Thousands of South Korean workers staged a rally in downtown Seoul to demand better conditions, video images showed on Saturday, defying a government ban and shrugging off warnings that their protest could ignite a new wave of the coronavirus. 
 
As South Korea battles a spike in infections fuelled by the highly infectious Delta variant, officials had denied permission for the protest, with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum urging leaders of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to cancel it. 
 
Marchers wearing masks blocked some of the main streets in the central district of Jongno, holding up signs with slogans such as 'Stop restructuring!' and 'Let's go! General strike!' video from the Yonhap news agency showed. 
 
The protest, which the union said drew as many as 8,000 participants, backed demands for wage hikes and measures to prevent accidents. 
 
But plans for the gathering had provoked concern about a repeat of the events of last summer, after a massive rally traced to a church sparked a second wave of infections nationwide. 
 
However, the union pushed ahead with Saturday's rally after a last-minute change of venue from the financial centre of Yeouido, where police had set up a barricade of buses and checkpoints to deter protesters. 
 
The union has said it is capable of ensuring a safe protest&nbsp;based on strict COVID-19 guidelines, and urged respect for its right to freedom of assembly. 
 
About 80% of South Korea's locally transmitted cases continue to come from the Seoul metropolitan area, home to more than half of the country's population of 52 million. Daily infections hit the highest in nearly six months on Thursday. 
 
Friday's 794 cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) were slightly lower than the previous day's figure. 
 
"Holding a large protest in the greater Seoul area is an extremely dangerous move that would only add fuel to the flames of COVID-19," Kim had said on Friday, warning that authorities would take all measures necessary to block the demonstration.

Thousands of South Korean workers staged a rally in downtown Seoul to demand better conditions, video images showed on Saturday, defying a government ban and shrugging off warnings that their protest could ignite a new wave of the coronavirus.

Thousands of South Korean workers staged a rally in downtown Seoul to demand better conditions, video images showed on Saturday, defying a government ban and shrugging off warnings that their protest could ignite a new wave of the coronavirus. As South Korea battles a spike in infections fuelled by the highly infectious Delta variant, officials had denied permission for the protest, with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum urging leaders of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to cancel it. Marchers wearing masks blocked some of the main streets in the central district of Jongno, holding up signs with slogans such as 'Stop restructuring!' and 'Let's go! General strike!' video from the Yonhap news agency showed. The protest, which the union said drew as many as 8,000 participants, backed demands for wage hikes and measures to prevent accidents. But plans for the gathering had provoked concern about a repeat of the events of last summer, after a massive rally traced to a church sparked a second wave of infections nationwide. However, the union pushed ahead with Saturday's rally after a last-minute change of venue from the financial centre of Yeouido, where police had set up a barricade of buses and checkpoints to deter protesters. The union has said it is capable of ensuring a safe protest based on strict COVID-19 guidelines, and urged respect for its right to freedom of assembly. About 80% of South Korea's locally transmitted cases continue to come from the Seoul metropolitan area, home to more than half of the country's population of 52 million. Daily infections hit the highest in nearly six months on Thursday. Friday's 794 cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) were slightly lower than the previous day's figure. "Holding a large protest in the greater Seoul area is an extremely dangerous move that would only add fuel to the flames of COVID-19," Kim had said on Friday, warning that authorities would take all measures necessary to block the demonstration.

Thousands of South Korean workers rally in coronavirus-hit Seoul

A German trade union called on workers at seven Amazon warehouses to go on strike on Monday for several days to coincide with the global Prime Day promotion. 
 
Verdi said it was organising the three-day strike as part of a long-running battle with the US&nbsp;tech giant in Germany over better pay and working conditions. 
 
"The workers in the mail order centres have to cope with the rush of customers and don't get a cent more for the additionally intensified workload," said Verdi representative Orhan Akman in a statement. 
 
Germany is Amazon's biggest market after the United States, and the Verdi union has been organising strikes at Amazon in the country since 2013 to protest low pay and poor conditions. 
 
An Amazon spokesperson said the company offers excellent pay and benefits. It has said during past calls for strikes over 90% of employees in the logistic centres worked as normal. 
 
Earlier this month, Amazon said it will guarantee an entry-level wage at its German warehouses of 12 euros ($14.25) an hour from July, which will rise to at least 12.50 euros per hour from autumn 2022. 
 
Amazon holds Prime Day to boost summer sales. The member-only discounts are an important way Amazon markets Prime, a fast-shipping and media-streaming service that incentivises subscribers to do more shopping on Amazon. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A German trade union called on workers at seven Amazon warehouses to go on strike on Monday for several days to coincide with the global Prime Day promotion. Verdi said it was organising the three-day strike as part of a long-running battle with the US tech giant in Germany over better pay and working conditions.

A German trade union called on workers at seven Amazon warehouses to go on strike on Monday for several days to coincide with the global Prime Day promotion. Verdi said it was organising the three-day strike as part of a long-running battle with the US tech giant in Germany over better pay and working conditions. "The workers in the mail order centres have to cope with the rush of customers and don't get a cent more for the additionally intensified workload," said Verdi representative Orhan Akman in a statement. Germany is Amazon's biggest market after the United States, and the Verdi union has been organising strikes at Amazon in the country since 2013 to protest low pay and poor conditions. An Amazon spokesperson said the company offers excellent pay and benefits. It has said during past calls for strikes over 90% of employees in the logistic centres worked as normal. Earlier this month, Amazon said it will guarantee an entry-level wage at its German warehouses of 12 euros ($14.25) an hour from July, which will rise to at least 12.50 euros per hour from autumn 2022. Amazon holds Prime Day to boost summer sales. The member-only discounts are an important way Amazon markets Prime, a fast-shipping and media-streaming service that incentivises subscribers to do more shopping on Amazon. (With inputs from agencies)

German union calls for Amazon workers to strike on 'Prime Day'

The Philippines on Saturday said the country's workers could again go to work in Saudi Arabia, reversing a brief deployment ban after the kingdom said they would not be charged for COVID-19 tests and quarantine upon arrival.&nbsp;

"Our Saudi-bound workers will no longer be disadvantaged," said Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello.&nbsp;

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said it will accept Filipino workers on flights to Dammam and Riyadh, waiving rebooking fees for passengers, who had been unable to board because of the deployment ban.&nbsp;

Bello apologised for the 'inconvenience and momentary anguish; caused by his Thursday ban, saying, "I understand that the suspension order drew confusion and irritation among our affected departing overseas Filipino workers.&nbsp;

More than a million Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia, the most preferred destination of overseas Filipino workers in 2019, government data show. Many Filipinos are hired as construction workers, domestic helpers or nurses.&nbsp;

In 2020, Filipinos in Saudi Arabia sent home $1.8 billion in remittances, a key support for the consumption-led economy.&nbsp;

With more than 1.2 million cases and 20,722 deaths, the Philippines has the second-highest COVID-19 infections and casualties in Southeast Asia, behind Indonesia.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

The Philippines on Saturday said the country's workers could again go to work in Saudi Arabia, reversing a brief deployment ban after the kingdom said they would not be charged for COVID-19 tests and quarantine upon arrival.

The Philippines on Saturday said the country's workers could again go to work in Saudi Arabia, reversing a brief deployment ban after the kingdom said they would not be charged for COVID-19 tests and quarantine upon arrival. "Our Saudi-bound workers will no longer be disadvantaged," said Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello. Flag carrier Philippine Airlines said it will accept Filipino workers on flights to Dammam and Riyadh, waiving rebooking fees for passengers, who had been unable to board because of the deployment ban. Bello apologised for the 'inconvenience and momentary anguish; caused by his Thursday ban, saying, "I understand that the suspension order drew confusion and irritation among our affected departing overseas Filipino workers. More than a million Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia, the most preferred destination of overseas Filipino workers in 2019, government data show. Many Filipinos are hired as construction workers, domestic helpers or nurses. In 2020, Filipinos in Saudi Arabia sent home $1.8 billion in remittances, a key support for the consumption-led economy. With more than 1.2 million cases and 20,722 deaths, the Philippines has the second-highest COVID-19 infections and casualties in Southeast Asia, behind Indonesia. (With inputs from agencies)

Philippines lifts ban on workers deploying to Saudi Arabia 

The Philippines has suspended the deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia after it received reports that their employers and recruiters were making them pay for COVID-19 testing, quarantine and insurance upon arrival in the kingdom. 
 
Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello said in a May 27 order that his department will issue an official statement on resumption of deployment "after this matter has been clarified accordingly". 
 
It was not immediately clear how many Filipinos bound for Saudi Arabia would be directly affected. 
 
Saudi Arabia was the most preferred destination of overseas Filipino workers in 2019, government data showed, hosting one out of five Filipinos who landed jobs abroad during that year. 
 
More than a million Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia, many in construction or as domestic helpers or nurses. 
 
Saudi Arabia`s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside office hours. 
 
Filipinos in Saudi Arabia sent home $1.8 billion in remittances in 2020, making it an important source of foreign exchange inflows, a key driver of the Philippines` consumption-led economy.

The Philippines has suspended the deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia after it received reports that their employers and recruiters were making them pay for COVID-19 testing, quarantine and insurance upon arrival in the kingdom.

The Philippines has suspended the deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia after it received reports that their employers and recruiters were making them pay for COVID-19 testing, quarantine and insurance upon arrival in the kingdom. Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello said in a May 27 order that his department will issue an official statement on resumption of deployment "after this matter has been clarified accordingly". It was not immediately clear how many Filipinos bound for Saudi Arabia would be directly affected. Saudi Arabia was the most preferred destination of overseas Filipino workers in 2019, government data showed, hosting one out of five Filipinos who landed jobs abroad during that year. More than a million Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia, many in construction or as domestic helpers or nurses. Saudi Arabia`s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside office hours. Filipinos in Saudi Arabia sent home $1.8 billion in remittances in 2020, making it an important source of foreign exchange inflows, a key driver of the Philippines` consumption-led economy.

Philippines halts deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia

Bar and restaurant workers have dumped piles of leftover ice outside the Scottish Parliament in protest at being forced to close by COVID-19 restrictions.

