International News items
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Monday, May 10, 2004
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Korean Business Groups Reject Gov't Policies, Union Demands. The Executive deputy chiefs of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), and the Cooperative of Small-and-Medium Businesses Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily of Seoul, South Korea fully rejected on Friday the government’s corporate policies that calls for limits on the share voting rights of financial service firms affiliated with conglomerates and the reintroduction of the right to track accounts by the Fair Trade Commission.
It also disapproved demands from the labor community, such as the union’s involvement in management and the transformation of irregular workers into regular workers, which will likely cause considerable conflict between management and the labor unions in future collective wage negotiations. [Breaking News Headlines from Around the World, Powered by Worldpress.org] [Janice Kimball's Radio Weblog]
12:01:21 PM 
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Belgium set for massive pensions bill. BRUSSELS - In line with most of the rest of the developed world, Belgium is set to see spending on state pensions skyrocket over the next 30 years. Belgian Labour Minister Johan Vande Lanotte said on Friday that spending on pensions and care for the elderly would represent around 3.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2003 and 2030. Expatica Belgium May 7 2004 3:28PM GMT [Janice Kimball's Radio Weblog]
11:57:05 AM
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Fiat Melfi: Unions Divided On Wages.
Melfi (Pz), May 7. - Second day of negotiations between Fiat and the Rsu at the Melfi factory, which were announced as preliminary. Yesterday the Lingotto delegation showed the company's offer to overcome the double night shift and the wage inequality in line with other factories. Regarding hours, there's substantial acceptance by union reps, the problem to solve is the pay increases, which Fiat would like to stagger and apply to financial improvements. This morning's meeting was due to start at 9.30am but the delegates still hadn't shown up. 750 workers were present at the factory (1300 for each shift) who also today will produce the Lancia Y and Punto. (AGI) - 071418 MAG 04 AGI Online May 7 2004 6:20PM GMT [Janice Kimball's Radio Weblog]
11:56:09 AM
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Small US towns, like Martinville Louisiana, look toward China to remedy job losses. After several trips with other officials to China, the town Mayor Eric Martin hopes to nab a Chinese auto parts manufacturer within the coming months. He also hopes the company, which he would not identify, will be just the first of other China-based companies to take up shop in the former Martin Mills plant. If all goes well, Martin expects as many as 500 jobs to be created, with thousands more possible in the future. Martin, like many other St. Martinville residents, blames the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for sweeping away 2,200 jobs at Martin Mills two years ago. But the mayor said he and other officials decided to look at NAFTA in a different way while seeking out recovery. [The Taipei Times: Business] [Janice Kimball's Radio Weblog]
11:55:28 AM
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Irish laborers found an early grave in Penn. together. William Watson and John Ahtes, two professors at Immaculata University, are looking for a mass grave believed to contain the remains of approximately 57 workers who died of cholera in 1832 while building a section of the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad in East Whiteland Township. Their efforts have been reported in various Philadelphia and Chester County media over the past few months. The Intelligencer May 7 2004 0:42AM GMT [Janice Kimball's Radio Weblog]
11:55:03 AM
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OECD economic indicator points up but shows signs of flagging. "Continued expansion lies ahead in the OECD area according to the latest composite leading indicators," the Paris-based organisation said in a statement Friday. "However, March data signal slightly weakening performance in the United States and the euro area but an improvement in Japan and Italy," it added. AFP via Yahoo! May 7 2004 3:40PM GMT [Janice Kimball's Radio Weblog]
11:54:21 AM
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Textile workers in Nigeria propose sector revival strategy. To revive the plummeting fortunes of the nation's textile industry, workers have called for a stakeholder's forum, to strategically map out measures, for improved business environment, on a sustainable basis. Indeed, officials of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) lamented that the ailing textile industry in the country holds dim prospect for the nation's economic recovery. Nigeria Guardian May 7 2004 3:48AM GMT [Janice Kimball's Radio Weblog]
11:53:57 AM
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Germany to create more apprenticeships in nanotechnology and biotechnology. German Minister for Education and Research, Edelgard Bulmahn, has launched her country's 'apprenticeship offensive 2004', saying that she sees particular potential for apprenticeships in the growth areas of microsystems technology, nanotechnology and biotechnology.
The government intends to target regions where the difference between the number of apprenticeships available and local demand is the highest, as well as those regions which have cut their number of apprenticeships by a higher than average number Cordis May 7 2004 2:01PM GMT [Janice Kimball's Radio Weblog]
11:53:42 AM
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