All India Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Trade Unions Co-ordination Committee (AIHALTUCC) on Monday started its indefinite strike for 'fair and early settlement of wage revision of the employees'.

Speaking to ANI, General Secretary of Hindustan Aeronautics Employees Association (HAEA) Suryadevara Chandrashekhar said: "The HAL executives have taken a gross hike of 35 per cent and 110 per cent to 140 per cent in perks and we are just demanding parity." He said that so far 11 rounds of negotiations had been held with the management and wage committees but nothing fruitful was achieved as the management was claiming that the company's financial condition was not good.

Chandrashekhar said that the AIHALTUCC had "no other option as they are forced to go on agitation path, for achieving fair and early wage revision of the employees."

On October 1, in a letter to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Chandrashekhar had said that the firm "did not respect the advice of the Defence Ministry and the Conciliation authorities to negotiate and resolve the issue in an amicable way."

Responding to the letter, the HAL had said that the proposed indefinite strike by firm's trade union was illegal and workers would&nbsp;lose various company benefits if they go ahead with it.

The statement further read that the AIHALTUCC has decided to resort to an indefinite strike to fulfil their "untenable demands" and the unreasonable nature of their demands had been brought out in a number of meetings.

HAL added that the management was open for discussions and conclusion of wage revision effective from January 1 could be achieved only with the co-operation of the unions based on realistic and affordable demands.

All India Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Trade Unions Co-ordination Committee (AIHALTUCC) on Monday started its indefinite strike for 'fair and early settlement of wage revision of the employees'.

All India Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Trade Unions Co-ordination Committee (AIHALTUCC) on Monday started its indefinite strike for 'fair and early settlement of wage revision of the employees'. Speaking to ANI, General Secretary of Hindustan Aeronautics Employees Association (HAEA) Suryadevara Chandrashekhar said: "The HAL executives have taken a gross hike of 35 per cent and 110 per cent to 140 per cent in perks and we are just demanding parity." He said that so far 11 rounds of negotiations had been held with the management and wage committees but nothing fruitful was achieved as the management was claiming that the company's financial condition was not good. Chandrashekhar said that the AIHALTUCC had "no other option as they are forced to go on agitation path, for achieving fair and early wage revision of the employees." On October 1, in a letter to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Chandrashekhar had said that the firm "did not respect the advice of the Defence Ministry and the Conciliation authorities to negotiate and resolve the issue in an amicable way." Responding to the letter, the HAL had said that the proposed indefinite strike by firm's trade union was illegal and workers would lose various company benefits if they go ahead with it. The statement further read that the AIHALTUCC has decided to resort to an indefinite strike to fulfil their "untenable demands" and the unreasonable nature of their demands had been brought out in a number of meetings. HAL added that the management was open for discussions and conclusion of wage revision effective from January 1 could be achieved only with the co-operation of the unions based on realistic and affordable demands.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited employees launch indefinite countrywide strike over wage revision

A future&nbsp;Labour&nbsp;government would more than double the minimum wage in Britain for workers under the age of 18 to 10 pounds an hour, its leader said on Saturday, stepping up his campaign over the cost of living.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/news-brief-big-stories-of-the-day-216015">Jeremy Corbyn </a>told a party gathering that employers should not be allowed to exploit younger workers and vowed to bring the salaries of those under 18 in line with the broader workforce.

Former&nbsp;Labour&nbsp;leader Tony Blair introduced a minimum wage in Britain in 1999. Overseen by an independent body, it has steadily increased and now stands at 8.21 pounds for workers over 25, while those under 18 are entitled to 4.35 pounds.

Labour&nbsp;has vowed to increase the overall minimum wage to 10 pounds an hour and to include younger workers.

"It's time to end this discrimination. Young people's work should be properly valued, not exploited by employers to cut their wage bill. If they're doing the job, pay them the wage - the real living wage," he said.

With British politics in deadlock over Brexit, company bosses are increasingly examining the policies of&nbsp;Labour&nbsp;to see how they would be affected by a change of government.

Labour, which under socialist leader Corbyn has shifted from a centrist pro-business platform to a more interventionist left-wing pitch, vowed last year that large companies would be forced to transfer as much as 10 per cent of their shares to workers, to help more people share economic prosperity.

It has also announced plans to nationalise key industries such as water, energy and rail, and to give workers seats on boards.

Labour&nbsp;said on Saturday it would give support to small and medium-sized businesses to help them fund the wage increase, by making savings on the benefits that are paid to people already in work.

Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the proposals could deter companies from hiring younger workers.

A future Labour government would more than double the minimum wage in Britain for workers under the age of 18 to 10 pounds an hour, its leader said on Saturday, stepping up his campaign over the cost of living.

A future Labour government would more than double the minimum wage in Britain for workers under the age of 18 to 10 pounds an hour, its leader said on Saturday, stepping up his campaign over the cost of living. Jeremy Corbyn told a party gathering that employers should not be allowed to exploit younger workers and vowed to bring the salaries of those under 18 in line with the broader workforce. Former Labour leader Tony Blair introduced a minimum wage in Britain in 1999. Overseen by an independent body, it has steadily increased and now stands at 8.21 pounds for workers over 25, while those under 18 are entitled to 4.35 pounds. Labour has vowed to increase the overall minimum wage to 10 pounds an hour and to include younger workers. "It's time to end this discrimination. Young people's work should be properly valued, not exploited by employers to cut their wage bill. If they're doing the job, pay them the wage - the real living wage," he said. With British politics in deadlock over Brexit, company bosses are increasingly examining the policies of Labour to see how they would be affected by a change of government. Labour, which under socialist leader Corbyn has shifted from a centrist pro-business platform to a more interventionist left-wing pitch, vowed last year that large companies would be forced to transfer as much as 10 per cent of their shares to workers, to help more people share economic prosperity. It has also announced plans to nationalise key industries such as water, energy and rail, and to give workers seats on boards. Labour said on Saturday it would give support to small and medium-sized businesses to help them fund the wage increase, by making savings on the benefits that are paid to people already in work. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the proposals could deter companies from hiring younger workers.

