Sarah Betancourt is a journalist based in New York, United States of America.

AG Campbell pushes for wariness of child labor exploitation, especially among immigrants

08 Jun 2023  |  GBH  |  English  |  Child Labor Laws

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced that Dave & Buster’s has agreed to pay $275,000 to settle allegations of child labor law violations. The settlement addresses issues such as failure to provide meal breaks, not obtaining work permits for minors, and employing minors for hours longer than the law permits. The attorney general's office is forming a child labor working group to target investigations and improve enforcement of labor laws. Nearly 130 employers have been cited for child labor law violations in the past three years, affecting around 2,000 minors. Over 4,000 unaccompanied minors have arrived in Massachusetts from October 2021 to April 2023. The office is also focusing on raising awareness in immigrant communities, where children are more vulnerable to exploitation due to lack of information and language barriers. Guidance is being issued to employers, and educational materials are being distributed to schools and parents to inform them of labor laws and workers' rights.

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Labor Law Violations Child Labor Laws Immigrant Worker Rights Youth Employment

Dounard Bondo is a writer based in Liberia. His writing usually covers politics, policy, Law and entertainment. He also writes short stories. He has bylines in BBC, Euronews, Quartz, Trt World, TheAfrican Report, Sahelien, Native Magazine etc.

Liberian health workers organize amidst the pandemic

20 Dec 2023  |  ROAR Magazine  |  English  |  Labor Laws and Regulations

The article discusses the challenges faced by Liberian health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing parallels with the 2015 Ebola epidemic. Health workers, represented by the National Health Workers Union of Liberia (NAHWUL), struggled with inadequate equipment, delayed salaries, and poor working conditions. Despite legal restrictions on union activities, NAHWUL, with support from Public Services International (PSI), has been advocating for better pay, working conditions, and recognition of health workers' rights. The union has also been involved in training and capacity-building initiatives, including virtual communication and sexual harassment awareness. The government's response to union demands has been largely uncooperative, leading to strikes and stay-at-home actions. The article also touches on the issues of pension rights and the government's reluctance to engage with the union. The piece is part of a collaboration with PSI and supported by Union to Union and Swedish trade union Kommunal.

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Labor Laws and Regulations COVID-19 Pandemic Healthcare Workers' Rights Unionism in Liberia Ebola Epidemic Public Health System Sexual Harassment Awareness Pension Rights for Health Workers

I live in Kentish Town, north London and am a former BBC World Service radio reporter and producer, 1978 - 1984. I then went freelance and remained independent ever since but developed long term working relationships with a range of news organisations across news, sport and culture. This experience ...

Long Beach may be setting for further push on living wage laws

01 Sept 2013  |  Press Telegram  |  English  |  Living Wage Laws

Labor organizers in Long Beach, who successfully pushed for a living-wage law for hospitality workers, are planning a similar measure for other tourism-related jobs, including those at the Long Beach Airport and Convention Center. The living-wage law, known as Measure N, mandates higher wages for hotel workers and has led to unionization efforts at some hotels. While proponents argue it improves workers' standards of living, opponents claim it disrupts market dynamics and unfairly benefits unions. The law's impact on hotel operations, including potential room reductions and increased rates, remains a point of contention.

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Labor Rights Living Wage Laws Tourism Industry

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Left

Political View

Charlotte Elton is a freelance journalist based in London. Previously she worked as a state politics and health reporter at The West Australian, WA's major masthead. Skilled at feature writing, breaking news, and investigative work.

Unions vow to resist Tories' 'undemocratic' new anti-strike laws

12 Dec 2023  |  The Big Issue  |  English  |  Labor Laws

The article discusses the UK government's introduction of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) bill, which mandates unions to identify staff to work during strikes, with the risk of being sued if they fail to comply. The Trade Union Congress has pledged to resist this law, which they consider draconian, and experts from the Industrial Relations Research Unit at Warwick Business School and Cardiff Business School criticize the bill for not being necessary and for eroding the power of organized labor. The article suggests that the law could lead to increased tension between unions and employers and more frequent strikes. The TUC General Secretary, Paul Nowak, condemns the new laws as an attack on the right to strike.

