Civil society discussed Social Protection Floor in Thailand

(ILO News) Bangkok – Some 100 persons from civil society organizations (CSOs) and networks across Thailand working on issues related to the four guarantees within the Social Protection Floor (SPF) framework met at the Karnmanee Palace Hotel, Bangkok on 23 February 2012. This included the network of older persons, children, HIV and AIDS and informal workers. The Forum was to promote civil society participation in the SPF process.

The four essential guarantees of Social Protection Floor are: 1) Access to essential health care for all; 2) Income security for children; 3) Assistance to the unemployed, underemployed and poor, and 4) Income security for the elderly and disabled.

The Forum was a unique venue for representatives from CSOs to participate in the SPF process in the national dialogue, so their views and concerns could be adequately reflected in social protection policies and schemes that would directly affect their lives. As a result of their increased awareness, their support and understanding will be beneficial for the SPF process in the country.

The UN Country Team in Thailand on the SPF is led by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It has launched the SPF process in partnership with relevant line ministries and has facilitated participation of different sectors in the process, including CSOs and networks. A series of consultative meetings organised and analyses of the existing social protection schemes and costs are being conducted, which will provide input to policy recommendations by the UN-SPF team to the Government.

Ms Valerie Schmidt-Diabate, Social Security Specialist attended the meeting on behalf of the ILO to share her technical knowledge and expertise.

The Forum was co-hosted by HelpAge International, Civil Society Network for Welfare and UN Country Team in Thailand with support from Homenet, Foundation for Older Persons’ Development and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

The expected outcomes of the meeting were:
1) Increased awareness and heightened understanding amongst CSOs in Thailand of the social
protection floor initiatives and its implications.
2) Recommendations on the social protection floor policies, programmes, and implementation to the
Government through incorporation in the UN SPF report.
3) A roadmap for promoting participation of CSOs in the SPF process in Thailand which is being
facilitated by the UN-SPF team.

For further information please contact:

Jittima Srisuknam
Programme Officer, ILO
Tel: 02 288 1739
email

Krisdaporn Singhaseni
Information Office, ILO
Tel: 02 288 1664
email