worldbank.org (15.09.2025) Scaling up has become a rallying cry of social protection initiatives. The rationale for it is clear: with glaring coverage gaps globally and regionally, including nearly 2 billion people with no access to social protection in low- and middle-income countries, the extension of coverage is a key priority enshrined in an array of national and global commitments. Yet relatively little work has been devoted to examining how scale up happens.

World Economic Forum (15.09.2025) The digital economy is transforming livelihoods at an unprecedented pace, with digital services accounting for over half of global services exports. As digital labour becomes a key export for many developing countries, questions of trade policy and standards lie alongside those about jobs. The priority should be building a digital economy that delivers innovation and growth, as well as dignity, fairness and security for workers worldwide.

eurasiareview.com (08.09.2025) Like many countries with an aging population, Mexico is facing a pension crisis. In just the last five years, the universal pension for older adults quadrupled its budget. Coupled with low growth, the ever-rising cash transfers and subsidies have become a major drag on the country’s economy. Welfare payments to individuals—such as the universal pension for older adults, disability pensions, and student stipends—have grown at a pace that outstripped investment in infrastructure, education, and security.

who.int (05.09.2025) This review is part of a series of country-based studies generating new evidence on affordable access to health care (‎financial protection)‎ in health systems in Europe. Financial protection is central to universal health coverage and a core dimension of health system performance. Catastrophic health spending is higher in Italy than in many other European Union countries. It is heavily concentrated in households with low incomes, households in the southern region and households headed by pensioners.

freemalaysiatoday.com (28.08.2025) The Dewan Rakyat has passed the Gig Workers Bill 2025, which sets out rights for gig workers and rules for firms and platforms that hire them. The bill makes it clear that gig workers must get fair terms in their agreements, be told of their pay and tasks in advance, and their services cannot be terminated without good cause. Key elements include an official definition of gig workers, setting minimum compensation, establishing a complaints mechanism, and ensuring social security protection through mandatory contributions to Perkeso.

Pension Policy International (19.08.2025) Senator Bill Cassidy (R- IL) uncovered the Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act to prevent gig worker misclassification. Under this legislation, companies will be able to voluntarily offer portable benefits without employing gig workers and having to pay for unemployment insurance, overtime pay, and workers’ compensation. For some time, there has been a disagreement between labor advocates and large companies like Uber or Lyft over portable benefits.

TLT LLP (24.08.2025) Climate-related risk is now firmly embedded in trustees’ responsibilities and consciousness.

worldbank.org (31.07.2025) This note is part of a collaboration between the World Bank’s development research group (DECRG) and development impact group (DIME) and the Dominican Pension Superintendency (SIPEN), the autonomous agency responsible for supervising the private pension system. The main goal of this collaboration is to leverage the rich administrative data managed by SIPEN to provide insight on the performance of the pension system for policymakers and the public and conduct academic research that can guide pension policy in the DR and beyond.

Investing in care leave and services for a more gender equal world of work

who.int (24.07.2025) The Innovation agenda for public health in the WHO European Region 2025–2030 is a strategic blueprint developed to accelerate transformative innovation across public health systems in the Region. The Agenda responds to converging demographic, epidemiological, environmental and technological challenges that demand urgent, systemic change through innovation. It identifies four high-impact “mega shifts”, each targeting key barriers and opportunities for health innovation.

This fact sheet explores ways to integrate and strengthen social protection to support a just transition in Senegal. Given the country's vulnerability to the effects of climate change, particularly in the agriculture, tourism, and fisheries sectors, the study highlights the importance of a robust social protection system to mitigate socioeconomic impacts and promote inclusion.

ilo.org (18.07.2025) This note has been developed to inform the government, social partners and other stakeholders on how social protection systems can play a pivotal role in supporting a just transition in Nigeria.

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.

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.

cepr.org (05.07.2025) 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.

worldbank.org (24.06.2025) This Guidance Note was developed to support Public Employment Services in navigating complex decisions involved in digitalizing employment services. As the role of PES evolves with the need to balance expanded mandates with limited resources, digitalization presents an opportunity to strengthen service delivery, enhance operational efficiency, and improve access for job seekers and employers. However, successful implementation depends on more than just introducing new technology.

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.