UK's Labour vows to more than double youth minimum wage

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-garment-workers-reject-wage-hike-walk-off-job-190243&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwizxLPUi_LfAhWYiXAKHQToCEsQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw11m1JegTHjQ00_pjANUu0X">Bangladesh factories</a> making clothes for Western brands have sacked hundreds of workers after more than a week of strikes and clashes over wages, police and trade unions said Wednesday.

The country's $30 billion clothing industry is the world's second-largest after <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/canada-asks-china-clemency-for-convicted-drug-trafficker-190654&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjnir7zi_LfAhVMQ48KHaUzABUQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0_Retnfxy5S1hOjupDeoRT">China</a>. It's some four million workers at 4,500 factories make garments for global retail giants H&amp;M, Walmart and many others.

Protests by thousands of employees over low wages began earlier this month, prompting scores of manufacturers to halt production.

One worker was killed and more than 50 injured last week after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters in a key industrial town outside the capital Dhaka.

The demonstrations died down this week after the government agreed to raise salaries, but many returned to work on Wednesday to discover they had been laid off.

A top union leader said at least 750 workers at various companies in the manufacturing hub of Ashulia had found notices hanging on factory gates informing them of their dismissal along with photos of their faces.

"This is unjust. The owners are doing it to create a climate of fear so that no one can dare to stage protests or demand fair wages," the leader said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Police told me not to create trouble. Otherwise, I'll be disappeared."

Police and a senior factory manager gave a lower total of around 400 workers fired for damaging equipment during the strike -- with more than half from one Ashulia plant called Metro Knitting and Dyeing.

Metro Knitting's general manager Atiqul Islam told AFP that the company has reported nearly 300 workers to police for smashing the factory's CCTV cameras and computers.

"Some 10,000 apparel items made for export also went missing," Islam added.

So far 12 arrests have been made for vandalism during the unrest, local police said.

The strikes came a few weeks after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — accused by rights and opposition groups of becoming increasingly authoritarian — was re-elected on December 30 after a violence-plagued campaign.

Bangladesh factories making clothes for Western brands have sacked hundreds of workers after more than a week of strikes and clashes over wages, police and trade unions said Wednesday.

Bangladesh factories making clothes for Western brands have sacked hundreds of workers after more than a week of strikes and clashes over wages, police and trade unions said Wednesday. The country's $30 billion clothing industry is the world's second-largest after China. It's some four million workers at 4,500 factories make garments for global retail giants H&M, Walmart and many others. Protests by thousands of employees over low wages began earlier this month, prompting scores of manufacturers to halt production. One worker was killed and more than 50 injured last week after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters in a key industrial town outside the capital Dhaka. The demonstrations died down this week after the government agreed to raise salaries, but many returned to work on Wednesday to discover they had been laid off. A top union leader said at least 750 workers at various companies in the manufacturing hub of Ashulia had found notices hanging on factory gates informing them of their dismissal along with photos of their faces. "This is unjust. The owners are doing it to create a climate of fear so that no one can dare to stage protests or demand fair wages," the leader said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Police told me not to create trouble. Otherwise, I'll be disappeared." Police and a senior factory manager gave a lower total of around 400 workers fired for damaging equipment during the strike -- with more than half from one Ashulia plant called Metro Knitting and Dyeing. Metro Knitting's general manager Atiqul Islam told AFP that the company has reported nearly 300 workers to police for smashing the factory's CCTV cameras and computers. "Some 10,000 apparel items made for export also went missing," Islam added. So far 12 arrests have been made for vandalism during the unrest, local police said. The strikes came a few weeks after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — accused by rights and opposition groups of becoming increasingly authoritarian — was re-elected on December 30 after a violence-plagued campaign.

Hundreds sacked after Bangladesh garment strikes

U.S. job growth likely increased at a strong clip in November and wages rebounded as the distortions from the recent hurricanes faded, creating a portrait of a healthy economy that analysts say does not require the kind of fiscal stimulus that President Donald Trump is proposing.

According to a Reuters survey of economists, the Labor Department&#39;s closely watched employment report on Friday will likely show that nonfarm payrolls rose by 200,000 jobs last month after surging 261,000 in October.&nbsp;Employment gains in October were boosted by the return to work of thousands of employees who had been temporarily dislocated by Hurricanes - Harvey and Irma. November&#39;s report will be the first clean reading since the storms, which also impacted September&#39;s employment data.&nbsp;

The unemployment rate is forecast to be unchanged at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent. Average hourly earnings are expected to have risen 0.3 percent in November after being flat the prior month. That would lift the annual increase in wages to 2.7 percent from 2.4 percent in October.&nbsp;Readings in line with expectations would underscore the economy&#39;s strength and fuel criticism of efforts by Trump and his fellow Republicans in the U.S. Congress to cut the corporate income tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent.

