Gender-responsive social protection vital for equality — ILO

A new International Labour Organisation working paper has underscored the critical role of gender-responsive social protection policies in closing gender gaps and ensuring equal access to benefits and services for women across the globe.

Titled ‘Making social protection work for gender equality: What does it look like? How do we get there?’ the publication was presented last Thursday during an online panel discussion.

It advocated for coordinated policy efforts that consider the gendered risks women face throughout their lives, from childhood to old age.

The ILO report highlighted troubling global disparities: only 50.1 per cent of women have access to some form of social protection, compared to 54.6 per cent of men. Even more concerning is that only 28.2 per cent of women enjoy comprehensive legal coverage, significantly behind the 39.3 per cent of men.

“This is unacceptable, especially in the face of global crises like climate change, pandemics, and armed conflict, which disproportionately impact women and girls,” said Shahra Razavi, ILO Director and chair of the panel.

She stressed that social protection policies must go beyond maternity benefits and tackle deeper structural barriers such as labour market discrimination and caregiving burdens.

On her part, the Head of Social Policy at the ILO, Christina Behrendt, emphasised the importance of a life-cycle approach.

“Each stage in a woman’s life carries unique risks. Policies must be designed to address these realities if we are to ensure equity,” she said.

Also, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts, James Heintz, criticised fiscal policies that undermine social services.

“There is a contradiction when fiscal consolidation cuts the very social protection systems needed to achieve development goals,” he argued.

Drawing lessons from diverse national experiences and global social security standards, the ILO report outlines pathways to reform. These include linking social protection with care policies, employment formalisation, and better fiscal strategies to expand coverage sustainably.

Panellist Laura Alfers, from WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment: Globalising and Organising), called for integrated approaches tailored to informal workers. “Social protection alone isn’t enough—it must be part of broader economic change,” she said.

Deepta Chopra of the University of Sussex also warned against narrow policy views.

“Women are not just mothers or workers—they are citizens. We must address time poverty and social exclusion if these programmes are to be transformative,” she said.