1. Report of the Recurrent Discussion Committee: Social protection (social security): Proposed resolution and conclusions submitted to the Conference for adoption
    Record of proceedings | 18 June 2021

Video

2014

  1. Social protection is key to reducing inequality and poverty

    03 June 2014

    Since 2010 many countries' governments have reduced investment in social protection measures just when they are needed most, says Isabel Ortiz, Director of the Social Protection department at the ILO. A new ILO report: "World Social Protection Report 2014/15: Building economic recovery, inclusive development and social justice", shows that social protection floors are affordable, however, and can have a significant impact on reducing inequalities and poverty. (Closed Captions available)

  2. Rana Plaza: Never again

    23 April 2014

    One year after the global garment industry's worst-ever industrial accident, the International Labour Organization together with the government of Bangladesh, employers, trade unions and the international community are working together to make sure it never happens again. More than 1,100 people died and more than 2,500 were injured when the Rana Plaza building collapsed in 2013. It was a wake up call heard around the world, and significant steps are being taken to address the root causes of the Rana Plaza disaster to ensure Bangladesh's garment industry can provide jobs in a safe working environment for its employees.

2013

  1. Third Global Forum on Human Resources for Health. ILO DG opening remarks.

    17 June 2013

    A video message by the ILO Director General, Mr Guy Ryder, at the opening ceremony of the Third Global Forum on Human Resources for Health. Mr Ryder underlined the critical importance of decent work for health workers as well as the implementation of the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No 202) for achieving universal health coverage.

  2. Why is social protection important to me?

    17 June 2013

    Public Service Announcement on the Social Protection Floor in Thailand

  3. Employment and social protection in the new demographic context

    14 June 2013

    Demographic change including population ageing is a universal trend in all countries. Delegates at the 102nd International Labour Conference are discussing the implications of this new demographic context on the labour market and social security systems.

2012

  1. Cambodia's Employment Injury Insurance Fund

    25 July 2012

    Cambodian workers who are injured at work or in transit to their workplace now benefit from a government-run system of insurance thanks to an ILO/Korea Partnership project. The National Social Security Fund is a worker compensation scheme that is self-sufficient and overseen by the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training. When a claim is approved, the fund provides in-kind and cash benefits regardless of whether the individual is able to return to full-time employment.

  2. Thailand: a healthy society is a productive society

    11 June 2012

    In the ongoing global economic crisis, the need for a "social protection floor" giving everyone access to basic social rights, services and facilities is even more urgent. The tripartite constituents at the ILO's 2012 International Labour Conference are discussing a set of guidelines for building social protection floors. But individual countries are already proving it can work. Thailand's universal health care scheme is based on the idea that only a healthy society can be a productive society.

  3. Juan Somavia says social protection will be indispensable in moving towards models of growth

    09 May 2012

2011

  1. A Social Protection Floor for All

    27 October 2011

    Social protection floor" (SPF) gives everyone access to basic social rights, services and facilities. and is even more urgent during times of economic crisis. The United Nations, led by the ILO and the WHO, has launched a global initiative to promote social protection for all. Individual countries are already taking the steps to make it happen, and are proving it can work, even in tough economic times.

  2. Namibia: Delivering Pensions to Remote Communities

    02 June 2011

    In Namibia the government has found an innovative way to deliver its universal pension scheme to elderly people living in remote rural areas: a public private partnership that has seen pension money distributed using vehicles equipped with cash machines and a biometric recognition system. Nearly all elderly people over the age of 60 are now able to access their pension payment; money which is going a long way to alleviate poverty in Namibia.

  3. A Window of Opportunity for Social Protection

    31 May 2011

    ILO TV interviews Michael Cichon, Director of the ILO's Social Security Department, about the committee discussion to take place at the 100th International Labour Conference on the ILO's strategic objective of social protection. The committee will run from June 1 to 13, 2011 and will focus on social security and how it can contribute to social justice and a fair globalization.

  4. Michelle Bachelet on Social Protection Floors as a Response to Demands for Social Justice

    21 March 2011

    Mrs Michelle Bachelet, Chairperson of the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group and Executive Director of UN Women, discusses how the implementation of social protection floors can offer an effective response to the increasing demands for social justice in many countries. Mrs Bachelet was the key speaker during a workshop organized at the International Labour Office about the Social Protection Floor (SPF). She was also in Geneva to chair the second meeting of the Social Protection Floor Advisory Group.

2010

  1. Social Protection: An Interview with the ILO's Michael Cichon

    16 November 2010

    With the launch of the ILO's World Social Security Report 2010, ILO TV interviews Michael Cichon, Director of the ILO Social Security Department. The report examines the current state of social security across the world and the positive impact that a social protection floor can have as a social and economic stabilizer, particularly in times of crisis. Michael Cichon argues that all countries can put some basic social protection measures in place. "We have a saying in the social security department: there is nobody too poor to share," he says.

  2. Argentina’s Response to Economic Crisis Through Social Protection

    16 November 2010

    Record unemployment is one of the consequences of the global economic crisis, but in Argentina, fewer jobs were lost in the crisis than in many other countries. A new report from the ILO found that’s because Argentina learned some lessons from a bitter experience in the past, and protected jobs when hard times came around again.

  3. World Social Security Report 2010/2011 Press Conference

    16 November 2010

    Mr. Assane Diop, Executive Director of the ILO Social Protection Sector and Mr. Micheal Cichon, Director of the ILO Social Security Department, launched the International Labour Organization's "World Social Security Report, 2010" at a press conference in Geneva. The report provides figures and analysis of social security systems around the world, while highlighting the crucial role social security coverage plays in lessenîng the impact of economic crises.

  4. Michelle Bachelet Addresses the Second African Decent Work Symposium

    08 October 2010

    Michelle Bachelet, former Chilean President and current Head of UN Women addresses the Second African Decent Work Symposium, held in Yaoundé on 6-8 October 2010. She highlighted the importance of the role of social protection in national development and stressed how essential political will is in mobilizing the necesssary resources to reach the large part of the population currently excluded from social protection benefits.

  5. Social Protection: An Investment in Society

    20 August 2010

    ILO TV interviews Kemal Dervis, Vice-Chair of the Brookings Institution and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2005-2009. Mr. Dervis is member of a global panel to promote social protection, which met for the first time on 11 and 12 of August in Geneva at the ILO.

  6. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals with Social Protection

    20 August 2010

    ILO TV interviews Eveline Herfkens, Founder of the MDGs campaign, and Executive Coordinator for the MDGs Campaign from 2002-2008. Ms Herfkens is member of a global panel to promote social protection, which met for the first time on 11 and 12 of August in Geneva at the ILO.

  7. A Rights-based Approach to Social Protection

    20 August 2010

    ILO TV interviews Margaret Wilson, Professor of Law and Public Policy, University of Waikato and former Minister of Labour in New Zealand. Ms Wilson is member of a global panel to promote social protection, which met for the first time on 11 and 12 of August in Geneva at the ILO.

  8. Social Protection in Europe

    20 August 2010

    ILO TV interviews Martin Hirsch, former High Commissioner for Active Solidarities against Poverty and for Young People of France and former head of Emmaüs. Mr Hirsch is member of a global panel to promote social protection, which met for the first time on 11 and 12 of August in Geneva at the ILO. (in French)