&quot;The labor market is in great shape. Tax cuts should be used when the economy needs tax cuts and it doesn&#39;t need tax cuts right now&quot;, said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania. He added, &quot;When politics and economics are mixed in the stew, the policies that are created often have an awful smell&quot;.

Republicans argue that the proposed tax cut package will boost the economy and allow companies to hire more workers. But with the labor market near full employment and companies reporting difficulties finding qualified workers, economists disagree. Job openings are near a record high.&nbsp;

&quot;Companies want workers and do not need tax cuts to give them the financial wherewithal to hire more workers&quot;, said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG in New York. He said, &quot;It&#39;s labor, that the economy is running out of&quot;.

The economy grew at a 3.3 percent annualized rate in the third quarter, the fastest in three years.

Full Employment

While November`s employment report will probably have little impact on expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its Dec. 12-13 policy meeting, it could help shape the debate on monetary policy next year.&nbsp;The U.S. central bank has increased borrowing costs twice this year. It has forecast three rate hikes in 2018.&nbsp;

Job growth has averaged 168,000 jobs per month this year, down from the average monthly gain of 187,000 in 2016. A slowdown in job growth is normal when the labor market nears full employment.&nbsp;The economy needs to create 75,000 to 100,000 jobs per month to keep up with growth in the working-age population.

The unemployment rate has declined by seven-tenths of a percentage point this year. Economists believe that the tightening labor market will unleash a faster pace of wage growth next year.&nbsp;That, combined with the tax cuts, would help boost inflation. 
&quot;I think that in the next three to six months we will see a broader uptick in wage pressures. Given where we are in the economic cycle, if you throw some gasoline in the fire with fiscal stimulus, that will ultimately spark some higher inflation&quot;, said David Donabedian, chief investment officer of CIBC Atlantic Trust in Baltimore.&nbsp; 
 
Employment gains were likely broad in November. Construction payrolls are expected to show strong growth, thanks in part to rebuilding efforts in the areas devastated by the hurricanes.&nbsp;Another month of steady increases is expected in manufacturing employment while hiring for the holiday season likely boosted retail payrolls.

Retailers, including Macy&#39;s Inc, reported strong Black Friday sales.&nbsp;Macy&#39;s said that this month it would hire an additional 7,000 temporary workers for its stores to deal with heavy customer traffic in the run-up to Christmas.

A growth in United States' job sector is anticipated with hourly earnings going up. The unemployment rate is forecast to remain unchanged

U.S. job growth likely increased at a strong clip in November and wages rebounded as the distortions from the recent hurricanes faded, creating a portrait of a healthy economy that analysts say does not require the kind of fiscal stimulus that President Donald Trump is proposing. According to a Reuters survey of economists, the Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday will likely show that nonfarm payrolls rose by 200,000 jobs last month after surging 261,000 in October. Employment gains in October were boosted by the return to work of thousands of employees who had been temporarily dislocated by Hurricanes - Harvey and Irma. November's report will be the first clean reading since the storms, which also impacted September's employment data. The unemployment rate is forecast to be unchanged at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent. Average hourly earnings are expected to have risen 0.3 percent in November after being flat the prior month. That would lift the annual increase in wages to 2.7 percent from 2.4 percent in October. Readings in line with expectations would underscore the economy's strength and fuel criticism of efforts by Trump and his fellow Republicans in the U.S. Congress to cut the corporate income tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent. "The labor market is in great shape. Tax cuts should be used when the economy needs tax cuts and it doesn't need tax cuts right now", said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania. He added, "When politics and economics are mixed in the stew, the policies that are created often have an awful smell". Republicans argue that the proposed tax cut package will boost the economy and allow companies to hire more workers. But with the labor market near full employment and companies reporting difficulties finding qualified workers, economists disagree. Job openings are near a record high. "Companies want workers and do not need tax cuts to give them the financial wherewithal to hire more workers", said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG in New York. He said, "It's labor, that the economy is running out of". The economy grew at a 3.3 percent annualized rate in the third quarter, the fastest in three years. Full Employment While November`s employment report will probably have little impact on expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates at its Dec. 12-13 policy meeting, it could help shape the debate on monetary policy next year. The U.S. central bank has increased borrowing costs twice this year. It has forecast three rate hikes in 2018. Job growth has averaged 168,000 jobs per month this year, down from the average monthly gain of 187,000 in 2016. A slowdown in job growth is normal when the labor market nears full employment. The economy needs to create 75,000 to 100,000 jobs per month to keep up with growth in the working-age population. The unemployment rate has declined by seven-tenths of a percentage point this year. Economists believe that the tightening labor market will unleash a faster pace of wage growth next year. That, combined with the tax cuts, would help boost inflation. "I think that in the next three to six months we will see a broader uptick in wage pressures. Given where we are in the economic cycle, if you throw some gasoline in the fire with fiscal stimulus, that will ultimately spark some higher inflation", said David Donabedian, chief investment officer of CIBC Atlantic Trust in Baltimore. Employment gains were likely broad in November. Construction payrolls are expected to show strong growth, thanks in part to rebuilding efforts in the areas devastated by the hurricanes. Another month of steady increases is expected in manufacturing employment while hiring for the holiday season likely boosted retail payrolls. Retailers, including Macy's Inc, reported strong Black Friday sales. Macy's said that this month it would hire an additional 7,000 temporary workers for its stores to deal with heavy customer traffic in the run-up to Christmas.

