#CHINA: Supreme Court Rules 72-Hour Work Week Illegal

[world politics news]

The Supreme People’s Court and Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security have both announced in a statement that it is illegal to force employees to work 12 hours a day (from 9 am to 9 pm) for six days a week, a practice known as “996."

Common in tech, logistics and other related industries, the practice has reportedly resulted in several workers’ deaths in recent years.

The memo reminded employers to follow the national regime for working hours as overtime can “easily lead to labor disputes, impact the worker-employer relationship and social stability.”

The court stated, “Legally, workers have the right to corresponding compensation and rest times or holidays.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Gov't Recommends 4-Day Work Week

[world politics news]

The Japanese government has just unveiled its annual economic policy guidelines, which include new recommendations that companies permit their staff to opt to work four days a week instead of the typical five.

Japan's famously hard-working salarymen — and, increasingly, salarywomen — are to be encouraged to reduce the amount of time they spend in the office environment as part of the government's initiative to improve the nation's work-life balance.  

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SINGAPORE: Retirement Age Set To Rise To 65 By 2030

[world politics news]

The statutory retirement age will go up to 63 in 2022, and eventually to 65 by 2030.

The re-employment age will also go up from 67 now to 68 in 2022, and eventually to 70 by 2030.

Workers in Singapore cannot be dismissed on the grounds of age before they reach the retirement age. Employers must also offer eligible staff work up to the re-employment age but with the flexibility to adjust contract terms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Adviser To Pres. Moon Resigns After Urging Stressed Youth To Seek Employment In Other Nations

[world politics news]

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday accepted the resignation tendered by his economic policy aide over controversial remarks related to job seekers.

Kim Hyun-chul, who advised Moon on economic policy, offered to resign on Tuesday, one day after he urged young and middle-aged job seekers to stop calling the country "Hell Chosun" and instead to go to other Asian nations to seek opportunities. His resignation was accepted immediately, Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a briefing. 

"Hell Chosun" is a term, used mainly by young people, to describe South Korea's punishing and stressful social and career lifestyle, characterized by cram schools and widespread discrimination against the poor, women and minorities. "Chosun" is an ancient name for Korea.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#INDIA: Bill Would Let Employees "Disconnect" From Bosses' Calls, Emails, When They're Not Working

[world politics news]

Employees in India will be empowered to not answer the calls of their bosses after their working hours, if a private member's bill is passed by parliament. Congress Party MP Supriya Sule's bill would create an Employees' Welfare Authority, and would give every employee with the right to disconnect from workplace related calls and emails after office hours.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: PM Abe Prepares Legislation To Admit More Foreign Workers; Sparks Early "Japan First" Protest March

[world politics news]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is preparing to introduce legislation to allow migrants to start filling vacancies next year in sectors worst hit by the country’s shrinking, aging population. While the government hasn’t released a target, local media have reported numbers that would represent a 40% increase over the 1.3 million foreign workers now living in the country. If passed, the legislation would be Japan’s most dramatic immigration overhaul since the 1990s, when it let “trainees” from Asian nations in the country. Foreigners make up only about 1.7% of the country’s population, compared with 3.4% in South Korea and about 12%  in Germany. A small group of protesters, calling themselves "Japan First" gathered this past weekend in an upscale Tokyo shopping district. They were met by counter-protesters calling them "racists," but it was a stark reminder to Abe that anti-migrant feeling in Japan could grow.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SWITZERLAND: After 3 Years, "Anti-Mass Immigration" Referendum Greatly Watered Down by Legislature

[world politics news]

After nearly three years, the Swiss parliament has finally decided how to deal with the February 2014 ‘against mass immigration’ referendum, even if its solution bears little resemblance to the text of the initiative voted for by the public back then. The legislation amends rules giving unemployed domestic workers  preference over EU nationals for jobs in Switzerland.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: Constitutional Court Rejects Labor Union Petition To Roll Back Former PM Renzi's Jobs Act

[world politics news]

Italy's constitutional court has rejected a petition form labor unions calling for a referendum on The Jobs Act, a key plank of labor legislation that was a flagship reform of ousted premier Matteo Renzi, whose Democratic Party welcomed the ruling, and hopes it boosts his chances for a comeback in the next election. The Act makes it easier for companies to hire and fire employees.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#ITALY: Interior Min. Says Migrants Should Be Working For Free On Public Works Projects

[world politics news]

Interior Minister Angelino Alfano says asylum-seekers should work for free on public works projects during their up to two-year wait for their claims to be processed. Many Italians feel the country has borne the brunt of recent migration. More than 9,000 arrived in the past week.

#FRANCE: Parliament Bans Use of Super-Thin Models In Fashion Shows, Magazines

[world politics news]

Parliament has banned modeling agencies and fashion brands from employing models who are "too thin." Models must now prove they have a body mass index of at least 18, The average French woman’s BMI is 23.2. People who employ models too thin could be imprisoned and fined US$82,417.

#IRELAND: "Low Pay" Commission Will Assess Minimum Wage Annually

[world politics news]

A "Low Pay Commission" has been launched to assess the rate of the national minimum wage on an annual basis. Currently set at €8.65, the pay rate has not been amended since 2007. A person on the minimum adult wage can expect to earn approximately €340 for a 40 hour week, around €17,992 per year

#ITALY

Unemployment Hits 12.2% (Youth: 40%) As Gov't Totters During Political Crisis [world politics news]

SAUDI ARABIA

Labor Ministry Cracks Down on Companies Who Don't Shorten Hours for Ramadan [world politics news]

NORWAY

Labor Minister Says Immigrant Labor Won't Drive Down Wages [world politics news]

NETHERLANDS

Growing Unemployment Will Create 5.4bn Euro Shortfall Says Benefits Agency [world politics news]

CHINA: Communist Party Launches Campaign Against "Laxity" and "Extravagance" [world politics news]

GERMANY: Merkel Urges Unemployed Youth to Move - To Germany [world politics news]

SPAIN: Massive Protests Planned as Unemployment Rate Hits 27% [world politics news]