Bar workers dump piles of ice in Glasgow in Scotland

Qatar on Sunday introduced a $275 monthly minimum wage and simplified the process for changing employers, the labour ministry said, following criticism of its treatment of foreign labourers.&nbsp;

It comes a week after a stinging Human Rights Watch (HRW) report highlighted the shortcomings of past efforts to improve conditions for the migrant labourers who make up almost 90 percent of the population.&nbsp;

The new rules, which were announced last October 16 but have only now been signed into law, abolish the requirement that workers obtain a "no objection" certificate from their employer to change jobs.&nbsp;

They require all workers, including domestic staff, be paid at least 1,000 riyals ($275) for a month of full-time work -- equivalent to around $1.30 an hour.&nbsp;

Employers are also required to either provide bed and board, or an additional 800 riyal a month allowance for food and accommodation and will have six months to implement the new minimum wage.&nbsp;

Previously, the temporary minimum wage was set at 750 riyals ($206) a month.&nbsp;

"The labour ministry has today taken a major step forward in its labour reform programme by introducing a non-discriminatory minimum wage and removing the no-objection certificate requirement," it said in a statement.&nbsp;

The ministry said the changes would "boost investment in the local economy and drive economic growth".&nbsp;

<h2>World Cup milestone&nbsp;</h2>

Qatar has made a series of reforms to its employment regulations since being selected to host the 2022 World Cup, which has required a vast programme of construction dependent on foreign workers.&nbsp;

"Qatar is the first country in the Middle East to have a minimum wage for all workers without discrimination, whether domestic workers or private sector workers," Qatar's assistant under-secretary for labour affairs, Mohammed Hassan al-Obaidly, told AFP.

Rights groups have long said Qatar's system -- the same one used across the Gulf -- of private companies rather than the state sponsoring individual workers fuels abuses.&nbsp;

Amnesty International said the requirement to have an employer's agreement before changing jobs had "left migrant workers in Qatar at the mercy of abusive employers".&nbsp;

"We welcome the enactment of these laws, and now call on the Qatari authorities to ensure they are swiftly and properly implemented," said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty's head of economic and social justice.

Vani Sarasawthi, director of projects at the Migrant Rights non-governmental group, said she had already received a flurry of messages about the changes from workers.

HRW said last week that some workers in Qatar were struggling to eat because employers were illegally withholding salaries as economic conditions worsen amid the coronavirus crisis.&nbsp;

The government insisted HRW's survey of 93 migrant workers at 60 companies or employers was not representative and that "nearly all individuals who come to Qatar for employment never experience any form of wage abuse".&nbsp;

Qatar said on Sunday that penalties for non-payment of wages had been increased.

The UN International Labour Organization welcomed the package of reforms, calling them a "historic move".&nbsp;

"Qatar has delivered on a commitment. One that will give workers more freedom and protection, and employers more choice," said Guy Ryder, the ILO director general.&nbsp;

More than two million foreigners work in Qatar, many employed directly or indirectly on vast infrastructure projects for the World Cup.&nbsp;

"The World Cup is a milestone in Qatar's long-term development strategy. In the interests of our country, we will continue to introduce new reforms that benefit the economy, businesses and the people who come to work here," Obaidly said.

Qatar on Sunday introduced a $275 monthly minimum wage and simplified the process for changing employers, the labour ministry said, following criticism of its treatment of foreign labourers.

Qatar on Sunday introduced a $275 monthly minimum wage and simplified the process for changing employers, the labour ministry said, following criticism of its treatment of foreign labourers. It comes a week after a stinging Human Rights Watch (HRW) report highlighted the shortcomings of past efforts to improve conditions for the migrant labourers who make up almost 90 percent of the population. The new rules, which were announced last October 16 but have only now been signed into law, abolish the requirement that workers obtain a "no objection" certificate from their employer to change jobs. They require all workers, including domestic staff, be paid at least 1,000 riyals ($275) for a month of full-time work -- equivalent to around $1.30 an hour. Employers are also required to either provide bed and board, or an additional 800 riyal a month allowance for food and accommodation and will have six months to implement the new minimum wage. Previously, the temporary minimum wage was set at 750 riyals ($206) a month. "The labour ministry has today taken a major step forward in its labour reform programme by introducing a non-discriminatory minimum wage and removing the no-objection certificate requirement," it said in a statement. The ministry said the changes would "boost investment in the local economy and drive economic growth". World Cup milestone Qatar has made a series of reforms to its employment regulations since being selected to host the 2022 World Cup, which has required a vast programme of construction dependent on foreign workers. "Qatar is the first country in the Middle East to have a minimum wage for all workers without discrimination, whether domestic workers or private sector workers," Qatar's assistant under-secretary for labour affairs, Mohammed Hassan al-Obaidly, told AFP. Rights groups have long said Qatar's system -- the same one used across the Gulf -- of private companies rather than the state sponsoring individual workers fuels abuses. Amnesty International said the requirement to have an employer's agreement before changing jobs had "left migrant workers in Qatar at the mercy of abusive employers". "We welcome the enactment of these laws, and now call on the Qatari authorities to ensure they are swiftly and properly implemented," said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty's head of economic and social justice. Vani Sarasawthi, director of projects at the Migrant Rights non-governmental group, said she had already received a flurry of messages about the changes from workers. HRW said last week that some workers in Qatar were struggling to eat because employers were illegally withholding salaries as economic conditions worsen amid the coronavirus crisis. The government insisted HRW's survey of 93 migrant workers at 60 companies or employers was not representative and that "nearly all individuals who come to Qatar for employment never experience any form of wage abuse". Qatar said on Sunday that penalties for non-payment of wages had been increased. The UN International Labour Organization welcomed the package of reforms, calling them a "historic move". "Qatar has delivered on a commitment. One that will give workers more freedom and protection, and employers more choice," said Guy Ryder, the ILO director general. More than two million foreigners work in Qatar, many employed directly or indirectly on vast infrastructure projects for the World Cup. "The World Cup is a milestone in Qatar's long-term development strategy. In the interests of our country, we will continue to introduce new reforms that benefit the economy, businesses and the people who come to work here," Obaidly said.

Qatar enacts key worker reforms amid criticism

The US Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal protections against workplace discrimination apply equally to sexual orientation, contrary to the position taken by the administration of President Donald Trump. 
 
The landmark decision said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination against employees because of a person's sex, also covers sexual orientation and transgender status. 
 
"Today we must decide whether someone can be fired simply for being homosexual or transgender," the court said. "The answer is clear." 
 
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights (LGBT) activists, as well as Democratic politicians and several major businesses had been demanding that the court spell out that the community was protected by the law.&nbsp; 
 
"This is a huge victory for LGBTQ equality," said James Esseks, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's LGBTQ &amp; HIV Project. 
 
"The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law," he said in a statement.&nbsp; 
 
Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic governor of New York state, concurred on Twitter."This #SCOTUS decision is a major victory for #LGBTQ rights," he said&nbsp; 
 
"No one should be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity," he added. 
In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage to be legal, a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community. 
 
But rights activists feared that the appointment by Trump of two new conservative judges to the top court could hinder further wins for their cause. 
 
Yet it was one of them, Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority decision, joining with the court's four progressive judges and Chief Justice John Roberts. 
 
"An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids," Gorsuch wrote. 
 
The ruling was a blow for the Trump administration, which had effectively thrown in its lot with employers. 
 
"Sex refers to whether you were born woman or man, not your sexual orientation or gender identity," argued Solicitor General Noel Francisco, representing the government's position before the court. He said it is the job of Congress to update the law, not the justice system. 
 
That position was echoed by Brett Kavanaugh, the other conservative judge appointed by Trump. 
 
Despite his opposition, Kavanaugh wrote in his own separate dissent that the decision still represented an "important victory achieved today by gay and lesbian Americans." 
 
Donna Stephens, the wife of transgender plaintiff Aimee Stephens who died last month, hailed her late partner's struggle for justice after being sacked by a Detroit funeral parlor when she came out. 
 
"For the last seven years of Aimes's life, she rose as a leader who fought against discrimination against transgender people, starting when she was fired for coming out as a woman, despite her recent promotion at the time.&nbsp; 
 
"I am grateful for this victory to honor the legacy of Aimee, and to ensure people are treated fairly regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," she said in a statement after the court pronounced its ruling.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The US Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal protections against workplace discrimination apply equally to sexual orientation, contrary to the position taken by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The US Supreme Court ruled Monday that federal protections against workplace discrimination apply equally to sexual orientation, contrary to the position taken by the administration of President Donald Trump. The landmark decision said Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination against employees because of a person's sex, also covers sexual orientation and transgender status. "Today we must decide whether someone can be fired simply for being homosexual or transgender," the court said. "The answer is clear." Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights (LGBT) activists, as well as Democratic politicians and several major businesses had been demanding that the court spell out that the community was protected by the law. "This is a huge victory for LGBTQ equality," said James Esseks, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's LGBTQ & HIV Project. "The court has caught up to the majority of our country, which already knows that discriminating against LGBTQ people is both unfair and against the law," he said in a statement. Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic governor of New York state, concurred on Twitter."This #SCOTUS decision is a major victory for #LGBTQ rights," he said "No one should be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity," he added. In 2015, the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage to be legal, a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community. But rights activists feared that the appointment by Trump of two new conservative judges to the top court could hinder further wins for their cause. Yet it was one of them, Neil Gorsuch, who wrote the majority decision, joining with the court's four progressive judges and Chief Justice John Roberts. "An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what Title VII forbids," Gorsuch wrote. The ruling was a blow for the Trump administration, which had effectively thrown in its lot with employers. "Sex refers to whether you were born woman or man, not your sexual orientation or gender identity," argued Solicitor General Noel Francisco, representing the government's position before the court. He said it is the job of Congress to update the law, not the justice system. That position was echoed by Brett Kavanaugh, the other conservative judge appointed by Trump. Despite his opposition, Kavanaugh wrote in his own separate dissent that the decision still represented an "important victory achieved today by gay and lesbian Americans." Donna Stephens, the wife of transgender plaintiff Aimee Stephens who died last month, hailed her late partner's struggle for justice after being sacked by a Detroit funeral parlor when she came out. "For the last seven years of Aimes's life, she rose as a leader who fought against discrimination against transgender people, starting when she was fired for coming out as a woman, despite her recent promotion at the time. "I am grateful for this victory to honor the legacy of Aimee, and to ensure people are treated fairly regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity," she said in a statement after the court pronounced its ruling.

US top court rules civil rights law protects LGBT workers

The world commemorated International Labour day on May 1 as workers across the world fight for their survival. WION's Palki gets you a story on their struggle.

World Labour Day: Workers fight for survival | Gravitas

Students at a Brazilian research facility in the northeastern city of Salvador developed a disinfection station for the healthcare workers on the frontlines of the combat against the coronavirus.

Brazilian students develop hospital disinfection station

Post Brexit UK changed its immigration laws. The UK adopted a point-based merit system for the migrant workers, but 70% of EU workers will not meet new UK immigration criteria. The question is will India be benefited from the new immigration laws?

