Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) - Benin (Ratification: 2019)

Part V (Old-age benefit), Article 27(a); Part VI (Employment injury benefit), Article 33(a); Part VII (Family benefit), Article 41(a); Part VIII (Maternity benefit), Article 48(a); Part IX (Invalidity benefit), Article 55(a); and Part X (Survivors’ benefit), Article 61(a), in conjunction with Part XIV (Miscellaneous Provisions), Article 76 of the Convention. Coverage. The Committee notes the statistical information submitted by the Government in its report, including the feasibility study to extend social protection to self-employed workers foreseen in the 2025 Annual Plan of Work. The Committee observes that the figures provided are not disaggregated by status (dependent worker or self-employed), which is needed to assess that the persons protected for old-age, employment injury, family, and invalidity benefits represent at least 50 per cent of all employees, in accordance with Articles 27(a), 33(a), 41(a), 48(a), 55(a) and 61(a) of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide, as indicated in the report form under Article 76 of the Convention for all Parts accepted, up-to-date statistical information regarding: (i) the total number of employees legally protected under the general social security scheme, including special schemes; and (ii) the total number of employees in the country, including civil servants and unemployed, but not self-employed.

Part VI (Employment injury benefit), Article 34. Free medical care at home. The Committee notes that domiciliary visits and nursing care at home are provided to insured persons who are victims of workplace accidents or occupational diseases, within the framework of agreements between the CNSS (National Social Security Fund) and approved clinics and hospitals. The Committee further notes that these services, delivered by partner healthcare facilities, are covered in accordance with a specifically established fee schedule. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that no cost-sharing is required in the provision of domiciliary visiting and nursing care at home to victims of workplace accidents or occupational diseases.

Article 37. Payment of benefits abroad. The Committee takes note of the information in the Government’s report that addresses its previous comment on this issue.

Part VII (Family benefit), Article 44, read in conjunction with Article 66. Total value of family benefits. The Committee takes note of the total amount of family benefits provided, the number of beneficiaries and their children, and the reference wage of an ordinary adult male labourer (52,000 CFA francs). The Committee observes that this last figure corresponds to the minimum wage in the country, and not to the reference wage of an ordinary adult male labourer, as required in Article 44. In order to assess compliance with the requirements of the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to indicate (i) the reference wage of an ordinary adult male labourer, as determined in accordance with the rules laid down in Article 66; (ii) the up-to-date total value of family benefits provided; (iii) the total number of children of all persons protected; and (iv) the total number of children of all residents.

Part VIII (Maternity benefit), Article 49. Medical benefits. The Committee takes note of the information related to medical benefits provided in case of pregnancy. Recalling that, in respect of pregnancy and confinement and their consequences, Article 49 of the Convention requires medical care to include hospitalization where necessary, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which this requirement is met in law and in practice.

Part V (Old-age benefit), Article 28, Part IX (Invalidity benefit), Article 56, in conjunction with Article 65 and Schedule appended. Rate of benefits. The Committee notes that, according to Section 95(6) of the Social Security Code (Law No. 98-019 of 21 March 2003), the monthly amount of the old-age or disability pension cannot be less than 60 per cent of the guaranteed interprofessional minimum wage of the national territory and cannot exceed 80 per cent of the insured person’s average monthly remuneration. It further notes that the ceiling for the old-age or disability pension is set periodically by a decree issued by the Council of Ministers. In order to assess compliance with the requirements of Article 65 of the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on (i) the reference wage of a skilled manual male employee, calculated in accordance with Article 65; and (ii) the ceiling for the old-age or disability pensions.

Part X (Survivors’ benefit), Articles 62 and 63, in conjunction with Article 65 and Schedule appended. Rate of benefits. The Committee notes that, according to section 96(2) of the Social Security Code, survivor pensions are calculated as a percentage of the old-age or disability pension to which the insured person was or would have been entitled at the date of their death, with a maximum of 80 per cent for a standard beneficiary (40 per cent for the surviving spouse and 40 per cent for the two orphans). The Committee observes that after 5 years of employment the invalidity pension would represent 30 per cent of the previous earnings, while the survivor pension in that case would represent just 80 per cent of this quantity. The Committee recalls that, according to Article 63(3), the standard beneficiary of a survivor pension should be entitled to a benefit representing 30 per cent of the previous earnings of the breadwinner after 5 years of employment. The Committee requests the Government to indicatethe measures adopted to ensure that, after 5 years of employment, a standard beneficiary of a survivor pension (a wife with two children) is entitled to a pension at a minimum level of 30 per cent of the previous earnings of the breadwinner.

Part XII (Equality of treatment of non-nationals residents), Article 68. Equality of treatment.The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether residents who are not nationals have the same rights as national residents.

Part XIII (Common provisions), Article 69.Suspension of benefits. The Committee requests the Government to indicate, for each of the accepted Parts, the causes of suspension of benefits.

Article 71.Financing and due provision of benefits. The Committee requests the Government to communicate, for each of the accepted Parts, the statistical information regarding resources allocated and contributions raised on earnings, as indicated in the report form for the Convention.