New Straits Times (11.07.2019) Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) implementation efforts can be re-focused on a stronger platform with the adoption of the Vision Zero concept. Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran said this would help the country achieve its aim of reducing accidents and disease rate as well as enhancing workers’ well-being.

ILO Research Paper Series (Oct 2018) The current wave of technological change based on advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) has created widespread fear of job losses and further rises in inequality. This paper discusses the rationale for these fears, highlighting the specific nature of AI and comparing previous waves of automation and robotization with the current advancements made possible by a wide-spread adoption of AI.

Lemonde.fr (10.07.2019) Elisabeth Paul, coordinatrice scientifique du projet ARC Effi-Santé à l’Université de Liège, décrypte les enjeux pour le continent d’une assurance de soins minimum.

Phnom Penh Post (24.07.2019) Cambodia on Tuesday requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to consider providing aid – especially to the elderly, people with disabilities and orphaned children. In the meantime, the bank is studying the country’s social welfare system before announcing a raft of technical assistance as part of the execution of its Social Protection Development Fund project.

healtheuropa (23.07.2019)Introducing the new Digital Care Act (Digitale-Versorgung-Gesetz), which is now a part of Germany’s efforts to expand the digitisation of the German healthcare system.

France24 (18.07.2019) The age when French citizens can receive a full pension should be put back to 64 from 62 now, the government's special adviser on pension reform said on Thursday.

Euronews (24.07.2019) Couriers working for online food delivery group Deliveroo are company employees not just freelancers, a Madrid court ruled on Tuesday. This means that workers will now be able to ask Deliveroo for a formal contract and corresponding benefits.

Xinhua (23.07.2019) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked in Tunis between the Tunisian government and the Palestinian Authority to advance partnership in social protection, official TAP news agency reported Tuesday. The signing ceremony was attended by Tunisian Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi and Palestinian Minister of Social Affairs Ahmed Majdalani.

Search and navigate 277 online digital platforms across 8 countries. This interactive database provides a rare insight into the rise of African digital platforms and how they are connecting consumers and providers across Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Use this tool to navigate through various attributes of digital platforms, including the types of products and services offered, and the types of payment methods allowed, on each platform.

antaranews (22.07.2019) The Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) is working with the Turkish government's social security agency Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu (SGK) to study the health insurance system from various aspects. BPJS Kesehatan President Director Fachmi Idris inked a memorandum of understanding with SGK President Director Mehmet Selim Bagli to mark the start of cooperation between the two parties at the Jakarta BPJS Kesehatan office on Monday.

African digital platforms are giving rise to new financial needs; creating and bridging barriers to financial and economic inclusion; and revolutionising the informal economic activities of merchants and individuals. These platforms can have both positive and negative effects on development, but the net impact on Africa will ultimately be shaped by the responses of industry, regulators, government and civil society.0 To better understand these dynamics, insight2impact facility (i2i) and The Mastercard Foundation Partnership for Finance in a Digital Africa (FiDA) partnered to convene experts on these topics. Representatives from research organisations, donors, development partners, financial service providers (FSPs) and African digital platforms met in Cape Town on 29 November 2018 to:0 Take stock of the latest research insights Advance and align research activities Solicit input from industry champions on the relationship between the digitisation of African marketplaces, the financial sector and economic inclusion This blog describes the key themes and questions we encountered during the day. And, our closing thoughts from the workshop are summarised as follows:0 Digital platforms challenge existing notions of (in)formality. Digital platforms can, and do, incorporate analogue features. Platforms are emerging as distributors of financial services. Regulatory changes are needed in the platform economy.

Early findings from our African digital platforms and the future of financial services research An increasingly digital and connected Africa is providing new ways for entrepreneurs and consumers to participate in the economy. To better understand the related opportunities and challenges, the i2i facility has embarked on a journey across eight African markets to explore:0 The landscape of digital platforms The individuals who economically benefit from these platforms The relationship of these platforms and platform participants to the financial sector Early findings from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia show more than 300 unique digital platforms match providers and consumers of goods and services (also known as multi-sided platforms [1]). These platforms operate in diverse economic sectors, including transportation, online shopping, asset sharing and professional services.

Research ICT Africa conducts  multidisciplinary research on digital governance, policy and regulation that facilitates evidence-based and informed policy making for improved access, use and application of digital technologies for social and economic development in Africa.

Mission. Research ICT Africa conducts public-interest research on the digital economy and society that responds to national, regional and continental needs. It provides relevant stakeholders with the information and analysis required to develop flexible and adaptive policies and regulation to  dealwith an increasingly complex and dynamic digital environment. The network will contribute to the gathering and analysis of data and indicators to establish a repository of knowledge for furthering research and digital governance.

