Stories about Labor from May, 2007
Cambodia: Visit Russian Market to beat Deadline
Details are Sketchy links to a conversation where the country manager of a leading brand name in garments hints at why garment manufacturers visit a local market famous for fakes and pirated goods in Phnom Penh whenever they run short.
Lebanon: On Freedom, War and Olive Oil
The upcoming Lebanese presidential election, the Winograd Report regarding the Israeli July 2006 war on Lebanon, Lebanese agricultural products, Syrian workers, freedom of speech and freedom to blog in the Arab world, resistance to colonialism and the implications of being a leftist in Lebanon are some of the topics discussed by Lebanese blogs this week, reports Moussa Bashir.
China: Time for a net video tv channel?
There was a proposal put forth recently at one collective of Chinese to English translation bloggers for people to consider making use of Dotsub.com to subtitle cell phone and digital camera-shot video posted online. What would people outside China be interested in seeing? Something with action? How about protest? Is...
Bahrain: The Never-Do-It-Yourself Culture
From dirty politics and squabbles between 'politicians' over peanuts, to corruption at the Traffic directorate, the Bahraini blogosphere is buzzing with commentary this week. Ayesha Saldanha walks us through some of the outstanding posts, which include a suicide pledge and a rant about lazy inconsiderate men.
Bulgaria: Public Transportation on Strike May 15
Sofia's Hidden Beauty writes that the Bulgarian capital will be “completely paralyzed” on May 15 because of the public transportation drivers’ strike.
Jamaica: Customer Service Standards
“The truth is, there are at least three kinds of service in the Caribbean. Tourist Service, Personal Service and ‘De Res Ah Dem’ Service,” writes Jamaican Francis Wade, as he examines customer service standards in the region.
Ukraine, Romania: Bukovyna
Citizenshift travels through Bukovyna, posting pictures and sharing stories of the Hutsuls living in a village on the Ukrainian-Romanian border.
Qatar: The Wages of Hard Labour
Qatar-based blogger e46M3 sheds light on wages workers in Qatar reap for their hard labour. “From today's Arabic daily al-Raya: * Labor foreman, salary 800 Riyals (approx $220), working hours 5am to 5pm. * Builder, salary 700 Riyals (approx $190), working hours 6am to 6pm. No off day. * Builder,...
Guatemala: Town's oldest school to be demolished…and teachers on strike
A local school in San Pedro La Laguna in Guatemala is about to be demolished, and in its place, a new market built. This brings about questions about the status and importance of public education in Guatemala. Bloggers discuss the government's proposal to distribute $100 computers, as well as proposed raises to teacher salaries in spite of their strikes.
Korea: The Kaesong Industrial Complex
Jamie from Interlocals.net has written up his visit the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea. The complex is a result of the Korean government's unification policies. It is also designed to benefit small and mid-sized Korean firms having trouble competing with low wage light manufacturing firms in China and Southeast...
China: The Student Bloggers Down In The Coal Mine
Five students from the Hunan Normal University's School of Literature published the blog post “Factors that influence the psychological sense of safety among Hunan coal mine workers and ways of improvement> on the Xinhua-hosted blog”. They also made an appeal to more than 100 representatives who were attending the two...
Japan: Precariat May Day march sparks debate
On April 30, among many other May Day gatherings, “MayDay for Freedom and Lives” took place in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Subtitled “Resistance of the Precariat”, over 400 people including freeters, part timers, day labourers and homeless, who live with neither security nor stability, participated in this May Day event. Over the...
Bahrain: Incense-wafting Journalism
This week in Bahrain bloggers have been preoccupied with topics including sycophancy, the welfare of foreign labourers, and the culture of alcohol consumption. Follow the arrows to see how Ayesha Saladana sums up some of the best conversations taking place in the Bahraini blogosphere.
Korea: Bloggers and Donuts
A blogger who worked at the fast food chain Dunkin’ Donuts in Korea exposed what he said were unsanitary conditions at the factory in his blog on a portal site. The company quickly asked the portal site to delete the post, saying it constituted libel. This response by the company,...
Japan: May Day march in Tokyo
On April 30th in Tokyo, a May Day march (“MayDay for Freedom and Lives”) with over 400 participants wound its way through central Tokyo. A report on the event has been posted at gyaku.
Bangladesh: That nameless person
A gut wrenching post on what means to be Bangla in Malaysia. “BANGLA, does that word mean anything to you? Or is it just something you shout to call that nameless guy from your toilet to scrape off that dried cow shit from underneath your car? Well for those who...
Macau: Why Did The Macau Disturbance Occur?
ESWN continued to translate article concerning Macau May Day disturbance. There are six listed reasons: In summary, this is an almost-zero-sum game. If the demands of the present marchers are met, another set of marchers will show up because their interests have been adversely affected as a result. Even if...
South Korea: Dodgy contracts proliferate in face of new labour law
Jamie from Two Koreas blogs about how the new labour law ends up encouraging a range of bad practices.
Hong Kong: May Day March
A very detailed and vivid citizen report on May Day March by Plato at interlocals.net. It presented a diversed picture of labour and grassroots organizations in Hong Kong with interviews and photos.
Macau: May Day Protest Turned Violent
A peaceful May 1 workers and grassroots protest turned violent as the police blocked the demonstration route. Well-armed Macau policemen fired warning shots into the air, but there were no reports of injuries resulting from the gunfire. Onemanbandwidth has a brief report. The blogger has written a background post about...
Turkey: Labour Day Chaos
Turkey is witnessing Labour Day chaos, writes Erkan Saka. “Because of tremendous security measures, central Istanbul districts are in a state of chaos. One of our colleagues, who was in Beşiktaş to deal with her marriage certificate was exposed to tear gas. People from the Anatolian side cannot come to...