Strong November US job gains anticipated; wages seen rising

Chilli harvesting on the farms of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana draws many young workers from the bordering states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. They come here not for the wages, but to take home chillies for the whole year. Such is the desire to stock the hot condiment that some of the boys and girls probably even miss school to join the large chilli-harvesting labour force. It&rsquo;s their only chance in the year to collect and bring home this daily staple.

The children consume far fewer chillis than the adults in their families, for whom it&rsquo;s a daily food item. But they are in the forefront here &ndash; at least half of the labourers here are children &ndash; stocking up the entire year&rsquo;s supply. They manage to &ldquo;earn&rdquo; enough of the precious chillies to last till the next harvest. Instead of Rs.120 as daily wages, they prefer to get paid in chillies worth that amount &ndash; it adds up to half or even a full quintal of chillies for some families, depending on the amount of work done. At around Rs. 100 a kilo, that works out to Rs.10,000 for a quintal.

This is rich earnings, and more economical for the families. A family may consume between 12-20 kilos of chillis a year. What remains could be sold in the market for an extra income. And it ensures a year-round stock at home of the best and freshest farm plucked chillies.

&ldquo;We are 20 people from our village and we will stay here for three weeks,&rdquo; Umashankar Podiyami from Gutumuda village of Odisha&rsquo;s Malkangiri district said. &quot;Everyone in this group prefers to work for chillies rather than for money.&rdquo;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/02-dsc_0024-pst-children_of_the_chilli_fie.max-1400x1120-20171120062241.jpg" />
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Umashankar has come from Malkangiri district to earn chillis for his family (Others)
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Massive mounds of the bright red spice are piled on the roads alongside the green chilli farms of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The chillis are in abundance from February to April. The mostly tribal labourers from adjoining Odisha and Chhattisgarh pluck, sort, stack, fill and ready the chillies for transportation to the market for retail or export.

Enthusiastic children &ndash; around half of the labour force here &ndash; run around the chilli mounds, sorting and packing the chillis into jute sacks. Despite the enthusiasm, it is poverty that drives the children to these farms. Most of their families live below the poverty line. A lack of employment in their own regions compels them to cross the border into India&rsquo;s top chilli-producing states.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/03-dsc_0064-pst-children_of_the_chilli_fie.max-1400x1120-20171120062325.jpg" />
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Adivasis from Chhattisgarh and Odisha work on collecting the chillis (Others)
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Besides, chilli is the only consistent item in all their meals, including breakfast. It has nutrients that enable them to subsist without many other food items. It also adds spice to some otherwise unpalatable dishes. Chilli is also used in their rituals and therefore the demand for it is even greater.

Vetti Moye, 14, was among those who had crossed the Chhattisgarh border to work in the chilli fields of Andhra Pradesh. After Moye, who is from Badecity village in Sukma district, lost his father to malaria two years ago, he had to leave school to earn a living from the family&rsquo;s small plot of land. Sometimes, he also works on construction sites. After harvesting his own land, he was here for the chilli collection.

Moye had come with 35 other workers from his village. All of them said they prefer to take chillies home instead of money. &quot;The wage for plucking chilli is Rs. 120 a day, &ldquo; Moye said. &ldquo;If paid through chilli, we get one out of every 12 lots of chilli we pluck. We prefer this as our wage.&rdquo;

At the end of the season, the young labourers from across the borders take the chilli bounty home to sustain their households and add a bit of spice to their lives. Schooling and other activities take a backseat when the chillies have to come home.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/04-dsc_0108-pst-children_of_the_chilli_fie.max-1400x1120-20171120062357.jpg" />
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Sacks-full of chillis being taken home to stock up for the year (Others)
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This <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/articles/children-of-the-chilli-fields">article</a> was originally published on 21/11/2015 on the <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/">People&#39;s Archive of Rural India</a>.

Groups of labourers, many of them children, cross the borders to work on the farms of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ? and take home chillis as wages

