Stories about Labor from August, 2007
Ukraine: Crimea
On the last day of summer, here's a translation of LJ user drugoi's photo report on his trip to Crimea, one of the favorite summer tourism destinations in the Soviet times, now facing fierce competition from resorts in Turkey and Egypt.
Japan: Life out of a Manga Kissa
Results of a survey just released by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has found that thousands of people across Japan bordering on poverty live their lives out of Internet cafes or "manga kissa". Bloggers this week reflected on the significance of the results.
South Korea: E.Land Workers Strike
Workers from a local supermarket E.Land has been on strike for two months against the employer's termination of non-regular workers contract. Jamie from Two Koreas has some updates on the latest development.
China: Exploitation in Summer Holiday
Tan Weishan reported the exploitation of student workers by a shoe factory in Dongguan. More than a hundred secondary school kids spent their summer holiday working 12 hours a day with RMB$3 (US$0.4) per hour (zh).
Kyrgyzstan: Labour migration
Scraps of Moscow links to an IWPR article about the impact of labour migration on the healthcare system in Kyrgyzstan, and finds many similarities to problems elsewhere in the developing world.
Russia: Mistreatment of Foreigners
Window on Eurasia reports: “Foreigners working in the Russian Federation are far from likely to be mistreated by government officials and employers than they are to be attacked by skinheads and other Russian nationalist groups, according to a poll of Tajiks now living in Tajikistan with direct experience in the...
Morocco: Firing the maid
Margot the Marrakesh Mystic shares her story of a not-so-good Moroccan maid.
Czech Republic, Germany: Gastarbeiter
Dr. Sean's Diary writes about labor migrations into and out of the Czech Republic.
China: Temporary Reporter System
Because of the Fake Baozhi news, many mainstream media in China have fired temporary staffs. CCTV has fired up to 1,800 temporary workers, many are reporters. Zhao shilong has once been a temporary reporter in Southern Weekly magazine, even though he has finally got an office reporter status (with a...
Bahrain: Getting Into Gear and Going All the Way…
Our topics range from the highbrow to the lowlife this week, with an exhortation to read more books from across the Arab world, a child’s misunderstanding of a word in a cartoon, and an encounter with a prostitute. A new blogger has just arrived in Bahrain, and another blogger has just returned from a holiday in Iran – where he experienced rather more than he had bargained on during a taxi ride... Read Ayesha Saldanha's take on Bahraini blogs for more.
Iran: A worker activist moved to hospital
According to[Fa] Kargaran (means workers) blog,Mahmoud Salehi, a jailed worker activist,moved to a hospital in Sanandaj, in Kurdistan province, on 23th of August.
Russia: An “Oasis of Nonchalance”
August 19 marked sixteen years since the beginning of the Soviet Union's collapse. On this day, LJ user galerist (Marat Guelman, gallery owner from Moscow) happened to post a sketch on his visit to a rich client's estate - a sketch that, in a way, highlighted some of the changes that have - and have not - occurred since 1991.
Russia: Pensioners Back to Work
Low pensions and not enough young people are the reasons why more Russian retirees are returning to work, reports Window on Eurasia.
Cambodia: Best Rice in the World
Karen Coates at Epicurious.com says Cambodian rice is the best rice in the world. (via Details are Sketchy)
Barbados: Chinese Labour
“Our government has obviously made some agreements with the Chinese, but Bajans are still in the dark as to what has been promised and agreed to by whom.” Barbados Free Press tackles the controversial issue of immigrant labour on the island.
Kuwait: Sponsorship System
Kiwi Nomad, who lives in Kuwait, links to an article which discusses the ‘sponsorship’ system in the Arabian Gulf.
Saudi Arabia: Health and Saudisation
Saudi Jeans shares his moment in the limelight in this post – about the Saudisation (localisation) of the health sector.
Czech Rebublic: “Imaginary Migrants”
Dr. Sean's Diary writes about the Czech Republic's immigration policies and the president's “imaginary migrants and imaginary Muslims.”
Czech Rebublic, Slovakia: Tax Systems
Dr Sean's Diary compares the tax systems of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Tanzania: How to shoot yourself in the foot
How to Shoot Yourself in the Foot is the lesson Tanzania’s parliament is delivering, at least for the time being, after its decision to suspend a Member of Parliament for Kigoma North, Zitto Kabwe, has turned into a mini victory for the opposition. Zitto, who keeps a blog, was suspended for allegedly lying to the parliament and humiliating the Energy and Minerals Minister, Nazir Karamagi.
China: Dangerous Toy Issue
Fons from China Herald commented on Mattel's self-victimization of the China exported dangerous Toy. It is the corporate social responsibility to ensure the safety of workers and consumers.
