

Gilles de Robien laid out four main priorities of the French Presidency of the G20: employment, social protection floor, fundamental rights and policy coherence. Concerning the Social Protection Floor, de Robien explained that these floors serve as social and economic stabilizers that absorb shocks and bring stability. Through these floors, countries should strive to expand coverage broadly to vulnerable groups, such as the poor, children and the elderly poor. Certainly, a single normative social protection floor model does not exist, according to de Robien. Countries would instead be able to apply the concept of a floor as they see fit following their own timetables and national contexts. The G20 meeting would thus be used as a platform for the exchange of experiences, ideas and lessons learned. De Robien also envisaged the ILO playing an important role monitoring the implementation of social protection floors and helping with the exchange of successful experiences in other countries.

To access the full text Strengthening Economic and Social Policy Coherence Discussion Guide click here.

Certificate in managing social security & pensions

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Graduate School of Public and Development Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, is preparing for the big South African Social Security Debate, in partnership with the International Labour Office (ILO). Applicants from labour, business, civil society and government are particularly encouraged to attend.

General Information

Many income earners and their families in Southern Africa are not protected by social security. Others are inadequately pro-tected in certain essential categories of social risk. In response, countries in the region have initiated comprehensive social security reforms which seek to strengthen social security protection to income earners and to new categories of risk.

In South Africa, there is a move afoot to build a more inclusive and comprehensive contributory system. To do this, there is a need to develop the capacity of policy-makers, stakeholders and civil society, as well as managers and office-bearers within the system.

To respond to this need, Wits University, in partnership with the International Labour Office (ILO), presents an innovative course on Managing Social Security and Pensions. The course gives participants practical knowledge of social security systems and their associated pensions systems, and how they are designed and managed. The course concludes with a focus on the South African system and reform debates.

The course objectives

The course is designed to equip participants with a basic foundation of the conceptual frameworks, core principles, theories, and practice of social security in general and more specifically as it relates to pensions provision.

Promote a comparative systems approach to understanding social security and pensions policy.
Provide participants with a practical knowledge of social security interventions related to the provision of pensions and be able to reasonably apply this understanding to South Africa or their national contexts and to participate in poli-cy discussions and debates.
Access international expertise and knowledge which can be applied to the South African context.
Support participants with their professional career development in their chosen fields.
Support the achievement of strong capacity within public entities while also strengthening the quality of public discourse within the field of social security.
Target groups and admission requirements:

Participants profile

Middle- and senior- level managers and policy analysts working in national government, supervisory and regulatory authorities and government agencies.
Managers and analysts working in private regulated entities responsible directly or indirectly for the provision or financing of pensions.
Actuaries and financial modellers interested in strengthening their knowledge and skills on the policy aspects of the analysis of social security.
Trustees and members of boards of administration of publicly mandated public or privately managed social security institutions.

Institutional context

This programme falls within the ambit of the newly established Chair of Social Security Systems Administration and Manage-ment Studies situated within the Graduate School of Public and Development Management. In addition it responds to pro-posals from Government of South Africa.

The Partnership with the International Labour Office derives from a request from NEDLAC in South Africa in the framework of South Africa Decent Work Country Programme for continuous training to Government and social partners on social security in the context of social security reform. The ILO has also had requests from other countries in Southern Africa for similar executive training to be offered on a continu-ing basis in the region.

Course approach

The initial three modules prepare participants for a detailed examination of the South African context (in the final and fourth module) and a practical evaluation of the role of social security interventions and on the institutional and management impli-cations of social security reform.

With respect to pensions, the course will clarify the role in achieving social security objectives played by non-contributory and contributory systems, including regulated private pension schemes. Course content will address different dimensions involved in analysing social security systems including financing, benefit designs, institutional frameworks and governance (general and financial; supervision and regulation of pension systems, and elements of organization and administration).

Content and course structure

This course consists of two one-week modules, separated by one week to allow participants to internalise the material covered during lectures, and prepare for assessment. This course provides participants with the tools to interpret domestic social security reform with an emphasis on the provision of pensions. It starts with the core values and principles that have become associated with social security systems and then covers practical experience globally taking account of regional tendencies. From this base it moves on to framing generalizable constructs of specific relevance to South Africa and to other contexts. Taking this into account the course will then evaluate the South African context in detail.

