August 2026

India. New Pension Scheme: Deposit just Rs 99 every month and get pension, new scheme launched

Gig workers working for e-commerce platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit, and Urban Company can also receive pensions. A new framework has been introduced under the National Pension System (NPS), allowing these workers to start their retirement fund with a small contribution of just ₹99. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) announced this new facility on Wednesday, which will directly benefit millions of gig workers. The PFRDA stated that platform workers can now invest in NPS at their convenience....

July 2026

Pensions at a Glance Asia/Pacific 2024

By OECD This study presents a range of indicators to enable comparisons between the pension systems of economies in the Asia/Pacific region. It also includes data for the larger countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD). The report was drafted by Andrew Reilly of the Social Policy Division of the OECD Secretariat. Lucy Hulett prepared the manuscript for publication. For this sixth report we are again indebted to the national experts who contributed to...

Inclusive Pensions for an Aging World: Evidence and Strategies for Engaging Informal Workers

By Clément Joubert, Jessica Meckler, Simrin Makhija & Lili Vessereau This Working Paper reviews how different countries have designed pension schemes for informal workers. It focuses on contributory schemes for the “missing middle”: informal workers who have sufficiently stable incomes to save for old age but lack access to suitable pension options. The paper draws upon public documentation and literature on how to target and scale pension schemes for informal sector workers. The world is experiencing a demographic shift in which populations...

Extending Pension Coverage to the Informal Sector in Africa

By Melis Guven  The coverage of pension systems in the Africa region is limited to the small segment of the population in the formal sector. Coverage is thin partly because traditional contributory pension schemes are not responding to the needs of the informal sector. As a result, a large share of the region’s adult population has no access to contributory pension schemes during their working lives. This means they will not be eligible for a pension. It also means the...

Nigeria pension assets jump 51% to $22.8 billion, regulator says

Nigeria's pension assets rose ​51% in two years to ‌31.48 trillion naira ($22.80 billion), while membership of the country's contributory pension scheme ​grew by nearly 1 ​million workers to 11.32 million, the ⁠National Pension Commission (PenCom) said on Tuesday. PenCom ​chief Omolola Oloworaran told reporters ​that assets under management increased from 20.79 trillion naira in July 2024, a rise ​attributed to stronger confidence in ​the pension system. A 758 billion naira bond ‌helped ⁠clear obligations dating back to 2007, benefiting 957,045...

June 2026

Nigeria. PenCom’s pension expansion drive targets nine million transport workers

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has rolled out a fresh drive to extend pension coverage to about nine million transport workers under the Personal Pension Plan (PPP). The plan is expected to deepen financial inclusion and expand social security for the informal sector operators. The initiative, being developed in partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), is expected to increase retirement savings among workers in one of Nigeria’s largest informal-sector groups while creating a framework for structured financing of mass-transit vehicles...

Brussels forces open Dutch pensions fortress – but will anyone enter?

The European Commission has persuaded the Netherlands to dismantle a long-standing barrier in one of Europe’s largest pension markets. In theory, the move could open access to more than €1.3 trillion in retirement assets. Yet in practice, the impact of this apparent victory for the EU single market may be very limited. In late May, Dutch Social Affairs Minister Hans Vijlbrief told parliament that the government would change pension legislation after the Commission concluded that current rules unfairly restrict EU...

May 2026

Financial Stability Review 2025

By Financial Stability Council The Financial Stability Review evaluates developments in Ghana’s financial system, with emphasis on policies implemented to mitigate emerging risks to financial stability. This report is organised into eight (8) chapters: macro-financial developments, developments in Ghana’s financial system, assessment of the Banking, Insurance, Securities, and Pensions Industries, financial sector resilience, and a special features section that highlights topical issues of relevance to financial stability. In this current edition, two new sections have been introduced – key Financial...

Ghana. Informal sector pension coverage rises to 16.7%

Pension coverage among informal sector workers in Ghana increased from 13.2 per cent in 2024 to 16.7 per cent in 2025, the Financial Stability Review 2025 has revealed. The Review attributed the increase to intensified public education campaigns, improved enrolment strategies, and the introduction of flexible pension products tailored to self-employed workers. The report said the growth formed part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the sustainability of Ghana’s three-tier pension system and expanding access to retirement savings opportunities. It said the...

Jamaica. Pension regulator says micro-pension plan unworkable for informal sector

The Financial Services Commission (FSC) has ruled out a state-administered micro-pension scheme for the more than one million workers currently without retirement coverage. A micro-pension is a retirement savings product designed for low-income and informally employed workers, allowing sporadic or irregular contributions as low as $400. "It was determined that a micro-pensions product would not be feasible for Jamaica," an FSC consultation paper stated. "However, it was stressed that the  Approved Retirement Schemes (ARS) framework could be strengthened for greater accessibility...