International Labour Standards on Social security

Social security is a human right which responds to the universal need for protection against certain life risks and social needs. Effective social security systems guarantee income security and health protection, thereby contributing to the prevention and reduction of poverty and inequality, and the promotion of social inclusion and human dignity. They do so through the provision of benefits, in cash or in kind, intended to ensure access to medical care and health services, as well as income security throughout the life cycle, particularly in the event of illness, unemployment, employment injury, maternity, family responsibilities, invalidity, loss of the family breadwinner, as well as during retirement and old age. Social security systems therefore constitute an important investment in the well-being of workers and the community as a whole, and facilitate access to education and vocational training, nutrition and essential goods and services. In relation with other policies, social security contributes to improving productivity and employability, and to economic development. For employers and enterprises, social security helps to maintain a stable workforce that can adapt to changes. Finally, it reinforces social cohesion and therefore contributes to building social peace, inclusive societies and a fair globalization by ensuring decent living conditions for all.

The Conventions and Recommendations which make up the ILO’s standards framework on social security are unique: they set out minimum standards of protection to guide the development of benefit schemes and national social security systems, based on good practices from all regions of the world. They are therefore based on the principle that there is no single model for social security, and that it is for each country to develop the required protection. For this purpose, they offer a range of options and flexibility clauses for the progressive achievement of the objective of the universal coverage of the population and of social risks through adequate benefit levels. They also set out guidance on the design, financing, implementation, governance and evaluation of social security schemes and systems, in accordance with a rights-based approach. In a globalizing world, in which individuals are exposed to ever greater economic risks, it is clear that a significant national policy of social protection can contribute to attenuating the many negative effects of crises. It was for this reason that the International Labour Conference adopted a new instrument in 2012, the Social Protection Floors Recommendation (No. 202). Moreover, the 2019 General Survey, focusing on universal social protection for life in dignity and health, prepared by the Committee of Experts, which will be examined by ILO constituents at the International Labour Conference in 2019, covers this Recommendation.

Relevant ILO instruments

  • Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) - [ratifications]
    This Convention sets out minimum standard for the level of social security benefits and the conditions under which they are granted. It covers the nine principal branches of social security, namely medical care, sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injury, family, maternity, invalidity and survivors' benefits. To ensure that it could be applied in all national circumstances, the convention offers states the possibility of ratification by accepting at least three of its nine branches and of subsequently accepting obligations under other branches, thereby allowing them to progressively attain all the objectives set out in the convention. The level of minimum benefits can be determined with reference to the level of wages in the country concerned. Temporary exceptions may also be envisaged for countries whose economy and medical facilities are insufficiently developed, thereby enabling them to restrict the scope of the convention and the coverage of the benefits provided.
  • Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202)
    This instrument provides guidance on introducing or maintaining social protection floors and on implementing social protection floors as part of strategies to extend higher levels of social security to as many people as possible, in accordance with the guidance set out in ILO social security standards
  • Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118) - [ratifications]
  • Maintenance of Social Security Rights Convention, 1982 (No. 157) - [ratifications]
    These instruments provide for certain social security rights and benefits for migrant workers, who face the problem of losing entitlements to social security benefits which they enjoyed in their country of origin.
  • Further relevant instruments

Further social security instruments

A later generation of conventions expands the scope of protection provided by Convention No. 102. While offering a higher level of protection in terms of scope and level of benefits to be guaranteed, these instruments authorize certain exceptions which ensure flexibility.

The benefits provided under Convention No. 102 and under later conventions are outlined below. This information does not include provisions on the duration and conditions of entitlement to benefits, derogations allowed under these instruments, or higher levels of benefits provided by relevant Recommendations. (Note 1)

Medical care

  • Convention No. 102 - [ratifications]: provides for preventive care, general practitioner care, including home visits, specialist care, essential pharmaceutical supplies as prescribed, prenatal, confinement and postnatal care by medical practitioners or qualified midwives, and hospitalization where necessary.
  • Convention No. 130 - [ratifications]: provides the same benefits as Convention No. 102, plus dental care and medical rehabilitation.

Sickness benefit

Unemployment benefit

  • Convention No. 102 - [ratifications]: periodical payments, corresponding to at least 45% of the reference wage.
  • Convention No. 168 - [ratifications]: periodical payments, corresponding to at least 50% of the reference wage. Beyond the initial period, possibility of applying special rules of calculation. Nevertheless, the total benefits to which the unemployed may be entitled must guarantee them healthy and reasonable living conditions in accordance with national standards.

Old-age benefit

  • Convention No. 102 - [ratifications]: periodical payments, corresponding to at least 40% of the reference wage. The rates of relevant benefits must be revised following substantial changes in the general level of earnings and /or the cost of living.
  • Convention No. 128 - [ratifications]: periodical payments, corresponding to at least 45% of the reference wage. Same conditions as Convention No. 102 relating to the revision of rates.

Employment injury benefit

  • Convention No. 102 - [ratifications]: medical care, periodical payments corresponding to at least 50% of the reference wage in cases 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. Possibility of converting periodical payments into lump sums under certain conditions. Except in the case of incapacity for work, obligation to revise the rates of periodical payments following substantial changes in the cost of living.
  • Convention No. 121 - [ratifications]: same as Convention No. 102, plus certain types of care at the place of work. Periodical payments, corresponding to at least 60% of the reference wage in cases of incapacity for work or invalidity, benefits for widow, the disabled and dependent widower, and dependent children in case of death of breadwinner, with periodical payments corresponding to at least 50% of the reference wage. Obligation to prescribe minimum amount for these payments, possibility of converting payments into a lump sum under certain conditions, and supplementary benefits for disabled persons requiring the constant help of a third person.

Family benefit

  • Convention No. 102 - [ratifications]: provides either periodical payments or the provision of food, clothing, housing, holidays or domestic help, or a combination of these.
  • No new convention exists on this topic.

Maternity benefit

  • Convention No. 102 - [ratifications]: medical care including at least prenatal, confinement and postnatal care either by medical practitioners or by qualified midwives and hospitalization where necessary; periodical payments, corresponding to at least 45% of the reference wage.
  • Convention No. 183 - [ratifications]: medical benefits including prenatal, childbirth and postnatal care, as well as hospitalization care when necessary; cash benefits to ensure that the woman can maintain herself and her child in proper conditions of health and with a suitable standard of living. At least two-thirds of previous earnings or comparable amount.

Invalidity benefit

  • Convention No. 102 - [ratifications]: periodical payments, corresponding to at least 40% of the reference wage; the rates of relevant benefits must be revised following substantial changes in the general level of earnings and/or in the cost of living.
  • Convention No. 128 - [ratifications]: periodical payments corresponding to at least 50% of the reference wage; the rates of relevant benefits must be revised following substantial changes in the general level of earnings and/or in the cost of living.

Survivors' benefit

  • Convention No. 102 - [ratifications]: periodical payments, corresponding to at least 40% of the reference wage; the rates of relevant benefits must be revised following substantial changes in the general level of earnings and/or in the cost of living. .
  • Convention No. 128 - [ratifications]: periodical payments corresponding to at least 45% of the reference wage; the rates of relevant benefits must be revised following substantial changes in the general level of earnings and/or in the cost of living.

Further information

Note 1 - Adapted from R. Silva, M. Humblet: Standards for the XXIst century: Social security (Geneva, ILO, 2002).