WION Dispatch: UK's new points-based visa system will benefit Indians?

Two teenage&nbsp;employees were electrocuted while cleaning the kitchen of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/mcdonalds-to-pay-26-million-to-settle-california-wage-lawsuit-264569">McDonalds</a> in Pueblo Libre, a district in the capital Lima, Peruvian daily La Republica reported.

"In response to the terrible loss of our two colleagues Carlos Gabriel Edgardo Campos Zapata and Alexandra Antonella Porras Inga, we wish to announce that we have declared two days of mourning from this morning, during which all our restaurants nationwide will remain closed,"&nbsp;McDonald's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-vice-president-resigns-calls-for-elections-to-break-deadlock-253286">Peru</a> said on Twitter.

The company said it was cooperating fully with the authorities investigating the deaths and offering support to their families. All staff would be paid during the two days when the restaurants were shut.

Two teenage employees were electrocuted while cleaning the kitchen of a McDonalds in Pueblo Libre, a district in the capital Lima, Peruvian daily La Republica reported.

Two teenage employees were electrocuted while cleaning the kitchen of a McDonalds in Pueblo Libre, a district in the capital Lima, Peruvian daily La Republica reported. "In response to the terrible loss of our two colleagues Carlos Gabriel Edgardo Campos Zapata and Alexandra Antonella Porras Inga, we wish to announce that we have declared two days of mourning from this morning, during which all our restaurants nationwide will remain closed," McDonald's Peru said on Twitter. The company said it was cooperating fully with the authorities investigating the deaths and offering support to their families. All staff would be paid during the two days when the restaurants were shut.

McDonald's shuts all Peru restaurants to mourn dead workers

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd board chairman Lee Sang-hoon was sentenced to 1-1/2 years <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/south-korea-jails-three-executives-of-samsung-electronics-267180">jail</a> on Tuesday for sabotaging legitimate union activities, a South Korean court said.

Lee and about 25 other defendants were charged with sabotaging union activities by subcontracted workers at Samsung Electronics' repair unit, Samsung Electronics Service Co Ltd.

When union activities took place at Samsung Electronics Service in 2013, Samsung Group's now-defunct elite strategy office developed and implemented strategies to hinder the union's operation, Seoul Central District Court ruled.

Samsung executives and employees were, to different degrees, involved in finding out sensitive information about union members to convince them to leave the union, inducing the closure of subcontracting firms with active unions and delaying negotiations between labour and management.

Samsung Electronics declined to comment.

“This is a further signal of change for South Korean judicial system, which previously gave lenient sentences to convicted businessmen,” said Park Sang-in, a professor at Seoul National University.

Samsung’s new leader, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-prosecutors-seek-12-year-jail-term-for-samsung-heir-lee-27847">Jay Y. Lee</a> needed to "build industrial relations which are in line with global standards," he added.

The verdict follows last week's ruling by the same court that gave a 16-month jail term to Samsung Electronics Vice-President Kang Kyung-hoon on charges of union-busting activities at a different Samsung affiliate.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd board chairman Lee Sang-hoon was sentenced to 1-1/2 years jail on Tuesday for sabotaging legitimate union activities, a South Korean court said.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd board chairman Lee Sang-hoon was sentenced to 1-1/2 years jail on Tuesday for sabotaging legitimate union activities, a South Korean court said. Lee and about 25 other defendants were charged with sabotaging union activities by subcontracted workers at Samsung Electronics' repair unit, Samsung Electronics Service Co Ltd. When union activities took place at Samsung Electronics Service in 2013, Samsung Group's now-defunct elite strategy office developed and implemented strategies to hinder the union's operation, Seoul Central District Court ruled. Samsung executives and employees were, to different degrees, involved in finding out sensitive information about union members to convince them to leave the union, inducing the closure of subcontracting firms with active unions and delaying negotiations between labour and management. Samsung Electronics declined to comment. “This is a further signal of change for South Korean judicial system, which previously gave lenient sentences to convicted businessmen,” said Park Sang-in, a professor at Seoul National University. Samsung’s new leader, Jay Y. Lee needed to "build industrial relations which are in line with global standards," he added. The verdict follows last week's ruling by the same court that gave a 16-month jail term to Samsung Electronics Vice-President Kang Kyung-hoon on charges of union-busting activities at a different Samsung affiliate.

Samsung Electronics board chairman jailed on union-busting charge

Argentine workers fired without just cause over the next 180 days will be paid double the normal exit package under a decree announced over the weekend, as the new government breaks with the pro-business stance of the previous administration.

The "Decree of Need and Urgency" says in cases of dismissal without just cause during the term of the decree, "the affected workers will have the right to receive double the corresponding compensation in accordance with current legislation".

Peronist President Alberto Fernandez was sworn in on Tuesday, promising an end to outgoing leader Mauricio Macri's pro-business policies, as inflation roars at above 50%, poverty increases and economic growth sputters.

The new economy minister on Wednesday said Macri's fiscal tightening measures had failed, and that the new administration would emphasize economic growth over the deficit reduction program that was at the heart of Macri's push to re-integrate Argentina with the international financial markets.

Argentina's unemployment rate rose to 10.6% in the second quarter of 2019, a percentage point higher than a year earlier, the government said in a press release announcing the decree.

Young people were especially hard hit, it said, with young women suffering a jobless rate of 24%.

"By decision of President Alberto Fernandez, the public emergency in occupational matters is declared in view of the need to stop the aggravation of the labor crisis," the press release announcing the decree said.

Argentine workers fired without just cause over the next 180 days will be paid double the normal exit package under a decree announced over the weekend, as the new government breaks with the pro-business stance of the previous administration.

Argentine workers fired without just cause over the next 180 days will be paid double the normal exit package under a decree announced over the weekend, as the new government breaks with the pro-business stance of the previous administration. The "Decree of Need and Urgency" says in cases of dismissal without just cause during the term of the decree, "the affected workers will have the right to receive double the corresponding compensation in accordance with current legislation". Peronist President Alberto Fernandez was sworn in on Tuesday, promising an end to outgoing leader Mauricio Macri's pro-business policies, as inflation roars at above 50%, poverty increases and economic growth sputters. The new economy minister on Wednesday said Macri's fiscal tightening measures had failed, and that the new administration would emphasize economic growth over the deficit reduction program that was at the heart of Macri's push to re-integrate Argentina with the international financial markets. Argentina's unemployment rate rose to 10.6% in the second quarter of 2019, a percentage point higher than a year earlier, the government said in a press release announcing the decree. Young people were especially hard hit, it said, with young women suffering a jobless rate of 24%. "By decision of President Alberto Fernandez, the public emergency in occupational matters is declared in view of the need to stop the aggravation of the labor crisis," the press release announcing the decree said.

Argentina issues decree making it harder for businesses to fire workers

Pension Reforms Spark Widespread Protests In France As The West European Country Comes To A Halt

Gravitas: France Protests: Day 2: Why are workers Angry on Macron?

Fineprint: Workers to gather on streets of Paris

Embattled office-sharing firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wework-data-shows-growth-still-doubling-261004">WeWork</a>&nbsp;will&nbsp;lay&nbsp;off&nbsp;2,400&nbsp;employees&nbsp;worldwide, about a fifth of its workforce, as it struggles to reorganize amid mounting losses, the company announced Thursday.

The painful job cuts underscore the rapid decline of what had been one of America's most celebrated startups which put a mammoth footprint in the commercial real estate of major cities around the globe but recently had to cancel its debut on Wall Street.

The layoffs which began "weeks ago" were necessary "to create a more efficient organization," a&nbsp;WeWork&nbsp;spokesperson said in a statement.

The dismissed&nbsp;workers&nbsp;"will receive severance, continued benefits, and other forms of assistance to aid in their career transition."

The company told shareholders earlier this month it lost almost $1.3 billion in the third quarter, more than twice the losses recorded in the same period a year earlier.

As investors and analysts questioned the company's value,&nbsp;WeWork&nbsp;in September scrapped plans for an initial public offering, forced out chief executive Adam Neumann and took a bailout from Japan's SoftBank Group, a major investor.

Unconventional executive

Alex Cohen, a vice president at the real estate firm Compass in New York, told AFP that&nbsp;WeWork's payroll became bloated as it tried to keep services, space design, engineering and construction management,&nbsp;in house rather than outsourcing them.

"WeWork's 'growth at all costs' ethos meant they didn't have time or appropriate management to put in place the processes and organizational structures to enable their staff to efficiently service the business's relentless appetite for new locations," he said in an email.

Neumann stepped down from&nbsp;WeWork's board of directors with a $1.7 billion exit package while the company's value was slashed to $8 billion,&nbsp;a far cry from its $47 billion valuation at the start of this year and just a fraction of the sum envisioned as part of the failed IPO.

A source told AFP that Neumann will get $1 billion for his SoftBank shares, $500 million for reimbursements of personal debts and $185 million in consulting fees.

The unconventional entrepreneur had faced simmering questions over his management style, loose approach to corporate governance and allegations of self-dealing,&nbsp;not to mention a Wall Street Journal expose which laid out Neumann's drug and alcohol use and his aspiration to become the world's first trillionaire.

A former employee, Maria Bardhi, filed a labor a grievance in New York accusing Neumann of pregnancy discrimination, saying he referred to her maternity leave as "vacation" and "retirement."&nbsp;

The company also allegedly paid Bardhi's temporary replacement twice her salary and fired her six months after her return.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wework-plans-to-lay-off-4000-staff-report-258004">WeWork</a>&nbsp;debacle contributed to woes at SoftBank, which earlier this month announced its largest quarterly loss ever at $6.4 billion.

Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's chief executive, expressed remorse and acknowledged having misjudged both ride-hailing giant Uber and&nbsp;WeWork.

"My investment decisions were in many ways poor. I regret them deeply," he said.

Embattled office-sharing firm WeWork will lay off 2,400 employees worldwide, about a fifth of its workforce, as it struggles to reorganize amid mounting losses, the company announced Thursday.