Chilli harvesting on the farms of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana draws many young workers from the bordering states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. They come here not for the wages, but to take home chillies for the whole year. Such is the desire to stock the hot condiment that some of the boys and girls probably even miss school to join the large chilli-harvesting labour force. It’s their only chance in the year to collect and bring home this daily staple. The children consume far fewer chillis than the adults in their families, for whom it’s a daily food item. But they are in the forefront here – at least half of the labourers here are children – stocking up the entire year’s supply. They manage to “earn” enough of the precious chillies to last till the next harvest. Instead of Rs.120 as daily wages, they prefer to get paid in chillies worth that amount – it adds up to half or even a full quintal of chillies for some families, depending on the amount of work done. At around Rs. 100 a kilo, that works out to Rs.10,000 for a quintal. This is rich earnings, and more economical for the families. A family may consume between 12-20 kilos of chillis a year. What remains could be sold in the market for an extra income. And it ensures a year-round stock at home of the best and freshest farm plucked chillies. “We are 20 people from our village and we will stay here for three weeks,” Umashankar Podiyami from Gutumuda village of Odisha’s Malkangiri district said. "Everyone in this group prefers to work for chillies rather than for money.” Umashankar has come from Malkangiri district to earn chillis for his family (Others) × Massive mounds of the bright red spice are piled on the roads alongside the green chilli farms of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The chillis are in abundance from February to April. The mostly tribal labourers from adjoining Odisha and Chhattisgarh pluck, sort, stack, fill and ready the chillies for transportation to the market for retail or export. Enthusiastic children – around half of the labour force here – run around the chilli mounds, sorting and packing the chillis into jute sacks. Despite the enthusiasm, it is poverty that drives the children to these farms. Most of their families live below the poverty line. A lack of employment in their own regions compels them to cross the border into India’s top chilli-producing states. Adivasis from Chhattisgarh and Odisha work on collecting the chillis (Others) × Besides, chilli is the only consistent item in all their meals, including breakfast. It has nutrients that enable them to subsist without many other food items. It also adds spice to some otherwise unpalatable dishes. Chilli is also used in their rituals and therefore the demand for it is even greater. Vetti Moye, 14, was among those who had crossed the Chhattisgarh border to work in the chilli fields of Andhra Pradesh. After Moye, who is from Badecity village in Sukma district, lost his father to malaria two years ago, he had to leave school to earn a living from the family’s small plot of land. Sometimes, he also works on construction sites. After harvesting his own land, he was here for the chilli collection. Moye had come with 35 other workers from his village. All of them said they prefer to take chillies home instead of money. "The wage for plucking chilli is Rs. 120 a day, “ Moye said. “If paid through chilli, we get one out of every 12 lots of chilli we pluck. We prefer this as our wage.” At the end of the season, the young labourers from across the borders take the chilli bounty home to sustain their households and add a bit of spice to their lives. Schooling and other activities take a backseat when the chillies have to come home. Sacks-full of chillis being taken home to stock up for the year (Others) × This article was originally published on 21/11/2015 on the People's Archive of Rural India.

Children of the chilli fields

The weak outlook for the UK economy will outweigh any potential pay rise for British workers if the country&#39;s EU exit leads to immigration cuts, a report warned on Monday.

Future cuts to immigration could have a positive impact on the income of some British workers, but they will still be exposed to&nbsp;Brexit&#39;s impact on the broader economy, the Resolution Foundation think tank said.

Cleaners, security employees and sales staff are among those who have seen their income fall in recent years as a result of immigration, it said in an analysis.

These workers could see their income increase by between 0.2 and 0.6 per cent by 2018 if immigration fell immediately to tens of thousands a year, a key policy pledge by former prime minister David Cameron.

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<h5>The think tank warned a cut to migration would prove challenging for food and clothing manufacturers, as well as domestic personnel services, which rely more heavily on a foreign labour force.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The think tank warned a cut to migration would prove challenging for food and clothing manufacturers, as well as domestic personnel services, which rely more heavily on a foreign labour force." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
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But such a salary boost would not shelter workers from the wider economic consequences from Brexit, the think tank said.

The Bank of England earlier this month issued its biggest-ever downgrade of a GDP forecast in the light of Britain&#39;s looming EU exit.

Its growth forecast was slashed from 2.3 per cent for both 2017 and 2018 to 0.8 per cent next year and 1.8 per cent the year after.

&quot;Those expecting a wage boost off the back of a post-Brexit&nbsp;fall in migration are likely to be disappointed,&quot; said Stephen Clarke, a policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation.

&quot;Any such gains will be dwarfed by the losses caused by the post-referendum slowdown in the economy.&quot; 
 
Immigration was a focus point of the June 23 referendum, with campaigners to leave the EU calling for an end to freedom of movement for members of the bloc.

The Resolution Foundation said overall the increase in immigration over the past 10 years has not had an impact on the wages of British workers.

The think tank warned a cut to migration would prove challenging for food and clothing manufacturers, as well as domestic personnel services, which rely more heavily on a foreign labour force.

Prime Minister Theresa May, who replaced Cameron following the referendum, has said she intends to guarantee the rights of EU citizens currently living in Britain.

May said her promise depends on the rights of British citizens living in other EU countries being guaranteed after the UK leaves the union, which is not expected to happen before 2019. 
 
(AFP)

The study also warned that curbing migration would prove challenging for food and clothing manufacturers

The weak outlook for the UK economy will outweigh any potential pay rise for British workers if the country's EU exit leads to immigration cuts, a report warned on Monday. Future cuts to immigration could have a positive impact on the income of some British workers, but they will still be exposed to Brexit's impact on the broader economy, the Resolution Foundation think tank said. Cleaners, security employees and sales staff are among those who have seen their income fall in recent years as a result of immigration, it said in an analysis. These workers could see their income increase by between 0.2 and 0.6 per cent by 2018 if immigration fell immediately to tens of thousands a year, a key policy pledge by former prime minister David Cameron. The think tank warned a cut to migration would prove challenging for food and clothing manufacturers, as well as domestic personnel services, which rely more heavily on a foreign labour force. But such a salary boost would not shelter workers from the wider economic consequences from Brexit, the think tank said. The Bank of England earlier this month issued its biggest-ever downgrade of a GDP forecast in the light of Britain's looming EU exit. Its growth forecast was slashed from 2.3 per cent for both 2017 and 2018 to 0.8 per cent next year and 1.8 per cent the year after. "Those expecting a wage boost off the back of a post-Brexit fall in migration are likely to be disappointed," said Stephen Clarke, a policy analyst at the Resolution Foundation. "Any such gains will be dwarfed by the losses caused by the post-referendum slowdown in the economy." Immigration was a focus point of the June 23 referendum, with campaigners to leave the EU calling for an end to freedom of movement for members of the bloc. The Resolution Foundation said overall the increase in immigration over the past 10 years has not had an impact on the wages of British workers. The think tank warned a cut to migration would prove challenging for food and clothing manufacturers, as well as domestic personnel services, which rely more heavily on a foreign labour force. Prime Minister Theresa May, who replaced Cameron following the referendum, has said she intends to guarantee the rights of EU citizens currently living in Britain. May said her promise depends on the rights of British citizens living in other EU countries being guaranteed after the UK leaves the union, which is not expected to happen before 2019. (AFP)

