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☆ Tech layoffs strip the facade of TikTok's 'day in the life' videos
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Morgan Sung | Morgan Sung Is A Trends Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Meta, Salesforce, Twitter, Snap and other tech companies have also announced layoffs in recent months. Others are using their platforms to raise awareness of labor rights in wake of recent layoffs. So yeah, I’m unemployed, but I have a hell of a lot of confidence in myself.”Educating viewers about their rights has also gained popularity after recent layoffs. TikTok user alberta.nyc, a Google software engineer and self-described “tech cynic," has made videos about the importance of unions in the tech industry. In a video, creator alejandra_n_h expressed solidarity with former Amazon employees who had been affected by recent layoffs.

☆ Panama says it rejects First Quantum's legal bid to avoid halting operations
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Valentine Hilaire | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PANAMA CITY, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The Panamanian government has rejected Canada-based miner First Quantum's (FM.TO) legal proceedings to avoid halting operations at the Cobre Panama mine, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement on Friday. First Quantum had notified the country about two arbitration proceedings days after the order to halt operations. "The government is prepared to face all potential legal scenarios that may arise and will continue to ensure that workers' labor rights are maintained and protected," the ministry statement said. Panamanian government and First Quantum representatives have been meeting in the last days to reach an agreement. Reporting by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Sarah Morland and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 23 major brands suspected of illegally sourcing products made by forced labor in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

And more ...Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderThese companies have also been suspected of having direct or indirect ties to Chinese forced labor in the aforementioned reports. Bosch"Bosch is committed to ensuring that its products are not produced wholly or in part by forced labor. "Compliance with human rights, labor rights and environmental standards is a top priority at PUMA and has been specified in our Codes of Conduct for over 20 years." As stated in our Business Conduct Guidelines, we reject all forms of oppression, forced labor and participation in human rights violations. We will continue to respect human rights and take a strong stand against forced labor."

☆ It's no great surprise that the European Parliament has a corruption problem
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Belgian police said late last week that they had carried out raids and arrested four people in connection with an ongoing corruption probe into alleged payments and gifts from Qatar to members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and their staff. Kaili did not appear at a scheduled hearing on Wednesday, and was remanded in custody until she appears before a court on December 22, Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said Wednesday. Federal prosecutors confirmed a “large-scale investigation” was conducted into the alleged criminal activity, corruption, and money laundering activities within the European Parliament on Wednesday. Kaili, who has spoken in defense of Qatar in the European Parliament, traveled to Qatar shortly before the start of the soccer World Cup. While this scandal has rocked Brussels, the allegations have come as no great surprise to those who know the European institutions, especially the Parliament.

☆ Elon Musk booed off stage at a Dave Chappelle show
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Elon Musk joined Dave Chappelle on stage Sunday in San Francisco, home of Twitter’s headquarters where the world’s richest person recently laid off ] many of its employees. The crowd at the Chase Center loudly booed Musk, who had spent much of the weekend wading into the culture wars, making transphobic statements and seemingly echoing QAnon tropes. Video of the incident at Sunday’s Chappelle show captured by people in attendance shows the controversial Twitter owner taking the stage and yelling Chappelle’s famous Rick James impression: “I’m rich, b***h.” Afterward, Musk got loudly booed for several minutes. That’s the sound of pending civil unrest.”After more jeers, Chappelle ended his show with a reprimand and a prayer. Musk continued his culture war campaign on Monday, once again warning about the thread of what he calls “the woke mind virus.”

☆ Twitter is auctioning off HQ items, including a bird statue and espresso machines
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —If you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of Twitter’s HQ, the company is auctioning off dozens of items of memorabilia and supplies from its office in San Francisco. Twitter is cleaning house and looking to offload things like getting a large Twitter bird statue and a giant “@” sculpture planter. There are also multiple espresso machines and an electric bike charging station. Twitter/BidSpotterThe online auction opens January 17th and closes the next day, said Heritage Global Partners, the company facilitating the sale. “Just like a real estate broker doesn’t determine which houses or buildings their client would need to sell.”

☆ Former employees suing Twitter speak out on Elon Musk’s ‘clumsy and inhumane’ layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —A group of former Twitter employees who are suing the company spoke out Thursday, alleging that new owner Elon Musk’s mass layoffs at the company have triggered multiple labor rights violations. The employees who spoke during the Thursday press conference are each plaintiffs in lawsuits filed by attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan against Twitter on behalf of former employees who were affected by Musk’s takeover of the company. The attorney said Thursday she has also filed three claims against Twitter with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of former employees. The employees have rights here.”Weeks after the initial Twitter layoffs, hundreds more Twitter employees exited after Musk gave them an ultimatum to work “extremely hardcore” or leave the company. “Of all the issues Elon Musk is facing right now, this feels like the easiest one to fix … treat your workers with respect,” Liss-Riordan said.

