Social protection critical amid deep world of work changes

Participants at a forum held at the International Labour Conference (ILC) discussed how digitalization, demographic shifts, climate change and globalization will affect the way people manage transitions during the course of their lives.

Speakers stressed the importance not only of decent job creation policies but also of social protection to help workers, and particularly the most vulnerable, manage those transitions.

ILO Director-General Guy Ryder pointed out that 55 per cent of the world’s population is still not covered by social protection.

“The global commitment to social protection is a prerequisite to securing sustainable transitions over the life course,” he said.

Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, spoke of “social spending,” which she said includes social insurance and social assistance, as well as public spending on health and education.

Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, “by mitigating the negative impact of unemployment, creating access to further education, improving labour market opportunities, and securing access to at least the core contents of the right to health, food, water and sanitation, education, housing, social security systems, you can ensure that individuals in all of society are protected from the worst impact of upheavals.”

Joannie Marlene Bewa, UN Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals, said, “we have to make sure we have inclusive policies that build on, not only the needs of the most vulnerable but also hear the voices and needs of young people.”

The forum, Securing sustainable transitions over the life course was held at the annual International Labour Conference (ILC), which this year marks the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO.) The two-week Conference, which concludes on June 21, has a strong focus on the future of work challenges.

Original source: ILO
Published on 14 June 2019