The ILO's perspective on the supranational dimension on social protection is part of the high-level event of the Ministry of Social Security.
On Monday 13 November, the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration held a high-level event during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which focused on the social protection of the self-employed with the participation of the ILO.
14 November 2023
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Universal social protection
MADRID (ILO News) - The ILO has advocated the need to extend coverage to workers in all types of employment, including the self-employed, as a key step to move towards universal social protection systems.The following points have been highlighted as appropriate policy orientations: the need to strengthen social protection systems so that people can better cope with work and life transitions; ensuring adequate social protection for workers in all types of employment through a combination of contributory and non-contributory schemes including for part-time, temporary and self-employed workers; the need for investment by governments; ensuring legal certainty for workers and employers, as well as ensuring the sustainability of social protection systems defined at the national level on the basis of social dialogue.
"The resolution and conclusions on social protection (social security) adopted at the 2021 International Labour Conference provide a clear framework realizing the human right to social security through progressively building nationally appropriate social protection systems, so that all people have access to comprehensive, adequate and sustainable protection throughout the life cycle, in line with ILO standards," said Christina Behrendt, Head of the Social Policy Unit in the ILO.
Crisis contexts
The ILO highlighted at the high-level event the World Social Protection Report 2020-2022, which showed how social protection has been key in the policy response to COVID-19 by protecting people's health, employment and incomes.That is why universal social protection is and must be at the heart of the recovery from future crises, focusing on a human-centred approach and ensuring that everyone, including workers in all types of employment enjoy adequate and comprehensive social protection, financed in a sustainable and equitable way, based on solidarity and transparency.
Self-employed workers
To address the issue of social protection for the self-employed, the ILO representative pointed to the necessity to extend social protection mechanisms to self-employed workers in a way that responds to their situation and circumstances, to ensure their comprehensive and adequate protection, while at the same time securing equitable and sustainable financing mechanisms. In addition, she mentioned the importance of ensuring the correct classification of employment relationships, in accordance with ILO Recommendation No. 198, avoiding the misclassification of employment."Extending coverage through tailored mechanisms that address financial and administrative barriers for the self-employed is essential. Simplification and facilitation are also key and here digital technologies can be helpful. For adequate protection of the self-employed, voluntary mechanisms rarely result in effective coverage; raising awareness, supporting the voice and organisation of the self-employed; promoting productivity, sustainable enterprises and decent work are issues that need to be on the policy agenda," she noted.