☆ US labor officials say Apple violated the law by allegedly interrogating employees and holding mandatory meetings about unionization
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An Atlanta NLRB director found merit to allegations that Apple violated labor law. Apple, which did not respond to Insider's request for comment, has previously denied wrongdoing in a complaint with similar allegations concerning a New York Apple Store. We commend the NLRB for recognizing captive audience meetings for exactly what they are: a direct violation of labor rights." The Atlanta Apple Store in Cumberland Mall became the first Apple retail location to file for a union election in April. The employees in Atlanta eventually withdrew their call for a union vote days before the election, alleging intimidation from Apple.

☆ Shein tells suppliers to end long working days at factories by end of the month
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

In October, the UK’s Channel 4 broadcast a documentary that made allegations of labor exploitation against two of Shein’s factory suppliers in China. In its statement, Shein said audits carried out by independent experts had refuted most of the allegations. But the investigation showed that workers at two of its suppliers were working longer hours than allowed under local rules. Employees at one factory were working a maximum of 13.5 hours per day, with at least two to three days off per month, the statement claimed. At another factory, staff were found to be working 12.5 hours a day with no fixed schedule for days off.

☆ Canada says war, climate concerns show need for supply chain shift
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Canada also launched an Indo-Pacific strategy on Sunday meant to counter Chinese power in the region. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is interviewed by Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni via video link during a Reuters NEXT Newsmaker event in New York City, U.S., November 30, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidChina now dominates the critical-mineral portion of the electric vehicle supply chain. In recent months, Canada has also been reminding its top trading partner, the United States, of its value as a neighbor. "We of course stand with those protesters," Trudeau said.

☆ US calls for the release of Cambodian labor activist Chhim Sithar
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The United States on Tuesday said it was deeply concerned by Cambodia’s arrest of union leader Chhim Sithar and called for her release and that of other detained trade unionists. The State Department said Sithar, whose union has been in a year-long dispute with the NagaWorld casino, was arrested after returning to Cambodia from a labor conference in Australia. It said Cambodian authorities had previously interfered with workers’ rights by detaining union leaders and workers protesting the termination of NagaWorld employees. “We urge Cambodian authorities to release Chhim Sithar and all detained trade unionists exercising their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly, drop charges against them, and move to constructively resolve their disputes,” the department said in a statement. The State Department also reiterated a call for the release of US citizen Theary Seng and said the Cambodian government should uphold labor rights obligations and mediate a resolution between NagaWorld and the union.

☆ China's 'social credit' system ranks citizens and punishes them with throttled internet speeds and flight bans if the Communist Party deems them untrustworthy
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Katie Canales | Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Since China doesn't have a central social credit system, many local government agencies have been experimenting with what the system could look like. But the plan is for the social credit system to eventually be mandatory and unified across the nation, with each person given their own unique code used to measure their social credit score in real-time, per Wired. In fact, a national social credit system is currently being proposed. Companies will also be at risk if China passes on its Establishment of the Social Credit System law. Citizens with good social credit can also get discounts on energy bills, rent things without deposits, and get better interest rates at banks.

☆ Uber, delivery apps propose offering Mexico drivers social security
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MEXICO CITY, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Tech giant Uber (UBER.N) and delivery apps DiDi and Rappi have proposed offering social security benefits to workers in Mexico for the first time ahead of a new government bill set to regulate the gig economy. They stopped short of agreeing to classify drivers as employees, however, and few details were given on how payments towards social security costs would be divided. It is also unclear if the bill will seek to make drivers employees, or propose other reforms in line with the apps' statement. Ridesharing and delivery apps worldwide have pushed back against calls to classify workers as employees rather than independent contractors, saying the change would hinder their business models and deny drivers flexibility. Reporting by Isabel Woodford, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon, Cynthia Osterman and Anna DriverOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Tim Sparv: Staying silent is ‘not an option’ with soccer heading in ‘dangerous’ direction after Qatar 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Former Finland captain Tim Sparv says he hopes this month’s World Cup in Qatar will be a turning point for a sport that he believes is heading in a “dangerous” direction. AFP/Getty ImagesFIFA’s changesAmid the continuing criticism of Qatar, FIFA has urged nations participating in the tournament to focus on soccer and to leave politics out of the game. “I think there’s been a shift in our understanding of where sport is heading. He has since written two pieces for The Players’ Tribune which have outlined his opposition toward the World Cup in Qatar, the latest publishing earlier this month. This work will continue long after the World Cup has concluded, as it is important to us that we continue to instil and build on the progress made over the last decade.”

☆ Sepp Blatter: Qatar World Cup 'is a mistake,' says former FIFA President
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA when Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup hosting rights in 2010, told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger “Qatar is a mistake,” adding that “the choice was bad.”The Qatar decision has been marred by controversy, including allegations of corruption and human rights violations, since it was first announced. Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, has also been embroiled in accusations of corruption during his tenure. Football and the World Cup are too big for it,” Blatter said of Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the tournament. “Since then, social considerations and human rights are taken into account,” he said. Blatter said he will be watching the tournament, which kicks off in less than two weeks, from his home in Zurich.

