tagged w/ International Labor Organization
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Thousands of workers at a South Korean-owned factory in China's industrial heartland have gone on strike to demand better pay and working conditions, according to a report.
More than 4,000 workers at the Simone handbag factory in Guangzhou -- an area struck by migrant unrest in recent weeks -- are protesting against what they say is a "harsh working environment", the South China Morning Post said on Thursday.
People working at the plant -- which produces handbags for high-end brands such as DKNY, Burberry, Kate Spade and Coach -- at the Hualong plant in Meishan village halted production on Monday, the report said.
A heavy police presence was seen outside the plant, with workers claiming that at least one woman and one man were beaten up by local security guards on Tuesday.
A photo published in the Hong Kong-based daily showed a large number of workers clad in blue uniforms in a standoff with police.
A factory operator told AFP that most of the workers had returned to their posts on Thursday. She refused to offer further details.
Officials in the local government labour bureau were not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP.
The workers complained they were forced to stand for 12 hours daily and given toilet breaks once every four hours, according to the Post.
They also said they were banned from consuming water or using washrooms except during breaks.
"The Korean management treats us [as] less than human beings. The male managers walk into female toilets any time they please; we can't contain our anger any more," a 26-year-old unnamed male worker told the paper.
Continue at:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jINV9zscjzb8Eje6WD-s5QNu3kkg?docId=CNG.852674ba7acb03c208d6ad2c8a758eb3.6f1Thousands of workers at a South Korean-owned factory in China's industrial... more
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As belts are tightened at academic institutions around the country, it is no surprise that staffing cuts are being made at Ohio University. But who pays the true price for balancing the budget?
Union leaders, community members and students are up-in-arms at the unfair treatment received by the University's facilities maintenance staff in the face of rising salaries for university administrators. Quality of life is the first casualty in this battle of the budget.
This pod was created by:
RICHARD CHARNEY
MICHAEL GILLESPIE
LEON RUDZIN
EVAN SMITH
As belts are tightened at academic institutions around the country, it is no surprise... more
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A labour rights group alleged on Tuesday that crucifixes sold in religious gift shops in the U.S. are produced under "horrific" conditions in a Chinese factory with more than 15-hour workdays and inadequate food.
"It's a throwback to the worst of the garment sweatshops 10, 20 years ago," said Charles Kernaghan, director of the National Labor Committee.
Kernaghan held a news conference in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York to call attention to conditions at a factory in Dongguan, a southern Chinese city near Hong Kong, where he said crosses sold at the historic church and elsewhere are made.
Kernaghan said the factory's mostly young, female employees work from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week and are paid 26 cents an hour with no sick days or holiday. Workers live in filthy dormitories and are fed a watery "slop," he said.
Kernaghan said the crosses were exhibited at an annual trade show organized by the Association for Christian Retail, a Colorado-based trade association that works with thousands of religious stores across the country.
Bill Anderson, president and chief executive of the Christian trade association, issued a statement saying: "While we occasionally hear this issue raised, and believe there are factories in China where human rights are violated, we believe claims that products sold through CBA member stores are made in these shops are irresponsible and unfounded."
Dongguan lies at the center of China's export manufacturing industry, which relies heavily on low wages to remain competitive. Factories there have been accused in the past of labor abuses, including those making products for McDonald's, Disney, Mattel and the Beijing Olympics.
A labour rights group alleged on Tuesday that crucifixes sold in religious gift shops... more
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ish757
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4 years ago
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"For the first time in human history, more people are laboring in service trades than in food production, according to data gathered by the International Labor Organization (ILO), an agency affiliated with the United Nations." - I guess that would make sense. Farms are being taken over by big companies and robots. "For the first time in human history, more people are laboring in service trades... more
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In a report by the International Labor Organization, Americans take the top place in the highest productivity rating, at least based on total hours worked. Norway, however, led with the highest productivity per hour.In a report by the International Labor Organization, Americans take the top place in... more
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khsing
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added this
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4 years ago
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