In The News

Bush Signs Fence Bill, Pushes Back

Nicole Gaouette October 27, 2006
President George Bush signed a bill that authorizes 700 miles of fence but does not cover costs. Critics on all sides questioned whether the bill may have been designed to shore up support for candidates favored by the president in the upcoming November 7 US congressional elections. Both Mexico’s president and president-elect lashed out against the plan, calling it an “embarrassment” for the US...

Expatriates Face a Changing Reality in Gulf Countries

N. Janardhan October 25, 2006
About 13 million foreigners make up about 70 percent of the workforce in six member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Governments in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar worry about their societies’ over-reliance on foreign help. Increasing unemployment rates and population growth has prompted nationalization and new limits on foreign workers in the...

Global Outsourcing on Wane

Ashley Seager October 24, 2006
Companies have pushed the pause button outsourcing – despite dire predictions of thousands of jobs moving from developed nations to developing ones. Part of the reason could be politicians taking a protectionist stance in campaigns and pledging to stop outsourcing. The index provided by sourcing consultants TPI, based in the US, analyzes the global outsourcing market and reports that the value...

Globalization Wilts Flowering Industry

Joshua Goodman October 23, 2006
Companies such as Dole Fresh Flowers downsize in Latin America to confront increasing competition coming from Asia and Africa. Some Dole workers suspect that the company imposed lay-offs because strong unions opposed long hours and exposure to pesticides. Increasing cost of fuel and a decline in the dollar also cut profits for the Colombian flower industry. China is steadily increasing its...

Skills Gap Hurts Technology Boom in India

Somini Sengupta October 23, 2006
India’s universities produce many engineers, but only one in four is ready for the global market, reports a study commissioned from the National Association of Software and Service Companies, based in India. Many engineering graduates lack technical skills or English – and the labor shortage comes at a time when countries around the globe increasingly demand India’s low-cost software and...

Made in China: Wal-Mart Unions

Anita Chan October 12, 2006
Global labor leaders had long considered China’s unions as an arm of the government and not worthy of much respect. But that was before All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) took on Wal-Mart managers in China and quickly set up union branches at more than 20 stores. The move – requiring grassroots organization that’s not been seen in China for more than 50 years – could signal more...

An Interview With Claus Frederiksen

September 26, 2006
The following is a transcript of Nayan Chanda's interview with Danish Minister for Employment Claus Frederiksen, conducted on September 13, 2006. The minister explains Denmark’s “flexicurity” policy, which gives employers flexibility in hiring and firing while offering ample job assistance and re-training to the unemployed. – YaleGlobal