SMART Africa is a bold and innovative commitment from African Heads of State and Government to accelerate sustainable socioeconomic development on the continent, ushering Africa into a knowledge economy through affordable access to Broadband and usage of Information and Communications Technologies. The Transform Africa Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda on 28th-31st October 2013 culminated in the adoption of the Smart Africa Manifesto document by seven (7) African Heads of States (Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Mali, Gabon, Burkina Faso) in which they committed to provide leadership in accelerating socio-economic development through ICT’s. On 30th-31st January 2014, The SMART Africa Manifesto was endorsed by all Heads of State and Government of the African Union at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa. This development places the Manifesto at the heart of the ICT agenda in Africa beyond just the 7 original signatories at the Summit to all the 53 African countries. The Smart Africa Alliance has since grown to include 24 African countries that represent 600+ million people.

The Transform Africa Summit is the Smart Africa flagship event. Following four successful editions, the fifth Summit will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from 14 – 17 May 2019. Under the theme “Boosting Africa’s Digital Economy”, the Summit is expected to attract over 4,000 participants, including Heads of State and Government, First Ladies, UN Broadband Commissioners, Ministers, Regulators, Mayors & Governors, Public & Private Sector, International Organizations, Industry Leaders, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Young Innovators, Civil Society and Academia. In addition to the Smart Africa Leaders Summit, the Smart Africa Women’s Summit and interactive plenaries, the summit will feature subject specific streams tackling current ICT topics. Delegates will be able to attend insightful & engaging streams including Hubs as well as several customized sessions by our partners.

The Express Tribune (20.07.2019) The recently launched Ehsaas Programme by the PTI government is a positive step towards realising the importance of social protection in a developing country like Pakistan.

En quatre ans, la plateforme vaudoise Batmaid s'est taillé la part du lion dans le marché des ménages privés. Mais le syndicat Unia s'apprête à dénoncer l'entreprise aux autorités pour les conditions de travail des 1700 nettoyeuses qu'elle a recrutées. Depuis son lancement en 2015, Batmaid a connu un développement fulgurant. Aujourd'hui, la société compte 50 employés et fait travailler près de 1700 nettoyeuses, sorties du travail au noir, auprès de 10'000 clients. Une success story qui a une face cachée, selon les différents témoignages que la RTS a recueillis auprès d'anciennes et d'actuelles employées. Pas de perte de gain-maladie ni de deuxième pilier, journées à rallonge, rythme de travail parfois effréné, travail sur appel, trajets illogiques ou frais de déplacement et de nourriture non payés: tel est le quotidien rapporté par ces nettoyeuses.

L'Orient-Le Jour (18.07.2019) Une équipe de l’OIT basée à Genève est en mission au Liban pour apporter son expertise dans le cadre de l’élargissement de la prise en charge à toutes les catégories de professions.

La start-up Batmaid, qui propose les services de femmes de ménage, a été fondée par deux entrepreneurs lausannois. Elle est présente au sommet sur les nouvelles technologies Web Summit à Lisbonne.

Le 360 (19,07.2019) Le Maroc fait un pas de plus en ce qui concerne l’amélioration de la protection sociale des travailleurs. Le royaume a en effet récemment déposé auprès de l’Organisation Internationale du Travail (OIT) les instruments de ratification de la convention 102 relative à la sécurité sociale.

Vietnam News (18.07.2019) Information and communication technology resources are vital elements for governance in social security institutions, Ortiz D. Maribel, of the International Social Security Association, said. Maribel spoke at a workshop on good governance for better social security services held on Wednesday in HCM City.

Hespress (18.07.2019) La capitale algérienne abrite, du 16 au 18 juillet, un atelier de l’Académie de l’association internationale de la sécurité sociale (AISS) avec la participation des représentants de plusieurs mutualités africaines. Le Maroc y est représenté par Abdelmoula Abdelmoumni, Président de la Mutuelle Générale du Personnel des Administrations Publiques (MGPAP), Président de l’Union Africaine de la Mutualité (UAM).

stluciatimes (17.07.2019)  The 30th Meeting of the Heads of CARICOM Social Security Organisations opened on Tuesday at the Guyana Marriott, with a call from Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry, for Social Security Schemes to remain relevant by modernising their operations to increase their efficiencies.

ABC (17.07.2019) The average length of paid parental leave among OECD countries is around 55 weeks, while Australia's system offers 18 weeks, according to OECD data. Unlike the majority of the 36 members of the OECD, Australia provides a flat rate rather than a replacement wage. This makes the Australian system generous to low-income earners and part-time workers but not to those who earn more than the full-time minimum wage.

blogs.letemps (17.07.2019) Le 20 juin 2019, le Conseil des Etats a approuvé un contre-projet à l’initiative “Pour un congé de paternité raisonnable − en faveur de toute la famille” sous la forme d’un congé-paternité de deux semaines financé par le régime des APG. Au début du mois de juillet 2019, la Commission des finances du Conseil national a suivi notre Chambre haute. Puisse la Chambre basse en faire de même lorsqu’elle sera saisie de cet objet en plénière !