A national social protection floor creates a solid foundation upon which effective mechanisms to reduce poverty and enhance human capital and productivity can be mobilised to promote inclusive, sustainable and resilient development. Upon this foundation, States have moved away from fragmented social protection schemes toward integrated systems that avoid overlap and address gaps in coverage. Moving beyond the social protection floor also requires the implementation of programmes that are more robust and sustainable and support intergenerational solidarity through domestic resource mobilisation.
Closing social protection gaps requires the consideration of the three dimensions of coverage: scope, extent and level. Scope of coverage is measured by the range and type of social protection programmes available to the population. At the national level, it is important that scope of coverage is defined by a legal framework which grants equal rights to all residents and guarantees a comprehensive range of social protection programmes. Ensuring appropriate extent of coverage, or the percentage of the population and target groups covered under specific schemes, is important in achieving the social protection floor. For instance, universal employment insurance schemes must provide full coverage to the formal and informal sectors and be equally accessible to migrant workers.The level of coverage refers to the actual amount of benefits provided and the quality and adequacy of services and programmes available to people of working-age. For example, it is important that universal employment insurance schemes provide all working-age residents with income security during periods of unemployment at least to a nationally defined minimum standard of living. The provision of monthly payments beyond the nationally defined minimum, thus, increases the level of coverage.
The provision of income security during unemployment forms an integral part of a national social protection floor and can be complimented by additional labour market schemes in order to move toward beyond the floor. For example, skills training programmes could be offered to claimants who require upgrading or re-qualification and increased levels of coverage could be available for claimants with families facing financial hardship.
Further Reading:
International Labour Organization (2010). World Social Security Report 2010/11: Providing coverage in times of crisis and beyond. Geneva.