Europa (19.12.2018) Two new reports discuss how young people's entry into employment can be supported through skills development, either through continued education or traineeships. The reports are based on real-life experiences over the first five years of the Youth Guarantee

Alternatives Economiques (29.12.2918) En France, depuis le début des années quatre-vingt-dix, plusieurs économistes, responsables politiques et autres commentateurs ont accusé le niveau du coût du travail de contribuer au maintien d’un chômage de masse et, depuis le début des années deux mille, à la détérioration du solde extérieur de l’économie française. Des exonérations de cotisations sociales sur les bas salaires ont ainsi été introduites en 1993 par le gouvernement Balladur.

OIT/Americas (18.12.2018) La tasa de desempleo en América Latina y el Caribe experimentó una leve baja y será de alrededor de 7,8% al final de 2018, lo cual revierte la tendencia alcista de los últimos tres años, aunque la mejoría “aún es modesta” en un escenario marcado por la incertidumbre y la volatilidad, destacó un informe regional de la OIT difundido hoy.

 VOX, CEPR Policy Portal  (03.12.2018) Worldwide ageing trends are steering global demographics into uncharted territory, transforming populations and societies around the globe. Japan is leading the way in this growth wave as the world’s oldest population and is now grappling with the substantial socioeconomic burdens an ageing population places on society. This column discusses the coming challenges associated with population ageing alongside plausible solutions.

Reuters  (13.12.2018) Is it time to raise the Social Security retirement age? The idea crops up often as a partial fix for the long-term financial challenges facing the program.  A higher retirement age would reduce the number of years on average that people receive benefits, as a way to cut program costs. But according to an economist at the Urban Institute who specializes in employment and retirement decisions made by older Americans, raising the retirement age would inflict serious harm on roughly one-quarter of Social Security beneficiaries.

lecomparateurassurance (12.12.2018) D’une manière générale, l’Assurance maladie prend en charge une partie ou la totalité des médicaments achetés sous prescription. En Suisse, les conditions à respecter sont plus précises pour que l’achat soit remboursé. Toujours est-il que les assureurs du pays assistent actuellement à une explosion de leurs charges concernant ce type de couverture. Un rapport a été dressé par le leader du secteur, Helsana, afin de mieux comprendre ce qui se passe.

Telegraph.co.uk (03.12.2018) Foreigners who have moved to Austria but have not yet picked up the language are set to be hit by a controversial reform to the country’s social welfare system, as the Right-wing government steps up its efforts to deter immigration.

OECD (04.12.2018) Governments need to do more to help workers and firms adapt to the fast-changing world of work and drive inclusive growth, according to the new OECD Jobs Strategy.New evidence in the report reveals that countries that promote job quantity, quality and inclusiveness – such as Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – perform better than those which focus predominantly on market flexibility.

El Pais (18.12.2018) Uno de cada cuatro pensionistas del país euroasiático tiene un empleo formal. La reforma de las pensiones está restando popularidad a Putin Rusia tiene una de las edades de jubilación más bajas del mundo desarrollado: 60 años para los hombres y 55 para las mujeres. Algo que, unido a las delgadas pensiones públicas—de media unos 13.323 rublos mensuales (unos 175 euros), según datos oficiales—, han creado un ecosistema de jubilados trabajadores.

peoplemanagement.co.uk (17.12.2018) The legislation, introduced today, means staff must be informed of their rights from their first day of work, including eligibility for paid and sick leave. Workers must also be given the right to request predictable hours