The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and global labour unions have called for urgent national action following a landmark agreement reached at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Seville, Spain.

The agreement, known as the Compromiso de Sevilla, urges countries to expand social protection coverage by at least two percentage points annually, targeting the 3.8 billion people worldwide still lacking basic safety nets. ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo hailed the pact as a “clear, pragmatic benchmark” but emphasized that “the real test now lies in implementation.”

Labour unions welcomed the agreement but demanded concrete national plans, especially to reach workers in informal sectors who remain the most vulnerable. They warned that rhetoric alone cannot shield workers from risks like illness, job loss, or old age without structured support systems.

To aid implementation, the ILO and the Global Partnership for Universal Social Protection launched the Sevilla Platform for Action, aimed at helping countries mobilise resources, strengthen public investment, and expand coverage. The Seville outcome also acknowledged the vital role of MSMEs and the care economy in promoting inclusive employment.

As attention turns to the 2025 World Summit for Social Development in Doha, unions insisted that governments act swiftly. “Workers everywhere need safety nets that are real, not rhetorical,” they said in a joint statement. “The Seville agreement is a step in the right direction — but now governments must deliver.”