In The News

Europe, Asia Stimulate Hyundai Expansion

Kim Mi-hui October 30, 2003
Hyundai, the leading car manufacturing in Korea, is looking to expand its sales in the European and Asian markets. Hyundai's power in the American market ought to be supplemented by a strong presence in the growing European and Asian markets, company officials say. With this in mind, Hyundai is building a plant in Eastern Europe, with four more possible plants in the Czech Republic,...

Compulsory Insurance Scheme for Migrant Sri Lankan Workers in United Arab Emirates

Meraj Rizvi October 30, 2003
There will soon be a new mandatory insurance scheme for Sri Lankan migrant laborers working in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states. As mandated by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, all prospective employers of Sri Lankans must now obtain an insurance policy for employees prior to submission of the worker's contract to the hiring agency. The Sri Lankan...

Multinational Corporations: Pro or Con?

Gauri Bhatia October 29, 2003
India's love-hate relationship with multi-national corporations (MNCs) is more complicated than simple fear of big, faceless companies. MNCs bring jobs (but also "hire-and-fire" policies), consumer choice (that push traditional foods out of the market), and brand-name products (which is feared to lead to 'US-worship'). The recent environmental and health debacles in...

India's Call Centers Face Struggle to Keep Staff as Economy Revives

Ashok Bhattacharjee October 29, 2003
One the paradoxes of the call-center industry in India is that it requires English-speaking university graduates to answer questions from US customers but offers little in the way of advancement and intellectual stimulation. High turn-over rates are inevitable if the economy keeps expanding and thus offers more compelling employment options for well-educated Indians. Moreover, the rapid...

When Jobs Move Overseas (to South Carolina)

Yilu Zhao October 26, 2003
Why would a Chinese refrigerator company move to America, where wages are ten times higher than at home? Prestige, argues Yilu Zhao, and political benefits back home. The Chinese government is pushing to put 50 of its companies on the Fortune Global 500 list and sees foreign investment and a greater share of the US market as the surest way. Thus state-owned companies, like the refrigerator...

15,000 Families Granted Asylum

October 24, 2003
With more asylum seekers fleeing conflicts in various parts of the world, receiving countries are experiencing some hard times. The UK, for example, is already feeling over burdened. Recently, the government announced that it would grant 15,000 families indefinite leave to remain and enable them to work in the UK, a right they don't currently enjoy. According to the Secretary of the Home...

Bangladesh Faces the Challenge of Globalization

Wahiduddin Mahmud October 22, 2003
Bangladesh's economy grew rapidly during the 1990s as the country liberalized its markets and became increasingly integrated into the world economy. Until the 2001 global recession, Bangladesh ranked third for improvement of human development - behind only Cabo Verde and China - thanks in large part to exports from its blossoming garment industry. Wahiduddin Mahmud, economist and former...