The impacts and effectiveness of the policies, programmes and services for the return to work and improving sustainable employment are evaluated.

The institution works in partnership with other institutions active in the employment, education and training sectors.

The institution learns from a broad range of international and national experiences.

The institution has the legal mandate and policy framework to engage in prevention and return-to-work activities. Where legislation does not support effective return-to-work and sustainable employability outcomes, statutory changes are advocated that will mandate the institution to do so.

A broad range of institutional and individual stakeholders help promote and support effective social security and return-to-work programmes and improve employability.

It is essential that social security institutions engaged in the design, delivery, promotion, advocacy and support of effective employment programmes include a broad range of institutional and individual stakeholders in the process. While they are often constrained through their respective legislative frameworks, this should not prevent them from seeking to improve access to employment and to obtain better retention or return-to-work outcomes by learning from a broad range of national and international experiences.

The following guidelines are organized in six parts:

Part A, Basic Principles, incorporates six guidelines and provides guidance on the identification of stakeholders, the legal basis of the programme for return to work after unemployment, and the need to refer to international good practice. It also deals with the evaluation of policies, programmes and services and the good governance of institutions.

As has been clearly defined by a study by Belgium’s Bureau fédéral du Plan (le coût budgétaire d’un chômeur de 1987 à 2002, Brussels, 2004) unemployment leads to human, social and economic costs, which can be broken down into three major categories:

These guidelines focus on individuals who have lost or are in danger of losing their jobs as a result of economic factors, the evolution of technological processes, the relocation of production units or any other cause except illness or injury. The latter is covered in the ISSA Guidelines on Return to Work and Reintegration. These guidelines are also directed at young jobseekers who do not find work immediately after the completion of their studies.

Member organizations of the International Social Security Association (ISSA) that are involved in the management of employment insurance and assistance schemes, either directly or indirectly, comprise a broad and diverse group of social security institutions. In addition to evolving economic, demographic and labour market changes, new and significant challenges are being imposed on many of these organizations.