Social Protection Campaign

What is Social Protection?

Social protection consists of public measures designed to shield individuals from economic distress, poverty, and vulnerability caused by life-cycle risks and livelihood shocks. Under international human rights instruments and ILO Convention No. 102, comprehensive social protection guarantees access across nine core contingencies.

Key Facts and The Global Protection Gap

• Unequal Cross-Border Coverage: Only 23% of international migrants are covered by formal bilateral or multilateral social security agreements. Around 55% have access to limited social protection unbacked by formal agreements, while 22% have no access at all.
• Disproving the "Burden" Myth: Migrant workers contribute substantially to destination economies and benefit systems rather than draining them. In Italy, immigrants generate 11% of national GDP and contribute nearly €11 billion to the state treasury, receiving far less in allowances. In Taiwan, migrant domestic and industrial workers contribute nearly US$37 million annually to the national healthcare system.
• Low Convention Ratifications: Key treaties securing equality of treatment and maintenance of social security rights (such as ILO Conventions No. 19, No. 102, No. 118, and No. 157) suffer from extremely low ratification rates in destination states.

MFAʼs Key Demands and Policy Recommendations

A. Transform System Design and Claims Access

• Mandatory Worker-Linked Insurance: Replace employer-liability models with mandatory public social insurance funded by pooled contributions to protect workers regardless of employer solvency.
• End Employer Monopoly: Legally empower workers, unions, health providers, and accredited NGOs to report workplace injuries and initiate claims directly.
• Direct Disbursement: Mandate direct electronic transfer of compensation payments to workers or beneficiaries to prevent withholding, diversion, or employer coercion.
• Single-Window and Public Guarantee Funds: Create integrated single-window claims systems and establish public guarantee funds to disburse payments immediately in cases of employer default.

B. Guarantee Portability and Cross-Border Justice

• Conclude Binding SSAs: Establish bilateral/multilateral agreements between countries of origin (COOs) and destination (CODs) to aggregate contributions and ensure benefit exportability.
• Full Reimbursement Mechanisms: Where portable arrangements do not exist, guarantee lump-sum refunds or defined contribution returns upon departure.
• Remote Access for Families: Institutionalize cross-border claims systems with consular support, multilingual digital filings, and abolition of restrictive deadlines.

C. Legal Equality, Gender Equity, and Decent Work

• Inclusive Legal Protections: Amend labour and social legislation to explicitly cover domestic, agricultural, temporary, and platform workers on equal terms with nationals.
• Ratify Global Standards: Urge states to ratify ILO Conventions No. 97, 102, 118, 143, 157, 189 (Domestic Workers), and the UN ICRMW (1990). Gender-Responsive Mechanisms: Institute comprehensive maternity, reproductive healthcare, and anti-gender-based violence safeguards.
• Progressive Financing: Shift away from purely individual-funded schemes by enforcing employer contributions and utilizing progressive taxation rather than placing burdens on low-wage workers.