OpenGovAsia (28.10.2017) Over 1.1 billion people in the world, which is nearly 1 in 7 individuals, are unable to prove their identity.

Lusaka Times (21.11.2017) According to the WHO, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) means everyone in the country can use the promotive, preventive, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need of sufficient quality to be effective, while being protected from financial loss (WHO, 2017). So far, only 58 countries in the world- 10 in Africa are regarded to provide Universal health care as they have legislation mandating Universal Health care. The question is, is this attainable in Zambia? As optimistic citizens, the answer is a resounding “YES”

La Vanguardia (20.11.2017) Las mejoras del empleo juvenil en España, Francia e Italia han influido en gran medida en la reducción de la tasa de desempleo en este sector poblacional en Europa occidental, aunque los avances en el primero de estos países se deben en particular a la expansión del trabajo temporal, dijo hoy la OIT. "España cayó muy bajo y tocó fondo, así que ahora hay mejoras sobre todo por un aumento relativo del empleo temporal", explicó en rueda de prensa la directora del Departamento de Políticas de Empleo de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), Azita Berar Awad, al presentar el informe anual sobre las tendencias del empleo juvenil.

euractiv.com (17.11.2017) Europe’s credibility hinges on national leaders agreeing social legislation that applies across the bloc, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Friday (17 November) at a summit with leaders from EU countries in Gothenburg, Sweden.

euractiv.com (15.11.2017)  A social democratic Government, led by former trade union leader Stefan Löfven, has brought EU leaders together to discuss ‘fair jobs and growth’, a topic that many feel has been too long neglected by an EU more concerned with fiscal rules than the well-being of working people.

The Government is being urged to close loopholes around the treatment of self-employed workers following intense scrutiny of gig-economy companies such as Deliveroo and Uber. A joint draft bill from the Work and Pensions and Business Committees has argued that there should be a new “worker by default” status, which requires companies to provide basic standards and benefits.

cetusnews.com (10.11.2017) The future of work is a prime interest of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, started in 2013 by researchers Erik Brynjolfsson and Andy McAfee. To help come up answers to questions about the impact of automation on jobs and the effects of digital innovation, the group launched the MIT Inclusive Innovation Challenge last year, inviting organizations around the world to compete in the realm of improving the economic opportunities of middle- and base-level workers.

The Toolbox aims to support, guide and encourage those who want to modernise public administrations in support of prosperous, fair and resilient societies. It is intended as a reference and resource by pointing readers to existing EU policies and international practices, illustrated by inspirational case studies. The 2017 edition builds on user feedback and demand for more detailed information, as well as wider coverage of topics. It includes more recent policy developments and refreshed case studies.

Québec Portal (13.11.2017) The Expert Committee on Guaranteed Minimum Income released its final report, in which it presents 23 recommendations consistent with a global vision of what would be a transformed and enhanced income system. This global vision is based on both a conceptual analysis of the very idea of guaranteed minimum income and an overall diagnosis of Québec's current income support system. The final report is accompanied by the progress report. The purpose of this undertaking is to look into new approaches that could be used to fight poverty more effectively, promote social inclusion and move towards introducing a guaranteed minimum income.

Québec Portal - Economic, social and demographic changes all influence the labour market. In response to these changes and in keeping with the goal of fostering labour market access to the greatest number of persons, the Gouvernement du Québec has decided to begin an assessment of the mechanisms associated with the principles of guaranteed minimum income, which 21st-century Québec society may then draw from.

baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph (nov 2017) The Social Security System bagged the 2017 Government Best Practice Award (GBPR) from the Development Academy of the Philippines for its implementation of the AlkanSSSya Program to intensify social security coverage among informal sector workers.

10/11/2017 - Healthier lifestyles, higher incomes and better education have all contributed to boost life expectancy in recent decades. Better health care has also helped, according to a new OECD report.

The 6 Ds of Tech Disruption: A Guide to the Digital Economy

France Stratégie (nov 2017) Le but de ce rapport est de sortir d’une vision simpliste (compréhension « magique » de l’IA, focalisation sur la disparition massive d’emplois, idée que l’IA nous tombe dessus quoi que l’on fasse induisant une passivité devant le choc annoncé).

 New Straits Times (10.11.2017) The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has brought some good news for 328,056 recipients, who will receive a raise in their pensions at a minimum rate of RM475 under the Employment Injury Scheme and Invalidity Scheme backdated to Sept 1

In tandem with the diffusion of computer technologies, labour markets across the OECD have undergone rapid structural transformation. In this paper, we examine i) the impact of technological change on labour market outcomes since the computer revolution of the 1980s, and ii) recent developments in digital technology – including machine learning and robotics – and their potential impacts on the future of work. While it is evident that the composition of the workforce has shifted dramatically over recent decades, in part as a result of technological change, the impacts of digitalisation on the future of jobs are far from certain. On the one hand, accumulating anecdotal evidence shows that the potential scope of automation has expanded beyond routine work, making technological change potentially increasingly labour-saving: according to recent estimates 47 percent of US jobs are susceptible to automation over the forthcoming decades. On the other hand, there is evidence suggesting that digital technologies have not created many new jobs to replace old ones: an upper bound estimate is that around 0.5 percent of the US workforce is employed in digital industries that emerged throughout the 2000s. Nevertheless, at first approximation, there is no evidence to suggest that the computer revolution so far has reduced overall demand for jobs as technologically stagnant sectors of the economy – including health care, government and personal services – continue to create vast employment opportunities. Looking forward, however, we argue that as the potential scope of automation is expanding, many sectors that have been technologically stagnant in the past are likely to become technologically progressive in the future. While we should expect a future surge in productivity as a result, the question of whether gains from increases in productivity will be widely shared depends on policy responses.

OECD (25.10.2017)  Of course, artificial intelligence (AI) has its own special features as a technology and is obviously different than a car or a copier. At the level of an entire economy, however, the effects of different technologies on jobs and skills are often quite similar. Will this be true for AI as well?

OECD (12.10.2017) The OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2017 looks at the potential and risks associated with the rapid development of AI and robots

ft.com (08.11.207) ‘If Uber doesn’t help pay my medical bills, I’m ruined’

lemonde.fr (06.11.2017) Les transferts sociaux permettent d’atténuer les disparités de revenus, en particulier dans les départements très riches ou très pauvres, selon une étude de l’Insee.

The New Times (07.11.2017) Currently, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are guiding the long-term development strategy of developed and developing countries. Goal 8 of SDGs aims at promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

ILO Research paper No. 17 - (Sept 2016)This paper looks at one of the main drivers of technological change, digitalization and how it will impact jobs. Taking the case of Germany the paper argues that smart automation might not lead to overall job losses but considerable shifts in the structure of employment with regard to industries, occupations, skills and tasks.

tribuneindia (06.11.2017) The government needs to spend 3.8 per cent of the GDP on health to meet the goal of universal health coverage (UHC). New data suggests India needs to do much more than it’s doing to meet UHC targets as promised under the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Apanews.net (25.10.2017) Les pays africains sont appelés à prendre à bras-le-corps la question de la sécurité et de la protection sociales pour écrire une nouvelle page sociale africaine permettant à tout citoyen Africain de bénéficier de la couverture sociale dans le sillage d’un développement de l’équité, ont recommandé énergiquement les participants au Sommet régional de la sécurité sociale, tenu mercredi à Addis-Abeba.