Universal social protection for human dignity, social justice and sustainable development: General Survey concerning the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202)

Organization(s): ILO
Author: ILO
Regions: Americas, Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, World
Country: World
Year: 2019
Language: English, French, Spanish
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The ILO’s General Survey 2019 , compiled by the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR). The Survey (published under the title Universal social protection for human dignity, social justice and sustainable development) focuses on the ILO’s Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202), which calls for basic income security and essential healthcare guarantees from childhood to old age. It also aims to encourage greater levels of protection for as many people as possible, as soon as possible.

General Surveys are prepared annually by CEACR, the supervisory body in charge of monitoring ILO member States’ compliance with international labour standards. Each edition focuses on a subject chosen by the ILO’s Governing Body and takes an in-depth look at member States’ national law and practice in relation to it.

The General Survey 2019 is based on responses by 114 governments and observations submitted by employers’ and workers’ organizations. Survey participants responded to 46 questions on the implementation of Recommendation No. 202, which was the first international social protection standard of the 21st Century. Responses to the 2019 survey were analysed, good practices and obstacles were identified, and guidance offered to encourage better application of the Recommendation .

As the International Labour Organization (ILO) celebrates its Centenary, the Committee of Experts on the Applications of Conventions and Recommendations (hereinafter “the Committee”) is pleased to publish its General Survey on the implementation of the Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) in national law and practice, pursuant to article 19 of the ILO Constitution. This General Survey is unique, being the first of such reports to focus on a single, stand-alone, Recommendation. This reflects the importance of social protection in the global development agenda and the relevance of the Recommendation in guiding action to combat poverty, inequality and social exclusion, and to achieve universal rights that together ensure life in health and dignity. On the occasion of the ILO’s 100th anniversary, this General Survey is the Committee’s contribution to the furtherance of universal social protection and social justice worldwide.

Recommendation No. 202 was adopted by near consensus in 2012 with a view to providing flexible and meaningful guidance to countries for the design, implementation and monitoring of social protection floors and social security extension strategies, aimed at progressively achieving universal social protection. Today, its guidance resonates with as much vibrancy as it did at the time of its adoption, with countries at all levels of income and stages of development engaged in developing their social protection system in line with the principles and recommendations it puts forward, as this Survey shows.

Based on reports provided by 114 governments and observations submitted by 11 employers’ and 44 workers’ organizations, and by one national labour council representing both workers and employers, this General Survey looks into the impact of the Recommendation at national and international level and provides guidance to enhance social protection in accordance with the Recommendation. More specifically, it highlights good practices and progress accomplished by countries in giving effect to the Recommendation, analyses the difficulties indicated by governments and social partners as impeding or delaying its implementation, identifies means of overcoming these obstacles and formulates practical recommendations for a better application of the Recommendation by ILO member States.

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