Brexit fallout to dwarf benefits of pay rise: Report

Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj rushed to the rescue of 10,000 unemployed Indians who were stranded in Saudi Arabia without food at a camp. She ensured that the&nbsp;Indian Embassy in Jeddah supplied them immediately with food on Saturday.
<div class="twitter-block">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over Ten Thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported. <a href="https://twitter.com/JagranNews">@JagranNews</a>
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/759424598114873344">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div>
 
Swaraj reacted to a tweet by an Indian national who brought the plight of his fellow citizens to the notice of the Indian government.&nbsp; 
She assured that no Indian worker rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia will go without food. She also said that she was personally monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. 
 
&quot;Large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages closed down their factories&quot;, Swaraj tweeted 
 
&quot;While situation in Kuwait is manageable, matters are much worse in Saudi Arabia&quot;, she said. 
 
A man named Imran Khokhar had tweeted that 800 Indians were starving for past three days in Jeddah.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj">@SushmaSwaraj</a> after your quick reaction some camps got foods today <a href="https://t.co/BXpwLDCrEx">pic.twitter.com/BXpwLDCrEx</a>
&mdash; Imran Khokhar (@Imran_khokhar84) <a href="https://twitter.com/Imran_khokhar84/status/759382994876502016">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
 
Thousands of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The factory workers have not been paid wages by their employers and factories were also shut down.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation.
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/759427375809503232">July 30, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script>Swaraj also appealed to the three million Indians living in Saudi Arabia to help their &quot;fellow brothers and sisters&quot;. 
 
(WION)

Swaraj's response came after an Indian, Imran Khokhar, had tweeted that 800 unemployed nationals were starving in Saudi Arabia

Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj rushed to the rescue of 10,000 unemployed Indians who were stranded in Saudi Arabia without food at a camp. She ensured that the Indian Embassy in Jeddah supplied them immediately with food on Saturday. The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over Ten Thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported. @JagranNews — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016 Swaraj reacted to a tweet by an Indian national who brought the plight of his fellow citizens to the notice of the Indian government. She assured that no Indian worker rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia will go without food. She also said that she was personally monitoring the situation on an hourly basis. "Large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The employers have not paid wages closed down their factories", Swaraj tweeted "While situation in Kuwait is manageable, matters are much worse in Saudi Arabia", she said. A man named Imran Khokhar had tweeted that 800 Indians were starving for past three days in Jeddah. @SushmaSwaraj after your quick reaction some camps got foods today pic.twitter.com/BXpwLDCrEx — Imran Khokhar (@Imran_khokhar84) July 30, 2016 Thousands of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The factory workers have not been paid wages by their employers and factories were also shut down. There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 30, 2016 Swaraj also appealed to the three million Indians living in Saudi Arabia to help their "fellow brothers and sisters". (WION)

Indian foreign minister reaches out to help 10,000 stranded in Jeddah

The Indian makers of a $4 smartphone hope its low price will allow millions of the poorest to own a mobile phone in a market which at present has seen only 10 per cent penetration. 
 
But labour rights campaigners worry that the push to churn out cheap handsets and tablets may lead to greater abuse of workers&#39; rights in India, world&#39;s fastest-growing smartphone market. 
 
Ringing Bells&#39; Freedom 251 smartphone, whose launch in February crashed the company&#39;s website, is priced at Rs251. 
 
On Thursday, the company&#39;s chief executive Mohit Goel said the first shipment of about 200,000 handsets was due next week. 
 
Ringing Bells pays fair wages to its workers and its pricier models will help offset the cost of the $4 phone, he added. 
 
&quot;Our vision is to make mobile phones more affordable to the millions of poor Indians who do not own one,&quot; Goel told Reuters. 
 
India sold 103 million handsets last year, an increase of 29 per cent on the previous year.&nbsp; 
 
With only one in 10 Indians owning a mobile phone, there is enormous potential - much of it at the lower end of the market where dozens of local and foreign brands are vying for customers with some handsets selling for less than $25. 
 
However, the pressure to keep costs low is pushing manufacturers to pay low wages, rely on cheaper contract labour and insist on unpaid overtime, activists say. 
 
&quot;Responsibility of the supply chain and workers lies with brand companies,&quot; said Gopinath Parakuni, general secretary at Cividep, a workers&#39; rights campaign group. 
 
&quot;Our regulations simply aren&#39;t strong enough to ensure workers in the electronics industry are taken care of,&quot; he said. 
 
&#39;Who pays the price?&#39; 
 
Last month Cividep and Amsterdam-based GoodElectronics issued a report on Samsung Electronics, the leader in India&#39;s mobile market, which found that Samsung workers were poorly paid with no way to effectively have their grievances addressed. 
 
A Samsung India spokesman said the company complies by all relevant labour laws and regulations wherever it operates.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Fairness and respect for all are the values that form the foundation of our business,&quot; the spokesman said in a statement. 
 
