worldbank.org (09.07.2025) This paper highlights the successes and challenges of international mental health innovations, providing a roadmap for achieving sustainable, rights-based care systems that prioritize the whole-life needs of individuals and communities. The global shift from institutional to community-based mental health care represents a critical evolution in addressing the needs of individuals with mental health conditions.

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 latest wave of the OECD’s Risks that Matter survey, which takes stock of risk perceptions and preferences for social protection in 27 OECD countries.

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 their premiums.

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 about geopolitical issues, their health and their finances across 27 OECD countries. The report focuses on two megatrends – technological change and population ageing – and finds strong support for social programmes that foster economic growth and security.

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 recommendations for action as a next step to this report.

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 well-being depend on the interaction of multiple protective and risk factors, particularly during sensitive and critical periods throughout people’s lives and across generations. It strengthens equity by recognizing how critical periods, transitions and cumulative exposures shape health trajectories.

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) epitomize long-standing conflicts in EU social policymaking, namely the opposition between capital and labour, on the one hand, and resistance to EU involvement or impact on Member States’ social arrangements, on the other.

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 protection include client support, automating back-office processes and fraud detection.

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 efforts to address it. The key message of the note is to underscore the essential role that social protection and skills can play in addressing the challenges related to climate change while providing an overview of the current state of social protection systems, including floors, in Africa.