The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has taken a significant step to help nations, including Nigeria, strengthen their social safety nets. It has released a crucial new policy brief focused on establishing unemployment protection systems grounded in international rights and standards.
Core Principles for Effective Unemployment Protection
Released on 18 December 2025, the document titled 'Building Rights-Based Unemployment Protection Schemes' serves as a practical guide. ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo emphasised that the guidance is vital for countries navigating frequent and complex economic crises. The brief argues that effective systems must do more than just provide cash; they must actively connect income support with the goal of promoting quality employment.
The guidance is built upon foundational ILO conventions. It highlights the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102), which sets basic protection levels and governance rules. More advanced principles are drawn from the Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention, 1988 (No. 168) and its related Recommendation No. 176.
Linking Protection to Job Creation and Decent Work
According to Houngbo, the standards make it clear that unemployment protection must be paired with policies that promote decent work. The ultimate aim is to support governments and social partners in creating systems that safeguard people's incomes while also speeding up their transition back into suitable and productive jobs. This approach moves beyond mere welfare to active labour market integration.
New Community for Job-Focused Investment
In a related development, the ILO and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) have jointly launched a new initiative. They have established a Community of Practice (CoP) specifically for Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs). This community will focus on leveraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to create more and better jobs.
This initiative builds on a decade of collaboration between the ILO and WAIPA on promoting investment that leads to decent work. It responds to direct requests from IPAs worldwide for practical advice and platforms for peer learning. By offering a dedicated space for dialogue, the ILO and WAIPA commit to helping IPAs play a stronger role in attracting responsible investment that contributes to a fair and sustainable future of work.
