arabnews.com (20.08.2026) Pakistan has launched a digital pension verification system that allows pensioners to complete the process remotely, ending the need for routine visits to banks and making pension disbursements faster and more convenient. The move is part of the government’s broader effort to digitize pension administration and reduce the paperwork faced by retired public sector employees.

outlookmoney.com (13.08.2026) India’s gig workforce can plan and save for their retirement by investing in the National Pension System (NPS) through the NPS E-Shramik model, especially designed for them, with no fixed minimum or maximum contribution

adb.org (06.08.2026) Subsidy reform is often seen as raising prices and cutting support. In practice, it is more about transforming how governments provide support so that it is better targeted, efficient, and more sustainable in the long term. Experience from South Asia shows that subsidy reform works best when it is part of wider efforts to improve public finances, strengthen institutions, and protect vulnerable people.

Aju Press AMP (30.07.2026) South Korea is considering requiring delivery apps and other digital labor platforms to explain how their algorithms distribute work, as the government prepares legal changes needed to ratify a international convention protecting platform workers. The move follows the International Labour Organization (ILO) newly adopted convention, the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, last month. It is the first international labor standard specifically dedicated to work arranged through digital platforms.

theguardian.com (23.06.2026) Recommendations from commission propose gradual rise in retirement age by the early 2090s

forbes.com (29.06.2026) A KFF analysis reveals 26.7 million Americans are uninsured, but the report suggests this figure oversimplifies the issue. Over half of the uninsured may be eligible for existing subsidized plans, and many forgo coverage by choice, not solely due to cost. The article argues that Obamacare's mandates contribute to expensive and restrictive insurance options, while limited access to short-term plans and Medicaid's low doctor reimbursement further deter enrollment.

thewire.in (22.06.2026) Gig and platform workers face not just income insecurity but arbitrary rules and regulations, often determined by where they happen to work.

Ogletree (12.06.2026) On June 12, 2026, the International Labour Conference adopted the Convention Concerning Decent Work in the Platform Economy (No. 193), the first international labor standard specifically designed for platform and gig economy work. This matters even for companies that do not consider themselves “platform operators.”

opengovasia.com (31.05.2026) India’s PM SVANidhi scheme is strengthening financial inclusion for street vendors by providing affordable working capital loans, digital payment incentives and links to social welfare programmes. Introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative supports vendors whose livelihoods depend on small daily transactions and who often lack access to formal credit. According to information released by the Government of India, the programme has already supported millions of vendors nationwide and will now continue lending until March 2030.

OpenGov Asia (20.05.2026) Indonesia will expand trials of its digital social protection platform, known as Perlinsos, to 42 cities and districts in June 2026. The initiative represents a significant scale-up of a pilot programme designed to modernise welfare distribution through integrated digital public infrastructure.