Stories about Labor from October, 2011
Thailand: Burmese Workers Arrested Outside Flood Zones
Mahn Saimon reports that Burmese workers who are escaping the floods of Thailand are being arrested by Thai police forces for travelling outside of their permitted zones. There are three million Burmese migrants in Thailand which is currently experiencing the worst floods in half a century.
Colombia: Workers and Students Take to the Streets in Protest
Public sector workers and university students have hit the streets of Colombia to express their dissatisfaction. Cati Restrepo explores some of their concerns.
Coworking Spaces and Nomad Workers in Japan
Coworking is a growing worldwide movement, and Japan is no exception. Surprising to see in a culture where the idea of physically being in the office at all hours is ingrained in the psyche of the salaried worker? Perhaps not.
Chile: Transsexuals Demand a Place in Postponed Anti-Discrimination Law
An anti-discrimination law is up for vote in Chile. It would ban any prejudice based on race, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and more. Although it offers new protection to often-marginalized groups, transsexuals didn’t make the cut. Now, they're demanding inclusion.
North Koreans in Mongolia Working Under Miserable Conditions
North Korean Economy Watch blog posted about North Koreans working under miserable conditions in Mongolia. Hundred of North Koreans were placed across Mongolia to help the country to meet its financial targets.
Chile: Calls for Government Action One Year Since Rescue of ‘the 33′
Chileans today remembered the incredible rescue one year ago of 33 miners trapped underground for 69 days. Twitter users are calling upon the government to reignite the spirit of that coordination effort. They say politicians need to unite once again to fix problems plaguing Chile.
Ethiopia: Netizens Take Campaign for Shweya Mullah Online
A social media campaign for justice is raging amongst Ethiopians online after a CNN journalist, Dan Rivers, revealed the horrifying abuse of Shweyga Mullah who was brutally injured after the wife of Gaddafi’s son poured boiled water on her body for allegedly failing to keep a crying child quiet.
Lebanon: The Ridiculous Increase in Wages
Lebanese blogger Rami thinks the increase which the cabinet agreed to issue to the wages in Lebanon is ridiculous and unfair. He explains why in his latest post.
Analysis on Russia-North Korea trade
North Korea specialist Andrei Lankov posted an analysis on North Korea's recent talk with Russia on economic cooperation. In the East Asia Forum site, Lankov explained why the two most important potential projects are a railway and a gas pipeline.
Dreamwork China: The Workers of Foxconn
China Digital Times introduces a documentary, Dreamwork China, on the lives and dreams of the Foxconn workers who make (authentic) Apple products (among others) at their massive complex in Shenzhen.
China: Student Interns Or Cheap Labourers?
To tackle the labour shortage emerging in China, the government has started encouraging privately run institutes to expand vocational schools. Student labourers enrolled in the so-called “factory in front, school at the back” model have been sharing their grievances online.
Singapore: Shortage of Qualified Doctors
To address the lack of qualified medical professionals in Singapore, the government is hiring more foreign doctors aside from asking its Singapore-trained doctors who are working abroad to come home already
