Against this backdrop, the ILO session at the World Social Security Forum was dedicated to the promotion of the Social Protection Floor initiative, for the universal extension of a coherent package of essential social protection rights to all.

In 2009, the United Nations Chief Executives Board chose to include the Social Protection Floor as one of nine joint initiatives to confront the crisis, accelerate recovery and pave the way for a fairer and more sustainable globalization.

What is the Social Protection Floor?

According to Christian Jacquier, a senior official at the ILO’s Social Security Department, the Floor aims to provide basic transfers, which may be in cash or in kind, that guarantee minimum income levels and support access to essential services such as health and education. These provisions should be linked also with access to affordable social infrastructure and other necessary services.

F our essential social transfers

While acknowledging that there must be scope for flexibility to accommodate country priorities, the ILO’s ambition for the Floor is for all residents of countries to have access to essential social transfers.

In addition to meeting the key human right to social security, the need for the Floor was justified as a social, economic and political necessity. Not only would it address issues of poverty, it would enhance social cohesion and support stability, and unlock unrealized economic potential.

The ILO has collated international evidence showing that the Floor is technically and financially feasible.

While there is mounting political will in favour of the initiative among international organizations and NGOs, major challenges remain at the national level.

This situation is familiar to the ILO, and is one that was evoked previously by Juan Somavia, Director General of the ILO, when he said “The world does not lack the resources to abolish poverty, it only lacks the right priorities”.

With a view to breaking this continuing deadlock, Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and Chairperson of the UN’s Social Protection Floor Advisory Group, commented publicly in Geneva that the Floor “will offer millions of people in the world what has been historically denied to them: Dignified living conditions, opportunities and capabilities”.

The Social Protection Floor is envisaged as a first necessary step to address the multifaceted nature of poverty. The expectation is that more comprehensive social security must be introduced as greater capacity to do so is achieved.

On this point, Mr. Jacquier of the ILO was adamant: the Floor is “not a ceiling”.