While most of the 100-odd phone companies in India largely import from China and Taiwan, companies are increasingly heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s call to &#39;Make in India&#39;, an initiative launched in 2014. 
 
Chinese phone maker Xiaomi rolled out its first, locally-made smartphones last year from a facility in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. 
 
The &#39;Make in India&#39; drive to boost manufacturing is aimed at luring more investment, raising economic growth and creating jobs in industries such as electronics and apparel. 
 
But these efforts lack sufficient checks and balances for millions of workers who face archaic labour laws, low wages, few benefits and little job security in businesses that often flout laws on safety or underage workers, activists say. 
 
In India&#39;s electronics industry, working conditions are &quot;among the worst&quot;, according to a 2013 report by Hong Kong-based labour rights non-profit Asia Monitor Resource Centre. 
 
Not all efforts to produce cheap electronics have been successful. In 2008, the Indian government unveiled a $10 laptop that ended up costing more than $100, while a $20 Android tablet sold through a subsidy scheme failed to capture significant market share. 
 
&quot;Companies like to say cheap phones and computers is about digital empowerment and democracy,&quot; said Raphel Jose at the Centre for Responsible Business in New Delhi. 
 
&quot;But we must stop and ask, &#39;what is the real cost of these cheap devices? Who pays the price?&#39; Cheap is not always good,&quot; he said. 
 
($1 = 67.55 Indian Rupees)&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

Activists claim that to keep costs low, manufacturers pay low wages, rely on cheaper contract labour and insist on unpaid overtime

The Indian makers of a $4 smartphone hope its low price will allow millions of the poorest to own a mobile phone in a market which at present has seen only 10 per cent penetration. But labour rights campaigners worry that the push to churn out cheap handsets and tablets may lead to greater abuse of workers' rights in India, world's fastest-growing smartphone market. Ringing Bells' Freedom 251 smartphone, whose launch in February crashed the company's website, is priced at Rs251. On Thursday, the company's chief executive Mohit Goel said the first shipment of about 200,000 handsets was due next week. Ringing Bells pays fair wages to its workers and its pricier models will help offset the cost of the $4 phone, he added. "Our vision is to make mobile phones more affordable to the millions of poor Indians who do not own one," Goel told Reuters. India sold 103 million handsets last year, an increase of 29 per cent on the previous year. With only one in 10 Indians owning a mobile phone, there is enormous potential - much of it at the lower end of the market where dozens of local and foreign brands are vying for customers with some handsets selling for less than $25. However, the pressure to keep costs low is pushing manufacturers to pay low wages, rely on cheaper contract labour and insist on unpaid overtime, activists say. "Responsibility of the supply chain and workers lies with brand companies," said Gopinath Parakuni, general secretary at Cividep, a workers' rights campaign group. "Our regulations simply aren't strong enough to ensure workers in the electronics industry are taken care of," he said. 'Who pays the price?' Last month Cividep and Amsterdam-based GoodElectronics issued a report on Samsung Electronics, the leader in India's mobile market, which found that Samsung workers were poorly paid with no way to effectively have their grievances addressed. A Samsung India spokesman said the company complies by all relevant labour laws and regulations wherever it operates. "Fairness and respect for all are the values that form the foundation of our business," the spokesman said in a statement. While most of the 100-odd phone companies in India largely import from China and Taiwan, companies are increasingly heeding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to 'Make in India', an initiative launched in 2014. Chinese phone maker Xiaomi rolled out its first, locally-made smartphones last year from a facility in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The 'Make in India' drive to boost manufacturing is aimed at luring more investment, raising economic growth and creating jobs in industries such as electronics and apparel. But these efforts lack sufficient checks and balances for millions of workers who face archaic labour laws, low wages, few benefits and little job security in businesses that often flout laws on safety or underage workers, activists say. In India's electronics industry, working conditions are "among the worst", according to a 2013 report by Hong Kong-based labour rights non-profit Asia Monitor Resource Centre. Not all efforts to produce cheap electronics have been successful. In 2008, the Indian government unveiled a $10 laptop that ended up costing more than $100, while a $20 Android tablet sold through a subsidy scheme failed to capture significant market share. "Companies like to say cheap phones and computers is about digital empowerment and democracy," said Raphel Jose at the Centre for Responsible Business in New Delhi. "But we must stop and ask, 'what is the real cost of these cheap devices? Who pays the price?' Cheap is not always good," he said. ($1 = 67.55 Indian Rupees) (Reuters)

India's $4 smartphone will further hurt underpaid workers' conditions, campaigners say

Spain, which goes to the polls&nbsp;on Sunday&nbsp;in a repeat general election, is the eurozone&#39;s fourth largest economy and one of the fastest-growing nations in Western Europe, although it suffers from high unemployment and debt. 
 
GROWTH 
 
Spain&#39;s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 3.2 per cent in 2015 and growth has remained steady this year despite a political stalemate that has left the country without a government since inconclusive December elections. 
 
GDP expanded by 0.8 per cent between January and March from the previous three months, higher than the average in the eurozone. 
 
Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy&#39;s conservative government predicts the economy will expand by 2.7 per cent this year, then slow to 2.4 percent in 2017. 
 
Spain in 2014 posted its first full-year of growth since a 2008 property crash sent the economy into a tailspin. 
 
