Japanese worker's average base pay jumped 2.5 per cent in May. This marks the strongest growth in 31 years. This positive trend comes amid annual wage negotiations.

There is a labour shortage. However, inflation continues to outpace wage growth. Consequently, real wages have declined for the 26th consecutive month.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is closely monitoring wage growth. This is a key factor in determining when to raise interest rates. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has stressed the need for sustained wage increases to meet the bank's 2 per cent inflation target.

Nominal wages are rising. Inflation is decaying&nbsp;their buying power. Real wages fell 1.4 per cent in May. This follows a 1.2 per cent decline in April. There are signs that the labour shortage is leading to more widespread wage hikes. Companies with 30 or more employees finally saw wage growth outpace inflation for the first time in over two years. However smaller firms are still lagging behind.

The trend is particularly positive for part-time workers. Their wages rose 4 per cent year-on-year in May. This compares to 2.7 per cent increase for full-time employees.

For instance, hotel in Sapporo increased its hourly wages for part-time workers by 15 per cent. This is significantly higher than the 4 per cent raise for full-time staff. The hotel manager attributed this decision. The need to attract part-time workers in a competitive labour market played a crucial role.

A part-time worker at the hotel mentioned the attractive pay. Also, flexible hours were reasons for returning to the workforce. This occurred after a five-year break.

Part-time workers make up a significant portion of Japan's workforce. They account for 30 per cent of the total. But their wages are considerably lower than salaried workers. On average, they earn only a third.

An economist expects the rising wages for part-time workers to eventually boost consumer spending. This will happen by increasing their purchasing power.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Japanese worker's average base pay jumped 2.5 per cent in May. This marks the strongest growth in 31 years. This positive trend comes amid annual wage negotiations.

Japanese worker's average base pay jumped 2.5 per cent in May. This marks the strongest growth in 31 years. This positive trend comes amid annual wage negotiations. There is a labour shortage. However, inflation continues to outpace wage growth. Consequently, real wages have declined for the 26th consecutive month. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is closely monitoring wage growth. This is a key factor in determining when to raise interest rates. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has stressed the need for sustained wage increases to meet the bank's 2 per cent inflation target. Nominal wages are rising. Inflation is decaying their buying power. Real wages fell 1.4 per cent in May. This follows a 1.2 per cent decline in April. There are signs that the labour shortage is leading to more widespread wage hikes. Companies with 30 or more employees finally saw wage growth outpace inflation for the first time in over two years. However smaller firms are still lagging behind. The trend is particularly positive for part-time workers. Their wages rose 4 per cent year-on-year in May. This compares to 2.7 per cent increase for full-time employees. For instance, hotel in Sapporo increased its hourly wages for part-time workers by 15 per cent. This is significantly higher than the 4 per cent raise for full-time staff. The hotel manager attributed this decision. The need to attract part-time workers in a competitive labour market played a crucial role. A part-time worker at the hotel mentioned the attractive pay. Also, flexible hours were reasons for returning to the workforce. This occurred after a five-year break. Part-time workers make up a significant portion of Japan's workforce. They account for 30 per cent of the total. But their wages are considerably lower than salaried workers. On average, they earn only a third. An economist expects the rising wages for part-time workers to eventually boost consumer spending. This will happen by increasing their purchasing power. (With inputs from Reuters)

Japanese wages see sharpest rise in 3 decades, but real wages remain negative

Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group active in Gaza, released a hostage video of an Israeli Amazon employee on Tuesday (May 28) from Gaza.&nbsp;

The employee was kidnapped by the terrorists during the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel and has remained stuck in the war-torn enclave ever since.

Sasha Troufanov, a 28-year-old computer engineer, had worked with a Tel Aviv-based microelectronics firm Annapurna Labs, a subsidiary of Amazon.&nbsp;

In the video, the Amazon employee wore a black, white and red polo shirt as he addressed the people of Israel and “all of the protesters",&nbsp;reported The Jerusalem Post.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-denies-attack-in-rafah-evacuation-area-that-killed-21-us-says-no-change-in-policy-726465">IDF says hidden weapons cache likely triggered Rafah camp fire, denies attacking evacuation area</a>

The Islamic Jihad hostage said that “in the next few days, you will hear the truth of what happened to me, as well as the other prisoners in Gaza.”

He further appealed to people to “wait patiently,” reported the outlet.

“The proof of life from Alexander (Sasha) Trpfanov is additional evidence that the Israeli government must give a significant mandate to the negotiating team, which will be able to lead to a deal for the return of all the hostages – the living to rehabilitation and the murdered to burial,” said the Hostages &amp; Missing Families Forum, in a statement after the release of the video.

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It has been 8 months since 10/7. 
Today H×mas published another horrific video of a hostage - Alexander Trupanov. <a href="https://t.co/ph7Prk5beM">pic.twitter.com/ph7Prk5beM</a>
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Troufanov was among the 250 people kidnapped by Hamas militants amid the murderous attacks&nbsp;in which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed.

On Thursday (May 30), a new video of Alexander Trupanov by&nbsp;Palestinian Islamic Jihad on the electronic platform Telegram.

Alexander appeared healthy in the video. "The IDF tried to kill me a few times; thank you to the al-Quds brigade," he said.

He asked the protestors to pressurise the government and asked them, "I dont want to be the next statistic. I don't want to be the next in line, please help me come home."

<h2>Amazon employees call for release of Troufanov</h2>

In Israel, Amazon employees hung signs, created t-shirts and organised events in solidarity with Troufanov as they expressed their frustration over the management not issuing any public statement over his abduction.&nbsp;

Troufanov’s father, Vitali, was a Russian immigrant to Israel and was killed in the October 7 attacks. However, his mother, grandmother and girlfriend were freed by Hamas in the earlier truce.

Troufanov's close friend Neta Yessod Alon last November organised a protest action being held at the Amazon Web Services re:Invent conference organised in Las Vegas.

Watch:&nbsp;Israel-Hamas War: Israeli tanks advance to central Rafah for first time: Report

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"Various activities by employees expressing identification with Troufanov were given the cold shoulder by the global management," said Yessod Alon. "Amazon Israel provides help with what’s needed, but if it’s not communicated to the outside world, who is the message for?"

In response, Amazon stated, "We continue to focus all the time on all the efforts to bring Sasha back home safely and to ensure support for his family at this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them and with all those who continue to be affected by the war."

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group active in Gaza, released a hostage video of an Israeli Amazon employee on Tuesday (May 28) from Gaza. The employee was kidnapped by the terrorists during the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel and has remained stuck in the war-torn enclave ever since.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group active in Gaza, released a hostage video of an Israeli Amazon employee on Tuesday (May 28) from Gaza. The employee was kidnapped by the terrorists during the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel and has remained stuck in the war-torn enclave ever since. Sasha Troufanov, a 28-year-old computer engineer, had worked with a Tel Aviv-based microelectronics firm Annapurna Labs, a subsidiary of Amazon. In the video, the Amazon employee wore a black, white and red polo shirt as he addressed the people of Israel and “all of the protesters", reported The Jerusalem Post. Also Read: IDF says hidden weapons cache likely triggered Rafah camp fire, denies attacking evacuation area The Islamic Jihad hostage said that “in the next few days, you will hear the truth of what happened to me, as well as the other prisoners in Gaza.” He further appealed to people to “wait patiently,” reported the outlet. “The proof of life from Alexander (Sasha) Trpfanov is additional evidence that the Israeli government must give a significant mandate to the negotiating team, which will be able to lead to a deal for the return of all the hostages – the living to rehabilitation and the murdered to burial,” said the Hostages & Missing Families Forum, in a statement after the release of the video. It has been 8 months since 10/7. Today H×mas published another horrific video of a hostage - Alexander Trupanov. pic.twitter.com/ph7Prk5beM — Era Gigman (@idan_bg) May 28, 2024 × Troufanov was among the 250 people kidnapped by Hamas militants amid the murderous attacks in which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed. On Thursday (May 30), a new video of Alexander Trupanov by Palestinian Islamic Jihad on the electronic platform Telegram. Alexander appeared healthy in the video. "The IDF tried to kill me a few times; thank you to the al-Quds brigade," he said. He asked the protestors to pressurise the government and asked them, "I dont want to be the next statistic. I don't want to be the next in line, please help me come home." Amazon employees call for release of Troufanov In Israel, Amazon employees hung signs, created t-shirts and organised events in solidarity with Troufanov as they expressed their frustration over the management not issuing any public statement over his abduction. Troufanov’s father, Vitali, was a Russian immigrant to Israel and was killed in the October 7 attacks. However, his mother, grandmother and girlfriend were freed by Hamas in the earlier truce. Troufanov's close friend Neta Yessod Alon last November organised a protest action being held at the Amazon Web Services re:Invent conference organised in Las Vegas. Watch: Israel-Hamas War: Israeli tanks advance to central Rafah for first time: Report "Various activities by employees expressing identification with Troufanov were given the cold shoulder by the global management," said Yessod Alon. "Amazon Israel provides help with what’s needed, but if it’s not communicated to the outside world, who is the message for?" In response, Amazon stated, "We continue to focus all the time on all the efforts to bring Sasha back home safely and to ensure support for his family at this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them and with all those who continue to be affected by the war." Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Palestine's militant group Islamic Jihad releases hostage video of Amazon worker in Gaza

A ground worker was killed at the Hong Kong airport after falling from a tow truck and getting struck by an aircraft being pulled behind on Tuesday (Feb 6). As per the police authorities, the victim, involved in this rare accident was a 34-year-old Jordanian national. He was employed in Hong Kong. At the time of meeting with this fatal accident, the victim was in the passenger seat of a tow truck from where he fell. Reports suggested he fell out of the vehicle and was subsequently hit by the plane being towed behind it.

