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.

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.