UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division

forbes.com (08.05.2017) Blockchain technology is making headlines everywhere. If you have recently attended any tech events it is highly likely that you came out of them having heard just that bit more about it. Everybody is talking about blockchain--from the President of the United States to the Nigerian government.

It’s no secret that America has a complicated relationship with healthcare. And with all the uncertainty of 2017 looming large over 2018, it can feel like a subject you just want to avoid reading about altogether.

But one startup is out to change all that. SimplyVital Health is using blockchain technology to give the healthcare industry a facelift.

The company has developed two products, both of which address different aspects and targets within the industry: ConnectingCare and Health Nexus.

ILO (22.02.2018) The ILO and UNHCR launch the Azraq Centre for Employment to help refugees access work permits and find employment.  The Azraq Centre for Employment (ACE), set up in coordination with the Government of Jordan and sponsored by the Dutch Government, aims to facilitate access to formal work opportunities across Jordan for Syrian refugees living in the camp.

OdishaDiary  (222.02.2018) Bhubaneswar: Work plays a central role in people’s lives. Therefore, work environments should be safe and healthy. Yet this is not the case for many workers. Every day workers all over the world are faced with a multitude of health hazards and even there are instances of fatal injuries. This, of course, prompted a number of legislations by government and a series of collective and concerted actions by industry stakeholders. Even so, we cannot afford to let up on our efforts.

Report McKinsey Global Institute (October 2017) Europe, while making progress, is behind the US and China in capturing the opportunities of artificial intelligence and automation. Digitization is everywhere, but adoption is uneven across companies, sectors, and economies, and the leaders are capturing most of the benefits. Accelerating progress in AI and automation now bring further opportunities for users, businesses, and the economy. Europe, while making progress, is behind the United States and China.

TDG (22.02.2018) De plus en plus de personnes sans emploi terminent à l'aide sociale. Une situation qui nécessite une action pour la Conférence suisse des institutions d'action sociale.

La Prensa (21.02.2018) En mayo 2017, el McKinsey Global Institute se sumó al creciente número de organizaciones que se pronuncian con respecto al impacto de la tecnología sobre el futuro del trabajo.

The SIMS (The Information System on Labor Markets and Social Security) is the main source of information on labor markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. It contains comparable statistics, institutional information and academic publications about labor markets in IDB country members. This platform, thought as a tool for researchers and labor policymakers, aims to support development initiatives in the region by strengthening evidence-based policy design.

Diario Digital Nuestro País (20.02.2018) Representantes de los sectores sociales en la Mesa de Diálogo que aborda el tema de la informalidad en el mercado de trabajo, firmaron este 20 de febrero el acuerdo de implementación de la Estrategia Integral de Transición a la Economía Formal en Costa Rica, que tiene como objetivo facilitar la transición de las personas trabajadoras y las unidades económicas de la economía informal a la economía formal.

Diario Digital Nuestro País (20.02.2018) Representantes de los sectores sociales en la Mesa de Diálogo que aborda el tema de la informalidad en el mercado de trabajo, firmaron este 20 de febrero el acuerdo de implementación de la Estrategia Integral de Transición a la Economía Formal en Costa Rica, que tiene como objetivo facilitar la transición de las personas trabajadoras y las unidades económicas de la economía informal a la economía formal.

McKinsey (Nov 2017) In an era marked by rapid advances in automation and artificial intelligence, new research assesses the jobs lost and jobs gained under different scenarios through 2030.

Journal du Cameroun (21.02.2018) Swaziland has been selected to host the International Social Security Association (ISSA) liaison office for southern Africa for the next six years, APA learnt here on Tuesday.ISSA is a global organisation that brings together national security social administrators and was founded in 1927.  It has 330 member organisations in 158 countries.

xinhuanet (26.12.2017)  Shanghai will launch a long-term care insurance program in 2018, expected to benefit three million elderly people, local authorities said Tuesday. Shanghai, one of the 15 pilot cities in China to implement long-term care insurance, carried out the program on a pilot basis in three districts of Xuhui, Putuo and Jinshan in 2017. About 25,000 elderly people applied for care services and 14,000 of them became beneficiaries. From 2018, urban and rural residents who are aged 60 and older, and are recipients of health care insurance, can participate in the program.

rand.org (2012) Old-age disability and long-term care (LTC) have not yet been well studied in China. Using logistic regressions and a prevalence ratio projection model, and considering international practices, this dissertation addresses three research questions: What are the key risk factors for old-age disability in China? What are the projected numbers of older adults with disabilities in China in future decades through 2050?

The world today is immensely different than the world of ten years ago. Ten years ago, the internet was abuzz with talk of “Web 2.0,” people were most concerned about setting their top-eight friends on Myspace and the world was just being introduced to the first iPhone. Since then, the internet and all things digital have continued their rapid growth. That’s no surprise there, as you’re most likely reading this article from a mobile device. This new age of widespread interconnectivity and the accompanying business growth spurred by it is now being referred to as the digital economy.

Speech of ISSA Secretary General in Ireland, 9 November 2017

The Manila Times  (19.02.2018) Investing in the employment of young people is important to poverty reduction and the country’s inclusive economic growth, according to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) Brief. The paper said youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) and slow in school-to-work transition is a challenge in the Philippines and the Southeast Asia and Pacific region.

Aujourd'hui le Maroc (19.02.2018) Le ministère délégué auprès du chef de gouvernement chargé des affaires générales et de la gouvernance et l’Unicef viennent de lancer un appel à consultation pour le recrutement d’un cabinet d’études ou un groupe de consultants. Celui-ci sera ainsi chargé d’établir des scénarios concrets de réforme pour asseoir un système de protection sociale intégré et performant.

The world economy has strengthened as lingering fragilities related to the global financial crisis subside. In 2017, global economic growth reached 3 per cent—the highest growth rate since 2011—and growth is expected to remain steady for the coming year.  The improved global economic situation provides an opportunity for countries to focus policy towards longer-term issues such as low carbon economic growth, reducing inequalities, economic diversification and eliminating deep-rooted barriers that hinder development.

There’s a need for better access to medical technology in the region—a forward-looking approach will help companies reach more patients.

Migration has become a flashpoint for debate in many countries. But McKinsey Global Institute research finds that it generates significant economic benefits—and more effective integration of immigrants could increase those benefits.

Migration is a key feature of our increasingly interconnected world. It has also become a flashpoint for debate in many countries, which underscores the importance of understanding the patterns of global migration and the economic impact that is created when people move across the world’s borders.

The country is becoming a hub for global AI development. Five priorities can help China harness AI for productivity growth and prepare for the societal shifts it may unleash.

Artificial intelligence, or the idea that computer systems can perform functions typically associated with the human mind, has gone from futuristic speculation to present-day reality. A new discussion paper from the McKinsey Global Institute, originally presented at the 2017 China Development Forum, explores AI’s potential to fuel China’s productivity growth—and to disrupt the nation’s workforce.

Dec 26, 2017 ANDREW SHENG ,  XIAO GENG

If China is to ensure the continued development of its digital economy, while containing the risks associated with disruption, its leaders will need to implement smart regulations. And that will require careful consideration of the factors that have contributed to – and impeded – its progress so far.