World of Work actors and the ILO assess progress and gaps to expand Peru’s ratification of Convention No. 102

Lima (ILO News) – On 30 September, the ILO presented the study Analysis of Peruvian legislation on social security in light of the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), at a seminar in Lima that brought together representatives of the Government and workers’ and employers’ organizations.

The study examines the compatibility of the Peruvian legal framework with the landmark Convention No. 102, identifying significant progress, normative gaps and recommendations to strengthen social security.

Thomas Wissing, Deputy Director of the ILO Office for the Andean Countries, opened the meeting, stressing that this constitutes a new opportunity to deepen social dialogue in Peru, as the conclusions of the report were enriched by the perspectives of the world of work.

Among the main findings of the report, Luisa Carmona, Legal Specialist in the ILO Social Protection Department in Geneva, highlighted that Peru has the conditions to extend its ratification of Convention No. 102 to new branches, including employment injury benefits, occupational diseases and family benefits. Ratification could also be extended to survivors’ benefits, making use of temporary exceptions relating to coverage. The same could apply to unemployment benefits, although in this case the analysis is based on legislative developments regarding unemployment insurance, which are still at a preliminary stage.

With regard to the temporary exceptions accepted by Peru at the time of the original ratification in 1961, the study notes that several of them would no longer be necessary. Effective coverage in medical care (Part II), sickness benefit (Part III) and maternity benefit (Part VIII) has surpassed the minimum standards required by the Convention, allowing for the withdrawal of such temporary exceptions. The same is true for the duration of medical care and cash sickness benefits, since national legislation provides levels above the Convention’s minimum requirements.

However, challenges remain in the areas of old-age and invalidity benefits, where effective coverage is still below international thresholds. This justifies maintaining the temporary exception while progress is made towards a comprehensive strategy to extend contributory and non-contributory social security coverage, safeguarding financial sustainability at the same time.

The study offers the Peruvian State a technical roadmap to assess the extension of its ratification of Convention No. 102, with the dual purpose of consolidating a more inclusive social security system and aligning it with the international standards promoted by the ILO

said Luisa Carmona

After underscoring the opportunities and limitations identified by the study, the discussion turned to the importance of this technical input in guiding State decision-making..

This ILO technical contribution seeks to continue putting concrete, jointly discussed and validated evidence on the table, so that the State can clearly assess the next steps towards an extended ratification of Convention No. 102, and towards broader and more equitable social protection coverage

emphasized Pablo Casalí, ILO Social Security Specialist for the Andean Countries

Voices from the world of work
From the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion (MTPE), it was highlighted that, as part of the State’s commitment to reducing the social protection gaps identified in the report, measures are being implemented to tackle informality, a factor closely linked to lack of social security coverage.

These include the Registry of Workers in Informal Employment, the typologies of informality and the creation of the Multisectoral Commission for Labour Formalization – key instruments for designing policies to extend coverage to excluded workers. It was also stressed that, while the MTPE has the leadership role in social security, it is necessary to deepen coordination with other key sectors.

Meanwhile, trade union representatives Everardo Cadillo (CGTP), Hualter Saavedra (CATP), Julio César Bazán (CUT) and Russel Nina (CTP) agreed that all decisions on social security, particularly in the normative sphere, must be built by listening to the voices of workers, youth and pensioners, whose contributions guarantee the sustainability of the system.

They also emphasized the importance of maintaining the debate within the framework of tripartite dialogue, and agreed with the MTPE on the need to promote a culture of social security starting at schools and universities, fostering awareness of the rights and responsibilities involved, and strengthening the value of intergenerational solidarity.