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Labor Laws Workers' Rights Strike Legislation Trade Union Act

Robin Forestier-Walker is an award winning foreign correspondent based out of Tbilisi, Georgia. After beginning his career with the BBC in London in 2000, Robin moved first to Almaty in 2008 and began reporting for Al Jazeera English, covering news and current affairs from Bishkek to Budapest, ...

Hungarians protest against PM’s new so-called ‘slave’ law

22 Dec 2018  |  www.aljazeera.com  |  English  |  Labor Laws

Demonstrators in Hungary are protesting against a new labor law amendment, dubbed 'The Slave Law,' which allows employers to enforce more overtime and delay payments for up to three years. The protests, which have been ongoing nationwide, are notable for attracting participants from across the political spectrum. The government hopes the protests will subside over the Christmas period, but the widespread discontent suggests otherwise.

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Labor Laws Protests

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Center-Left

Political View

Hello and welcome to my profile !

To introduce myself : 

I have an extensive experience in media production, living and working across four continents for a wide range of public and private entities.

As a multimedia producer and reporter, I have :

- reported on European social and ...

What are the new rules on minimum wages for workers in the European Union?

19 Apr 2023  |  www.euronews.com  |  English  |  Labor Laws

The European Union has introduced a new directive to ensure adequate statutory minimum wages across its 27 member states, though the specific levels and rules will vary by country. Five member states without a national minimum wage will report on collective agreements instead. The directive mandates that minimum wages must allow for a decent living standard, with adequacy assessed through either a basket of goods and services or wage percentage benchmarks. Collective bargaining is emphasized as crucial for maintaining wage standards, and countries with low coverage must develop action plans to increase it. Enforcement mechanisms will include monitoring and reporting on wage adequacy and collective bargaining coverage. The directive, adopted by the EU Parliament and Council in 2022, must be transposed into national law by October 2024.

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Labor Laws Minimum Wage European Union

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Joe Henley is a journalist based in Taipei City, Taiwan with over a decade of experience working in print, television, and online media.

Equal Rights for Migrant Workers Now

30 Sept 2020  |  international.thenewslens.com  |  English  |  Labor Laws

Taiwan, known for its progressive values, has made significant strides in areas like same-sex marriage and indigenous language preservation. However, it has failed to extend similar protections to its large population of Southeast Asian migrant workers, who face exploitation and abuse under a corrupt brokerage system. These workers, employed in factories, fishing boats, and private homes, endure harsh conditions, lack of legal protection, and financial exploitation. The article calls for the abolition of the brokerage system, implementation of a direct-hire scheme, and amendments to the Labor Standards Act to include all workers, urging collective action to demand these changes.

Tags:

Labor Laws Migrant Workers Human Rights

Interpretive

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Left

Political View

Teresa Küchler is the Brussels-based EU affairs correspondent for Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet since 2010. 

She also broadcasts a bi-monthly podcast about European affairs in her native Swedish, called Brysselbubblan, and writes columns for 3 regional newspapers in Sweden. 

Teresa also ...

Managers are not allowed to email after working hours in France, Portugal, and Belgium

18 Jan 2022  |  www.svd.se  |  Swedish  |  Labor Laws

In France, Portugal, and Belgium, new regulations prohibit managers from emailing employees after working hours. This aims to protect work-life balance, ensuring employees can enjoy personal time without work interruptions.

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Labor Laws Work-Life Balance

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Lisa Napoli is a trans-media journalist based in Los Angeles, United States of America.  I've written two books, produced and directed two half-hour documentaries, and worked extensively in print, online, radio, and television.  

I've also lived and worked in Bhutan and continue to work with ...

Former Volunteers Sue AOL, Seeking Back Pay for Work

26 May 1999  |  www.nytimes.com  |  English  |  Labor Lawsuit

Former volunteers for America Online, Kelly Hallisey and Brian Williams, have filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Manhattan seeking back wages, alleging AOL violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by not compensating volunteers for their work. The plaintiffs, along with their lawyer Leon Greenberg, invite other volunteers to join the suit. AOL spokeswoman Ann Brackbill states the company believes its community leader program is in line with industry practices and that the leaders are volunteers. This follows an investigation by the United States Labor Department into AOL's use of unpaid labor.

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Labor Lawsuit Unpaid Work

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Diego Ortiz is a photographer/cameraman based in Santiago, Chile.