Democrats cite threats to Social Security, MedicareAs Election Day approaches, Democrats are telling voters that Social Security and Medicare may be at risk if Republicans take control of Congress. Scott has called for reauthorizing Social Security and Medicare every five years in Congress, while Johnson suggests revisiting the programs annually. Minimum wage hikes on the horizonVoters will decide this month whether to make certain raises to the minimum wage in Nebraska, Nevada and Washington, D.C. In Nebraska, the measure would ratchet up the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026, up from its current $9. The current minimum wage is $9.50 an hour or $10.50 an hour, depending on if a worker is offered health insurance.

☆ Worker complaints alleging anti-union shutdowns rise as organizing surges
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Eli M. Rosenberg | Eli Rosenberg Is An Investigative Tech Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +13 min

The company, G&D Integrated, had closed the factory, saying it had suddenly lost its decade-old contract with a Japanese company, workers said. Starbucks closed multiple stores this year following union activity. Trader Joe’s, for example, abruptly closed a wine shop in the center of New York City where workers had been organizing. Demonstrators protest outside a closed Starbucks in Seattle on July 16. More than 40 percent of the stores had union campaigns, according to data from Starbucks Workers United, the union that has been organizing the workers.

In a video message produced by Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) and released Wednesday, 16 Socceroos called on Qatar to recognize same-sex relationships and improve the rights of migrant workers. The PFA also released an open letter to Qatar expressing need for reform. “No country is perfect, and every country – hosts of major events or not – has its challenges,” the spokesperson said. The report – “categorically” denied by tournament organizers – did not connect all 6,500 deaths with World Cup infrastructure projects and has not been independently verified by CNN. The World Cup kicks off on November 20 and runs through to the final on December 18.

☆ Amazon CEO Andy Jassy violated labor laws with union remarks, federal agency alleges
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Annie Palmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy violated federal labor laws when he remarked in recent interviews that employees could be negatively affected by unions, a federal labor agency said. He echoed those comments in the Bloomberg interview, saying workers would be "better off without a union." The complaint also requests that Amazon mail and email workers a notice informing them of their labor rights. Last week, Amazon workers at a fulfillment center near Albany rejected unionization. WATCH: Watch CNBC's full interview with Amazon CEO Andy Jassy on his first annual letter to shareholders

NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A group that works with union pension funds is pressing Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) to respond to reports of child labor at U.S. parts suppliers, warning of potential reputational damage to the Korean automaker. In addition, the letter cited a recent federal and state investigation into children working at another Hyundai supplier in the state. Reuters first documented child labor practices at Hyundai-owned SMART Alabama LLC earlier this year. "Hyundai will continue to closely review the labor operations of its suppliers to ensure full compliance with all local, state and federal laws," Gabriel said in an email. "I think investors like us need to step out and say, 'the value of the fines is not capturing your risk even remotely.

☆ Influencers on social media are starting to fight back against the platforms that profit from their followings
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-31 | by ( P.E. Moskowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

But then other users began noticing the same thing, and in late July, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian and Kylie Jenner all posted a block of text reading "MAKE INSTAGRAM INSTAGRAM AGAIN." Influencer as workerA study published last year compiled data from 30 in-depth interviews with content creators on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. But often, creators don't see themselves as people with the ability to fight back. That may be slowly changing, with influencers and content creators realizing that they need to work together more to demand more transparency and standards in their industry. The second hurdle is more personal: Many, if not most, content creators still do not see themselves as laborers.

☆ Raising interest rates won't fix the real reason behind inflation: price-gouging and corporate greed
▼ + stars: | 2022-03-26 | by ( Paul Constant | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Mabud said the Fed raising interest rates won't combat corporate price-gouging. And Rakeen Mabud, the chief economist at the Groundwork Collaborative, joined "Pitchfork Economics" to identify the second inflationary pressure on top of the pandemic: corporate greed. "Three ocean shippers control pretty much all of the ocean shipping in the entire supply chain," Mabud said. Trucking has become a job of "such rock-bottom quality that nobody wants" to do it, she said, "which, ultimately, is another weak point in our supply chain." The Fed's interest hikes likely won't address any of Mabud's concerns about corporate greed and price-gouging.

☆ Why rich countries are so dependent on migrant workers
▼ + stars: | 2021-10-15 | by ( Nessa Anwar | Sri Jegarajah | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Economic globalization has created more migrant workers than ever before. Migrant workers are people who live and work in a country where they don't hold citizenship. Globally, 67.4% of migrant workers — or 114 million people — live in wealthy countries. The vulnerability of migrant workers was highlighted by the pandemic, as borders were closed and mobility was heavily restricted. Despite the challenges, migrant workers provide great economic benefits not only to their host country, but back home as well.

Persons: Jegarajah Organizations: United Nations

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