Police received a distress call from airport personnel at approximately 3 am, reporting that a man was discovered unconscious at the West Apron. Emergency responders arrived to find the 34-year-old man.&nbsp;As per a statement by the police, the man with severe injuries was seen by the emergency responders&nbsp;on a taxiway during the early hours of Tuesday (Feb 6).&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-training-better-equipment-among-key-recommendations-in-mpd-after-action-report-on-lahaina-wildfire-687535">More training, better equipment among key recommendations in MPD ‘after-action’ report on Lahaina wildfire</a>

However, regrettably, the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

The Airport Authority expressed "sorrow over the death of the airport staff and extends its condolences to the family."&nbsp;The police have categorised the incident as a fatal traffic accident while the special investigation team of the New Territories South traffic unit is probing the matter.

The Airport Air Freight Employees’ Association offered their sympathies and urged assistance, including financial aid, for the victim's family. They also highlighted the importance of equipment maintenance and safety awareness, proposing the implementation of smart safety signals to reinforce adherence to protocols.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/social-media-pushing-youngsters-towards-more-misogynistic-content-finds-study-687528">Social media pushing youngsters towards more misogynistic content, finds study</a>

Authorities urge witnesses or those with information regarding the incident to contact them.

The victim worked for China Aircraft Services, an aircraft ground handling services provider in Hong Kong that offers a wide range of services including ground support, maintenance, and engineering services to airlines and operators at Hong Kong airport. It is also responsible for various tasks such as aircraft maintenance, cleaning, catering, cargo handling, and passenger services, ensuring smooth operations for airlines and safe travel for passengers.

Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/technology-update-scientists-develop-worlds-first-3d-printed-functional-brain-tissue-687517">Technology Update: Scientists develop world's first 3D-printed functional brain tissue</a>

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The airport authority stated, "It is suspected that the seat belt was left unfastened while the staff was working on the (vehicle)."&nbsp;It is yet not clear if this oversight led to the tragic incident.&nbsp;Hong Kong police swiftly took action, arresting the 60-year-old driver of the vehicle on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death. Dangerous driving causing death carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.

The driver is currently detained pending a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, as per the police.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A ground worker was killed at the Hong Kong airport after falling from a tow truck and getting struck by an aircraft being pulled behind on Tuesday (Feb 6). As per the police authorities, the victim, involved in this rare accident was a 34-year-old Jordanian national.

A ground worker was killed at the Hong Kong airport after falling from a tow truck and getting struck by an aircraft being pulled behind on Tuesday (Feb 6). As per the police authorities, the victim, involved in this rare accident was a 34-year-old Jordanian national. He was employed in Hong Kong. At the time of meeting with this fatal accident, the victim was in the passenger seat of a tow truck from where he fell. Reports suggested he fell out of the vehicle and was subsequently hit by the plane being towed behind it. Police received a distress call from airport personnel at approximately 3 am, reporting that a man was discovered unconscious at the West Apron. Emergency responders arrived to find the 34-year-old man. As per a statement by the police, the man with severe injuries was seen by the emergency responders on a taxiway during the early hours of Tuesday (Feb 6). Also Read | More training, better equipment among key recommendations in MPD ‘after-action’ report on Lahaina wildfire However, regrettably, the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Airport Authority expressed "sorrow over the death of the airport staff and extends its condolences to the family." The police have categorised the incident as a fatal traffic accident while the special investigation team of the New Territories South traffic unit is probing the matter. The Airport Air Freight Employees’ Association offered their sympathies and urged assistance, including financial aid, for the victim's family. They also highlighted the importance of equipment maintenance and safety awareness, proposing the implementation of smart safety signals to reinforce adherence to protocols. Also Read | Social media pushing youngsters towards more misogynistic content, finds study Authorities urge witnesses or those with information regarding the incident to contact them. The victim worked for China Aircraft Services, an aircraft ground handling services provider in Hong Kong that offers a wide range of services including ground support, maintenance, and engineering services to airlines and operators at Hong Kong airport. It is also responsible for various tasks such as aircraft maintenance, cleaning, catering, cargo handling, and passenger services, ensuring smooth operations for airlines and safe travel for passengers. Watch | Technology Update: Scientists develop world's first 3D-printed functional brain tissue × The airport authority stated, "It is suspected that the seat belt was left unfastened while the staff was working on the (vehicle)." It is yet not clear if this oversight led to the tragic incident. Hong Kong police swiftly took action, arresting the 60-year-old driver of the vehicle on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death. Dangerous driving causing death carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment. The driver is currently detained pending a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident, as per the police. (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong airport: Ground worker falls from truck, dies after being struck by plane

In a move set to reshape the gig economy, the Biden administration is preparing to introduce a final rule that could challenge the prevailing practice of treating workers as independent contractors.<o:p></o:p>

This is according to a Reuters report.<o:p></o:p>

The upcoming US Department of Labour rule, slated for release this week, aims to redefine the distinction between employees and contractors, obliging companies to extend more benefits and protections to workers deemed "economically dependent."<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;While affecting various industries, the rule's potential impact on app-based services relying heavily on contract workers, such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, has drawn significant attention. <o:p></o:p>

The proposed rule has sparked concerns about potential ramifications for workers' flexibility and income opportunities. <o:p></o:p>

Reuters cited Marc Freedman, the Vice President at the US Chamber of Commerce, who noted that the new rule is likely to "threaten the flexibility of individuals to work when and how they want and could have significant negative impacts on our economy." <o:p></o:p>

The forthcoming regulation is expected to replace a Trump administration policy, raising the prospect of legal challenges. The new rule will consider various factors, including a worker's opportunity for profit or loss, investment, permanency, and the degree of control exerted by the employer. <o:p></o:p>

Critics argue that the Biden administration's departure from the Trump-era regulation will be a focal point for legal disputes, emphasising the need for agencies to thoroughly justify the withdrawal and replacement of existing rules. <o:p></o:p>

The Biden administration contends that the previous rule violated wage laws and contradicted decades of federal court decisions. <o:p></o:p>

Worker advocates argue that a stricter standard is essential to combat widespread worker misclassification in certain industries. <o:p></o:p>

The Economic Policy Institute estimates significant earnings disparities between contractor and employee roles in various sectors, further supporting the need for a comprehensive review.<o:p></o:p>

As the rule aims to ensure fair treatment and protection for workers, it is expected to have a profound impact on labour costs across industries, including trucking, retail, and manufacturing. <o:p></o:p>

Most labour laws, including minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, currently apply only to employees. <o:p></o:p>

The rule's potential to increase labour costs has garnered criticism from business groups, who argue that it could reshape the landscape for nearly 40 per cent of US workers engaged in freelance work.<o:p></o:p>

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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In a move set to reshape the gig economy, the Biden administration is preparing to introduce a final rule that could challenge the prevailing practice of treating workers as independent contractors.

