الحماية الاجتماعية

الحماية الاجتماعية
(Arab Trade Union Confederation Educational Platform)

Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to present this lesson on the Arab Trade Union Confederation’s educational platform, focusing on one of the key pillars of social justice and decent work: social protection.

Social protection is a fundamental human right and a vital tool to ensure income security and economic stability for workers and their families—especially in cases of illness, unemployment, old age, workplace injury, maternity, and disability. It serves as a safety net for societies, helping to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion, especially in times of crisis.

In the face of ongoing challenges to social protection systems in the Arab region—including widespread informality, fragile labor markets, and limited legal and financial coverage—the role of trade unions becomes increasingly critical in advocating for fair and inclusive systems.

Through this lesson, we will explore:
• The concept of social protection and its core components as defined by International Labour Organization (ILO) standards.
• An overview of existing social coverage models in the Arab region and the gaps they face.
• The connection between decent work and universal social protection.
• The role of the trade union movement in expanding coverage, defending public social security systems, and resisting austerity and privatization policies.
• Alternative proposals and innovative financing mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of social protection.

The lesson includes simplified explanations, training materials, and real case studies from the Arab region, along with practical tools for analysis and advocacy to strengthen union capacity in this domain.

Fighting for social protection means fighting for dignity, equity, and social cohesion—and it lies at the heart of the new social contract that trade unions are calling for globally.

Let us engage with this lesson with a shared belief in our role to protect workers from vulnerability and to build more just and inclusive societies.