For the flyer for this event, click here

For more about the event, click here

The Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI) gives a course on Designing and implementing social protection programmes in Africa, 17-30 July, Mombasa, Kenya

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT

At the end of the course, the successful participant will better understand the comprehensive approach to social protection and how appropriate social protection instruments can reduce poverty and vulnerability and promote developmental outcomes. The course will reinforce the skills required to identify, design and implement effective social protection programmes. A team of international experts, skilled professionals and leaders in the field will teach the course. The certificated course will be jointly accredited by Maastricht University and the Economic Policy Research Institute.

For more information, click here.

Rwanda, Community Based Health Insurance Policy, April 2010

Thu, 19 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The new Community Based Policy Report lays out a strategy to improve the community based health insurance scheme by

informing all segments of the population of their rights through various outreach strategies, including informational meetings at the district level and radio broadcasting,
Strengthening the management of patient roaming so that beneficiaries can be treated in any health facility in the country.
Strengthening community participation and ownership through continuous sensitization of the population.
Reinforcing the Rwanda Health Insurance Council (RHIC).

To read the policy report, click here

Rwanda publishes National Social Protection Strategy Report, January 2011

Thu, 19 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

As part of a seven year strategy, the Rwandan Government has agreed to implement a social protection floor for the most vulnerable households and individuals, comprising:

a. Cash transfers, providing a minimum income and livelihood security, and

b. Continuing extension of access to core essential services for poor and vulnerable households, in particular health, education, shelter and water, and sanitation.

At the same time, Rwanda hopes to increase the participation of the informal sector in the contributory social security system, with more people enjoying the benefits of labour legislation.

To read the strategy report, click here.

"Mutuelle de sante was becoming unsustainable..." - Rwandan National Coordinator of Health Insurance, 16 April 2011

Wed, 18 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The National Coordinator of Mutuelle de sante, Herltilan Inyarubuga explains that the increase in health insurance premium from Rwf 1,000 to Rwf 7,000 for the wealthy is necessary to improve the quality and sustainability of services.

The New Times, "MINISANTE clarifies hike in Mutuelle premiums" 16 April 2011

G20 Latin American and Caribbean countries - Argentina, Brazil and Mexico - sign the Declaration of Brasilia on the Social Protection Floor

Wed, 18 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

On May 10, 2011, in Brasilia, representatives from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico agreed, at the G20 consultative meeting organized by the governments of Brazil and France with support from the ILO, to coordinate their positions in the G20 process and to promote:

the development of better social protection coverage;
cooperation between international organizations and countries to facilitate the construction of sustainable national social protection systems;
ILO support for countries to monitor the implementation of social protection floors;
greater cooperation and exchange of knowledge on social protection and increased support for low-income countries to implement social protection policies.

To download the text of the Declaration of Brasilia on the Social Protection Floor, click here.
For more information on the signing of the Declaration of Brasilia click here.

The Girinka program empowers poor families in Rwanda, 2 May 2011

Wed, 18 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Girinka program, which has provided 110,788 cows to poor households across Rwanda, is an important form of revenue for poor families, allowing them to buy basic necessities, send their children to school and pay for medical insurance.

The Rwanda Focus, How a simple cow gives hope to many families, 2 May 2011

focus.rw/wp/2011/05/how-a-simple-cow-gives-hope-to-many-families/

Rwanda recognized for successful implementation of Health Insurance Scheme, 23 May, 2011

Wed, 18 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

During a healthcare workshop in Accra, organized by the ILO, the World Bank, USAID and the World Health Organization, Rwanda was recognized for investing in preventative interventions, improving access to curative care and incentivizing medical practitioners for better health performances.

The New Times, "Why Rwanda's Health Insurance Scheme is Standing out," Rwanda, 23 May 2011

www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14089&article=2206&week=4

The Rwandan Ministry of Health will pay for the poor, 8 January 2011

Wed, 18 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Rwandan Government maintains its commitment to provide health insurance to the poor despite the recent increase in premiums for healthcare. The National Coordinator of Mutuelle de santé Inyarubuga says that the government will continue to provide free health insurance for the extreme poor.

