Social Security – International Concept and Convention

The convention also recognizes the need for international cooperation in the development of social security systems and encourages countries to work together to establish minimum standards for social security protection. In addition, the convention provides guidance on issues such as the financing of social security programs, the administration of benefits, and the rights and responsibilities of beneficiaries.

Today, the concept and convention of social security continue to be important frameworks for the development of social security systems around the world. Many countries have adopted the principles outlined in the convention and have established social security programs to provide economic security and protection to their citizens. However, challenges remain in ensuring that all individuals have access to adequate social security protection, and there is ongoing work to improve and expand social security systems to meet the changing needs of society.

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According to ILO, the concept of social security is based on the Principles of Human Dignity and Social Justice.

Definition of Social Security

Social security is the protection that society provides to individuals and households to ensure access to health care and to guarantee income security, particularly in cases of old age, unemployment, sickness, invalidity, work injury, maternity or a loss of a breadwinner.

International Conventions of Social Security

There are several international conventions related to social security, which have been developed by international organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations (UN). Some of the key international conventions of social security include:

Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Right to social security – Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international Co-Operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each state, of the economic, social & cultural rights indispensable for his dignity & the free development of his personality.

Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Right to work – Everyone has a right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
• Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
• Everyone who works, has the right to just and favourable remuneration, ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means for social protection.
• Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interest.

Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services and the right to security in the event of sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, unemployment or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
• Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.

ILO Convention 102

ILO Convention 102 provides the following protection —

• Medical care, periodical payments corresponding to at least 50% of the reference wage in case of incapacity for work or invalidity.
• Benefits for widow and dependent children, in case of death of breadwinner with periodical payments corresponding to at least 40% of the reference wage.
• Family benefits (Like food, clothing, housing, holidays, etc)
• Maternity benefits, Invalidity benefits and survivors’ benefits

ILO Instruments Act, also called Social Security (Minimum standards convention, 1952 ).

It comes under ILO Convention 102 & covers 9 principal branches —

1. Medical care
2. Sickness
3. Unemployment
4. Old age
5. Employment injury
6. Family
7. Maternity
8. Invalidity
9. Survivors’ benefits

“Poverty anywhere is a threat to prosperity everywhere. Social protection for anyone in need, at any age, helps ensure again that threat.”
– Deborah Green Field (ILO Deputy Director General)

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