SOCIAL PROTECTION

Everybody - regardless of where they live - needs a minimum level of social protection and income security, defined according to their society's capacity and level of development. This will not happen automatically. Experience has shown that it is insufficient to rely solely on economic and democratic development. Each country must develop through social dialogue a national social protection system that addresses the needs of all people, particularly those of women and of the excluded groups working in the informal economy.

Some countries will be able to achieve this by restructuring their existing social security system and extending its coverage. Other countries, however, will have limited scope for extension. Instead, they will need a more pluralistic approach, devising complementary measures that embrace those not covered. Each country must set priorities according to local resources and circumstances. Developing countries may make different choices from industrialized ones. Thus, while richer countries are more preoccupied with income security in old age, poorer countries may accord higher priority to adequate health care and to insurance against the risks of incapacity and death.

Official systems will need to work closely with community schemes. Lacking public provision, many communities and groups of workers have established their own systems of mutual support to share risks and resources. Such associations make an important contribution and need to be fostered and developed. ILO has also taken this more pluralistic approach in a global project on social protection aimed at extending coverage - Strategies and Tools against Social Exclusion and Poverty (STEP).

The emphasis on the extension of coverage does not mean ignoring those in formal employment. ILO will continue to assist member states in developing integrated strategies that both strengthen social security schemes and improve their range of benefits.