Population ageing makes it harder for governments to finance programmes like public pensions and long-term care. But policy responses, such as tightening programme eligibility and benefit levels or raising taxes on current workers, often prove unpopular. This column presents findings from the…
koreabizwire.com (10.07.2025) South Korea is weighing a significant pension reform that could bring platform workers — such as food delivery riders and chauffeur-for-hire drivers — under the same pension contribution scheme as regular employees, with their platforms potentially covering half of…
oecd.org (02.07.2025) The OECD Risks that Matter Survey presents a data-driven understanding of people’s perceptions of economic risks, their assessment of their country’s social programmes and their preferences for policy action. Interviews with 27 000 respondents show people are deeply concerned…
The EU long-term care report publised by the European Commission last June provides a good overview of the trends, challenges and opportunities of an ageing Europe.
Yet, we have identified room for improvement, namely in terms of narrative and policy ambitions. We also point out some…
who.int (03.07.2025) The WHO Framework to implement a life course approach in practice summarizes current evidence to reorient health systems to produce health and well-being, draws on global examples of implementation, and proposes next steps. A life course approach acknowledges that health and…
Journal of European Social Policy (24.06.2025) Over the past few years, the legal status and the working conditions of platform workers have been among the most debated manifestations of the digital transformation of work. Tense negotiations on the EU platform work directive (from 2021 to 2024)…
oecd.org (30.06.2025) Governments in OECD countries are increasingly applying advanced uses of data and technology to improve the coverage, effectiveness and efficiency of social programmes, yet they are proceeding with caution when introducing artificial intelligence (AI). Common AI uses in social…
International Labour Organization (2025) This paper discusses the current state of social protection systems in Africa, their challenges, and the relationship between social protection, climate change and employment. It also provides a brief overview of the jobs implications of climate change and…
worldbank.org (24.06.2025) This Guidance Note was developed to support Public Employment Services in navigating complex decisions involved in digitalizing employment services. As the role of PES evolves with the need to balance expanded mandates with limited resources, digitalization presents an…
The Greek Herald (16.06.2025) Starting June 16, Greece has become the first country in Europe to provide free home delivery of high-cost medications through its national health insurance agency, EOPYY. The program is expected to support around 139,000 patients, including those undergoing cancer…
ilo.org (24.06.2025) The demographic changes currently underway in the Europe and Central Asia region - most notably, the ageing of its populations - have prompted the preparation of this new publication intended to inform tripartite discussions on developing effective strategies and policy…
theedgemalaysia.com (17.06.2025) The Social Security Organisation (Socso), also known as Perkeso, aims to introduce mandatory contributions for gig economy workers starting January 2026. This initiative is part of broader efforts to extend social protection to Malaysia's expanding informal…
In most European countries, the average income of people over 65 is lower than that of the total population, according to the OECD. In several cases, elderly incomes fall below 80% of the national average, contributing to significantly high poverty rates among pensioners.
So, how do these levels…
worldbank.org (17.06.2025) Almost every country in the world today is facing a predictable, but addressable, trend that will profoundly impact societies and economies: Aging. Despite numerous calls to action, the aging agenda remains under the radar, especially when compared to other “mega…
OECD (16.06.2025) As populations age, the demand for long-term care (LTC), encompassing a range of personal care and assistance services, is steadily increasing across OECD countries. Care needs assessments and eligibility criteria determine who is entitled to access publicly funded LTC services,…
mppn (25.03.2025) Countries around the globe have started establishing social protection systems, aiming to implement policies and programmes to reduce poverty. At the same time, the number of countries designing and computing multidimensional poverty measures has increased in recent years, with…
gulfbusiness.com (13.06.2025) The UAE has officially implemented its Basic Health Insurance Plan for private sector employees and domestic workers across the Northern Emirates, marking a pivotal shift in the nation’s approach to healthcare access and affordability.
Effective since January 1, 2025,…
qz.com (15.01.2026) President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Keith Sonderling as his deputy labor secretary, handing employers in the so-called gig economy an ally. Sonderling previously served as Trump’s acting administrator of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) wage and hour division, as well as a…
ntuc.org.sg (06.06.2025) A young Grab driver preparing for marriage experiences how Singapore’s groundbreaking Platform Workers Act is transforming financial security for thousands of platform workers through CPF contributions, work injury protection, and formal representation.
worldbank.org (29.05.2025) Pension systems globally have faced challenges in fulfilling their commitment to providing adequate financial security for individuals in their old age. In developing countries, pension coverage is often low, and benefits frequently fall below the poverty line. The design…
International Journal of Social Welfare (05.01.2025) This article provides an overview of social protection challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. It explores three main challenges: the integration of informal workers, the management of climate change and pandemics. Despite the proliferation of social…
ntuc.org.sg (30.05.2025) Platform workers in Singapore now receive mandatory work injury compensation coverage under the Platform Workers Act 2024 – here’s all you need to know about the new protections.
ILO (25.02.2025) - Conceptual framework and review of global good practices for countries in the Arab Region - Ensuring bridges between different social protection programmes and financing mechanisms - including smooth transition paths (forward and backward) between social assistance and social…
