Tag: labor/jobs
'Safety net' not strong enough to support America's growing homeless population
The impact of the subprime mortgage crisis and economic strain across the country has drastically increased the number of Americans living in poverty. According to the latest census data, 47 million Americans are now living below the poverty line....
Apple sends independent inspectors to suppliers’ Chinese factories
Recent reporting by The New York Times has raised concern about the conditions faced by workers in Apple’s supply factories in China. Now Apple has hired an independent labor rights organization to inspect and publish a report on the labor environment in its suppliers’ factories. The first round of inspections began Monday....
In Iowa, China's vice president will reconnect with friends made 30 years ago
As a low-level bureaucrat in 1985, Xi Jinping made a visit to Iowa on an agricultural mission. He's said to have fond memories of his trip. Now he's China's vice president and the most likely next leader for the country, he's heading back to Iowa on a more high-profile mission....
German company Carpooling.com looking to bring its service to U.S. market
Carpooling.com launched in Germany to help a couple of college students stay in love. A decade later, the business is thriving in Europe and it's starting to turn its eye toward the U.S. market....
Romney's comments about the poor ignite discussion of social mobility
As the middle class increasingly feels pressed from the bottom and the top, comments on CNN by Mitt Romney about not being concerned with the very poor have prompted a discussion about just what it is that is holding back the middle class — and the poor as well....
U.S. economy shows surprising surge, adds 243,000 jobs; unemployment falls
The American economy surprised economists by adding 243,000 net new jobs in January and dropping the unemployment rate to 8.3 percent. That rate represents the lowest figure for the American economy in almost three years....
Indiana right to work law protest comes to Super Bowl week
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels this week signed the right to work bill into law. Labor unions, which say the bill will weaken them, are bringing their protests to Super Bowl week, but they face a difficult balancing act....
As Spain's economy sags, professionals look abroad for work
There's a burgeoning Spanish population in Germany and they're not going for the change in climate. As Spain's unemployment rate hovers around 23 percent, Germany's 4 percent rate is luring many of Spain's most educated to jobs outside their native land....
Migrant workers receive some protections, call for more, in Egypt
In the wake of Egypt's revolution, domestic workers who once enjoyed absolutely no legal protections are now protected by laws against human trafficking, and some are benefitting. But it will be some time more until they enjoy the sorts of wage and other protections activists say they deserve....
Indiana House of Representiatives passes 'right to work' law
Indiana is set to become the 23rd state to pass a right to work law. The bill prohibits unions from entering into employment contracts that prevent workers from opting out of joining and paying dues to the union....
