The International Labour Organisation has warned on the state of global social protection systems, declaring that millions of workers remain exposed due to inadequate coverage, weak benefits, and unsustainable financing structures.
In its latest report titled “Universal Social Protection in Changing Labour Markets: Protecting Workers in All Types of Employment,” the ILO called for sweeping reforms to safeguard workers navigating an increasingly uncertain world shaped by economic volatility, technological disruption, and climate change.
The report underscores that existing systems are failing to keep pace with the realities of modern labour markets, particularly for workers in non-standard forms of employment. It stresses that strengthening social protection is no longer optional but a critical pillar for economic resilience and social justice.
At the heart of the report is a call to close persistent coverage gaps that leave vast segments of the global workforce unprotected. According to the ILO, millions of workers in sectors such as agriculture, domestic work, micro- and small enterprises, and the informal economy continue to fall outside formal social protection systems. To address this, the organisation advocates a deliberate and systematic expansion of social insurance schemes to include temporary, part-time, and self-employed workers. Such inclusion, it noted, would not only enhance social security but also accelerate the transition from informal to formal employment.
Beyond access, it warned that the quality of protection itself remains deeply inadequate. It argues that many existing benefits are too limited to meaningfully reduce poverty or shield workers from economic shocks. Instead, the report called for comprehensive systems that provide sustained support across the life cycle, from childhood and education to employment transitions, parenthood, unemployment, illness, disability, and old age.
“Social protection must move beyond narrow, reactive approaches,” the report emphasised, urging governments to build systems that offer reliable, long-term security in an era of constant labour market shifts.
A central pillar of the ILO’s recommendations is the need for sustainable and equitable financing. The report highlights domestic resource mobilization, including social security contributions and progressive taxation, as essential to building durable systems. It also calls for targeted public subsidies to ensure inclusion of vulnerable workers with limited capacity to contribute. For low-income countries, however, the ILO acknowledges that domestic efforts alone may not suffice. It stresses the continued importance of international solidarity in supporting the development and resilience of social protection systems, particularly in times of crisis.
Framed against the backdrop of climate change, demographic transitions, and rapid technological advancement, the report concludes that robust social protection systems are indispensable to future-proofing economies and societies.
“Strengthening social protection systems is no longer optional: it is essential,” the ILO stated. “We need systems that reach everyone, provide adequate protection, and are financed in a fair and sustainable way. This is the foundation for resilience, social justice, and a just transition in the changing world of work.”
The report adds urgency to ongoing global debates on labour reforms, inequality, and inclusive growth, positioning social protection as a defining issue in shaping the future of work worldwide.
