Features

2010

1. 

   ILO-UN Social Protection Floor Initiative

   ILO-UN Social Protection Floor Initiative: The role of social security in crisis response and recovery, and beyond

   16 June 2010

   The crisis has reinforced the perception that the extension of social security should be a high priority. While in many developing countries social security systems were previously considered unaffordable, they are now regarded as important investments to support sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, in times of crisis, social security systems are playing an essential role as economic stabilizers. Interview with Michael Cichon, Director of the ILO’s Social Security Department, about the UN Social Protection Floor Initiative and social security in times of crisis.

2009

1. 

   Publication

   Social protection for all: From large-scale poverty to decent societies

   02 September 2009

   The global recession has increased unemployment and poverty across the world. A new publication "Building decent societies", edited by Peter Townsend, makes the case for the development of comprehensive social security systems in all countries, notwithstanding their levels of wealth, as a measure towards alleviating desperate conditions of poverty, the reversing growing inequality and encouraging economic growth. ILO Online provides questions and answers on social security and our societies today.

2006

1. 

   Article

   Social protection for all: challenges and policies

   03 November 2006

   In 1948, in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations proclaimed that "Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security…". Yet today, only 20 per cent of the world's population enjoys access to adequate social protection, while more than half have no cover whatsoever. As part of the Global Campaign on Social Security and Coverage for All launched by the ILO in 2003, a study group has been examining the extension of social protection in the world ( Note 1) so that what is recognized as a universal right can become a reality for everyone. ILO Online spoke with Emmanuel Reynaud, Senior Adviser on the Informal Economy, in the ILO's Social Protection Sector.

2. 

   Article

   Regional Meeting for the Americas 2-5 May: Extending social security in Latin America and the Caribbean

   03 May 2006

   The main problem with social security systems in Latin America and the Caribbean is their limited coverage in terms of the number of workers and family members protected, the range of risks covered and the quality of protection. In some countries, coverage has decreased even further over the past 15 years, according to the report prepared for the ILO Regional Meeting for the Americas. The report sets a global target for governments and the social partners to increase social protection by 20 per cent of the region's total population between 2006 and 2015. ILO Online spoke with Michael Cichon, head of the ILO's Social Security Department.

3. 

   Article

   Extending social protection to women in the informal economy

   21 April 2006

   More than half of the world's population has no social protection. Only one out of five enjoys adequate coverage. The ILO-STEP programme aims at fighting social exclusion and poverty and promoting social protection worldwide. ILO Online reports from the Philippines where STEP helps informal sector workers and their families which are generally excluded from the national social security system.