In a move set to reshape the gig economy, the Biden administration is preparing to introduce a final rule that could challenge the prevailing practice of treating workers as independent contractors. This is according to a Reuters report. The upcoming US Department of Labour rule, slated for release this week, aims to redefine the distinction between employees and contractors, obliging companies to extend more benefits and protections to workers deemed "economically dependent." While affecting various industries, the rule's potential impact on app-based services relying heavily on contract workers, such as Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, has drawn significant attention. The proposed rule has sparked concerns about potential ramifications for workers' flexibility and income opportunities. Reuters cited Marc Freedman, the Vice President at the US Chamber of Commerce, who noted that the new rule is likely to "threaten the flexibility of individuals to work when and how they want and could have significant negative impacts on our economy." The forthcoming regulation is expected to replace a Trump administration policy, raising the prospect of legal challenges. The new rule will consider various factors, including a worker's opportunity for profit or loss, investment, permanency, and the degree of control exerted by the employer. Critics argue that the Biden administration's departure from the Trump-era regulation will be a focal point for legal disputes, emphasising the need for agencies to thoroughly justify the withdrawal and replacement of existing rules. The Biden administration contends that the previous rule violated wage laws and contradicted decades of federal court decisions. Worker advocates argue that a stricter standard is essential to combat widespread worker misclassification in certain industries. The Economic Policy Institute estimates significant earnings disparities between contractor and employee roles in various sectors, further supporting the need for a comprehensive review. As the rule aims to ensure fair treatment and protection for workers, it is expected to have a profound impact on labour costs across industries, including trucking, retail, and manufacturing. Most labour laws, including minimum wage and overtime pay requirements, currently apply only to employees. The rule's potential to increase labour costs has garnered criticism from business groups, who argue that it could reshape the landscape for nearly 40 per cent of US workers engaged in freelance work. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Biden administration set to overhaul gig economy with new worker classification rule

An employee, working in a petrol pump in the Indian city of Jaipur, was caught harassing a Russian tourist in a video. The woman was accompanied by her Indian friend, who is a Delhi-based travel vlogger, and is popularly known as 'On Road Indian' on YouTube. The incident took place when the accused was filling petrol in their two-wheeler. &nbsp;

The YouTuber recorded the entire ordeal on his camera. He started filming as soon as he felt that the worker was misbehaving with his Russian friend, who was seated on the two-wheeler behind him.&nbsp;

The content creator shared the video on YouTube and X in which he is seen questioning the petrol pump's employees about the incident. In the video, the YouTuber asks the employee to bring his manager and informs him that the worker has multiple times touched his friend.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-demonstrates-unmatched-astrashakti-after-akash-engages-four-targets-at-once-670546">India demonstrates unmatched ‘Astrashakti’ as ‘Akash’ unit neutralises four targets in one go</a>

The Russian tourist said that the first two times it happened, she couldn't believe that he was misbehaving, but after the third time, she was sure that he was inappropriately touching him. Questioning the petrol pump staff, the digital creator then said, "Would a sorry fix everything?" However, the employee continued arguing that he did not touch the woman intentionally and apologised for the incident.

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Is Still safe for foreign women tourists and travellers? 
Recently my Russian Traveler friend faced serious issue in Jaipur where she was touched by a fuel station staff 3 times. Police came to help.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensRights?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WomensRights</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/safety?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#safety</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/touristsafety?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#touristsafety</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> <a href="https://t.co/KFA8waa8gJ">pic.twitter.com/KFA8waa8gJ</a>
— OnRoad Indian (@onroadindian) <a href="https://twitter.com/onroadindian/status/1728714741819080785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Police complaint filed&nbsp;</h2>

Then, Viktoriia suggested that they can file a police complaint. After some time, the police reached the scene and the entire situation was explained to them by the Indian vlogger. The man was then asked by the police officer to apologise and he did the same. The Russian tourist also asked the police official to record the name of the man for future reference if any similar incidents are reported.

According to the content creator, the incident happened on November 7. "After eating food in a restaurant, me and Viktoriia took our bike and went to a nearby fuel station to get some petrol for our motorbike. On one of the fuel towers, a worker was filling petrol in our bike. At the time we were unaware that something would change our Rajasthan tour from this point," said the vlogger.

Watch:&nbsp;India: Over 800 stranded in rainfall in Tamil Nadu | Covid makes global comeback&nbsp;

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"This video is more than two weeks late, as due to some technical issues, Rajasthan tour videos were found corrupt in the camera later. We tried very hard to recover them and so it took us some time," wrote OnRoad Indian while sharing the video, and added that he "felt ashamed" after the incident.

(With inputs from agencies)

An employee, working in a petrol pump in the Indian city of Jaipur, was caught harassing a Russian tourist in a video. The woman was accompanied by her Indian friend, who is a Delhi-based travel vlogger, and is popularly known as 'On Road Indian' on YouTube.

An employee, working in a petrol pump in the Indian city of Jaipur, was caught harassing a Russian tourist in a video. The woman was accompanied by her Indian friend, who is a Delhi-based travel vlogger, and is popularly known as 'On Road Indian' on YouTube. The incident took place when the accused was filling petrol in their two-wheeler. The YouTuber recorded the entire ordeal on his camera. He started filming as soon as he felt that the worker was misbehaving with his Russian friend, who was seated on the two-wheeler behind him. The content creator shared the video on YouTube and X in which he is seen questioning the petrol pump's employees about the incident. In the video, the YouTuber asks the employee to bring his manager and informs him that the worker has multiple times touched his friend. Also read: India demonstrates unmatched ‘Astrashakti’ as ‘Akash’ unit neutralises four targets in one go The Russian tourist said that the first two times it happened, she couldn't believe that he was misbehaving, but after the third time, she was sure that he was inappropriately touching him. Questioning the petrol pump staff, the digital creator then said, "Would a sorry fix everything?" However, the employee continued arguing that he did not touch the woman intentionally and apologised for the incident. Is Still safe for foreign women tourists and travellers? Recently my Russian Traveler friend faced serious issue in Jaipur where she was touched by a fuel station staff 3 times. Police came to help.#WomensRights #safety #touristsafety #india pic.twitter.com/KFA8waa8gJ — OnRoad Indian (@onroadindian) November 26, 2023 × Police complaint filed Then, Viktoriia suggested that they can file a police complaint. After some time, the police reached the scene and the entire situation was explained to them by the Indian vlogger. The man was then asked by the police officer to apologise and he did the same. The Russian tourist also asked the police official to record the name of the man for future reference if any similar incidents are reported. According to the content creator, the incident happened on November 7. "After eating food in a restaurant, me and Viktoriia took our bike and went to a nearby fuel station to get some petrol for our motorbike. On one of the fuel towers, a worker was filling petrol in our bike. At the time we were unaware that something would change our Rajasthan tour from this point," said the vlogger. Watch: India: Over 800 stranded in rainfall in Tamil Nadu | Covid makes global comeback "This video is more than two weeks late, as due to some technical issues, Rajasthan tour videos were found corrupt in the camera later. We tried very hard to recover them and so it took us some time," wrote OnRoad Indian while sharing the video, and added that he "felt ashamed" after the incident. (With inputs from agencies)

Russian tourist’s video of harassment by petrol pump worker goes viral, police take action: Video

Among the 41 workers who were safely extracted out from the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel after 17 days of rescue operation on Tuesday (Nov 29), the last one to emerge from the dark hole was Gabbar Singh Negi. 
 
Negi, who had emerged as a strong leader and helped the other 40 workers to stay calm, said that since he is the senior-most, he will be the last one to step out.&nbsp;

Negi was born 260 km away in Pauri Garhwal district and unfortunately was trapped in the the collapsed tunnel.&nbsp;

In the 400 hours spent by the workers nearly 200 feet inside the ground, Negi taught yoga and meditation to his colleagues to help&nbsp;them stay mentally and physically active, and ensured that they were rescued safely by committing that he would be the last to come out.&nbsp;

"I am senior-most... I will be the last to come out...', this is what he told me," said his relieved and happy brother Jaymal Singh Negi, while speaking to NDTV, hours after 41 men were taken out from the tunnel and provided extensive medical check-ups for ensuring that they have no injuries or illness.&nbsp;

It is now being said that Gabbar Negi's efforts have helped all 41 survive the disaster with few injuries and keep the catastrophic situation under control.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/video-first-reaction-of-rescued-uttarakhand-tunnel-worker-describes-17-day-ordeal-664105">Rescued Uttarakhand tunnel worker describes 17-day ordeal in first reaction</a>

"I am very happy... the family is very happy. Not just the family but the whole country... the whole country prayed for them. When they came out and we saw they were safe, we distributed sweets and garlands," said Jaymal Negi, who kept waiting for his brother at the site of the tunnel collapse for nearly two weeks, while speaking to NDTV.

