ilo.org (16.07.2025) The Arab Social Protection Compass series hosted a webinar on the topic titled 'Bridging the Coverage and Formalization Gap Through Subsidized Social Security Contributions', where the results of the global study were discussed. The session brought together lessons from selected country experiences, including Jordan’s Estidama++ programme, an example of how well-designed subsidies can lead to lasting results. “Jordan’s Estidama++ programme stands out as a case where a short-term subsidy led to lasting enrolment in social security system.

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.

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 treatment and individuals with chronic illnesses who depend on EOPYY pharmacies for their medications. EOPYY President Theano Karpodini hailed the initiative as a landmark in public healthcare.

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 workforce which, according to official data, constitutes over 25% of the country’s workforce.

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 trends” like climate change and digital transformation. 

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 more than 40 countries in the five world regions having official multidimensional poverty measures and others working on designing their own national Multidimensional Poverty Indices (MPI).

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, the initiative is part of a broader nationwide strategy to ensure that all residents, regardless of income or employment type, have access to essential healthcare services.

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 Republican commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The deputy labor secretary job requires Senate confirmation and occasionally ends up leading the agency.

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 of the pensions systems, among other factors, tend to exacerbate informality, with only a fraction of formal workers receiving pensions. The low coverage and the little redistribution leads low wage workers to end up subsidizing high wage workers.