dailypioneer (09.03.2019) Universal social security must be ensured for all citizens without discrimination but unfortunately a vast majority of people in unorganised sector are still not covered under social security provisions. The National Commission on Enterprise in Unorganised Sector has calculated that 95 per cent of the work force is engaged in unorganised sector contributing almost 50 per cent to the national GDP but in return, they get nothing out of the national public fund.

The Economic Times (07.03.2019) The Union Cabinet Thursday approved a pact with Germany for cooperation in the field of occupation safety and health. The cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Germany on cooperation in the field of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), an official statement said.

Hindustan Times (19.02.2019) The changing nature of work is upending traditional employment globally, and with it, social protection systems. Take for instance, insurance, made possible through mandatory contribution and payroll taxes on formal wage employment.

devdiscourse (18.02.2019) The concept of ‘Vision Zero’ is fast gaining international acceptance and is expected to leverage the efforts of the Government of India to raise the occupational safety and health standards in the country so as to improve the occupational safety and health situation.

Financial Times (08.02.2019) There was good news from Brazil this week when a draft emerged of the government’s plans to overhaul the country’s deficit-ridden pensions system. The reform, under new president Jair Bolsonaro, would be a big step in setting the country back on the path to growth after its crushing recession of 2015-2016, raising hopes of investors who have seen several attempts to get the changes through congress fail over the past quarter of a century.

reuters.com (01.02.2019) India on Friday announced a pension scheme targeting at least 100 million workers in the unorganized sector, such as drivers, maids and cobblers

South China Morning Post (20.01.2019) Upside to row over setting new age threshold for welfare payments is chance it presents for city to look into where real job market lies for seniors Employers are becoming more flexible but changes in retirement age are never without controversy

Chinadaily.com (08.01.2019) The global population is becoming older due mainly to fewer children being born, reinforced by people living much longer. China is now home to the largest number of elderly people and their size is increasing faster than in most other aging countries, with the fastest increase happening among the oldest old (aged 80 or above).

El Pais (18.12.2018) Uno de cada cuatro pensionistas del país euroasiático tiene un empleo formal. La reforma de las pensiones está restando popularidad a Putin Rusia tiene una de las edades de jubilación más bajas del mundo desarrollado: 60 años para los hombres y 55 para las mujeres. Algo que, unido a las delgadas pensiones públicas—de media unos 13.323 rublos mensuales (unos 175 euros), según datos oficiales—, han creado un ecosistema de jubilados trabajadores. Como Antonova, 9,25 millones de rusos de los casi 40 que reciben una prestación por jubilación tiene un empleo formal, según datos de la Administración. Es decir, uno de cada cuatro. Aunque la cifra puede ser incluso mayor, como reconocen en el Fondo de Pensiones de Rusia, ya que no todos los empleos necesitan registrarse.

IMF Finance & Development Magazine | December 2018 - China strives to adapt social protection to the needs of a market economy

Nikkei Asian Review (01.12.2018)  Deal will relieve Japanese employees from double-paying pension contributions. The plenary session of Japan's upper house unanimously on Friday morning approved a bilateral social welfare agreement with China that will eliminate the requirement for their nationals to pay contributions into both countries' systems when they reside in each other's territory.

Times of India (12.11.2018) While the CPM has been vociferously expressing concerns on surveillance and privacy regarding the use of biometric-based identity, the state government’s proposed verification process of welfare pension beneficiaries will be based on biometric authentication.

sixthtone.com (31.10.2018) Chinese authorities plan to introduce a blacklist system by the end of the year that specifically targets those who pocket social security benefits, China News reported. 

Harbour Times (01.11.2018) New and repeat parents in Hong Kong are now entitled to longer parental leave, thanks to the latest Policy Address and LegCo decisions. But economic concerns might get in the way of future extensions.  Mrs Carrie Lam, Chief Executive, announced the extension of maternity leave from the current 10 weeks to 14 in her Policy Address on October 10. Both the public and private sectors have quickly followed suit.

orfonline.org (12.10.2018)  Arguably the most ambitious health insurance programme in the world today, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) gives India the chance to transform its healthcare infrastructure. This paper discusses these hurdles and concludes that if PMJAY succeeds, India's largest health insurance scheme would also become its most effective healthcare initiative.

Center For Global Development (26.09.2018)  India’s biometric ID, Aadhaar, is here to stay. This is the verdict of India’s Supreme Court which delivered a historic judgement today on a slew of petitions challenging the growing use of Aadhaar in the country. The apex court agreed that government can mandate its use to distribute government subsidies and benefits. It can also be required to be linked to the PAN, India’s tax ID number—an issue that has been hotly contested. However, Aadhaar will not be mandatory for opening bank accounts or getting mobile connections. Private entities cannot insist on Aadhaar as a condition for providing services. Most importantly, eligible beneficiaries cannot be denied their entitlements even in cases where their biometric authentication fails for some reason.

jagranjosh (09.10.2018) The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) was awarded the ‘ISSA Good Practice Award’ for administrative solution for coverage extension at the ‘Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific’ held recently at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The award recognizes the measures taken by ESIC for extension of coverage of the Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE), reducing the rate of contribution rates for 24 months in newly implemented areas and raising the wage limit for coverage under the ESI Act.

Duma.gov (28.09.2018)  The Convention establishes worldwide-agreed minimum standards for medical care, sickness, unemployment, old-age, employment injury, family, maternity, invalidity, and survivors' benefits. For each of these sections, the Convention defines the covered risks and fixes the minimum requirements for the range of protected individuals, the amount of payments or the volume of services provided, the duration of the social security and the necessary length of service to obtain it.

Asian Development Bank (September 2018) This brief discusses impacts of an aging population on an economy like the People’s Republic of China and shares the country’s present elderly care system, its drawbacks, and policy implications.

moroccoworldnews.com (28.08.2018) According to the World Bank, Morocco and India launched the India-Morocco Social Register cooperation on Monday, August 27.  The memorandum is expected to cement institutional ties between the two countries, with the goal of using common digital tools to identify and meet the needs of their respective populations.