About SSW




Step by step examples of searches

Social Security Worldwide covers six different databases on social protection, all of which can be accessed and searched using simple, easy-to-use search screens. These six databases are:

  • Scheme Description: Concise outlines of social security systems in over 170 countries (from Social Security Programs Throughout the World, published jointly by ISSA and US Social Security Administration).
  • Complementary and Private Pensions: Profiles of the system of complementary and private pensions in over 50 countries.
  • Reforms: Summaries of important reforms in social protection programs since 1995 (from the ISSA Development and Trends database published as Trends in Social Security).
  • Legislation: References to social security legislation, including, in some cases, the full text of legislation (from the NATLEX database maintained by the International Labour Office).
  • Bibliography: References to books, periodicals and other material on social protection issues available in the ISSA Documentation Centre. The full text of ISSA meeting and conference reports since 1999 is also available.
  • Thesaurus: Key social security terms in English, French, Spanish and German (used in the other databases for indexation purposes).
                                             
                            The databases can be searched either individually or, on certain criteria, simultaneously. The easy-to-use search screens include a number of fields which are completed by choosing a variable from the lists provided as well as a free text field. This combination of variable lists and free text allow even occasional users to make sophisticated searches with little or no assistance. The databases are updated monthly.

"Social Security Worldwide" is also available on CD ROM in all four languages.
                              
For further information about the access to these databases please contact the following address: E-mail: issadoc@ilo.org