"I kept talking to him daily. First through the pipes they put into the ground but then with phones that they gave us. I advised my brother to do yoga. He said, 'Yes, we are all doing it'," he said. Speaking about his brother's bravery, he said, "He is very brave. When I asked him if there will be a stampede when the rescue starts, he told me, 'I am senior, I will be the last'."

Many rescue workers also praised efforts made by Negi to keep them safe and happy, which included playing fun games like chess and ludo. Speaking to news agency PTI, One of the psychiatrists at the site Dr Rohit Gondwal said that the workers also played 'chor police' (thief-police). 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also commended the bravery of Negi, while speaking to the rescued workers via telephone, and said, "It is a matter of happiness for me... I cannot express it in words. If something bad had happened... (I) can't say how we would have taken that."

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PM lauding the leadership skills of tunnel foreman, Gabbar Singh Negi. A local who had a similar experience earlier in Sikkim, he handled the challenge with utmost courage. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SilkyaraTunnel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SilkyaraTunnel</a> <a href="https://t.co/bTD6GRtxco">pic.twitter.com/bTD6GRtxco</a>
— Megha Prasad (@MeghaSPrasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghaSPrasad/status/1729720352417186241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

<h2>Food for 25 days still left in&nbsp;tunnel, says rescued worker</h2>

One of the workers, Akhilesh Singh while speaking about the ordeal to NDTV, said, "The tunnel collapsed in front of me and there was a loud sound after which my ears went numb."

Watch:&nbsp;Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: PM Modi praises workers, says 'they showed great courage'

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"We had no contact from the outside world for 18 hours. As per our training, we opened a water pipe soon after we were trapped. When the water started falling, the people outside understood that there were people stuck and started sending us oxygen through that pipe," he said.&nbsp;

Singh said that they were being supplied food throughout the day, so much that it would have lasted for 25 more days. He said that he now plans to go back home and rest for nearly 1-2 months.

"I plan to go home after the health checkups are done. I will then take a break for 1-2 months before deciding what to do next," he said. On Tuesday night, all 41 workers were pulled out from the Silkyara tunnel after 17 days by the "rat hole" miners.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami handed&nbsp;over cheques of Rs 100,000 ($1220 approx.)&nbsp;to each rescued worker and announced a Rs 50,000 ($600 approx.)&nbsp; reward for each rat-hole miner and others who took part in the rescue operation.

(With inputs from agencies)

Among the 41 workers who were safely extracted out from the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel after 17 days of rescue operation on Tuesday (Nov 29), the last one to emerge from the dark hole was Gabbar Singh Negi.

Among the 41 workers who were safely extracted out from the collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel after 17 days of rescue operation on Tuesday (Nov 29), the last one to emerge from the dark hole was Gabbar Singh Negi. Negi, who had emerged as a strong leader and helped the other 40 workers to stay calm, said that since he is the senior-most, he will be the last one to step out. Negi was born 260 km away in Pauri Garhwal district and unfortunately was trapped in the the collapsed tunnel. In the 400 hours spent by the workers nearly 200 feet inside the ground, Negi taught yoga and meditation to his colleagues to help them stay mentally and physically active, and ensured that they were rescued safely by committing that he would be the last to come out. "I am senior-most... I will be the last to come out...', this is what he told me," said his relieved and happy brother Jaymal Singh Negi, while speaking to NDTV, hours after 41 men were taken out from the tunnel and provided extensive medical check-ups for ensuring that they have no injuries or illness. It is now being said that Gabbar Negi's efforts have helped all 41 survive the disaster with few injuries and keep the catastrophic situation under control. Also read: Rescued Uttarakhand tunnel worker describes 17-day ordeal in first reaction "I am very happy... the family is very happy. Not just the family but the whole country... the whole country prayed for them. When they came out and we saw they were safe, we distributed sweets and garlands," said Jaymal Negi, who kept waiting for his brother at the site of the tunnel collapse for nearly two weeks, while speaking to NDTV. "I kept talking to him daily. First through the pipes they put into the ground but then with phones that they gave us. I advised my brother to do yoga. He said, 'Yes, we are all doing it'," he said. Speaking about his brother's bravery, he said, "He is very brave. When I asked him if there will be a stampede when the rescue starts, he told me, 'I am senior, I will be the last'." Many rescue workers also praised efforts made by Negi to keep them safe and happy, which included playing fun games like chess and ludo. Speaking to news agency PTI, One of the psychiatrists at the site Dr Rohit Gondwal said that the workers also played 'chor police' (thief-police). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also commended the bravery of Negi, while speaking to the rescued workers via telephone, and said, "It is a matter of happiness for me... I cannot express it in words. If something bad had happened... (I) can't say how we would have taken that." PM lauding the leadership skills of tunnel foreman, Gabbar Singh Negi. A local who had a similar experience earlier in Sikkim, he handled the challenge with utmost courage. #SilkyaraTunnel pic.twitter.com/bTD6GRtxco — Megha Prasad (@MeghaSPrasad) November 29, 2023 × Food for 25 days still left in tunnel, says rescued worker One of the workers, Akhilesh Singh while speaking about the ordeal to NDTV, said, "The tunnel collapsed in front of me and there was a loud sound after which my ears went numb." Watch: Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: PM Modi praises workers, says 'they showed great courage' "We had no contact from the outside world for 18 hours. As per our training, we opened a water pipe soon after we were trapped. When the water started falling, the people outside understood that there were people stuck and started sending us oxygen through that pipe," he said. Singh said that they were being supplied food throughout the day, so much that it would have lasted for 25 more days. He said that he now plans to go back home and rest for nearly 1-2 months. "I plan to go home after the health checkups are done. I will then take a break for 1-2 months before deciding what to do next," he said. On Tuesday night, all 41 workers were pulled out from the Silkyara tunnel after 17 days by the "rat hole" miners. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami handed over cheques of Rs 100,000 ($1220 approx.) to each rescued worker and announced a Rs 50,000 ($600 approx.) reward for each rat-hole miner and others who took part in the rescue operation. (With inputs from agencies)

I'm senior-most, will come out last: Gabbar Singh's bravery shines through Uttarakhand tunnel rescue ops

After Beijing introduced new rules on the country's private education industry, the largest private education provider,&nbsp;New Oriental Education&nbsp;fired nearly 60,000 workers last year.&nbsp;

Yu Minhong, the founder of New Oriental Education,&nbsp;which is known for its after-school tutoring services, confirmed the news in a post on his WeChat account. He said that the company encountered "too many changes in 2021," as he blamed the layoffs on "policies, the pandemic and international relations."&nbsp;

The post further mentioned that the company saw revenue fall by 80 per cent after ending all K-9 tutoring services. In another post, he said that even after the massive layoffs, the company still has about 50,000 employees and teachers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cypriot-scientist-refutes-speculations-around-deltacron-variant-says-it-is-not-lab-contamination-443595">Also read |&nbsp;Cypriot scientist refutes speculations around 'Deltacron' variant, says it is not 'lab contamination'</a>

Yu wrote, "In 2021, New Oriental encountered too many unforeseen events from factors such as policy, the pandemic, and international relations. Much of our business remains in a state of uncertainty.”

As per the latest annual report, New Oriental,&nbsp;had over 88,000 full time employees and 17,000 teachers and staff as of May. It is not yet clear if the contract workers were among the 60,000 people who have been fired.&nbsp;

Last year, the company spent $3.1 billion in refunding prepaid tuition to customers. This was done to compensate the employees that were laid off. New Oriental lost some $28 billion in market value last year.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After Beijing introduced new rules on the country's private education industry, the largest private education provider, New Oriental Education fired nearly 60,000 workers last year.

After Beijing introduced new rules on the country's private education industry, the largest private education provider, New Oriental Education fired nearly 60,000 workers last year. Yu Minhong, the founder of New Oriental Education, which is known for its after-school tutoring services, confirmed the news in a post on his WeChat account. He said that the company encountered "too many changes in 2021," as he blamed the layoffs on "policies, the pandemic and international relations." The post further mentioned that the company saw revenue fall by 80 per cent after ending all K-9 tutoring services. In another post, he said that even after the massive layoffs, the company still has about 50,000 employees and teachers. Also read | Cypriot scientist refutes speculations around 'Deltacron' variant, says it is not 'lab contamination' Yu wrote, "In 2021, New Oriental encountered too many unforeseen events from factors such as policy, the pandemic, and international relations. Much of our business remains in a state of uncertainty.” As per the latest annual report, New Oriental, had over 88,000 full time employees and 17,000 teachers and staff as of May. It is not yet clear if the contract workers were among the 60,000 people who have been fired. Last year, the company spent $3.1 billion in refunding prepaid tuition to customers. This was done to compensate the employees that were laid off. New Oriental lost some $28 billion in market value last year. (With inputs from agencies)

In a massive layoff, Chinese EdTech giant fired nearly 60,000 workers

British worker, Grant Bailey, is missing in Afghanistan after he was seized by the Taliban. As per a report by Mirror, he was arrested by Taliban police during a security clampdown in Kabul. The man in his 50s is married and had worked in Afghanistan for years. He returned in September after the Taliban seized power.

