The objective is to train officials from the representative EOs to understand the importance of social protection and the social protection floor concept and its implications; as well as to equip them with expertise and tools to be more active and have more constructive impact in national discussions on social protection schemes.

The training material and training course will enable participants to:

• Understand the concept of the social protection including floors and in general how it fits within the ILO strategies and international debates on Decent Work; post 2015 development agenda, poverty reduction, formalization, whilst preserving also the private sector development and the sustainable enterprise approach, including understanding of the view points of the main stakeholders.
• Understand and be able to focus on the issues and interests in the social protection systems, including floors debate and implementation at national level from an employers’ viewpoint, with specific attention for its sustainability and affordability, the impact on economic development from a macro and micro viewpoint, the linkages between social protection and other policy fields notably fiscal and employment policies; productivity and income setting; firm competitiveness, fight against absenteeism, fight against turn-over; and the formulation and implementation of coherent economic and social policies in social protection which duly take on board the business priorities. It makes good business sense for enterprises to support social protection.
• Contribute to political and technical discussions related to the global policy debates at international and national level, and on the best ways to advance in strengthening social protection systems and the progressive building of social protection floors in a way which integrates in the design and implementation the concerns and interests of the private sector and the need to take account national financial and fiscal capacities.
• Boost the involvement of employers as social partners in the development of national social protection floors.
• Benefit from discussions, exchange and debates with colleagues from other countries and organizations including from multinational enterprises that may promote social protection as part of the HR and CSR policies.
• Build within EOs the capacity to develop a global and specific employers approach related to priorities from employers side to be respected/achieved in the discussion on the introduction, extension or reform of social protection systems, with as possible specific outcome the creation of a national business agenda or position paper on SPF.

The training material/course follows a blended methodology composed of a pre-course e-Learning combined with a face-to-face training workshop.

More:

• Enhancing employers' involvement in Social Protection policy debates (flyer)
• Workspace for the 2017 training course
• Workspace for the 2016 training course

Anders Meyer
Programme Officer
Programme for Employers' Activities
International Training Center of the ITC ILO

Henrik Moller
Sr Relations Specialist
Bureau for Employers' Activities

Valérie Schmitt
Deputy Director
Social Protection Department 
International Labour Office

Cecilia Fabbro
Programme Assistant
Programme for Employers' Activities
International Training Center of the ITC ILO

ILO Flagship programme: Building social protection floors for all

73% of the world population does not benefit from an adequate social protection coverage. This document presents how the ILO's social protection team takes up this challenge. Working with governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations, civil society, and other development partners, the ILO has the power to make a difference and to improve the lives of millions of people across the world. ILO’s technical and political support contributes to build national social protection systems and is supported by a global campaign to inform, train and convince decision-makers. If you also want to fight for social justice in the world, do not hesitate: partner with the ILO to change the lives of millions.

More information on the Global Flagship Programme.

A Global Business Network for Social Protection Floors 

The Global Business Network for Social Protection Floors intends to be a platform for enterprises to share experiences on social protection and to foster the debate regarding the role of enterprises to support the installation of public social protection systems in countries where they operate.

More information on the Global Business Network.

More resources 

• World Social Protection Report 2017-2018: Full report, Executive Summary, Infographic and Data
• IOE Guide for Employers on ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202)
• IOE Comments. CEACR General Survey 2019: ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202)