Consumer spending is up as is investment by firms while export growth, which help lift Spain out of recession, has lost some of its steam. 
 
FAVOURABLE TAILWINDS 
 
Spain has benefited from favourable tailwinds that have propelled growth such as low interest rates set by the European Central Bank, a favourable euro exchange rate that helps exports, and falling oil prices that have reduced production costs. 
 
Spain is highly dependent on energy imports and the price of a barrel of oil has dropped to around 50 euros from the record highs of over 140 euros a barrel reached in 2008. 
 
But the Bank of Spain warned earlier this month that these beneficial conditions will progressively fade, leading to a slower pace of economic expansion. 
 
LABOUR MARKET REFORM 
 
The outgoing conservative government reduced the amount of compensation which companies must pay workers that they fire and created a new open-ended contract with a one-year trial period. 
 
The government and its backers argue these reforms helped lower Spain&#39;s unemployment rate from a record 26.94 per cent in the first quarter of 2013 to 21 per cent in the first quarter of 2016. 
 
They say the flexibility it introduced especially helped the auto sector. Spain is the second-largest automobile producer in Europe after Germany. 
 
Critics charge that part of the fall in unemployment is due to the drop in the size of Spain&#39;s total workforce as emigration has risen due to the lack of jobs. 
 
The bulk of the jobs that have been created are short-term and low-wage, they add. 
 
The average duration of a new contract in 2015 was just 53.4 days. Spain&#39;s monthly minimum wage, which is paid 14 times a year as in other southern European nations, is 655 euros ($740). 
 
The average annual income in Spain is 10,400 euros per person, according to national statistics institute INE. 
 
DEBT 
 
Spain&#39;s public deficit came in at 5.1 per cent of GDP in 2015, compared with 2.2 per cent in 2007, the year before the country&#39;s property bubble burst. 
 
Spain is facing possible sanctions from the European Commission for repeatedly violating its deficit targets. 
 
The European Union has set a public deficit limit of 3.0 per cent of GDP. The outgoing government predicts it will take Spain until 2018 to bring the deficit below this limit. 
 
EDUCATION 
 
The other Achilles heel of the Spanish economy is education and professional development. 
 
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), over 27 per cent of Spaniards aged 15-29 are not employed or in school, compared with an average of 15 per cent in the 34 nations that make up the body. 
 
Spain also struggles to retrain unemployed workers, especially low-skilled ones from the construction sector which was hit hard by the collapse of a property bubble in 2008. 
 
(AFP)

Critics say that the bulk of jobs created in Spain in the recent past are short-termed and offer low wages

Spain, which goes to the polls on Sunday in a repeat general election, is the eurozone's fourth largest economy and one of the fastest-growing nations in Western Europe, although it suffers from high unemployment and debt. GROWTH Spain's gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 3.2 per cent in 2015 and growth has remained steady this year despite a political stalemate that has left the country without a government since inconclusive December elections. GDP expanded by 0.8 per cent between January and March from the previous three months, higher than the average in the eurozone. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative government predicts the economy will expand by 2.7 per cent this year, then slow to 2.4 percent in 2017. Spain in 2014 posted its first full-year of growth since a 2008 property crash sent the economy into a tailspin. Consumer spending is up as is investment by firms while export growth, which help lift Spain out of recession, has lost some of its steam. FAVOURABLE TAILWINDS Spain has benefited from favourable tailwinds that have propelled growth such as low interest rates set by the European Central Bank, a favourable euro exchange rate that helps exports, and falling oil prices that have reduced production costs. Spain is highly dependent on energy imports and the price of a barrel of oil has dropped to around 50 euros from the record highs of over 140 euros a barrel reached in 2008. But the Bank of Spain warned earlier this month that these beneficial conditions will progressively fade, leading to a slower pace of economic expansion. LABOUR MARKET REFORM The outgoing conservative government reduced the amount of compensation which companies must pay workers that they fire and created a new open-ended contract with a one-year trial period. The government and its backers argue these reforms helped lower Spain's unemployment rate from a record 26.94 per cent in the first quarter of 2013 to 21 per cent in the first quarter of 2016. They say the flexibility it introduced especially helped the auto sector. Spain is the second-largest automobile producer in Europe after Germany. Critics charge that part of the fall in unemployment is due to the drop in the size of Spain's total workforce as emigration has risen due to the lack of jobs. The bulk of the jobs that have been created are short-term and low-wage, they add. The average duration of a new contract in 2015 was just 53.4 days. Spain's monthly minimum wage, which is paid 14 times a year as in other southern European nations, is 655 euros ($740). The average annual income in Spain is 10,400 euros per person, according to national statistics institute INE. DEBT Spain's public deficit came in at 5.1 per cent of GDP in 2015, compared with 2.2 per cent in 2007, the year before the country's property bubble burst. Spain is facing possible sanctions from the European Commission for repeatedly violating its deficit targets. The European Union has set a public deficit limit of 3.0 per cent of GDP. The outgoing government predicts it will take Spain until 2018 to bring the deficit below this limit. EDUCATION The other Achilles heel of the Spanish economy is education and professional development. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), over 27 per cent of Spaniards aged 15-29 are not employed or in school, compared with an average of 15 per cent in the 34 nations that make up the body. Spain also struggles to retrain unemployed workers, especially low-skilled ones from the construction sector which was hit hard by the collapse of a property bubble in 2008. (AFP)

Spain struggles to reduce unemployment, debt despite growth

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