E/C.12/KOR/CO/4 The Committee encourages the State party to ratify the ILO Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention 1948 (No. 87) and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention 1949 (No. 98). Right to social security 42. While noting the intention of the State party to gradually abolish the application of the family duty to provide support to its members as an eligibility criterion for some social allowances, the Committee is concerned that it currently prevents individuals and households in need from receiving some social security benefits. The Committee is also concerned that the amount of certain social allowances is inadequate (art. 9). 43. The Committee urges the State party to abolish altogether the family duty to support its members as an eligibility criterion for social security benefits, so as to ensure that those in need actually enjoy their right to social security. It also recommends that the State party ensure that the amounts of benefits, especially under the national basic livelihood scheme, are adequate. The Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 19 (2007) on the right to social security. National health insurance 44. While noting the plan of the State party to expand the coverage of national health insurance, the Committee is concerned that its restrictive coverage leads to a heavy financial burden on households through out-of-pocket medical expenses and expensive private insurance premiums (arts. 9 and 12). 45. In the context of the highly privatized health system, the Committee urges the State party to ensure the adequacy of the coverage of national health insurance so that health care is affordable, especially for disadvantaged and marginalized groups. To that end, the Committee recommends that the system cover preventive and curative services for illnesses and medical conditions, including non-communicable diseases. It also urges the State party to ensure universal coverage by removing eligibility obstacles under national health insurance and the medical benefits scheme. Older persons 46. Noting that the welfare of its ageing population is a key priority of the State party, the Committee remains concerned at the prevalence of poverty among and the reports of abuse of older persons, including in care facilities (art. 10). 47. The Committee recommends that the State party take measures to ensure that older persons live in dignity and in environments that are safe. In particular, it recommends that the State party: (a) Ensure that the eligibility requirements under the national pension system are adequate and the amounts of benefits enable older persons to enjoy an adequate standard of living; (b) Ensure that older persons are able to remain at home for as long as possible and promote community-based care; (c) Identify and address the root causes of abuse; (d) Prevent abuse, including by significantly improving the monitoring of care facilities and strengthening the reporting system of elderly abuse. Child abuse 48. The Committee is concerned at the increasing number of cases of child abuse in the family in the State party, especially in a context of still inadequate reporting and victim protection systems (art. 10). 7