It is being speculated that the man, who was working for an NGO in Afghanistan, is being held in one of Kabul's prison complexes.

A UK security source told the Daily Mirror that he was last heard on Saturday after which he was arrested at gunpoint.

The source said, “We were quite surprised he went back to Kabul after the western withdrawal as the security situation there is obviously much worse. Added to that the Taliban government is making it very difficult for the few ex-pats working there, making it very difficult to travel."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/since-taliban-takeover-over-6000-afghan-journalists-have-lost-jobs-women-journalists-severely-impacted-439320">Also read |&nbsp;Since Taliban takeover, over 6,000 Afghan journalists have lost jobs; women journalists severely impacted</a>

“A lot of people are trying to get to the bottom of what has happened to him, where he is being held and under what charges," he added.&nbsp;

Amid increasing fears, the Foreign Office has been desperately trying to locate him.

Ever since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the situation has not been so good.&nbsp;

Recently, a survey by non-profit organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) revealed that 231 media outlets have been shut and over 6,400 journalists have lost their jobs since the Taliban takeover.

Four months ago, most Afghan provinces had at least 10 privately-owned media outlets. However, now, regions have no local media at all.&nbsp;

A humanitarian crisis is looming in the country amid fears of extreme poverty. Heartbreaking reports of poverty in the nation have been emerging since August 15, the date when the Taliban took over. Afghanistan had already been facing chronic poverty and drought but the situation worsened since the Taliban seized power, along with the disruption of aid.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

British worker, Grant Bailey, is missing in Afghanistan after he was seized by the Taliban. As per a report by Mirror, he was arrested by Taliban police during a security clampdown in Kabul.

British worker, Grant Bailey, is missing in Afghanistan after he was seized by the Taliban. As per a report by Mirror, he was arrested by Taliban police during a security clampdown in Kabul. The man in his 50s is married and had worked in Afghanistan for years. He returned in September after the Taliban seized power. It is being speculated that the man, who was working for an NGO in Afghanistan, is being held in one of Kabul's prison complexes. A UK security source told the Daily Mirror that he was last heard on Saturday after which he was arrested at gunpoint. The source said, “We were quite surprised he went back to Kabul after the western withdrawal as the security situation there is obviously much worse. Added to that the Taliban government is making it very difficult for the few ex-pats working there, making it very difficult to travel." Also read | Since Taliban takeover, over 6,000 Afghan journalists have lost jobs; women journalists severely impacted “A lot of people are trying to get to the bottom of what has happened to him, where he is being held and under what charges," he added. Amid increasing fears, the Foreign Office has been desperately trying to locate him. Ever since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the situation has not been so good. Recently, a survey by non-profit organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) revealed that 231 media outlets have been shut and over 6,400 journalists have lost their jobs since the Taliban takeover. Four months ago, most Afghan provinces had at least 10 privately-owned media outlets. However, now, regions have no local media at all. A humanitarian crisis is looming in the country amid fears of extreme poverty. Heartbreaking reports of poverty in the nation have been emerging since August 15, the date when the Taliban took over. Afghanistan had already been facing chronic poverty and drought but the situation worsened since the Taliban seized power, along with the disruption of aid. (With inputs from agencies)

British worker Grant Bailey missing in Afghanistan after Taliban seized him at gunpoint

Aggrieved Chinese office workers have recently initiated a 'worker lives matter'&nbsp;campaign over gruelling work hours in the country.

The campaign is against the '996 work culture'&nbsp;in the country. According to this culture, people are scheduled to work from 9 am to 9 pm for six days in a week, Taiwan News reported.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/imf-cuts-chinas-growth-forecast-amid-disorderly-corporate-debt-defaults-420197">IMF cuts China's growth forecast amid 'disorderly corporate debt defaults'</a>

The campaign asks employees to share their work schedules on an open-access spreadsheet that is being circulated over the internet.

As per the updates on Thursday, the sheet had entries from over 4,000 people working in tech giants including Tencent, Alibaba and ByteDance.

Meanwhile, China has witnessed a huge backlash from the people against the dreaded work schedule in recent years, Taiwan News reported.

This 996 culture has also been publically praised by founders of China's tech unicorns, including Jack Ma, who once reportedly said that "To be able to work 996 is a huge bliss.

"But Chinese population, particularly youth emphasis on healthy life and a balance work trend with phrases such as "laying flat" and "feeling fish" being used as terms for slacking off among exhausted employees, Taiwan News reported.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dasu-bus-blast-china-demands-38-million-from-pakistan-for-the-dead-workers-420930">Dasu bus blast: China demands $38 million from Pakistan for the dead workers​</a>​​​​​​

Besides, Chinese tech companies are also attempting to bring productivity-enhancing tools into everyday office life, worker's efficiency is being channelized into squeezing more value from employees by using software-driven surveillance management and monitoring into their professional lives.

Despite fierce criticism over such aggressive practices and complaints from employees, they have had little impact on investor sentiment, reported Nikkei Asia.

Companies are running even more brutal working hours - ByteDance allows its employees a full weekend only every other week, while employees at Pinduoduo's newer units are required to work at least 300 hours a month.&nbsp;

Aggrieved Chinese office workers have recently initiated a 'worker lives matter' campaign over gruelling work hours in the country. The campaign is against the '996 work culture' in the country.

Aggrieved Chinese office workers have recently initiated a 'worker lives matter' campaign over gruelling work hours in the country. The campaign is against the '996 work culture' in the country. According to this culture, people are scheduled to work from 9 am to 9 pm for six days in a week, Taiwan News reported. Also Read | IMF cuts China's growth forecast amid 'disorderly corporate debt defaults' The campaign asks employees to share their work schedules on an open-access spreadsheet that is being circulated over the internet. As per the updates on Thursday, the sheet had entries from over 4,000 people working in tech giants including Tencent, Alibaba and ByteDance. Meanwhile, China has witnessed a huge backlash from the people against the dreaded work schedule in recent years, Taiwan News reported. This 996 culture has also been publically praised by founders of China's tech unicorns, including Jack Ma, who once reportedly said that "To be able to work 996 is a huge bliss. "But Chinese population, particularly youth emphasis on healthy life and a balance work trend with phrases such as "laying flat" and "feeling fish" being used as terms for slacking off among exhausted employees, Taiwan News reported. Also Read | Dasu bus blast: China demands $38 million from Pakistan for the dead workers Besides, Chinese tech companies are also attempting to bring productivity-enhancing tools into everyday office life, worker's efficiency is being channelized into squeezing more value from employees by using software-driven surveillance management and monitoring into their professional lives. Despite fierce criticism over such aggressive practices and complaints from employees, they have had little impact on investor sentiment, reported Nikkei Asia. Companies are running even more brutal working hours - ByteDance allows its employees a full weekend only every other week, while employees at Pinduoduo's newer units are required to work at least 300 hours a month.

Exhausted Chinese employees start 'worker lives matter' campaign over grueling work hours

An employee of Apple who led a fellow workers movement against alleged patterns of discrimination, racism and sexism at the tech company was fired.

Janneke Parrish, an Apple program manager and one of the leaders behind the #AppleToo movement, said she was terminated for “non-compliance” after she deleted personal files from her work device amid an internal investigation, according to the Guardian.

Parrish, who worked at Apple for five years, claims that she was fired for speaking out publicly about "issues within the company".

“I’ve been very vocal, I’ve been very public. I have not been afraid to put my name and attach my face to #AppleToo,” she told the Guardian. “This feels very much like retaliation for having the courage to speak out.”

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There are consequences for speaking out. There are consequences for doing the right thing. 
 
But we do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AppleToo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AppleToo</a> is about asking Apple to do better, to end systemic discrimination, abuse, and pay inequity. 
 
Do the right thing. <a href="https://t.co/nhxFlflSvR">https://t.co/nhxFlflSvR</a>
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Apple said Friday it does not discuss specific employee matters.

Recently, Apple has been experiencing other examples of employee unrest. Last month, two employees told Reuters they had filed charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board for alleged retaliation and halting discussion of pay among employees, among other allegations.