Embattled office-sharing firm WeWork will lay off 2,400 employees worldwide, about a fifth of its workforce, as it struggles to reorganize amid mounting losses, the company announced Thursday. The painful job cuts underscore the rapid decline of what had been one of America's most celebrated startups which put a mammoth footprint in the commercial real estate of major cities around the globe but recently had to cancel its debut on Wall Street. The layoffs which began "weeks ago" were necessary "to create a more efficient organization," a WeWork spokesperson said in a statement. The dismissed workers "will receive severance, continued benefits, and other forms of assistance to aid in their career transition." The company told shareholders earlier this month it lost almost $1.3 billion in the third quarter, more than twice the losses recorded in the same period a year earlier. As investors and analysts questioned the company's value, WeWork in September scrapped plans for an initial public offering, forced out chief executive Adam Neumann and took a bailout from Japan's SoftBank Group, a major investor. Unconventional executive Alex Cohen, a vice president at the real estate firm Compass in New York, told AFP that WeWork's payroll became bloated as it tried to keep services, space design, engineering and construction management, in house rather than outsourcing them. "WeWork's 'growth at all costs' ethos meant they didn't have time or appropriate management to put in place the processes and organizational structures to enable their staff to efficiently service the business's relentless appetite for new locations," he said in an email. Neumann stepped down from WeWork's board of directors with a $1.7 billion exit package while the company's value was slashed to $8 billion, a far cry from its $47 billion valuation at the start of this year and just a fraction of the sum envisioned as part of the failed IPO. A source told AFP that Neumann will get $1 billion for his SoftBank shares, $500 million for reimbursements of personal debts and $185 million in consulting fees. The unconventional entrepreneur had faced simmering questions over his management style, loose approach to corporate governance and allegations of self-dealing, not to mention a Wall Street Journal expose which laid out Neumann's drug and alcohol use and his aspiration to become the world's first trillionaire. A former employee, Maria Bardhi, filed a labor a grievance in New York accusing Neumann of pregnancy discrimination, saying he referred to her maternity leave as "vacation" and "retirement." The company also allegedly paid Bardhi's temporary replacement twice her salary and fired her six months after her return. The WeWork debacle contributed to woes at SoftBank, which earlier this month announced its largest quarterly loss ever at $6.4 billion. Masayoshi Son, SoftBank's chief executive, expressed remorse and acknowledged having misjudged both ride-hailing giant Uber and WeWork. "My investment decisions were in many ways poor. I regret them deeply," he said.

WeWork to lay off 2,400 workers worldwide

Businessmen and workers connected to industrial organisations on Monday held a protest against the government for the industry shutdown imposed for the last 17 days in the city. 
 
The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority had directed the closure of industries to curb pollution from October 25. 
 
Representatives of the industry allege that they are facing losses to the tune of crores of rupees per day due to the shutdown. They further alleged that it is not just the industries which cause pollution. 
 
The businessmen met the Deputy Commissioner today and submitted their request for resolution of their problems failing which they will protest along with their families on the roads from November 12. 
 
Around 5 lakh workers work in 12,000 odd industries in Panipat. Workers are bearing the brunt due to closure of industries as they have been rendered without any source of income for the last 17 days. 
 
"The industry has only been closed in Panipat and not in Karnal and Sonipat. Karnal is the home city of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Sonipat is close to Delhi. If the government does not consider our demands, we will be forced to protest at a larger scale," Avinash Garg, a blanket trader said. 
 
"All industrial and business establishments are supporting us in this protest. Due to this the markets will remain closed as a symbolic gesture tomorrow," Bhim Rana, chief of the Dyers' Association said.

Businessmen and workers connected to industrial organisations on Monday held a protest against the government for the industry shutdown imposed for the last 17 days in the city.

Businessmen and workers connected to industrial organisations on Monday held a protest against the government for the industry shutdown imposed for the last 17 days in the city. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority had directed the closure of industries to curb pollution from October 25. Representatives of the industry allege that they are facing losses to the tune of crores of rupees per day due to the shutdown. They further alleged that it is not just the industries which cause pollution. The businessmen met the Deputy Commissioner today and submitted their request for resolution of their problems failing which they will protest along with their families on the roads from November 12. Around 5 lakh workers work in 12,000 odd industries in Panipat. Workers are bearing the brunt due to closure of industries as they have been rendered without any source of income for the last 17 days. "The industry has only been closed in Panipat and not in Karnal and Sonipat. Karnal is the home city of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Sonipat is close to Delhi. If the government does not consider our demands, we will be forced to protest at a larger scale," Avinash Garg, a blanket trader said. "All industrial and business establishments are supporting us in this protest. Due to this the markets will remain closed as a symbolic gesture tomorrow," Bhim Rana, chief of the Dyers' Association said.

Owners, workers protest against 17-day shut down of industries in Panipat

Sneak peek into lives of Tantalum mine workers in Congo

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/general-motors-workers-begin-nationwide-strike-in-us-249987">General Motors</a> has laid off 6,000 workers in Mexico temporarily due to a US labour strike, which has disrupted production at two plants south of the border manufacturing pickup trucks, the company said Tuesday.

The layoffs affect the Silao assembly and transmission plants in central Mexico, where work has been "disrupted as a result of a parts shortage related to the UAW strike," a GM spokesman said.

The Silao workers are expected to return to their jobs after the strike, the spokesman said.

GM's Mexican arm notified workers at the Silao assembly plant that they had been placed on indefinite, mandatory vacation and would receive 55 per cent of their pay, according to an internal document obtained by AFP.

However, the company emphasized that no one was permanently laid off.

"There are no layoffs for the moment, we&nbsp;are evaluating the situation day to day and hope to restore normal operations soon, in a matter of days," spokeswoman Teresa Cid told AFP.

The two plants in Silao, Guanajuato state, produce GMC and Chevrolet pickup trucks.

The moves come on top of the furlough of more than 3,000 workers in Canada and at an Ohio plant where GM operates a joint venture with Isuzu to make diesel engines.

Nearly 50,000 US workers are on strike at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gm-recalls-35-mn-vehicles-on-brake-issue-249068">GM</a>&nbsp;due to a United Auto Workers conflict over the labour contract, now in its third week.

Workers launched the strike on September 16 after contract talks failed to yield an agreement on wages, health benefits, temporary workers and job security.

The strike also comes against the backdrop of GM's decision last November to effectively shutter five plants in North America.

A report Tuesday from JPMorgan Chase estimated that the strike has so far cost GM $1 billion, adding that the company has the potential to recover some of the lost profits in the fourth quarter if the strike ends soon.

General Motors has laid off 6,000 workers in Mexico temporarily due to a US labour strike, which has disrupted production at two plants south of the border manufacturing pickup trucks, the company said Tuesday.

General Motors has laid off 6,000 workers in Mexico temporarily due to a US labour strike, which has disrupted production at two plants south of the border manufacturing pickup trucks, the company said Tuesday. The layoffs affect the Silao assembly and transmission plants in central Mexico, where work has been "disrupted as a result of a parts shortage related to the UAW strike," a GM spokesman said. The Silao workers are expected to return to their jobs after the strike, the spokesman said. GM's Mexican arm notified workers at the Silao assembly plant that they had been placed on indefinite, mandatory vacation and would receive 55 per cent of their pay, according to an internal document obtained by AFP. However, the company emphasized that no one was permanently laid off. "There are no layoffs for the moment, we are evaluating the situation day to day and hope to restore normal operations soon, in a matter of days," spokeswoman Teresa Cid told AFP. The two plants in Silao, Guanajuato state, produce GMC and Chevrolet pickup trucks. The moves come on top of the furlough of more than 3,000 workers in Canada and at an Ohio plant where GM operates a joint venture with Isuzu to make diesel engines. Nearly 50,000 US workers are on strike at GM due to a United Auto Workers conflict over the labour contract, now in its third week. Workers launched the strike on September 16 after contract talks failed to yield an agreement on wages, health benefits, temporary workers and job security. The strike also comes against the backdrop of GM's decision last November to effectively shutter five plants in North America. A report Tuesday from JPMorgan Chase estimated that the strike has so far cost GM $1 billion, adding that the company has the potential to recover some of the lost profits in the fourth quarter if the strike ends soon.

General Motors temporarily lays off 6,000 workers in Mexico due to strike

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mcdonalds-drops-several-items-from-menu-in-reopened-stores-in-india-220191">McDonald's Corp</a> was accused on Tuesday in 25 new lawsuits and regulatory charges of condoning sexual harassment in the workplace and retaliating against employees who speak up.

The cases announced by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the labour group Fight for $15, and the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund cover alleged misconduct at McDonald's locations in 20 US cities, including groping, indecent exposure, propositions for sex, and lewd comments.

McDonald's is one of the world's most recognizable brands, and the cases make the fast-food chain a primary target of a campaign to extend the #MeToo movement, which sprung from sexual harassment cases in Hollywood, to the workplace.

The Chicago-based company said it has more than 14,000 locations in the United States with some 850,000 workers.

More than 90 per cent of the locations are franchised, and McDonald's has long maintained it should not be liable for how employees in franchised restaurants behave.

Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook said his company has improved and more clearly defined its harassment policies, has trained most franchise owners, and will be training front-line employees and setting up a complaint hotline.

"McDonald's is sending a clear message that we are committed to creating and sustaining a culture of trust where employees feel safe, valued and respected," Easterbrook wrote in letters this week to Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth and "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi, who supports the workers' cause.

The 25 cases include three new lawsuits, two by workers who previously filed charges, and charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

McDonald's has faced more than 50 such charges and lawsuits in the last three years, the ACLU said. Last September, McDonald's workers in 10 cities staged a one-day strike to protest alleged sexual harassment.

Jamelia Fairley, a single mother who makes $9.60 an hour at a corporate-owned McDonald's in Sanford, Florida, told reporters she went to the EEOC after a co-worker began groping her, rubbing against her and saying he could "give me a ride."

She said that after she reported the harassment, McDonald's transferred but did not fire her harasser, while her boss cut her weekly hours to seven from 25,

"Trying to raise a 2-year-old on $67 a week is, well, I can't do it," Fairley said.

Sharyn Tejani, director of the Time's Up fund, which is part of the National Women's Law Center, said having to put up with workplace harassment should not be a cost of making a living.

"For McDonald's, time is past up," she said.

McDonald's Corp was accused on Tuesday in 25 new lawsuits and regulatory charges of condoning sexual harassment in the workplace and retaliating against employees who speak up.