Wins labor lawsuit former head of Accounting of La Florida Corporation who accused pressures not to report irregularities to Comptroller

05 Oct 2023  |  Interferencia  |  Spanish  |  Labor Lawsuit

The Second Labor Court of Santiago ruled in favor of Orlando Herrera, the former head of Accounting at the Municipal Corporation of Education, Health, Culture, and Recreation of La Florida (Comudef), who claimed he was unjustly dismissed after reporting irregularities to the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR). The court ordered Comudef to pay Herrera compensation and additional penalties. The corporation has filed an appeal to nullify the ruling. The case highlights issues of whistleblower protection and government accountability.

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Labor Lawsuit Whistleblowing Government Accountability

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Scott Sayare is a writer and reporter based in Paris, France. He is a former New York Times reporter whose work has also appeared in The Atlantic and Tablet Magazine.

In France, a Move to Limit Off-the-Clock Work Emails

12 Apr 2014  |  www.nytimes.com  |  English  |  Labor Laws

France is considering new regulations to limit work-related emails and phone calls outside of official working hours. An agreement between labor unions and corporate representatives aims to ensure that employees have 11 uninterrupted hours of rest daily. The policy, which still requires approval from the Labor Ministry, would affect 250,000 employees in consulting, computing, and polling firms. Similar measures have been implemented in Germany, but the British media misinterpreted the French agreement, leading to exaggerated reports.

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Labor Laws Work-Life Balance

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Julian Schick is a journalist based in Warsaw, Poland.

Overtime: When is extra work allowed & what counts as compensation?

14 Oct 2019  |  www.welt.de  |  German  |  Labor Laws

Overtime is a common aspect of work life for many employees in Germany, with more than half of the workforce engaging in extra work. The reasons for overtime vary, including skill shortages and urgent company projects. The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) notes that while the amount of overtime remains constant, the method of compensation has shifted towards time off rather than monetary payment. German labor laws limit overtime and require compensation within six months. Different types of employees experience varying compensation methods, with some receiving payment, others using time accounts, and some having overtime included in their salary. Legal experts advise that if overtime is not specified in the employment contract, it must be explicitly ordered and compensated by the employer. The European Court of Justice has ruled that companies must implement systems to measure daily working hours, shifting the burden of proof from employees to employers. The article also highlights that high earners and certain professions, such as consultants, often work more overtime without compensation. The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) emphasizes the need for employers to record working hours and criticizes the expectation of unpaid overtime in many companies.

Tags:

Labor Laws Employment Work-Life Balance

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Daniela Sepulveda is a journalist based in Madrid, Spain.

Worked as Madrid correspondent for Press TV, undertook many reporting tasks ---> finding stories, compiling reports, carry out interviews, writing script for reports, voiceover, video editing (Adobe Premiere Pro) 

Over 70 news package ...

Associations in Natales receive training on new laws

06 Sept 2023  |  www.superir.gob.cl  |  Spanish  |  Labor Laws

Small businesses and representatives of trade associations in Natales participated in a training event organized by Sercotec Magallanes. Key speakers included Marlene España from the Seremi Economía Magallanes, Doris Sandoval from the Seremi del Ministerio del Trabajo Magallanes, and Claudia Téllez from the Superintendencia de Insolvencia y Reemprendimiento. Topics covered included the recent minimum wage increase, the new 40-hour workweek law, and changes to liquidation and reorganization procedures under law 21.563. Additionally, the event highlighted the free administrative procedure for debt renegotiation available to individuals.

Tags:

Labor Laws New Legislation Small Businesses

Informative

Factuality Scale

Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey is a New York-based multimedia journalist with 10+ years of local and international experience covering politics, arts and human interest stories for radio, television, digital and print media. He has a reputation for incisive live reports and coverage of major events. Nii ...

App or Cash? How to Tip The Deliveristas? We Asked the Workers

23 Feb 2024  |  w42st.com  |  English  |  Labor Laws

Deliveristas in New York City are divided on whether they prefer to receive tips in cash or through delivery apps. While some appreciate the immediacy and security of cash tips, others trust the app systems for their convenience and safety. The new labor laws and payment structures introduced by companies like UberEats and DoorDash have further complicated the tipping preferences. Despite differing opinions, all deliveristas agree on the importance of tips, especially given the new time limits imposed by the apps, which have affected their weekly income.

Tags:

Labor Laws Tipping Gig Economy

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