Apple has said that it is “deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace” and that it takes “all concerns” from employees seriously.

In September, Parrish said the company had informed her that she was under investigation for leaking information to the media. Parrish had been involved with employee advocacy efforts at Apple for months, but did not leak information, she said.

As part of the investigation, Apple confiscated her devices. Apple encourages employees to use work devices as personal devices, Parrish said, and before handing over devices she deleted files that contained personal information, such as financial data.

Parrish said she did not expect to be fired, but believed her work with #AppleToo would have a negative impact on her career.

(With inputs from agencies)

An employee of Apple who led a fellow workers movement against alleged patterns of discrimination, racism and sexism at the tech company was fired. Janneke Parrish, an Apple program manager and one of the leaders behind the #AppleToo movement, said she was terminated for “non-compliance” after she deleted personal files from her work device amid an internal investigation, according to the Guardian.

An employee of Apple who led a fellow workers movement against alleged patterns of discrimination, racism and sexism at the tech company was fired. Janneke Parrish, an Apple program manager and one of the leaders behind the #AppleToo movement, said she was terminated for “non-compliance” after she deleted personal files from her work device amid an internal investigation, according to the Guardian. Parrish, who worked at Apple for five years, claims that she was fired for speaking out publicly about "issues within the company". “I’ve been very vocal, I’ve been very public. I have not been afraid to put my name and attach my face to #AppleToo,” she told the Guardian. “This feels very much like retaliation for having the courage to speak out.” There are consequences for speaking out. There are consequences for doing the right thing. But we do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. #AppleToo is about asking Apple to do better, to end systemic discrimination, abuse, and pay inequity. Do the right thing. https://t.co/nhxFlflSvR — Janneke Parrish (@JannekeParrish) October 15, 2021 × Apple said Friday it does not discuss specific employee matters. Recently, Apple has been experiencing other examples of employee unrest. Last month, two employees told Reuters they had filed charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board for alleged retaliation and halting discussion of pay among employees, among other allegations. Apple has said that it is “deeply committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace” and that it takes “all concerns” from employees seriously. In September, Parrish said the company had informed her that she was under investigation for leaking information to the media. Parrish had been involved with employee advocacy efforts at Apple for months, but did not leak information, she said. As part of the investigation, Apple confiscated her devices. Apple encourages employees to use work devices as personal devices, Parrish said, and before handing over devices she deleted files that contained personal information, such as financial data. Parrish said she did not expect to be fired, but believed her work with #AppleToo would have a negative impact on her career. (With inputs from agencies)

Apple fires employee who led movement against racism & sexism

New Zealand announced Monday a sweeping "no jab, no job" policy for most healthcare workers and teachers to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"We can't leave anything to chance so that's why we are making it mandatory," said COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, who is also the education minister.

Doctors, nurses and other frontline health workers must be double-jabbed by December 1 while everyone working in the education sector who has contact with students must have their two doses by January 1.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-drops-its-covid-19-elimination-plan-as-delta-persists-418063">New Zealand drops its COVID-19 elimination plan as Delta persists</a>

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners backed mandatory vaccinations with president Samantha Murton describing it as a "bold, but necessary call" to make.

Secondary schools will also be required to keep a register to show the vaccination status of students.

"Vaccination remains our strongest and most effective tool to protect against infection and disease," Hipkins said.&nbsp;

The order includes home-based educators and parents volunteering at schools, but no decision has been made on whether vaccination will be mandatory in the tertiary education sector.

Before the arrival of the Delta variant in August, New Zealand had won widespread praise for its Covid elimination policy, which had largely protected the country from the pandemic.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moderna-racing-for-profits-keeps-covid-vaccine-out-of-reach-of-poor-419518">Moderna, racing for profits, keeps Covid vaccine out of reach of poor</a>

Residents enjoyed a near-normal domestic life alongside tight restrictions on international borders.&nbsp;

However, the "Covid Zero" strategy fell apart when Delta was detected in Auckland, New Zealand's most populated region, and has since spread to the surrounding Northland and Waikato provinces.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the highly transmissible Delta variant had proved a "game-changer" that could not be eliminated.

New Zealand announced Monday a sweeping "no jab, no job" policy for most healthcare workers and teachers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "We can't leave anything to chance so that's why we are making it mandatory," said COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, who is also the education minister.

New Zealand announced Monday a sweeping "no jab, no job" policy for most healthcare workers and teachers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "We can't leave anything to chance so that's why we are making it mandatory," said COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, who is also the education minister. Doctors, nurses and other frontline health workers must be double-jabbed by December 1 while everyone working in the education sector who has contact with students must have their two doses by January 1. Also Read | New Zealand drops its COVID-19 elimination plan as Delta persists The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners backed mandatory vaccinations with president Samantha Murton describing it as a "bold, but necessary call" to make. Secondary schools will also be required to keep a register to show the vaccination status of students. "Vaccination remains our strongest and most effective tool to protect against infection and disease," Hipkins said. The order includes home-based educators and parents volunteering at schools, but no decision has been made on whether vaccination will be mandatory in the tertiary education sector. Before the arrival of the Delta variant in August, New Zealand had won widespread praise for its Covid elimination policy, which had largely protected the country from the pandemic. Also Read | Moderna, racing for profits, keeps Covid vaccine out of reach of poor Residents enjoyed a near-normal domestic life alongside tight restrictions on international borders. However, the "Covid Zero" strategy fell apart when Delta was detected in Auckland, New Zealand's most populated region, and has since spread to the surrounding Northland and Waikato provinces. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the highly transmissible Delta variant had proved a "game-changer" that could not be eliminated.

New Zealand health workers, teachers told 'no jab, no job'

McDonald’s is raising wages at its company-owned restaurants. It is also helping its franchisees hang on to workers with funding for backup child care, elder care and tuition assistance. Pay is up at Chipotle, too, and Papa John’s and many of its franchisees are offering hiring and referral bonuses.

The reason?

“In January, 8% of restaurant operators rated recruitment and retention of workforce as their top challenge,” Hudson Riehle, senior vice president for research at the National Restaurant Association, said in an email. “By May, that number had risen to 72%.”

Restaurant workers — burger flippers and bussers, cooks and waiters — have emerged from the pandemic recession to find themselves in a position they could not have imagined a couple of years ago: They have options. They can afford to wait for a better deal.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-all-quit-burger-king-employees-quit-at-same-time-by-putting-a-public-sign-397911">'We all quit': Burger King employees quit at same time by putting a public sign</a>

In the first five months of the year, restaurants put out 61% more “workers wanted” posts for waiters and waitresses than they had in the same months of 2018 and 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic shut down bars and restaurants around the country, according to data from Burning Glass, a job market analytics firm.

That’s not all: The jobs that waiters and waitresses typically transition to — as bartenders, hosts and hostesses, chefs and food preparation workers — are booming, too.

Something similar is happening all along the least-paid end of the labor market. Many employers have blamed expanded unemployment benefits for their troubles in filling gaping job vacancies. But the sharp rebound in hiring — clustered in urban service industries — is creating bottlenecks in sets of occupations that are improving prospects across much of the nation’s low-wage labor force.

Marcela Escobari, Ian Seyal and Carlos Daboin Contreras of the Brookings Institution in Washington offer an occupation-by-occupation analysis of this dynamic.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-burger-king-under-fire-for-women-belong-in-kitchen-tweet-369163" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-burger-king-under-fire-for-women-belong-in-kitchen-tweet-369163&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjNkc33veDxAhVdyzgGHTvxDowQFjABegQIBxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2vaQLeV5L-bIJRgz3N8wAA" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-burger-king-under-fire-for-women-belong-in-kitchen-tweet-369163" target="_blank">UK's&nbsp;Burger King&nbsp;under fire for 'Women belong in kitchen' tweet</a>

Of the roughly 11 million jobs lost between the first quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of this year, they found, over 4 million were in occupations that are bouncing back with a double benefit: Demand for workers is high, and they are launching pads for sometimes higher-paying jobs that are also growing rapidly.

For instance, between January and May there were twice as many job postings for construction laborers as the average for the same five months of 2018 and 2019, according to the Brookings analysis. What’s more, painters and carpenters — two occupations that construction workers typically move to — are also awash in offers.