McDonald's Corp was accused on Tuesday in 25 new lawsuits and regulatory charges of condoning sexual harassment in the workplace and retaliating against employees who speak up. The cases announced by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the labour group Fight for $15, and the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund cover alleged misconduct at McDonald's locations in 20 US cities, including groping, indecent exposure, propositions for sex, and lewd comments. McDonald's is one of the world's most recognizable brands, and the cases make the fast-food chain a primary target of a campaign to extend the #MeToo movement, which sprung from sexual harassment cases in Hollywood, to the workplace. The Chicago-based company said it has more than 14,000 locations in the United States with some 850,000 workers. More than 90 per cent of the locations are franchised, and McDonald's has long maintained it should not be liable for how employees in franchised restaurants behave. Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook said his company has improved and more clearly defined its harassment policies, has trained most franchise owners, and will be training front-line employees and setting up a complaint hotline. "McDonald's is sending a clear message that we are committed to creating and sustaining a culture of trust where employees feel safe, valued and respected," Easterbrook wrote in letters this week to Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth and "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi, who supports the workers' cause. The 25 cases include three new lawsuits, two by workers who previously filed charges, and charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). McDonald's has faced more than 50 such charges and lawsuits in the last three years, the ACLU said. Last September, McDonald's workers in 10 cities staged a one-day strike to protest alleged sexual harassment. Jamelia Fairley, a single mother who makes $9.60 an hour at a corporate-owned McDonald's in Sanford, Florida, told reporters she went to the EEOC after a co-worker began groping her, rubbing against her and saying he could "give me a ride." She said that after she reported the harassment, McDonald's transferred but did not fire her harasser, while her boss cut her weekly hours to seven from 25, "Trying to raise a 2-year-old on $67 a week is, well, I can't do it," Fairley said. Sharyn Tejani, director of the Time's Up fund, which is part of the National Women's Law Center, said having to put up with workplace harassment should not be a cost of making a living. "For McDonald's, time is past up," she said.

McDonald's faces 25 new sexual harassment complaints from workers

No paid work should threaten your well being, rules International Labour Organization

Indian family members of those working in the UAE will now be able to get an "expat visa" if the working relative fulfils an income criteria, according to new visa guidelines announced by the UAE.

The UAE Cabinet adopted a decision to amend provisions of the resolution on sponsoring of foreign workers to their families in the country, WAM reported.

According to a statement by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, the amended provisions now indicate "income" as a requirement for sponsoring family members, as opposed to the previously listed "professions" which allowed workers to sponsor their families. The amendment is in line with international developments and accordance with best practices, it added.

"The decision aims at enhancing family stability of foreign workers and social cohesion, as well as attracting highly skilled workers while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life," the statement continued.

The Cabinet decision, the statement explained, called on relevant government entities to conduct studies to assess and enhance the services provided to residents, including aspects of education and health, and encourage the active participation of their family member in the job market as an alternative to recruiting new workers from abroad, within the existing policies and regulations.&nbsp;

Indian family members of those working in the UAE will now be able to get an "expat visa" if the working relative fulfils an income criteria, according to new visa guidelines announced by the UAE.

Indian family members of those working in the UAE will now be able to get an "expat visa" if the working relative fulfils an income criteria, according to new visa guidelines announced by the UAE. The UAE Cabinet adopted a decision to amend provisions of the resolution on sponsoring of foreign workers to their families in the country, WAM reported. According to a statement by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet, the amended provisions now indicate "income" as a requirement for sponsoring family members, as opposed to the previously listed "professions" which allowed workers to sponsor their families. The amendment is in line with international developments and accordance with best practices, it added. "The decision aims at enhancing family stability of foreign workers and social cohesion, as well as attracting highly skilled workers while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and personal life," the statement continued. The Cabinet decision, the statement explained, called on relevant government entities to conduct studies to assess and enhance the services provided to residents, including aspects of education and health, and encourage the active participation of their family member in the job market as an alternative to recruiting new workers from abroad, within the existing policies and regulations.

Indian family members can now join working relatives in UAE as visa criteria changes

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/after-twitter-chief-parliamentary-panel-urged-to-summon-global-heads-of-facebook-other-tech-giants-197004">Facebook gathers intelligence</a> from its platform to identify people who threaten the firm or its workers, the social network said Thursday in response to media reports of the security tactic.

CNBC reported that it interviewed more than a dozen former Facebook security employees, some of whom questioned the ethics of what was portrayed as an unclearly defined practice at the leading social network.

Facebook spokesman Anthony Harrison told AFP that the company's physical security team exists to keep workers safe and that strict processes are in place to protect people's privacy.

"Any suggestion our on-site physical security team has overstepped is absolutely false," Harrison said.

"They use industry-standard measures to assess and address credible threats of violence against our employees and our company, and refer these threats to law enforcement when necessary."

Facebook keeps a routinely updated list of people that members of its security team should "be on lookout" for due to threatening statements, according to CNBC.

The so-called "BOLO" list purportedly includes former employees whose actions at the social network came under scrutiny.

Facebook mines the social network for threats against the company or its workers, and its watch list can even feature photos of people, CNBC reported.

For cases in which threats against Facebook or its workers seem credible, the security team was said to be capable of tracking those behind them using location data from the social network's apps or websites.

Facebook is adamant that its security processes are designed to protect people's privacy and adhere to data privacy laws, as well as the social network's terms of service.

In cases of credible threats of violence against an employee, Facebook uses publicly available data and industry practices to determine how close someone behind a threat is to the worker or company offices, according to the social network.

Facebook gathers intelligence from its platform to identify people who threaten the firm or its workers, the social network said Thursday in response to media reports of the security tactic.

Facebook gathers intelligence from its platform to identify people who threaten the firm or its workers, the social network said Thursday in response to media reports of the security tactic. CNBC reported that it interviewed more than a dozen former Facebook security employees, some of whom questioned the ethics of what was portrayed as an unclearly defined practice at the leading social network. Facebook spokesman Anthony Harrison told AFP that the company's physical security team exists to keep workers safe and that strict processes are in place to protect people's privacy. "Any suggestion our on-site physical security team has overstepped is absolutely false," Harrison said. "They use industry-standard measures to assess and address credible threats of violence against our employees and our company, and refer these threats to law enforcement when necessary." Facebook keeps a routinely updated list of people that members of its security team should "be on lookout" for due to threatening statements, according to CNBC. The so-called "BOLO" list purportedly includes former employees whose actions at the social network came under scrutiny. Facebook mines the social network for threats against the company or its workers, and its watch list can even feature photos of people, CNBC reported. For cases in which threats against Facebook or its workers seem credible, the security team was said to be capable of tracking those behind them using location data from the social network's apps or websites. Facebook is adamant that its security processes are designed to protect people's privacy and adhere to data privacy laws, as well as the social network's terms of service. In cases of credible threats of violence against an employee, Facebook uses publicly available data and industry practices to determine how close someone behind a threat is to the worker or company offices, according to the social network.

Facebook taps user data to defend workers from threat

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dont-lose-hope-by-results-in-3-states-lok-sabha-polls-very-important-amit-shah-tells-bjp-workers-189833">Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah</a> is scheduled to address 30,000 booth level <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-run-by-a-dynasty-cannot-serve-the-people-amit-shah-193708">workers </a>here on February 9 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, said Goa BJP Chief Vinay Tendulkar.

Tendulkar told ANI in a telephonic conversation that around 30,000 workers from 1642 booths will attend Shah`s rally, which will be organised in Panaji on February 9.&nbsp;

Shah will also address 18,000 party workers at a rally in Uttarakhand`s Dehradun on Saturday, said state BJP president Ajay Bhatt."Amit Shah will address the Trishul Sammelan.&nbsp;

His visit will make a huge impact ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

He will motivate the party workers to work hard for the elections and make sure that BJP wins all the seats in the state," Bhatt said.

Last week, Shah did a rally in Himachal Pradesh`s &nbsp;Una and Odisha and hit out at the Congress saying that the party`s only OROP is "only Rahul only Priyanka". (ANI)&nbsp;

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah is scheduled to address 30,000 booth level workers here on February 9 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, said Goa BJP Chief Vinay Tendulkar.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah is scheduled to address 30,000 booth level workers here on February 9 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, said Goa BJP Chief Vinay Tendulkar. Tendulkar told ANI in a telephonic conversation that around 30,000 workers from 1642 booths will attend Shah`s rally, which will be organised in Panaji on February 9. Shah will also address 18,000 party workers at a rally in Uttarakhand`s Dehradun on Saturday, said state BJP president Ajay Bhatt."Amit Shah will address the Trishul Sammelan. His visit will make a huge impact ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He will motivate the party workers to work hard for the elections and make sure that BJP wins all the seats in the state," Bhatt said. Last week, Shah did a rally in Himachal Pradesh`s Una and Odisha and hit out at the Congress saying that the party`s only OROP is "only Rahul only Priyanka". (ANI)

Amit Shah to address 30,000 booth level workers in Goa on February 9

A group of Amazon workers in Minnesota who are Somali refugees resettled in the Midwestern US state demanded better working conditions Friday during a protest outside one of the retailer's warehouses.

Dozens braved frigid temperatures to demonstrate outside of the Amazon warehouse in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee&nbsp;home to a sizable Somali immigrant population from which Amazon has heavily recruited.

The protest is the latest effort by the workers, who say East African immigrants make up a majority of the workforce at the massive warehouse but go unheard.

"We don't have rights in the company," worker Abdulkadir Ahmad, 30, told AFP.

The workers, many of whom are practising Muslims, say the required productivity rate is too high, that the company is unconcerned about too many worker injuries and that the conditions don't allow practising Muslims to pray as they otherwise would.

"We do not have enough time to pray. There is a lot of pressure. They say your rate is too low," Ahmad said.

The workers timed their protest during the busy holiday shopping season, hoping to force the online retailer to make changes. They already have had some success, most significantly in holding two meetings with management.

The New York Times reported that it was the first known instance of any group succeeding in forcing Amazon to negotiate.

"We are appreciative they've sat down and talked with us, but we are not seeing real action," activist Abdi Muse said.

Muse is the executive director of the Awood Center, a union-backed non-profit that organized the protest and helps East African workers in the state.

Amazon countered that it is a source of good pay and health benefits for warehouse employees, and has been engaged in "direct dialogue." "I encourage anyone to compare our pay, benefits and workplace to other retailers and major employers in the Shakopee community and across the country," spokeswoman Shevaun Brown said in a statement.

The retail giant has faced past complaints from warehouse employees about working conditions.

It has more than 75 "fulfilment centres" across the country where purchased merchandise is packaged and shipped. The centres employ more than 125,000 full-time employees, according to Amazon.

Bloomberg reported this week that warehouse workers in New York have announced plans to unionize.&nbsp;

A group of Amazon workers in Minnesota who are Somali refugees resettled in the Midwestern US state demanded better working conditions Friday during a protest outside one of the retailer's warehouses.