The New Times, "Rwanda: Health Insurance premiums to increase," 8 January 2011
http://allafrica.com/stories/201101100192.html

Argentina's official gazette publishes law 26.678 ratifying ILO Convention 102

Thu, 12 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

By ratifying this convention, Argentina has agreed to abide by the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102). This is the flagship of all ILO social security Conventions, as it is the only international instrument, based on basic social security principles, that establishes worldwide-agreed minimum standards for all nine branches of social security: medical care, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, old-age benefit, employment injury benefit, family benefit, maternity benefit, invalidity benefit, and survivors′ benefit.

Access to the Argentina's official gazette

Endorsement of the National Social Protection Strategy during the Full Cabinet Meeting on 18 March 2011, Cambodia

Wed, 11 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Royal Government considers poverty to be a waste of a valuable economic resource which is not only morally unacceptable but can also result in social polarization and instability. Council for Agricultural and Rural Development in collaboration with line ministries involved and Development Partners had developed this draft Five Year (2011-2015) National Social Protection Strategy with the principle approaches to

Protect the very poor and disadvantage group against poverty, food insecurity, and exploitation,
Prevent the impact of risks that may result in negative coping strategy of the poor, and
Promote the poor people from poverty trap through human capital development and opportunities including health service, nutritional status, and education so that they can move from the poverty line and transform the Cambodian poor and vulnerable and communities into the dynamic base of national growth and actively contribute to socio-economic development of Cambodia.

The National Social Protection Strategy (2011-2015) is developed by CARD and contained 6 chapters reflecting the effort of Royal Government of Cambodia in providing the social safety net interventions through institutional arrangement and collaboration with development partners and including the broader expansion of social services and emergency relieves.

(Press Release of Council of Ministers)

The ILO endorsed the Declaration of Guatemala during the celebration of the first International Week of Social Security. Mexico, 27-29 April 2011

Wed, 11 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Declaration of Guatemala initiated the program "For a Culture of Social Security in the Americas” which was developed and promoted by the Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS), through the Inter-American Center for Social Security Studies (CIESS) with the support of the International Association of Social Security, the Ibero-American Social Security Organization (OISS) and the International Labour Organization.

These organizations agreed to organize and conduct the annual International Week of Social Security in order to promote collaboration and dialogue in the Americas and to raise awareness of social security issues throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.

For the text of the Declaration of Guatemala, click here.
To view the signing of the Declaration of Guatemala, click here.
For more information on Social Security Week 2011, see the website of the CIESS.
For more information on the program "A culture of social security in the Americas," click here.

OAS and the CIESS offer 15 scholarships for Social Security Administration Master

Tue, 10 May 2011 22:00:00 GMT

The Organization of American States (OAS) and the prestigious American Center of Social Security Studies (CISS) is offering 15 scholarships for the "Master in Social Security Administration" program directed jointly by the CISS and the University Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). The registration period ends 13 May 2011. Click here for more information.

News GESS

The Human Rights Approach to Social Protection

Launch of the report "Social protection assessment based national dialogue: Towards a nationally defined social protection floor in Thailand"

Webinar on how global enterprises are responding to the global call for the extension of social protection

ODI launches country reports on unconditional cash transfers and their impact

Outcome documents of the Global Consultation on Population Dynamics and the Post-2015 Development Agenda have been launched

World Report on Child Labour: Economic vulnerability, social protection and the fight against child labour

Release of the 2013 Americas Social Security Report

ILC Report on Employment and social protection in the new demographic context has been released

Celebrating five years of innovation

The ITC/ILO publishes in Portuguese a guide on the Governance of Social Security Systems in Africa

Publication of the Human Development Report 2013

Rwanda. Lawmakers push for Mutuelle de santé autonomy

Development of a Good Practices Guide on Social Protection: Assessment, Costing and Beyond

Rwanda and World Bank sign US$ 50 million grant in support of national social protection programme

Lebanons long awaited pension reform within reach

World Social Security Forum, Doha, Qatar. 10 - 15 November 2013

Best Practices in Social Security in Brazil

The World Bank launches Universal Health Coverage Study Series

Course on Designing and Implementing Social Transfer Programmes

Regional Social Security Forum for Europe 2013

Workshop: Mapping existing international social protection statistics and indicators that would contribute to the monitoring of social protection extension through social protection floors

