International Conventions Relating to the Social Security | Labour and Industrial Law - CLAT PG PDF Download

ILO Conventions on Social Security for Workers

The ILO Conventions are highly regarded by the global workforce for their positive and humanitarian impact. The main approach of the ILO involves establishing International Labour Standards through Conventions and Recommendations.

Conventions are international treaties that create legally binding obligations for ratifying countries.

Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925

• Adopted by the ILO in 1925, this convention addresses workmen's compensation for employment injuries.
• It applies to all employees except those in agriculture, ships, and fisheries.
• Countries that ratify this convention commit to compensating workmen or their dependents for industrial accidents on terms at least equal to those specified in the convention.

Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention, 1925

• This convention focuses on the list of occupational diseases, which is crucial for prevention and compensation of workers' diseases.
• Since its establishment in 1925, the ILO list of occupational diseases has played a vital role in shaping policies on occupational diseases globally.

Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949

• A revision of the 1939 convention, this convention requires member countries to provide information on national policies, laws, and regulations related to emigration and immigration.
• It emphasizes the establishment of services to assist migrants for employment, ensuring they have accurate information about work and living conditions.

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951

• Adopted in Geneva, this convention promotes the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value.
• It aims to eliminate discrimination based on sex in determining rates of remuneration and encourages objective job appraisal methods.

The Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952

• Covers all nine branches of social security and sets minimum standards for each branch.
• It aims to extend social security coverage and provides flexibility in its application based on countries' socio-economic levels.
• Ratified by India in 1964, the convention divides social security into nine components, including medical care, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit, old-age benefit, employment injury benefit, family benefit, maternity benefit, invalidism benefit, and survivor's benefit.

The Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962

• The Convention focuses on the equality of treatment between nationals and non-nationals in social security matters.
• Adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) during its Forty-sixth Session in Geneva on June 6, 1962.
• As of May 2009, 37 countries had ratified the Convention.

The Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964

• This Convention is concerned with providing employment injury benefits to workers.
• It mandates the payment of cash and medical benefits in cases of employment injury, covering at least 75% of expenses for all employees.
• Adopted by the ILO in 1964, it has been ratified by 24 countries by May 2009.
• Member States with underdeveloped economic and medical facilities can declare temporary exceptions in their ratification.

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The Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors' Benefits Convention, 1967 and the Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors' Benefits Recommendation, 1967

• These documents address old-age benefits, invalidity benefits, and survivors' benefits.
• For industrial employees, the coverage for compensation in cases of invalidity, death, or old age is set at 50%. For all employees, including those in agriculture, it is 25%.
• The Convention includes various parts covering general provisions, specific benefits, compliance standards, and final provisions, totaling 54 articles.
• Member countries that have ratified the Convention can later notify the Director-General of the ILO about their acceptance of certain obligations.

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981

• Adopted by the ILO on June 3, 1981, this Convention focuses on ensuring safety and health in the workplace.
• It applies to all economic activities and covers all employed individuals, including public sector workers.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983

• Adopted by the ILO on June 1, 1983, this Convention emphasizes the importance of vocational rehabilitation and employment for disabled individuals.
• It recognizes the need for equal opportunities and treatment for all disabled persons, regardless of their location.
• The Convention builds upon earlier recommendations and aims to enhance rehabilitation services and employment opportunities for disabled individuals.

The Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention, 1988 and the Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Recommendation, 1988

• These documents focus on unemployment benefits and are a revision of the 1934 Unemployment Provision Convention.
• They establish standards for employment and unemployment protection, promoting full and productive employment and ensuring equality of treatment and non-discrimination in unemployment benefit provision.

Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995

• This Convention addresses the safety and health of workers in the mining industry.
• It emphasizes the need for worker involvement in safety and health measures, information, training, and genuine consultation.
• The Convention aims to prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses in the mining sector while also considering environmental impacts.

The Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 and the Maternity Protection Recommendation, 2000

• This Convention updates and revises earlier ILO conventions on maternity protection.
• It aims to provide comprehensive protection to pregnant working women, especially in cases of unemployment due to childbirth.
• By May 2009, 17 countries had ratified this Convention.

Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001

• This Convention broadens the definition of agriculture to include various agricultural and forestry activities.
• It outlines safety and health standards in agricultural work, covering areas such as crop production, animal husbandry, and the use of machinery and equipment.

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006

• Adopted by the ILO, this Convention sets international standards for the maritime industry.
• Known as the "Seafarers' Bill of Rights," it aims to ensure decent work for seafarers and fair competition for ship owners.

Work in Fishing Convention, 2007

• This Convention addresses various aspects of work in the fishing industry, including minimum age for work, medical standards, work agreements, occupational safety and health, and social security.

Domestic Workers Convention, 2011

• This Convention recognizes the significant contribution of domestic workers to the global economy and aims to address the undervaluation and invisibility of domestic work.
• It emphasizes the need for fair conditions of employment and protection of human rights for domestic workers, many of whom are women, migrants, or from disadvantaged communities.

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