A group of Amazon workers in Minnesota who are Somali refugees resettled in the Midwestern US state demanded better working conditions Friday during a protest outside one of the retailer's warehouses. Dozens braved frigid temperatures to demonstrate outside of the Amazon warehouse in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee home to a sizable Somali immigrant population from which Amazon has heavily recruited. The protest is the latest effort by the workers, who say East African immigrants make up a majority of the workforce at the massive warehouse but go unheard. "We don't have rights in the company," worker Abdulkadir Ahmad, 30, told AFP. The workers, many of whom are practising Muslims, say the required productivity rate is too high, that the company is unconcerned about too many worker injuries and that the conditions don't allow practising Muslims to pray as they otherwise would. "We do not have enough time to pray. There is a lot of pressure. They say your rate is too low," Ahmad said. The workers timed their protest during the busy holiday shopping season, hoping to force the online retailer to make changes. They already have had some success, most significantly in holding two meetings with management. The New York Times reported that it was the first known instance of any group succeeding in forcing Amazon to negotiate. "We are appreciative they've sat down and talked with us, but we are not seeing real action," activist Abdi Muse said. Muse is the executive director of the Awood Center, a union-backed non-profit that organized the protest and helps East African workers in the state. Amazon countered that it is a source of good pay and health benefits for warehouse employees, and has been engaged in "direct dialogue." "I encourage anyone to compare our pay, benefits and workplace to other retailers and major employers in the Shakopee community and across the country," spokeswoman Shevaun Brown said in a statement. The retail giant has faced past complaints from warehouse employees about working conditions. It has more than 75 "fulfilment centres" across the country where purchased merchandise is packaged and shipped. The centres employ more than 125,000 full-time employees, according to Amazon. Bloomberg reported this week that warehouse workers in New York have announced plans to unionize.

Somali-American Amazon workers demand better conditions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest.

The airport, one of a number of&nbsp;mega-projects under Erdogan's rule, was initially scheduled to fully open on Monday but construction has been marred by delays and a workers' strike over poor conditions.

Erdogan has championed the 10.5 billion euro ($12 billion) project in his bid to make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant.

However the airport will only offer flights to five destinations until an expanded opening on December 29, from when it is expected to handle up to 90 million passengers a year, rising to 200 million when all facilities are completed in 2028.

That would be nearly double the number of passengers moving through the world's current busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in the US city of Atlanta.

The first flight from the as-yet unnamed airport will be to Ankara on Thursday.

Erdogan is expected to reveal the airport's new name at a lavish ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday attended by foreign leaders Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The inauguration for the new facility, which will replace Istanbul's ageing Ataturk Airport, takes place on the 95th anniversary of modern Turkey's founding by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

However the president, who has been accused by secularists of undermining Ataturk's legacy, has indicated he would prefer not to have the new airport named after the founder.

Many observers predict Erdogan, who often references the Ottoman Empire, will instead name it after an Ottoman-era sultan such as Abdulhamid II. Some supporters have even argued it should carry Erdogan's name.&nbsp;

The two-month period after Monday's "soft opening" will be used to identify "where we need to work a bit more", Kadri Samsunlu, director general of the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA), told foreign media visiting the site on Thursday.

The "entire business" at Ataturk -- including planes and equipment -- will be moved to the new airport over a 45-hour period after the "hard opening" at the end of the year, Samsunlu added.&nbsp;

Authorities say a metro line will be built to link the airport, which is near the Black Sea coast on the European side of Istanbul, to the city centre 35 kilometres (22 miles) away.

Crackdown on striking workers&nbsp;

Before its glitzy launch, the airport looked more like a construction site on Thursday, with dump trucks roaring past, a road being paved and workers quickly dismantling scaffolding.

When completed in 2028, it will have six runways and two terminals spread over 76 square kilometres (29 square miles), the IGA said. That would make it three times the size of Ataturk.

Turkish Airlines will take advantage of the extra space by expanding its commercial and cargo operations, a source at the company told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"Next year we will add 40 airplanes to our fleet. By 2023 we will have 450 planes and transport more then 120 million passengers a year," the source said.

The 35,000 people employed on the project have had to scramble to complete it on time.

Last month, hundreds of workers walked off the job to protest poor conditions and work-related deaths on the site.

Turkish authorities quickly cracked down, arresting hundreds, according to labour unions.

Most were released without charge, but around 20 remain in prison.

Thirty workers have died on the site since construction began in 2015, according to the IGA. The unions say the real number is much higher.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was on Monday due to inaugurate Istanbul's new international airport, which his government claims will become the world's largest. The airport, one of a number of mega-projects under Erdogan's rule, was initially scheduled to fully open on Monday but construction has been marred by delays and a workers' strike over poor conditions. Erdogan has championed the 10.5 billion euro ($12 billion) project in his bid to make Istanbul a global travel hub linking Europe, Asia and Africa and turn flag carrier Turkish Airlines into an aviation giant. However the airport will only offer flights to five destinations until an expanded opening on December 29, from when it is expected to handle up to 90 million passengers a year, rising to 200 million when all facilities are completed in 2028. That would be nearly double the number of passengers moving through the world's current busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson in the US city of Atlanta. The first flight from the as-yet unnamed airport will be to Ankara on Thursday. Erdogan is expected to reveal the airport's new name at a lavish ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) on Monday attended by foreign leaders Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The inauguration for the new facility, which will replace Istanbul's ageing Ataturk Airport, takes place on the 95th anniversary of modern Turkey's founding by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. However the president, who has been accused by secularists of undermining Ataturk's legacy, has indicated he would prefer not to have the new airport named after the founder. Many observers predict Erdogan, who often references the Ottoman Empire, will instead name it after an Ottoman-era sultan such as Abdulhamid II. Some supporters have even argued it should carry Erdogan's name. The two-month period after Monday's "soft opening" will be used to identify "where we need to work a bit more", Kadri Samsunlu, director general of the Istanbul Grand Airport (IGA), told foreign media visiting the site on Thursday. The "entire business" at Ataturk -- including planes and equipment -- will be moved to the new airport over a 45-hour period after the "hard opening" at the end of the year, Samsunlu added. Authorities say a metro line will be built to link the airport, which is near the Black Sea coast on the European side of Istanbul, to the city centre 35 kilometres (22 miles) away. Crackdown on striking workers Before its glitzy launch, the airport looked more like a construction site on Thursday, with dump trucks roaring past, a road being paved and workers quickly dismantling scaffolding. When completed in 2028, it will have six runways and two terminals spread over 76 square kilometres (29 square miles), the IGA said. That would make it three times the size of Ataturk. Turkish Airlines will take advantage of the extra space by expanding its commercial and cargo operations, a source at the company told AFP on condition of anonymity. "Next year we will add 40 airplanes to our fleet. By 2023 we will have 450 planes and transport more then 120 million passengers a year," the source said. The 35,000 people employed on the project have had to scramble to complete it on time. Last month, hundreds of workers walked off the job to protest poor conditions and work-related deaths on the site. Turkish authorities quickly cracked down, arresting hundreds, according to labour unions. Most were released without charge, but around 20 remain in prison. Thirty workers have died on the site since construction began in 2015, according to the IGA. The unions say the real number is much higher.

Turkey to unveil giant new Istanbul airport

West Bengal Police have blamed, prima facie, the deaths of the two men the BJP says were party workers on suicide and personal enmity.&nbsp

Both deaths took place in Bengal's Purulia district.&nbsp

The first body, of 20-year-old Trilochan Mahto, was found hanging from a tree on Thursday. On the front and back of his white T-shirt was written:&nbsp"This is for doing BJP politics from age 18. Been trying to kill you since the vote. Failed. Today you are dead."

The second body, of Dulal Kumar, was found hanging from an electric pole, on Saturday. &nbsp

"In preliminary investigation in first incident, it seems to be case of personal enmity. We've started investigating and we'll take proper action," said Purulia SP Joy Biswas.&nbsp

"Second incident seems to be case of suicide. Body sent for postmortem," he added.&nbsp

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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In preliminary investigation in 1st incident, it seems to be case of personal enmity. We've started investigating & we'll take proper action. 2nd incident, seems to be case of suicide. Body sent for postmortem: Joy Biswas,Purulia SP on bodies of 2 BJP workers found in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/k3aQH64c35">pic.twitter.com/k3aQH64c35</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1002849603249508352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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ADG के पूर्ण प्रयास के बाद भी आखिर<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WestBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WestBengal</a> के पुरुलिया जिले में,<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BJP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BJP</a> कार्यकर्ता दुलाल की लाश भी 
सुबह टॉवर पर लटकी हुई मिली है! 
 
हम शर्मिंदा हैं! 
शायद प्रजातन्त्र भी शर्मिंदा है!! <a href="https://t.co/0IjlhwWctb">pic.twitter.com/0IjlhwWctb</a>
— Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) <a href="https://twitter.com/KailashOnline/status/1002760954306678784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp

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After Trilochan Mahato, Dulal Kumar, another BJP karyakarta’s body found hanging from a tower in Purulia... BJP did exceedingly well here winning all 9 gram panchayats and 2 zilla parishad seats in the block. Mamata Banerjee must be proud of her murderous hoodlums. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaveBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaveBengal</a> <a href="https://t.co/n8Xq3C44KW">pic.twitter.com/n8Xq3C44KW</a>
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) <a href="https://twitter.com/amitmalviya/status/1002772782973968385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The BJP however has been quick to blame the murders on the Trinamool Congress.&nbsp

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The present TMC govt in West Bengal has surpassed the violent legacy of Communist rule. Entire BJP mourns this tragic loss & stands firmly with Trilochan Mahato’s family in this hour of grief. His sacrifice for organisation & ideology will not go in vain. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1001825007213973505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp

&nbsp

The two men were found hanging from a tree and an electricity tower within 48 hours of each other

West Bengal Police have blamed, prima facie, the deaths of the two men the BJP says were party workers on suicide and personal enmity. Both deaths took place in Bengal's Purulia district. The first body, of 20-year-old Trilochan Mahto, was found hanging from a tree on Thursday. On the front and back of his white T-shirt was written: "This is for doing BJP politics from age 18. Been trying to kill you since the vote. Failed. Today you are dead." The second body, of Dulal Kumar, was found hanging from an electric pole, on Saturday. "In preliminary investigation in first incident, it seems to be case of personal enmity. We've started investigating and we'll take proper action," said Purulia SP Joy Biswas. "Second incident seems to be case of suicide. Body sent for postmortem," he added. In preliminary investigation in 1st incident, it seems to be case of personal enmity. We've started investigating & we'll take proper action. 2nd incident, seems to be case of suicide. Body sent for postmortem: Joy Biswas,Purulia SP on bodies of 2 BJP workers found in #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/k3aQH64c35 — ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2018 × ADG के पूर्ण प्रयास के बाद भी आखिर#WestBengal के पुरुलिया जिले में,#BJP कार्यकर्ता दुलाल की लाश भी सुबह टॉवर पर लटकी हुई मिली है! हम शर्मिंदा हैं! शायद प्रजातन्त्र भी शर्मिंदा है!! pic.twitter.com/0IjlhwWctb — Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) June 2, 2018 × After Trilochan Mahato, Dulal Kumar, another BJP karyakarta’s body found hanging from a tower in Purulia... BJP did exceedingly well here winning all 9 gram panchayats and 2 zilla parishad seats in the block. Mamata Banerjee must be proud of her murderous hoodlums. #SaveBengal pic.twitter.com/n8Xq3C44KW — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 2, 2018 × The BJP however has been quick to blame the murders on the Trinamool Congress. The present TMC govt in West Bengal has surpassed the violent legacy of Communist rule. Entire BJP mourns this tragic loss & stands firmly with Trilochan Mahato’s family in this hour of grief. His sacrifice for organisation & ideology will not go in vain. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 30, 2018 ×

After BJP says 2 workers killed in Bengal, police blame personal enmity, suicide

The holy month of Ramadan brought good tidings for hundreds of Muslim workers in the UAE.

