Trinidad Express Newspapers (06.05.2017) Billions spent by successive administrations have not addressed fundamental problems that have plagued the country's hospitals and health centres for decades.

jdsupra.com (10.05.2017) Due to the calling of a snap general election, the Work and Pensions Committee has curtailed its inquiry and has now published its report on the gig economy and its use of self-employment. The report is somewhat damning of companies that utilise the gig economy model.

Jordan Times /10.05.2017) Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury on Monday chaired the steering committee’s first preparatory meeting to update the Strategy for Combating Poverty and Enhancing Social Protection, according to a statement from the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation

Irish Times (07.05.2017) Irish workers could gain the right to four months of paid parentalleave for the first time under a proposal from Brussels that aims to encourage fathers to take on more parenting responsibilities. The Sunday Times reports that Ireland is one of only six EU countries where employers are not obliged to pay workers if they take parental leave. The draft work-life balance directive has angered employers, however.

The Department of Social Protection undertakes fraud and error surveys to identify the level of risk associated with particular schemes. The surveys highlight the risk of non-compliance with the rules of the schemes being surveyed at a particular point in time. The survey results allow the Department to target the scheme, and its particular risk areas, for stronger control measures, where necessary, to minimise the level of future risk.