ILO: 55 million people gained social protection since 2021

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has announced that over 55 million people have gained access to social protection benefits through its global flagship programme, Building Social Protection Floors for All. The achievements were recorded during the programme’s second phase, which runs from 2021 to 2025.

The annual Development Partners’ meeting of the Flagship Programme took place on Thursday in Geneva, attracting 55 representatives from governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations, along with more than 1,400 participants who joined virtually.

Attendees discussed substantial progress in building robust and inclusive social protection systems, while commending the ILO’s leadership and its strategic partnerships in the pursuit of universal social protection.

Currently in its second phase, the Flagship Programme focuses on supporting countries to expand social protection coverage and enhance the adequacy and comprehensiveness of benefits.

In a statement, ILO Assistant Director-General for Jobs and Social Protection Mia Seppo, remarked:

“For the first time, our World Social Protection Report, released in September 2024, shows that 52.4 percent of people globally are covered by at least one branch of social protection. This tells us two things: first, our collective efforts are making a real impact. We’re witnessing the power of social protection to safeguard lives, livelihoods and jobs.

“Second, we still face a long road ahead — 3.8 billion people remain uncovered. We must intensify our efforts, and the ILO Global Flagship Programme is instrumental in moving us closer to universal coverage.”

Since its inception in 2016, the Flagship Programme has significantly advanced social protection globally. It has improved the likelihood of people retiring with dignity, accessing essential healthcare, and supporting families during periods of economic hardship.

The initiative also supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1.3 and 3.8 through country-level projects and cross-country policy advice in 16 thematic areas. These include challenges such as population ageing, informality, healthcare access, climate change, fragility, and transitions to sustainable economies.

A recent awareness campaign targeting independent workers, backed technically and financially by the ILO and the World Bank, successfully enrolled 1 million new contributors into social insurance schemes.

Highlighting the impact, Adama Kamara, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Employment and Social Protection, said:

“The success underscores the effectiveness of public policy and the commitment of development partners to achieving universal protection.”

During Phase II, the programme supported 149 institutional changes — nearly doubling its initial target of 80. These changes involved new laws, reforms of social protection schemes, and improvements to operational frameworks, significantly boosting coverage and the quality of support available.

With one year remaining in the current phase, the programme is on track to meet its original goal of reaching 60 million people.

Looking ahead to Phase III (2026–2030), stakeholders are positioning the programme as a key driver in the final sprint towards the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG target 1.3.

Marc Bichler, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the UN in Geneva, reaffirmed his country’s commitment:

“Social protection is not merely a safety net — it’s an investment in resilient, inclusive societies. By collaborating, we can ensure no one is left behind.”