Saji Cheriyan, a businessman from Kerala, build a mosque for Muslim worshippers in the UAE at the cost of whopping Rs 2.4 crores (Dh 1.3 million).

Cheriyan, who hails from a small town in Kerala called Kayamkulam, is a practising Christian who moved to the Arab country over a decade ago in the year 2003.&nbsp;

He once noticed that Muslim workers, who lived in a worker accommodation, travelled for long to visit a mosque and offer prayers, Cheriyan was resolved to gift them a mosque near to their area of living, a dream which came true recently. As many as 250 worshippers can easily be accommodated in the building.&nbsp;

Mariam, Umm Eisa mosque stands at East Ville Real Estate complex in Al Hayl Industrial Area, UAE.

Cheriyan "opted for the name Mariam, Umm Eisa (Mary, the Mother of Jesus) for the mosque after an Abu Dhabi mosque was renamed so in 2017," a Facebook post described.

Mariam, Umm Eisa mosque stands at East Ville Real Estate complex in Al Hayl Industrial Area, UAE

The holy month of Ramadan brought good tidings for hundreds of Muslim workers in the UAE. Saji Cheriyan, a businessman from Kerala, build a mosque for Muslim worshippers in the UAE at the cost of whopping Rs 2.4 crores (Dh 1.3 million). Cheriyan, who hails from a small town in Kerala called Kayamkulam, is a practising Christian who moved to the Arab country over a decade ago in the year 2003. He once noticed that Muslim workers, who lived in a worker accommodation, travelled for long to visit a mosque and offer prayers, Cheriyan was resolved to gift them a mosque near to their area of living, a dream which came true recently. As many as 250 worshippers can easily be accommodated in the building. Mariam, Umm Eisa mosque stands at East Ville Real Estate complex in Al Hayl Industrial Area, UAE. Cheriyan "opted for the name Mariam, Umm Eisa (Mary, the Mother of Jesus) for the mosque after an Abu Dhabi mosque was renamed so in 2017," a Facebook post described.

For Ramadan, Christian expat gifts mosque worth Rs 2.4 crore to Muslim workers in UAE

India is projected to have a skilled labour surplus of 245 million workers by 2030, mainly on the back of “vast supply of working age citizens”, even as most of the developed and developing economies are expected to grapple with talent crunch at that time, says a study.&nbsp;

Organisational consulting firm Korn Ferry today said there is likely to be a “talent deficit of 85.2 million workers” by 2030 across the 20 major developed and developing economies that were covered in the study.

“This global skills shortage could result in USD 8.452 trillion in unrealised annual revenue by 2030 – equivalent to the combined GDP of Germany and Japan,” the study said. According to the study, India is the only country expected to have a surplus of highly skilled financial and business services labour by 2030. “India is projected to have a skilled-labour surplus of around 245.3 million workers by 2030, the only country in our study expected to have a surplus, owing mainly to its vast supply of working-age citizens and government programmes to boost workers’ skills,” it noted.

While noting that India is expected to overtake China to become the world’s most populous country in the next six years, the study said India’s median age is predicted to be just over 31 by 2030, meaning it has a vast supply of working-age citizens. The government has also been announcing programmes to boost workers’ skills and capacities, it added. “Industries, where the talent surplus will be the most visible in India, include the financial services with a surplus of 1.1 million, technology, media, telecommunications (TMT) at 1.3 million and manufacturing at 2.44 million of extra manpower in 12 years,” the study said. It also noted that by 2030, all countries except India would be gripped by TMT talent deficits.

Bhavna Sud, Client Partner at Korn Ferry India said that while India has a surplus of talent, the twin challenges of employability and job creation should be dealt with. “The government, as well as industry, have made significant efforts to address both issues through programmes like ‘Skill India’, but we will have to do more to create a competitive advantage of the surplus manpower we have. If left unchecked, the talent surplus will add to our woes of jobless growth and unemployment,” Sud noted.

Regarding the global trend, Korn Ferry said the impact of the talent crunch is so significant that the continued predominance of sector powerhouses is in question, from London as a global financial services centre to the US as a technology leader to China as a key manufacturing base. “As a result, organisations may be prompted to relocate their headquarters and operational centres to places where the talent supply is more plentiful. Governments will be forced to invest in improving their people’s skills to avert corporate flight and to defend their nations’ income and status,” the study said.

Another finding was that global growth, demographic trends, under-skilled workforces, and tightening immigration mean that even significant productivity leaps enabled by technological advances would be insufficient to prevent the talent crunch. Besides India, 19 other major developing and developed economies were covered in the study. They are Brazil, Mexico, the US, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, the UK, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Most of the developed and developing economies are expected to grapple with talent crunch at that time

India is projected to have a skilled labour surplus of 245 million workers by 2030, mainly on the back of “vast supply of working age citizens”, even as most of the developed and developing economies are expected to grapple with talent crunch at that time, says a study. Organisational consulting firm Korn Ferry today said there is likely to be a “talent deficit of 85.2 million workers” by 2030 across the 20 major developed and developing economies that were covered in the study. “This global skills shortage could result in USD 8.452 trillion in unrealised annual revenue by 2030 – equivalent to the combined GDP of Germany and Japan,” the study said. According to the study, India is the only country expected to have a surplus of highly skilled financial and business services labour by 2030. “India is projected to have a skilled-labour surplus of around 245.3 million workers by 2030, the only country in our study expected to have a surplus, owing mainly to its vast supply of working-age citizens and government programmes to boost workers’ skills,” it noted. While noting that India is expected to overtake China to become the world’s most populous country in the next six years, the study said India’s median age is predicted to be just over 31 by 2030, meaning it has a vast supply of working-age citizens. The government has also been announcing programmes to boost workers’ skills and capacities, it added. “Industries, where the talent surplus will be the most visible in India, include the financial services with a surplus of 1.1 million, technology, media, telecommunications (TMT) at 1.3 million and manufacturing at 2.44 million of extra manpower in 12 years,” the study said. It also noted that by 2030, all countries except India would be gripped by TMT talent deficits. Bhavna Sud, Client Partner at Korn Ferry India said that while India has a surplus of talent, the twin challenges of employability and job creation should be dealt with. “The government, as well as industry, have made significant efforts to address both issues through programmes like ‘Skill India’, but we will have to do more to create a competitive advantage of the surplus manpower we have. If left unchecked, the talent surplus will add to our woes of jobless growth and unemployment,” Sud noted. Regarding the global trend, Korn Ferry said the impact of the talent crunch is so significant that the continued predominance of sector powerhouses is in question, from London as a global financial services centre to the US as a technology leader to China as a key manufacturing base. “As a result, organisations may be prompted to relocate their headquarters and operational centres to places where the talent supply is more plentiful. Governments will be forced to invest in improving their people’s skills to avert corporate flight and to defend their nations’ income and status,” the study said. Another finding was that global growth, demographic trends, under-skilled workforces, and tightening immigration mean that even significant productivity leaps enabled by technological advances would be insufficient to prevent the talent crunch. Besides India, 19 other major developing and developed economies were covered in the study. They are Brazil, Mexico, the US, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, the UK, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

India to have talent surplus of 245 million workers by 2030, says study

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seemed to make a reference to Cambridge Analytica on Thursday while <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/development-is-the-only-agenda-of-my-government-pm-modi--132901">speaking to the Karnataka BJP</a>.&nbsp;Modi was speaking to his party's workers and candidates before the upcoming Karnataka elections.&nbsp;

"So, you will have to fight against lies, false propaganda. As part of a conspiracy, efforts will be made to mislead you by hiring foreign agencies. Karyakartas (party workers) should not be shaken, their trust should not be shaken," he said.

There have been reports here that Cambridge Analytica — the UK firm accused of trying to swing the US presidential election Trump's way — may have been engaged by political parties here.&nbsp;

"The Congress, after repeated defeat in elections, is spreading lies. Earlier, out of 50 things they said there were 5-10 lies. Now, out of the 50 things they say, 40-45 are lies and the rest five would also lack clarity," Modi said.&nbsp;

The prime minister added there was a need to cleanse Indian politics of Congress culture.

"The mainstream of India's political culture is associated with Congress' misdeeds. Unless we liberate this mainstream from Congress culture, we cannot cleanse Indian politics," he said.

Modi also seemed to refer to pre-poll surveys indicating a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-elections-survey-indicates-photo-finish-by-congress-bjp-132478">photo finish</a> by the Congress and BJP in the upcoming Karnataka elections.&nbsp;

The prime minister said "false propaganda" about a fractured mandate was being spread as part of a "conspiracy".

