A tripartite revision of the preliminary study regarding social protection floors in Colombia was carried out

Bogotá ― The ILO, together with its tripartite constituents, organised a working session to present and jointly review the preliminary report on “Basic social security guarantees over the life cycle: Analysis of the Colombian legislation in the light of the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202)”, which examines how the national legislation and practice consider the guiding principles contained in Recommendation No. 202.

The tripartite working session focused on the report’s main findings and served as a platform to jointly review the existing gaps in the national legislation and practice regarding the establishment of a national social protection floor vis-a-vis the guidelines provided by Recommendation No. 202. The non-contributory and semi-contributory components of the national social protection system were also discussed during the workshop. The contributory component was not addressed as it was the subject of a report presented in the first quarter of 2023 regarding the compatibility with the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102).

The tripartite work was focused on the joint review of existing gaps in national legislation and practice regarding the establishment of the social protection floors included in Recommendation No. 202, in particular with regard to the non-contributory and semi-contributory components.

The event was attended by representatives of the Single Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CUT) on behalf of workers; representatives of the Special Administrative Unit on School Feeding under the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Colpensiones, and the Ministry of Labour on behalf of the National Government; and representatives of the National Employers’ Association of Colombia (ANDI) on behalf of the employers.

The relevance of social protection floors in the context of developing and strengthening the national social security system was one of the key points discussed, in addition to measures to progressively establish social protection floors that are sustainable, inclusive, based on solidarity and protect all persons in need over their life cycle, while strengthening contributory schemes and employment policies, especially those related to green jobs and just transition in the labour market.

The parties acknowledged important progress and identified deep gaps that must be addressed in a participatory and committed manner to be overcome. The report that was presented provides additional inputs by the ILO to its constituents so that the discussion can be enriched, and progress can be made towards building and developing a comprehensive social protection system that gives effect to the human right to social security for everyone over the life cycle.

Indeed, Recommendation No. 202 is the first and, to date, the only international legal instrument that defines the concept of social protection floor and that establishes essential guarantees that, in the opinion of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, comprise the minimum core content of the human right to social security according to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.