58th Commission for Social Development
Strong Support for Universal Social Protection, as the EU, China and ILO convenes meeting, during 58th Session of CSocD
The EU and China joined the ILO to highlight the importance of achieving universal social protection, at the margins of the 58th Commission for Social Development.
14 February 2020
NEW YORK (ILO News) – At a side event on the sidelines of the fifty-eight session of the Commission for Social Development, member States reiterated their commitment to achieving universal social protection. The European Union (EU), China and the ILO gathered governments, civil society, the private sector and NGOs to discuss, “Experiences and Challenges in Building Universal Social Protection Systems: Leave No One Behind”.
While the EU and China’s respective approaches towards social protection have varied historically, both exemplify a strong commitment to social protection for all. There is currently a joint, ongoing project with the ILO, funded by the EU, to improve China’s institutional capacity towards universal social protection. H.E. Mr. Silvio Gonzato, Charge d’Affaires of the Delegation of the EU to the UN, expressed the need to promote social dialogue, ambitious social protection standards and workers’ rights and to reaffirm the essential role of social protection systems. H.E. Mr. Wu Haitao, Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, also highlighted the numerous benefits of social protection noting how it complements and reinforces efforts towards poverty eradication and attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The priority theme of the 58th session of the Commission for Social Development places social protection at the heart of its discussion focusing on “Affordable Housing and Social Protection Systems for all to address Homelessness”. Globally, only 29 per cent of the population has access to comprehensive social protection systems that provide a full range of protection throughout the life course. However, 55 percent of the global population – four billion people – are left without any social protection. For many of them, the lack of social protection is associated with inadequate housing and may even lead to homelessness. The provision of social protection systems is therefore, a prerequisite for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and social justice.
Demographic shifts and the changing world of work present evolving challenges to China’s social protection system, yet the political will has allowed the country to reach significant social protection coverage within a short period of time. Mr. Xing Jisheng, Chief of the Social and Human Rights Section at the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN, stated that China’s social protection coverage includes old age, medical, unemployment, work injuries and maternity insurances. There had recently been an increased focus on protecting migrant and informal workers. It was also necessary to address portability of social protection benefits and discuss how to provide social protection coverage in the context of growing platform economies.
Mr. Rudi Delarue, Senior Expert of the International Issues Unit, at the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, of the European Commission, emphasized the importance of social protection not only for individuals, but also for the economy and society at large. Social protection systems contributed to smoothing income, insuring against life-cycle and labour market risks, preventing poverty, supporting economic resilience and investing in human capital. It was also underscored that social protection, in particular social transfers, had a profound impact on reducing inequalities.
Ms. Christina Behrendt, Head of the Social Policy Unit of the Social Protection Department at the ILO, stated that social security was a human right, and acceleration towards universal social protection (SDG 1.3) and universal health coverage (SDG 3.8) was needed. Governments must also ensure that social protection systems are gender-sensitive and ensure sustainable and equitable financing strategies.
The panel concluded that the path towards universal social protection requires both political will and adaptability to the changing world of work. Digitalization of social protection carries potential, but ageing populations, as well as the future of work, will continue to pose new challenges. It is particularly important to ensure the rights of workers in the digital platform economy. Social protection systems must be adaptable for changing needs.
While the EU and China’s respective approaches towards social protection have varied historically, both exemplify a strong commitment to social protection for all. There is currently a joint, ongoing project with the ILO, funded by the EU, to improve China’s institutional capacity towards universal social protection. H.E. Mr. Silvio Gonzato, Charge d’Affaires of the Delegation of the EU to the UN, expressed the need to promote social dialogue, ambitious social protection standards and workers’ rights and to reaffirm the essential role of social protection systems. H.E. Mr. Wu Haitao, Deputy Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, also highlighted the numerous benefits of social protection noting how it complements and reinforces efforts towards poverty eradication and attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The priority theme of the 58th session of the Commission for Social Development places social protection at the heart of its discussion focusing on “Affordable Housing and Social Protection Systems for all to address Homelessness”. Globally, only 29 per cent of the population has access to comprehensive social protection systems that provide a full range of protection throughout the life course. However, 55 percent of the global population – four billion people – are left without any social protection. For many of them, the lack of social protection is associated with inadequate housing and may even lead to homelessness. The provision of social protection systems is therefore, a prerequisite for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and social justice.
Demographic shifts and the changing world of work present evolving challenges to China’s social protection system, yet the political will has allowed the country to reach significant social protection coverage within a short period of time. Mr. Xing Jisheng, Chief of the Social and Human Rights Section at the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN, stated that China’s social protection coverage includes old age, medical, unemployment, work injuries and maternity insurances. There had recently been an increased focus on protecting migrant and informal workers. It was also necessary to address portability of social protection benefits and discuss how to provide social protection coverage in the context of growing platform economies.
Mr. Rudi Delarue, Senior Expert of the International Issues Unit, at the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, of the European Commission, emphasized the importance of social protection not only for individuals, but also for the economy and society at large. Social protection systems contributed to smoothing income, insuring against life-cycle and labour market risks, preventing poverty, supporting economic resilience and investing in human capital. It was also underscored that social protection, in particular social transfers, had a profound impact on reducing inequalities.
Ms. Christina Behrendt, Head of the Social Policy Unit of the Social Protection Department at the ILO, stated that social security was a human right, and acceleration towards universal social protection (SDG 1.3) and universal health coverage (SDG 3.8) was needed. Governments must also ensure that social protection systems are gender-sensitive and ensure sustainable and equitable financing strategies.
The panel concluded that the path towards universal social protection requires both political will and adaptability to the changing world of work. Digitalization of social protection carries potential, but ageing populations, as well as the future of work, will continue to pose new challenges. It is particularly important to ensure the rights of workers in the digital platform economy. Social protection systems must be adaptable for changing needs.