"A government with absolute majority is needed to change Karnataka's destiny. India is shining in the world today only because we have a government which has a complete majority at the Centre after 30 years," Modi said, asking BJP workers to endeavour to achieve that goal in the only big state the Congress still rules over apart from Punjab.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

'You will have to fight against lies, false propaganda. As part of a conspiracy, efforts will be made to mislead you by hiring foreign agencies,' Modi told BJP workers and candidates before the upcoming state elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seemed to make a reference to Cambridge Analytica on Thursday while speaking to the Karnataka BJP. Modi was speaking to his party's workers and candidates before the upcoming Karnataka elections. "So, you will have to fight against lies, false propaganda. As part of a conspiracy, efforts will be made to mislead you by hiring foreign agencies. Karyakartas (party workers) should not be shaken, their trust should not be shaken," he said. There have been reports here that Cambridge Analytica — the UK firm accused of trying to swing the US presidential election Trump's way — may have been engaged by political parties here. "The Congress, after repeated defeat in elections, is spreading lies. Earlier, out of 50 things they said there were 5-10 lies. Now, out of the 50 things they say, 40-45 are lies and the rest five would also lack clarity," Modi said. The prime minister added there was a need to cleanse Indian politics of Congress culture. "The mainstream of India's political culture is associated with Congress' misdeeds. Unless we liberate this mainstream from Congress culture, we cannot cleanse Indian politics," he said. Modi also seemed to refer to pre-poll surveys indicating a photo finish by the Congress and BJP in the upcoming Karnataka elections. The prime minister said "false propaganda" about a fractured mandate was being spread as part of a "conspiracy". "A government with absolute majority is needed to change Karnataka's destiny. India is shining in the world today only because we have a government which has a complete majority at the Centre after 30 years," Modi said, asking BJP workers to endeavour to achieve that goal in the only big state the Congress still rules over apart from Punjab. (With inputs from PTI)

'Foreign agencies' may mislead you, Modi tells Karnataka BJP in apparent reference to Cambridge Analytica

The immediate and most visible impact will be in the government&rsquo;s day-to-day operations. Many departments and offices, like the Department of the Treasury, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Library of Congress, will be closed, and nonessential federal employees across the government would stay home. Families hoping to take their kids to a national park will usually be out of luck in a shutdown, but the Trump administration hopes to keep some of them open. Meanwhile, the men and women who protect our food supply and national security will still be doing their jobs &ndash; without pay.

But beyond the individual workers and families affected, could a short or lengthy shutdown affect the broader U.S. economy as well?

Constantine Yannelis, a business professor at New York University, and I examined data from the last time the government shut down in 2013 to better understand its impact.

An economic speed bump

While a shutdown affects the economy in a number of ways &ndash; from delaying business permits and visas to reducing service hours at innumerable agencies &ndash; a primary channel through which a shutdown affects the economy is through withheld or foregone pay from federal employees who don&rsquo;t receive their paychecks.

Since consumer spending makes up a majority of economic activity in the United States, withholding pay from a large fraction of the workforce can introduce a significant economic speed bump in the short run.

And that&rsquo;s exactly what we saw in 2013.

Similar to the situation today, a partisan standoff in Congress led to a partial shutdown of the government that lasted a little over two weeks beginning on Oct. 1 of that year.

Well over a million federal employees were affected and didn&rsquo;t receive a paycheck during the shutdown. Some were furloughed &ndash; sent home and told not to do anything related to their job. Those deemed &ldquo;essential&rdquo; or &ldquo;exempted&rdquo; &ndash; such as security personnel screening passengers at airport or border patrol agents &ndash; were required to continue working at their jobs, despite no pay at that time. The government eventually paid both groups the money owed them, regardless of whether they worked, after Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement on Oct. 16.

My colleague Yannelis and I sought to understand how households responded by tracking how they behaved in the days leading up to, during and following the shutdown using detailed financial data.

We obtained this anonymized data from a personal finance website where people track their income, expenses, savings and debt. Using the paycheck transaction descriptions, we identified over 60,000 households that contained employees of federal agencies affected by the shutdown. These affected employees included both those who were asked to work without pay and those who were furloughed.

As a comparison group, we also identified over 90,000 households with a member who worked for a state government. That would likely mean they have fairly similar levels of education, experience and financial security, yet their paychecks were unaffected by the shutdown.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202640/original/file-20180119-110081-q0daov.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>Who will be blamed for a government shutdown? AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite</figcaption>
</figure>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

Short-term impact on spending

Our study led to two primary findings.

First, we found that the shutdown led to an immediate decline in average household spending of almost 10 percent. Surprisingly, despite the fact that most federal workers have stable jobs and income sources, they were quick to cut spending on pretty much everything, from restaurants to clothing to electronics, just days after their pay was delayed.

While households with less money in the bank cut their spending by larger amounts, even those with significant resources and easy access to credit reduced their expenditures.

Second, households with a member who was furloughed and required to stay home from work slashed their spending more dramatically &ndash; by 15-20 percent, or almost twice as much as the average of those affected. This larger decline reflected the fact that these households suddenly had a lot more time on their hands. Rather than going out to eat or paying for child care for example, they were able to spend more time cooking and watching their own children.

This behavior is what tends to spread the economic effects of a shutdown that affects a slice of the population to a wider group of businesses and individuals. And in regions with substantial numbers of federal workers, these declines in spending can greatly hurt the health of the local economy in the short run.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/202639/original/file-20180119-110094-zxwiwg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" />
<figcaption>Depending on how long the impasse lasts, lawmakers may need to order some pizzas, as they did in 2013. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite</figcaption>
</figure>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

Long-term impact?

Whether or not a shutdown has a longer-term economic impact depends on whether employees are paid their foregone wages after its conclusion &ndash; and how long it lasts.

In 2013, the government repaid even furloughed workers what they would have earned had the shutdown not happened.

This repayment, essentially increasing the size of their first post-shutdown paychecks, had significant and immediate effects on household spending. A sudden spike in spending occurred in the days after the paychecks were disbursed, largely erasing some of the most dramatic declines in spending during the previous two weeks.

The government has usually paid all its employees, &ldquo;essential&rdquo; or not, back pay after other past shutdowns, such as those in the 1990s. While Congress is legally required to pay federal employees who worked during the shutdown, there&rsquo;s no law requiring the same treatment for nonessential workers.

In addition, the longer the shutdown lasts, the worse its impact. Households might deplete savings or hit their credit card limits as the impasse stretches day after day, giving them additional time to adjust their spending in ways that they could not do with only a few days&rsquo; notice. For instance, in 2013, bills like health insurance or tuition payments were largely unaffected. Had that shutdown persisted, households may have started to cut back here as well.

So if Congress refuses to offer furloughed workers back pay and the shutdown lasts weeks rather than days, the economic impact could be severe.

However, if a shutdown is resolved in a relatively short amount of time, with workers being paid back their regular income, the damage would likely be fairly contained.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/will-a-federal-government-shutdown-damage-the-us-economy-90419" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

&nbsp;

If Congress refuses to offer furloughed workers back pay and the shutdown lasts weeks rather than days, the economic impact could be severe.

The immediate and most visible impact will be in the government’s day-to-day operations. Many departments and offices, like the Department of the Treasury, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Library of Congress, will be closed, and nonessential federal employees across the government would stay home. Families hoping to take their kids to a national park will usually be out of luck in a shutdown, but the Trump administration hopes to keep some of them open. Meanwhile, the men and women who protect our food supply and national security will still be doing their jobs – without pay. But beyond the individual workers and families affected, could a short or lengthy shutdown affect the broader U.S. economy as well? Constantine Yannelis, a business professor at New York University, and I examined data from the last time the government shut down in 2013 to better understand its impact. An economic speed bump While a shutdown affects the economy in a number of ways – from delaying business permits and visas to reducing service hours at innumerable agencies – a primary channel through which a shutdown affects the economy is through withheld or foregone pay from federal employees who don’t receive their paychecks. Since consumer spending makes up a majority of economic activity in the United States, withholding pay from a large fraction of the workforce can introduce a significant economic speed bump in the short run. And that’s exactly what we saw in 2013. Similar to the situation today, a partisan standoff in Congress led to a partial shutdown of the government that lasted a little over two weeks beginning on Oct. 1 of that year. Well over a million federal employees were affected and didn’t receive a paycheck during the shutdown. Some were furloughed – sent home and told not to do anything related to their job. Those deemed “essential” or “exempted” – such as security personnel screening passengers at airport or border patrol agents – were required to continue working at their jobs, despite no pay at that time. The government eventually paid both groups the money owed them, regardless of whether they worked, after Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement on Oct. 16. My colleague Yannelis and I sought to understand how households responded by tracking how they behaved in the days leading up to, during and following the shutdown using detailed financial data. We obtained this anonymized data from a personal finance website where people track their income, expenses, savings and debt. Using the paycheck transaction descriptions, we identified over 60,000 households that contained employees of federal agencies affected by the shutdown. These affected employees included both those who were asked to work without pay and those who were furloughed. As a comparison group, we also identified over 90,000 households with a member who worked for a state government. That would likely mean they have fairly similar levels of education, experience and financial security, yet their paychecks were unaffected by the shutdown. Who will be blamed for a government shutdown? AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Short-term impact on spending Our study led to two primary findings. First, we found that the shutdown led to an immediate decline in average household spending of almost 10 percent. Surprisingly, despite the fact that most federal workers have stable jobs and income sources, they were quick to cut spending on pretty much everything, from restaurants to clothing to electronics, just days after their pay was delayed. While households with less money in the bank cut their spending by larger amounts, even those with significant resources and easy access to credit reduced their expenditures. Second, households with a member who was furloughed and required to stay home from work slashed their spending more dramatically – by 15-20 percent, or almost twice as much as the average of those affected. This larger decline reflected the fact that these households suddenly had a lot more time on their hands. Rather than going out to eat or paying for child care for example, they were able to spend more time cooking and watching their own children. This behavior is what tends to spread the economic effects of a shutdown that affects a slice of the population to a wider group of businesses and individuals. And in regions with substantial numbers of federal workers, these declines in spending can greatly hurt the health of the local economy in the short run. Depending on how long the impasse lasts, lawmakers may need to order some pizzas, as they did in 2013. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite Long-term impact? Whether or not a shutdown has a longer-term economic impact depends on whether employees are paid their foregone wages after its conclusion – and how long it lasts. In 2013, the government repaid even furloughed workers what they would have earned had the shutdown not happened. This repayment, essentially increasing the size of their first post-shutdown paychecks, had significant and immediate effects on household spending. A sudden spike in spending occurred in the days after the paychecks were disbursed, largely erasing some of the most dramatic declines in spending during the previous two weeks. The government has usually paid all its employees, “essential” or not, back pay after other past shutdowns, such as those in the 1990s. While Congress is legally required to pay federal employees who worked during the shutdown, there’s no law requiring the same treatment for nonessential workers. In addition, the longer the shutdown lasts, the worse its impact. Households might deplete savings or hit their credit card limits as the impasse stretches day after day, giving them additional time to adjust their spending in ways that they could not do with only a few days’ notice. For instance, in 2013, bills like health insurance or tuition payments were largely unaffected. Had that shutdown persisted, households may have started to cut back here as well. So if Congress refuses to offer furloughed workers back pay and the shutdown lasts weeks rather than days, the economic impact could be severe. However, if a shutdown is resolved in a relatively short amount of time, with workers being paid back their regular income, the damage would likely be fairly contained. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Opinion: Longer US government shutdown lasts, the worse its impact

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