At the same time, construction may be drawing workers from other occupations. While many contractors — especially in residential building — are desperate for workers, “trucking seems to be even more desperate,” noted Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America. One reason might be that construction, with its high pay, tends to attract a lot of truckers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/friend-in-need-burger-king-urges-customers-to-order-from-mcdonalds-340030">Friend in need: Burger King urges customers to order from McDonald's</a>

“A lot of construction workers have commercial driver's licenses,” Simonson added. “Trucking companies call it poaching. I would call it luring.”

Some two-thirds of the more than 4 million jobs are in occupations at the lower end of the wage structure, paying less than $17.26 an hour. The job market is booming far less for occupations paying more than $30.

“What’s happening right now is not about the wages of college grads going up — it’s about the wages of lifeguards at my pool,” said Betsey Stevenson, a former chief economist at the Labor Department who is now at the University of Michigan. “That closing of the wage differential could persist.”

And this might help explain the peculiar nature of the labor market’s rebound from the pandemic, in which high unemployment coexists with complaints of labor shortages.

“Undergirding that is the sense that workers at the very bottom have options to work for a better job,” Stevenson said. “What employers are used to paying won’t really cut it.”

Might this be just a flash in the pan? Heidi Shierholz, who was also a chief economist at the Labor Department during the Obama administration and is now director of policy at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, is skeptical that the job market is breaking with its decades-long trend of wage stagnation at the bottom and lavish rewards at the top.

“How much of what this captures is just a trampoline effect?” she wondered. “The jobs that come back tend to look like the jobs that were lost.”

After the dust settles and the employment holes created by the pandemic in several industries fill up, the deal offered to workers might look much like it did before the pandemic.

Ultimately, “we are stuck in a world where labor is very cheap and we don’t expect much from it,” Stevenson said. “I don’t see this pandemic fundamentally reshaping that.”

Shierholz put it this way: “There has not been any fundamental restructuring of power in the economy.”

Some of the more lasting changes brought about by the pandemic could work against low-wage workers. Restaurants, taxi fleets and hotels in big cities are likely to see less business as companies cut back on business travel and people working remotely cut back on downtown lunches and happy hours.

More job losses should be expected if fast food joints and other service businesses decide to replace their face-to-face workers with robots and software. Yet there are signs that the country’s low-wage labor force might be in for more lasting raises.

Even before the pandemic, wages of less-educated workers were rising at the fastest rate in over a decade, propelled by shrinking unemployment. And after the temporary expansion of unemployment insurance ends, with COVID-19 under control and children back at school, workers may be unwilling to accept the deals they accepted in the past.

Jed Kolko, chief economist at the job placement site Indeed, pointed to one bit of evidence: the increase in the reservation wage — the lowest wage that workers will accept to take a job.

According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average reservation wage is growing fastest for workers without a college degree, hitting $61,483 in March, 26% more than a year earlier. Aside from a dip at the start of the pandemic, it has been rising since November 2017.

“That suggests it is a deeper trend,” Kolko noted. “It’s not just about the recovery.”

Other trends could support higher wages at the bottom. The aging of the population, notably, is shrinking the pool of able-bodied workers and increasing demand for care workers, who toil for low pay but are vital to support a growing cohort of older Americans.

“There was a workforce crisis in the home care industry before COVID,” said Kevin Smith, chief executive of Best of Care in Quincy, Massachusetts, and president of the state industry association. “COVID really laid that bare and exacerbated the crisis.”

The coronavirus outbreak induced such an unusual recession that any predictions are risky. And yet, as Escobari of Brookings pointed out, the recovery may provide rare opportunities for those toiling for low wages.

“This time, people searching for jobs may have a lot of different options,” she said. “That is not typical.”

McDonald’s is raising wages at its company-owned restaurants. It is also helping its franchisees hang on to workers with funding for backup child care, elder care and tuition assistance.

McDonald’s is raising wages at its company-owned restaurants. It is also helping its franchisees hang on to workers with funding for backup child care, elder care and tuition assistance. Pay is up at Chipotle, too, and Papa John’s and many of its franchisees are offering hiring and referral bonuses. The reason? “In January, 8% of restaurant operators rated recruitment and retention of workforce as their top challenge,” Hudson Riehle, senior vice president for research at the National Restaurant Association, said in an email. “By May, that number had risen to 72%.” Restaurant workers — burger flippers and bussers, cooks and waiters — have emerged from the pandemic recession to find themselves in a position they could not have imagined a couple of years ago: They have options. They can afford to wait for a better deal. Also read | 'We all quit': Burger King employees quit at same time by putting a public sign In the first five months of the year, restaurants put out 61% more “workers wanted” posts for waiters and waitresses than they had in the same months of 2018 and 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic shut down bars and restaurants around the country, according to data from Burning Glass, a job market analytics firm. That’s not all: The jobs that waiters and waitresses typically transition to — as bartenders, hosts and hostesses, chefs and food preparation workers — are booming, too. Something similar is happening all along the least-paid end of the labor market. Many employers have blamed expanded unemployment benefits for their troubles in filling gaping job vacancies. But the sharp rebound in hiring — clustered in urban service industries — is creating bottlenecks in sets of occupations that are improving prospects across much of the nation’s low-wage labor force. Marcela Escobari, Ian Seyal and Carlos Daboin Contreras of the Brookings Institution in Washington offer an occupation-by-occupation analysis of this dynamic. Also read | UK's Burger King under fire for 'Women belong in kitchen' tweet Of the roughly 11 million jobs lost between the first quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of this year, they found, over 4 million were in occupations that are bouncing back with a double benefit: Demand for workers is high, and they are launching pads for sometimes higher-paying jobs that are also growing rapidly. For instance, between January and May there were twice as many job postings for construction laborers as the average for the same five months of 2018 and 2019, according to the Brookings analysis. What’s more, painters and carpenters — two occupations that construction workers typically move to — are also awash in offers. At the same time, construction may be drawing workers from other occupations. While many contractors — especially in residential building — are desperate for workers, “trucking seems to be even more desperate,” noted Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Associated General Contractors of America. One reason might be that construction, with its high pay, tends to attract a lot of truckers. Also read | Friend in need: Burger King urges customers to order from McDonald's “A lot of construction workers have commercial driver's licenses,” Simonson added. “Trucking companies call it poaching. I would call it luring.” Some two-thirds of the more than 4 million jobs are in occupations at the lower end of the wage structure, paying less than $17.26 an hour. The job market is booming far less for occupations paying more than $30. “What’s happening right now is not about the wages of college grads going up — it’s about the wages of lifeguards at my pool,” said Betsey Stevenson, a former chief economist at the Labor Department who is now at the University of Michigan. “That closing of the wage differential could persist.” And this might help explain the peculiar nature of the labor market’s rebound from the pandemic, in which high unemployment coexists with complaints of labor shortages. “Undergirding that is the sense that workers at the very bottom have options to work for a better job,” Stevenson said. “What employers are used to paying won’t really cut it.” Might this be just a flash in the pan? Heidi Shierholz, who was also a chief economist at the Labor Department during the Obama administration and is now director of policy at the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, is skeptical that the job market is breaking with its decades-long trend of wage stagnation at the bottom and lavish rewards at the top. “How much of what this captures is just a trampoline effect?” she wondered. “The jobs that come back tend to look like the jobs that were lost.” After the dust settles and the employment holes created by the pandemic in several industries fill up, the deal offered to workers might look much like it did before the pandemic. Ultimately, “we are stuck in a world where labor is very cheap and we don’t expect much from it,” Stevenson said. “I don’t see this pandemic fundamentally reshaping that.” Shierholz put it this way: “There has not been any fundamental restructuring of power in the economy.” Some of the more lasting changes brought about by the pandemic could work against low-wage workers. Restaurants, taxi fleets and hotels in big cities are likely to see less business as companies cut back on business travel and people working remotely cut back on downtown lunches and happy hours. More job losses should be expected if fast food joints and other service businesses decide to replace their face-to-face workers with robots and software. Yet there are signs that the country’s low-wage labor force might be in for more lasting raises. Even before the pandemic, wages of less-educated workers were rising at the fastest rate in over a decade, propelled by shrinking unemployment. And after the temporary expansion of unemployment insurance ends, with COVID-19 under control and children back at school, workers may be unwilling to accept the deals they accepted in the past. Jed Kolko, chief economist at the job placement site Indeed, pointed to one bit of evidence: the increase in the reservation wage — the lowest wage that workers will accept to take a job. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average reservation wage is growing fastest for workers without a college degree, hitting $61,483 in March, 26% more than a year earlier. Aside from a dip at the start of the pandemic, it has been rising since November 2017. “That suggests it is a deeper trend,” Kolko noted. “It’s not just about the recovery.” Other trends could support higher wages at the bottom. The aging of the population, notably, is shrinking the pool of able-bodied workers and increasing demand for care workers, who toil for low pay but are vital to support a growing cohort of older Americans. “There was a workforce crisis in the home care industry before COVID,” said Kevin Smith, chief executive of Best of Care in Quincy, Massachusetts, and president of the state industry association. “COVID really laid that bare and exacerbated the crisis.” The coronavirus outbreak induced such an unusual recession that any predictions are risky. And yet, as Escobari of Brookings pointed out, the recovery may provide rare opportunities for those toiling for low wages. “This time, people searching for jobs may have a lot of different options,” she said. “That is not typical.”

