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.

ioandc.com (19.05.2026) Australia’s superannuation system regularly earns international praise for its scale and sustainability, but a survey of recent pension reforms across OECD countries suggests the policy agenda is far from settled. From rising retirement ages to mandated decumulation products, the changes taking place in peer economies offer a preview of debates likely to intensify locally.

(2026) Chile combines high income levels and strong human development outcomes with persistent inequality. This paper examines the country's social protection matrix, focusing on its institutional configuration, financial structure, and main outcomes. The analysis distinguishes three core components—mandated savings, occupational insurance, and social assistance—and explores their respective roles in redistribution, poverty reduction, and political sustainability. The results show a hybrid matrix shaped by successive policy regimes, with a marked bias toward old-age protection.

ela.europa.eu (April 2026) This report aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the main characteristics of and challenges for the LTC sector in EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (9), addressing primarily issues falling within the institutional mandate of the European Labour Authority (ELA). Drawing on available data, it seeks to provide insight into the sector’s labour market dynamics, workforce characteristics, recruitment practices, employment and working conditions, enforcement of labour mobility and social security coordination rules, and information provision

theconversation.com (29.03.2026) South Africa introduced a new amendment to the parental leave policy in October 2025. The aim was to provide equitable rights for all parents. Noreth Muller-Kluits, a disability researcher and social worker by training, examines the policy as it affects people living with disabilities. Her recent work includes formulating a guide to support reproductive healthcare for women with disabilities.

employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu (17.03.2026) A new report by the European Social Policy Analysis Network (ESPAN) examines long-term care (LTC) settings for older people in 38 countries: the 27 EU countries, nine (potential) candidate countries, as well as Iceland and Norway.

Public Employment Services (PES) are increasingly adopting digital tools for jobseeker registration, vacancy matching and satisfaction monitoring to respond to an older client base, shifting labour market conditions and organisational challenges. They are also adopting skills-based approaches, particularly in client profiling. Furthermore, most PES are involved in the management, coordination, and delivery of the reinforced Youth Guarantee (YG), with involvement increasing since 2023 across various phases of its delivery.

ilo.org (6 March 2026) This paper explores how the evolving platform economy is reshaping the economic landscape across Asia and the Pacific, and how countries in this diverse region are navigating emerging opportunities and challenges.

theconversation.com (13.04.2026) The familiar silhouette of bike and scooter delivery workers has become part of Paris’ urban landscape. For many city dwellers who rely on them to deliver meals to their door, these precarious workers remain largely “invisible” in surveys and public statistics. Yet, the availability of quality data about online platforms’ delivery drivers is a major issue.