· April, 2009

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.

30 April 2009

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.

29 April 2009

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...

28 April 2009

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.

27 April 2009

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...

27 April 2009

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...

26 April 2009

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.

18 April 2009

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...

18 April 2009

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.

17 April 2009

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…”

14 April 2009

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”...

9 April 2009

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...

8 April 2009

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.

7 April 2009