World Social Security Report 2010-2011

The World Social Security Report 2010-2011: Providing Coverage in Times of Crisis and Beyond was published by the ILO on 16 November 2010. The report is the first one in the series of reports on to be published by the ILO every two years. The report examined the gaps that exist in access to social security programmes in areas such as health care, pensions, social assistance, and unemployment benefits. The ILO reported that most of world’s working age population and their families lack effective access to comprehensive social protection systems. According to the report though social security measures have played a critical role in reducing the social impact of economic crises in the current times and in the past, basic social security coverage remains out of reach for most of the world, especially in low-income countries. The ILO study pointed that cutting social security due to fiscal consolidation aimed at coping with increased deficits and public debt will directly affect social security beneficiaries and improve the living standards of people.

A per the report high-income countries responded to economic crisis by modifying existing unemployment schemes. Middle-income countries to deal with such crisis extended public employment schemes as well as cash transfer schemes such as the Bolsa Familia in Brazil, the Oportunidades in Mexico, the social grant system in South Africa or universal pension schemes in countries such as Namibia and Nepal.

The report concluded by mentioning that social security schemes must adapt to lessons learned from economic crises and various criteria such as increasing life expectancy and keeping adequate income security.