Reaffirming the relevance of the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) in shaping rights-based social protection systems, the International Labour Conference in 2021 called on the ILO to launch a Global Campaign to promote its ratification.
Convention No. 102 is the ILO's landmark social security Convention, providing the internationally agreed minimum standards for national social protection systems, including on contingencies covered, scheme and benefit design, financing arrangements, and implementation.
Strengthening global and country-level efforts
To advance the ratification and effective application of Convention No. 102, the ILO has intensified its collaboration with Member States and social partners. This includes:
- Organizing tripartite awareness-raising activities at the national level on the added value of international social security standards in building rights-based social protection systems
- Conducting comparative assessments between national social protection legislation and the provisions of Convention No.102
- Engaging in meaningful social dialogue to discuss, review and validate the preliminary results of such assessments with a view identifying potential ratification prospects and charting the way towards the ratification.
Growing momentum
Since the launch of the Global Campaign nine countries have ratified Convention No. 102: Angola (2025), Comoros (2022), Côte d'Ivoire (2023), El Salvador (2022), Iraq (2023), Paraguay (2021), Sao Tomé and Principe (2024), Sierra Leone (2022), and Suriname (2024), bringing the number of ratifications to 68.
In addition, the ILO is supporting several countries in analysing the alignment of their social security systems with Convention No. 102, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Peru, Saint Lucia, South Africa, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan and Zambia.
The launch of the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention No. 102 gap analysis report is our resolve to fulfil our international obligations, improve social welfare and build economic resilience for every citizen."
Hon. Brenda Mwika Tambatamba, Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Zambia
Why ratification matters
The ratification and effective application of Convention No. 102 provides countries with an opportunity to strengthen their social security systems and extend legal and effective coverage in line with international standards. Doing so helps guarantee that everyone can access adequate social protection, enabling the realization of human rights and upholding human dignity throughout the life course.
Together, we can build a world where the human right to social security is a reality for all.