ISSA report on the extension of social security coverage in the BRICS

ODI celebrates International Women's Day with a book launch on gender and social protection

The World Bank launches case study on Mexico's social health protection system

The Impact of Universal Coverage Schemes in the Developing World: A Review of the Existing Evidence

Global social protection scheme moving from charity to solidarity

South-South exchange Sub-regional Workshop on strategies for universal health coverage, 20th-22nd February 2013, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Publication of an exploratory study on the extension of social security and corporate social responsibility

Master of Management in the field of Social Security

Portugal: Social benefits target lower income population

Angola: 2013 State Budget sets social protection as priority

Social Security Institute of Portugal provides technical assistance for setting up the social security system in East Timor

Annual conference - Universal health coverage in low-income countries: Ethical issues

Mozambique: ODI launches report on cash transfers

Portugal: Report points out an increase of social protection expenditure in recent years

ISSA: Social Security Observer 19 - December 2012 has been launched

Angola: MINARS reviews activities carried out in 2012

Brazil: Over R$ 3 billions in 2012 were invested in the extension of social protection

Social Health Protection: addressing inequities in access to health care

Financing and governance of social security

HIV/AIDS and the world of work: a prevention and social protection perspective

Actuarial modelling of public pension schemes, 25th November - 6th December 2013

Fostering the social and professional reintegration of return migrants

Formación de Formadores SOLVE: Integración de promoción de la salud en las políticas de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo

Academy on Labour Migration

Assessing the feasibility, fiscal cost and impact of national social protection floors

Ageing societies, employment and social protection

Decent work for domestic workers

Employment injury schemes and the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases

Academy on Social Security

Strengthening financial governance of pension schemes in Arab States

National governance of occupational safety and health

G20 capacity building on social protection: executive course (NEW)

Master in Occupational Safety and Health

G20 capacity building on social protection: E-learning platform (NEW)

Master of Science in Health Security Financing and Management

Better microinsurance models, products and processes for microfinance institutions

Report Launch: Social Protection Assessment Based National Dialogue: Towards a Nationally Defined Social Protection Floor in Indonesia

Portugal: Unemployment benefits will be available for small and medium entrepreneurs by the end of the year

Brazil: Number of beneficiaries of disability benefits (BPC) doubled in recent years

Cape Verde: National Institute of Social Security promotes workshop on strenghthening Social Protection

ILO/Korea Fellowship training on strengthening social protection in Asia: Learning from Korean experience on Employment Insurance (EI) and Employment Injury Insurance (EII)

Social benefits and targeted assistance to increase in Azerbaijan in 2013

Brasil extends coverage of the programme "Brasil Carinhoso"

Understanding Social Protection in Zambia - Budget Perspective

Cours EN3S: Comprendre la Protection sociale, Saint Étienne, 7 et 8 décembre 2012

The International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin publishes its 2013 training catalogue

Two new research papers from the Microinsurance Innovation Facility

Webinar Invitation: Good Practices in Promoting Microinsurance Products

Good Practices in Promoting Microinsurance Products

ODI publishes Background Note on social exclusion and social protection

Forum on social protection in Banjul, Gambia

Brunei: ASEAN workshop on extending social protection to the self-employed

Togo  Towards a national social protection policy and strategy

NASI launches video on "Social security: just the facts"

5th Africa Regional Social Protection Conference takes place in Rwanda, 15-16 November 2012

More than 70 per cent of workers lack unemployment protection

South-South Cooperation projects in Timor-Leste and Paraguay

More information on the Timor-Leste project

Lebanons long awaited pension reform within reach

Togo Towards a national social protection policy and strategy

New Fellowship Opportunities from the ILOs Microinsurance Innovation Facility

Chinas latest revolution: Basic health care for all

Briefing paper and report : The implications of the Coalition Governments reforms for members of the public service pension schemes

EU Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review June 2012

India: Expedite smart cards scheme

ISSA Annual Review 20112012

What pension should todays 30-year-old receive ?