Low-wage workers now have options, which could mean a raise

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked why IAS officers should not be paid on the basis of calories they need.&nbsp

Kejriwal was addressing a meeting of the Delhi Workers' Conference on May Day or International Workers' Day.&nbsp

At the meeting, Kerjiwal said the current minimum wage of Rs 13,500 had earlier been Rs 9,500.

He said the increase was made after the committee studying the issue decided a labourer needed 2,700 calories a day.&nbsp

Kejriwal said he told the committee that a labourer's pay cannot be based only on the calories he needs. That he is a human, not an animal. That he needs to buy clothes, educate his children.&nbsp

Which is when Kejriwal added that "you can pay IAS officers based on their caloric needs, not labourers".&nbsp

Relations between the AAP government and the bureaucracy have been tense since the alleged beating of Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs.

Kerjriwal&nbspalso added that his government is working on abolishing the contract labour system in Delhi and on regularising the services of contractual workers. That had been one of Kerjiwal's campaign promises.&nbsp

"If Delhi was granted statehood, we would have made all contractual labourers permanent. We are facing certain hurdles but we will do it soon. We will take strict action against those not abiding by minimum wage norms for labours,"&nbspKejriwal said.&nbsp

(With inputs from PTI)

Kejriwal was addressing a meeting of the Delhi Workers' Conference on May Day or International Workers' Day

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked why IAS officers should not be paid on the basis of calories they need. Kejriwal was addressing a meeting of the Delhi Workers' Conference on May Day or International Workers' Day. At the meeting, Kerjiwal said the current minimum wage of Rs 13,500 had earlier been Rs 9,500. He said the increase was made after the committee studying the issue decided a labourer needed 2,700 calories a day. Kejriwal said he told the committee that a labourer's pay cannot be based only on the calories he needs. That he is a human, not an animal. That he needs to buy clothes, educate his children. Which is when Kejriwal added that "you can pay IAS officers based on their caloric needs, not labourers". Relations between the AAP government and the bureaucracy have been tense since the alleged beating of Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by Aam Aadmi Party MLAs. Kerjriwal&nbspalso added that his government is working on abolishing the contract labour system in Delhi and on regularising the services of contractual workers. That had been one of Kerjiwal's campaign promises. "If Delhi was granted statehood, we would have made all contractual labourers permanent. We are facing certain hurdles but we will do it soon. We will take strict action against those not abiding by minimum wage norms for labours,"&nbspKejriwal said. (With inputs from PTI)

Why not pay IAS officers on basis of calories they need? Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjiwal

Unidentified attackers hacked a 62-year-old Hindu monastery worker to death in Bangladesh&#39;s Pabna district on Friday, police said, the latest in a series of such attacks on religious minorities in the mainly Muslim country. 
 
The latest murder came as Bangladeshi police announced a special week-long crackdown on militants as they ramp up their efforts to stem the killings with five members of a banned Islamist outfit killed in gunbattles with officers in the past three days. 
 
Nityaranjan Pande was taking his regular early morning walk when the attackers set upon him, killing him on the spot, police said. 
 
&quot;As a diabetic, everyday he walks early in the morning. Today as he was walking, several attackers hacked him in the neck. He died on the spot,&quot; local police station chief Abdullah Al-Hasan told AFP. 
 
&quot;He had been working at the monastery for about 40 years. In recent years he was the head of its office staff,&quot; he said. 
 
There was no immediate claim of responsibility. 
 
The head of police in the northwestern district of Pabna, where the Shri Shri Thakur Anukulchandra Ashram is located, said the killing bore the hallmarks of recent attacks by Islamist extremists on minorities and secular activists. 
 
&quot;There was no eye-witness to the attack as it happened very early in the morning,&quot; Alamgir Kabir told AFP. 
 
Bangladesh is reeling from a wave of murders of secular and liberal activists and religious minorities that have left nearly 50 people dead in the past three years. 
 
Police crackdown 
 
The murders have spiked in recent weeks with a gruesome wave of killings that has spanned from the capital Dhaka to remote parts of the north and coastal south. 
 
In the past week alone, an elderly Hindu priest was found nearly decapitated in a rice field, a Christian grocer was hacked to death near a church, while the wife of an anti-terrorism officer was found stabbed and shot. 
 
Her husband had led several high-profile operations against the banned Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), an Islamist militant group, in the southeastern city of Chittagong. 
 
Most of the latest attacks have been claimed either by the Islamic State group or by a South Asian branch of Al-Qaeda 
 
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s government has, however, blamed homegrown Islamists for the attacks, rejecting claims of responsibility from IS and Al-Qaeda. 
 
The JMB is one of the main domestic militant outfits in the frame for the murders with police shooting dead five members of the group since Tuesday. 
 
Shahidul Hoque, inspector general of police, vowed in an address to a meeting of top police officials in Dhaka Thursday that those involved in the killing of the police officer&#39;s wife would be &quot;brought to justice very soon&quot;. 
 
Experts say a government crackdown on opponents, including a ban on Bangladesh&#39;s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, following a protracted political crisis, has pushed many towards extremism. 
 
Victims of the attacks by suspected Islamists have included secular bloggers, gay rights activists and followers of minority religions. 
 
Although it is officially secular, about 90 per cent of Bangladesh&#39;s 160 million-strong population is Muslim. Some eight per cent of the population is Hindu.

The 62-year-old was attacked during his early morning walk by unidentified assailants

Unidentified attackers hacked a 62-year-old Hindu monastery worker to death in Bangladesh's Pabna district on Friday, police said, the latest in a series of such attacks on religious minorities in the mainly Muslim country. The latest murder came as Bangladeshi police announced a special week-long crackdown on militants as they ramp up their efforts to stem the killings with five members of a banned Islamist outfit killed in gunbattles with officers in the past three days. Nityaranjan Pande was taking his regular early morning walk when the attackers set upon him, killing him on the spot, police said. "As a diabetic, everyday he walks early in the morning. Today as he was walking, several attackers hacked him in the neck. He died on the spot," local police station chief Abdullah Al-Hasan told AFP. "He had been working at the monastery for about 40 years. In recent years he was the head of its office staff," he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The head of police in the northwestern district of Pabna, where the Shri Shri Thakur Anukulchandra Ashram is located, said the killing bore the hallmarks of recent attacks by Islamist extremists on minorities and secular activists. "There was no eye-witness to the attack as it happened very early in the morning," Alamgir Kabir told AFP. Bangladesh is reeling from a wave of murders of secular and liberal activists and religious minorities that have left nearly 50 people dead in the past three years. Police crackdown The murders have spiked in recent weeks with a gruesome wave of killings that has spanned from the capital Dhaka to remote parts of the north and coastal south. In the past week alone, an elderly Hindu priest was found nearly decapitated in a rice field, a Christian grocer was hacked to death near a church, while the wife of an anti-terrorism officer was found stabbed and shot. Her husband had led several high-profile operations against the banned Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), an Islamist militant group, in the southeastern city of Chittagong. Most of the latest attacks have been claimed either by the Islamic State group or by a South Asian branch of Al-Qaeda Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has, however, blamed homegrown Islamists for the attacks, rejecting claims of responsibility from IS and Al-Qaeda. The JMB is one of the main domestic militant outfits in the frame for the murders with police shooting dead five members of the group since Tuesday. Shahidul Hoque, inspector general of police, vowed in an address to a meeting of top police officials in Dhaka Thursday that those involved in the killing of the police officer's wife would be "brought to justice very soon". Experts say a government crackdown on opponents, including a ban on Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, following a protracted political crisis, has pushed many towards extremism. Victims of the attacks by suspected Islamists have included secular bloggers, gay rights activists and followers of minority religions. Although it is officially secular, about 90 per cent of Bangladesh's 160 million-strong population is Muslim. Some eight per cent of the population is Hindu.

Hindu monastery worker hacked to death in Bangladesh

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