Stories about Labor from May, 2008
Nicaragua: A Closer Look at a Government Program for Microloans
The governmental program called Usura Cero provides low interest rate loans to Nicaraguan women for their micro-businesses. It was recently featured on an investigative news program and a local blogger provides in-depth thoughts on the success of the program.
Bahrain: Sectarian and Xenophobic
“It seems that Bahrain (as in government and MPs) are just not content with being called sectarian but are now adding a new adjective to their resume- xenophobic,” writes Bahraini blogger Yagoob, after MPs called for banning Bangladeshis from working in Bahrain.
Bahrain: Ban on Bangladeshis
Following a tragic incident a few days ago, when a Bahraini was killed after he refused to pay a Bangladeshi mechanic the 500 fils (1.3 USD) extra he was demanding for a job, Bahrain has now stopped issuing work permits to Bangladeshi nationals. A group of MPs are planning to submit a proposal to parliament to expel all Bangladeshi workers, who might be as many as 90,000, from the country because allegedly they commit more ‘shocking and gruesome crimes‘ than any other community.
Trinidad & Tobago: Got Mail?
KnowProSE.com reports that the mail strike in Trinidad and Tobago is still on.
Jordan: Choosing between two jobs
Jordanian Salam writes the dilemma of choosing between two jobs. Read her post to see what she decides to do.
Morocco: Campaign to Support the Unemployed
The Moroccan Bloggers Association has launched a campaign [Ar] draw attention to the atrocities and harsh treatment jobless Moroccan graduates with higher degrees are being subjected to when they protest for jobs.
India: Immigrants and Terrorists
An Indian Muslim's Blog on the branding of Bangladeshi immigrants as terrorists.
Europe: Eastern Partnership Project
AnTyx writes about the Eastern Partnership project.
Philippines in mourning over death of legendary labor leader
The death of Filipino veteran labor leader, street parliamentarian and legislator Crispin “Ka Bel” Beltran at 11:48 am Tuesday due to massive head injuries saddened and shocked many Filipinos. He was 75.
Russia: Migrant Labor Quotas Exhausted
Window on Eurasia writes that Russian companies need more foreign workers than the number allowed by the current quotas.
UAE: Adorable Old Colleague
Kinan Jarjous, who lives in the UAE, writes about an elderly colleague with him in his office and says: “She's soooooooooooooo adoooooorablllllllllleeeeeeeeeee I want to gobble her all up!”
Bangladesh: Child Labour
Unheard Voices on the increasing trend of child labour in Bangladesh.
Iran: Child Labor in Photos
Yazdnegar,Iranian blogger,has published several photos of working children in Yazd, a historic city,in Iran.
Russia: Roses and Migrant Workers
Russian photographer Oleg Klimov visited a commercial greenhouse outside Moscow and posted his observations about a birthplace of the roses one buys in Russia's capital.
Lebanon: “Unsung heroes”
“Another, silent army has deployed, clad in bright green: the Sukleen cleaners. Many come from India, Bangladesh, or Sri lanka, and they are here, in the middle of this conflict, to clean the Beiruti's mess,” writes Rami Zurayk about the garbage collectors in Beirut.
Caucasus: Subjective Well-being
Social Science in the Caucasus, the blog of the Caucasus Resource Research Centers, looks at the the subjective well-being of citizens living in all three South Caucasus republics. Although the data used for the survey is from 2006, the survey finds that the impact of poverty and unemployment is more...
China: 12% Wage Raise Expected in Guangdong
Fons from China Herald quoted a report from market watch about the Guangdong government's plan to lift wages of all employees by 12 percent this year.
Egypt: You've Been Punk'd
Egyptian blogger Tarek says: “Egyptians, you've been punk'd,” following news that Egypt's parliament endorsed Monday a government bill to raise taxes and fuel prices less than a week after President Hosni Mubarak announced a 30 per cent salary increase for all government employees.
Kuwait: The Blind Leading the Blind
From Kuwait, Desert Girl writes about a website which tells expatriates what to expect in countries they will be moving to. She comments: “I think a lot of newcomers are being misinformed by well-intentioned people that don't really understand. It is a matter of the blind-leading-the-blind.”
China: Wal-Mart Worker Union
Chinese Law Professor noticed some new development of Wal-Mark worker union.
Hong Kong: Minimum Allowable Wage for foreign maids
Filipino blogger Kapet's Yosi clarifies the myth that the foreign maid's salary in Hong Kong is one of the highest in the world. Many Filipinos are domestic helpers in Hong Kong.
