Stories about Labor from April, 2009
Malaysia: Humans as Commodities
In early 2009, Malaysia had the dubious privilege of being investigated by the US senate for the trafficking of humans. News reports stated that the migrants involved were mostly from Myanmar, but other foreigners were also allegedly taken by the government officials to the Malaysian-Thai border, where they were extorted or sold to human trafficking syndicates.
Egypt's First Independent Union Formed
Egypt's real estate tax collectors have formed their first independent trade union since 1957. In addition to local recognition, the union has won international legitimacy after being accepted in the international body Public Services International. One blogger follows the developments from their start until the moment of triumph - with hundreds of photographs.
St. Lucia: Ideas on the Strike
As members of the civil service take strike action in St. Lucia, Sun Rain Or… says: “It would be a welcome change is if St. Lucians found the time and impetus not to go back to inaction in between this and the next crisis.”
Czech Republic: Blog Roundup
A Czech roundup: Czechmatediary – on the new translation of the Bible into contemporary Czech and on Albert Einstein's Prague connection; CzechFolks.com – on xenophobia, job market, and the Brno Expats Forum online community; The Journeys of Captain Oddsocks – on bone churches and the liberation of Plzeň 64 years...
Qatar: Video of Unpaid Workers Sparks Debate
The harsh realities facing migrant workers in Qatar was at the centre of a discussion on Qatar Living after an Al Jazeera English report highlighted their plight recently. The video zooms in on the lives of construction workers, whose livelihood was impacted by the economic crisis, some of whom haven't be paid for up to four months.
Japan: Tunisians in Japan
Blogger kuskusu, whose husband is Tunisian, makes some observations about the Tunisian people living in Japan. Dividing them into two categories, she observes that, since 9/11, immigration laws in Japan have become more severe and illegal Tunisian residents are very few nowadays. While many of them come to Japan as...
China: Labour net launched
A news website, China Labour net has been launched. According to the launching statement: the aim of this website is to facilitate sharing of information, experiences and opinion of the labour movement between China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the rest of the world. We will regularly upload articles on the...
Russia: Baymurat (aka Jimmy) Singing Bollywood Song
Videos of a rendition of a Bollywood song by Baymurat (aka Jimmy) – an ethnic Uzbek from Tajikistan, a gastarbeiter in a town near Moscow, and a YouTube celebrity: one of the earlier versions is here, and the performance at Asian Dub Foundation's April 4 gig in St. Petersburg, Russia...
Maldives: The Benefits Of Not Joining ILO
Abdullah Waheed explains why Maldives did not join ILO all these years.
Unemployment in Singapore
Tan Kin Lian believes unemployment rate in Singapore is “seriously under-reported.”
Global crisis affects Cambodian migrant workers
Due to the global economic crisis, South Korea has reduced the number of migrant workers it will accept this year. This is bad news for Cambodia's migrant workers. Many Cambodians are working and planning to work in South Korea.
Global Recession: The world is talking. Are we listening?
There is no lack of online articles about the various aspects of the global economic crisis. Many of them are written by economic experts and policymakers. What about the perspectives of ordinary bloggers? This global roundup of blogs gathers stories of people around the world who are struggling to survive the economic downturn.
Bangladesh: A Change Is Coming
Mahfuz Sadique has high hopes for the silent majority Bangladeshi people: “those who were mere witnesses of their fate and fortune till now will not wait for things to change at the top. [..] This time around, they –the people – will change Bangladesh.”
Morocco: Transport Strikes Leaves Morocco Crippled
Over the past week, a taxi strike across Morocco has left the country nearly immobile. Although Morocco has a decent train system and network of buses, many Moroccans - particularly in rural areas - rely on grande taxis to get from town to town, or to larger towns where they can then catch a bus. Peace Corps volunteers, who make up a large segment of English language blogs from Morocco, were particularly affected, as many of them live in towns that are not accessible by bus.
Bangladesh: Photo Essay On Child Labour
Photojournalist Zoriahfeatures Bangladeshi photographer G.M.B. Akash and his photo essay on child labor in Bangladesh.
Qatar, Dubai: Responding To British Media “Bashing”
In recent weeks reports in the British media about the Gulf states of Qatar, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, have provoked debate amongst bloggers in both places.
Egypt: Industrial Tweeting
Industrial Tweeting is coming to Egypt, notes Arabawy, who posts a photograph of textile “Ghazl el-Mahalla labor leader Kamal el-Fayoumi experimenting with Twitter…”
Bahamas: A Free Society?
“In a free country, identity and employment should not be linked. One should not be dependent on the other”: Nicolette Bethel warns that the Bahamas is going back to “plantation” values.
Philippines: Alternative to layoffs
Noting that job layoffs are on the rise in the call center industry, Mi from the Philippines advises companies to cut salaries instead of reducing the workforce.
Dominica, Bahamas: Rastafari
As two Customs employees in the Bahamas face possible dismissal because of their hairstyle, Dominica Weekly says: “Once the women conduct themselves professionally, are able to do their jobs efficiently and keep their hair and appearance neat I see no problem in them hav[ing] dreadlocks…”
Egypt: April 6 – A Day of Anger
On the first anniversary of the April 6 strike, Egyptians failed to carry out a similar national strike. Months before the day, voices were getting louder asking people of all walks of life to take part in a new national strike to protest against the low economic status, and to demand a democratic reform in the "Day of Anger,” reports Eman AbdElRahman.
