labour and globalisation blog for journalists and media
By Jonathan Tasini
You are going to see a lot of rubbish in the coming weeks about the virtues of yet another so-called “free trade” deal, this one with Colombia. It’s always interesting–mind-boggling and enraging as well–that proponents of so-called “free trade” spew a whole bunch of nonsense about the virtues of these deals and what we will all get from them–but then they are never held to account when those promises turn out to be unfulfilled.
By Collins Olayinka
Nigeria may not join the group of 20 top economically vibrant nations of the world by 2020 as envisioned by President Umaru Yar’Adua unless attention is shifted from the extractive to industrial sector of the economy, warns Abdulwahed Omar, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Continue reading ‘Nigeria may miss 2020 economy target’
Over 200,000 foreign workers overstaying for up to 30 years in Malaysia have applied for permanent residence status and citizenship for which they are not qualified. “One does not acquire any right to permanent residence or citizenship just by working in the country. A guest worker in this country is a guest worker,” Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid Albar said. Continue reading ‘Malaysia: Overstaying workers cannot have permanent residence’
By Daniel Flitton
Australia is a step closer to accepting Pacific Island workers under a temporary arrangement to meet labour shortages. In a signal that the Government is looking to ease immigration laws and allow Pacific Islanders to work in Australia, parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs Duncan Kerr has challenged Australian industry to show precisely where more workers are needed.
Continue reading ‘Australia: Doors opening for guest-worker plan’
During his speech Thursday at Cooper Union in New York City, Obama spoke of financial equality, saying that the country’s current unequal distribution of excess is “no accident.” He said that regulation is needed to ensure fairness. Continue reading ‘US: Obama speaks on the Economy’
The Republic of Korea has recently ratified a new ILO Convention, the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health, Convention No. 187. This ratification will bring this important international labour standard designed to promote a “preventive safety and health culture” into force in the next 12 months. Continue reading ‘Republic of Korea ratifies ILO Safety and Health Convention’
By Barbara Surk and Sebastian Abbot
Oil-rich Gulf nations, already facing labor protests, are getting new pressure from India, which wants them to pay minimum wages for unskilled workers. The move by India - which has 5 million workers in the Gulf, making it the largest source of migrants - is the strongest push yet by workers’ home countries to win better conditions for their citizens. In the past, countries focused on maintaining the flow of billions of dollars workers send home every year, not their welfare. Continue reading ‘India pushes for worker rights in Gulf’
The Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) decided yesterday to include the item “Decent Work for Domestic Workers” on the agenda of the 99th session (2010) of the International Labour Conference. Continue reading ‘Domestic workers: Step towards an ILO international convention’
This just out via the Associated Press: The number of newly laid off workers filing for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level in nearly two months, providing more evidence that the weak economy is having an adverse impact on the labor market. Continue reading ‘US: More people out of work’
Malaysia should stop caning illegal immigrants because corporal punishment is prohibited under international human rights law, a global rights group said in a report released on Friday. Continue reading ‘Malaysia should stop caning illegal workers’
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