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Social Security Department
By: International Labor Organization
Access to an adequate level of social protection is recognized in the
Declaration of Philadelphia, in subsequent ILO declarations and in a
number of International labour standards as a basic right of all
individuals. It is also widely considered to be instrumental in promoting
human welfare and social consensus on a broad scale, and to be conducive
to and indispensable for social peace and thus improved economic growth
and performance. Yet in many countries, especially the developing
countries, reality falls far short of these ideals. Progress has been made
difficult over recent years by economic recession, reduced levels of
formal sector employment, the need for structural adjustment and, in a
number of countries, the transition to a market economy. Weaknesses in the
governance and management of social security institutions have added to
economic difficulties. However, despite these problems, many countries are
seeking to reform and expand their existing systems in order to improve
benefits, extend coverage and achieve greater efficiency and
effectiveness.
The Social Security Department has adopted a new work program for the
2000/2001 biennium. In addition to its technical advisory, technical
cooperation and standards related activities, priority will be focussed
on:
· research and the developpment of strategies for the extension of social
security coverage with a particular focus on the informal sector
· a review of social security principles and standards in the light of
societal and economic changes and challenges
· the impact of pension funds in the context of globalization
· quantitative research and modelling to improve financial management and
planning of social security schemes
· training of national social security staff in quantitative techniques
· study of statistical trends in social protection coverage
· expenditure and performance reviews of national social protection
systems
The objective of the Social Security Department is the enhanced capacity
of constituents, and particularly social security managers, to design
sustainable social security schemes, and to manage and administer them
more efficiently, with a view to the provision of better benefits and the
extension of their coverage. This is achieved through the development of a
framework for the design and planning of social security schemes and
programmes, including their reform and extension, based on comparative
analysis and an assessment of national experience in this field. Advice
and guidance, underpinned by the relevant international labour standards
and comparative research and analysis, is provided through technical
advisory services, assistance in carrying out actuarial valuations,
technical cooperation, the development of training activities and
materials and the organization of national or regional workshops. Support
is provided to the work of constituents by the collection and
dissemination of information concerning social security systems. The
Social Security Department is able to provide a global view due to the
specific experience and credentials of its two branches:
the Planning, Development and Standards Branch; and the Financial,
Actuarial and Statistical Branch.
Throughout, emphasis is placed on reaffirming the fundamental nature of
social security and social protection as a human right. ILO activities aim
at helping member States to improve and expand the protection they provide
to all members of the community across the full range of contingencies:
basic income security in case of need, health care, sickness, old age and
invalidity, unemployment, employment injury, maternity, family
responsibilities and death. Many activities will also be designed to
improve the social protection of migrant workers. An important theme in
the work of the Department is to ensure that social security policies are
consistent with other policies related to poverty alleviation and that
they are also compatible with economic constraints and institutional
capacities. To sum up, the ILO's Social Security Department provides
policy advice, undertakes research and carries out technical cooperation
activities in its client countries. These activities are undertaken in
cooperation with the ILO's Multidisciplinary Teams in Africa, Central and
Eastern Europe, East and South East Asia and Latin America. Many of these
teams include social security specialists.
Planning, Development and Standards Branch
Objectives
To assist member states and constituents in the design, reform and
implementation of social security policies based on the principles
embodied in international labour standards and to contribute to the
effective governance and management of the corresponding schemes.
Problems and needs
The vast majority of the world's population never become entitled to an
old age or disability pension: nor do they have access to adequate health
care. In many countries, unemployment benefit schemes do not exist. Social
security schemes are designed to suit the needs and circumstances of
workers in regular wage employment but in most developing countries the
majority of the labour force work on an irregular or informal basis or on
their own account and are difficult to cover for social protection under
schemes designed for formal sector workers. In addition, there is a common
need, in many developing and middle income countries, for improved
governance of social security schemes both in their planning and in their
implementation and administration. Social security principles are being
challenged partly because of changes in society and patterns of employment
but also based on a perception that individuals should take more
responsibility for their own social protection and that there should be a
greater role for the private sector.
Range of services
The branch provides six main types of activities to ILO constituents:
1. General research and analysis of social protection issues and problems
resulting in publications, in seminars and technical meetings.
2. Technical advisory and technical cooperation activities relating to the
specific needs and problems of ILO constituents.
3. The STEP global programme (Strategies and Tools against Social
Exclusion and Poverty) provides services to enable community based groups
and other grass-roots solidarity movements to develop their own social
protection systems.
STEP activities are integrated with the regular activities of the branch
under (1) and (2) in response to the strategic objective of enhancing the
coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all.
4. Promotion and supervision of ILO standards relating to social security.
• The technical analysis of periodic and other reports on the
application of ILO instruments dealing with social security.
• The promotion of the principles enshrined in international labour
standards is a key feature in the design and delivery of technical inputs.
5. Development of training programmes and materials for ILO constituents.
• Technical cooperation programmes invariably contain a major capacity
building component.
• A range of training texts has been prepared with an associated
trainers guide to facilitate the design and implementation of social
security training courses on principles, administration, financing,
pensions and health insurance.
6. Information dissemination.
The ILO social security documentation unit provides users in member states
(government agencies, employers and workers organizations, social security
administrations and researchers) with reliable and upto date information
which is not accessible in an integrated manner from any other source. The
unit works in close cooperation with the ISSA and with the ILO Central
Library and Documentation Bureau.
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