Thursday, January 31, 2008
[IWS] MARKETPLACE -- WORKING Series (Profiling a Single Worker in the GLOBAL ECONOMY)
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Marketplace from American Public Media
Each month, WORKING brings us into the life of a single worker in the global economy. Intimate profiles of real people with real families, real struggles, real dreams, and real jobs.
WORKING -- a co-production of Homeland Production and Marketplace
BALKAN CRIME-FIGHTER PROFILED TONIGHT ON MARKETPLACE
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/segments/working/
Gordana Jankuloska stands barely five feet tall and weighs just over 100
pounds. Her modest apartment is strewn with stuffed animals. When she's not
working, she likes to watch Animal Planet on TV. As a young commercial
lawyer, she could be making good money in London, where she got her degree.
So why is she working for $4.35 an hour running the security services in a
former East Bloc country known for its underworld-style corruption? "It's a
unique chance," she says, "to do something really big." In this month's
segment of WORKING, Sandy Tolan introduces us to the 32-year-old "whiz kid"
interior minister of Macedonia.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Marketplace from American Public Media
Each month, WORKING brings us into the life of a single worker in the global economy. Intimate profiles of real people with real families, real struggles, real dreams, and real jobs.
WORKING -- a co-production of Homeland Production and Marketplace
BALKAN CRIME-FIGHTER PROFILED TONIGHT ON MARKETPLACE
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/segments/working/
Gordana Jankuloska stands barely five feet tall and weighs just over 100
pounds. Her modest apartment is strewn with stuffed animals. When she's not
working, she likes to watch Animal Planet on TV. As a young commercial
lawyer, she could be making good money in London, where she got her degree.
So why is she working for $4.35 an hour running the security services in a
former East Bloc country known for its underworld-style corruption? "It's a
unique chance," she says, "to do something really big." In this month's
segment of WORKING, Sandy Tolan introduces us to the 32-year-old "whiz kid"
interior minister of Macedonia.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 1:49 PM
[IWS] CENSUS ATLAS of the UNITED STATES -- WORK (Chapter 11) [31 January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Census Atlas of the United States [31 January 2008]
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/censusatlas/
See in particular CHAPTER 11 -- WORK
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/censusatlas/11_Work.pdf
[full-text, 22 pages]
Press Release
Census Bureau Produces First Comprehensive Atlas in More Than 80 Years [31 January 2008]
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/011433.html
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the U.S. Census Bureau's new Census Atlas of the United States speaks volumes about how the nation's population and housing characteristics have changed over the years. The atlas, with more than 700 full-color maps, is the first general population and housing statistical atlas published by the Census Bureau since 1925.
Featuring more than 300 pages and weighing about 7 pounds, the atlas presents data from 1790 through 2000. It is arranged by topic and grouped into three general themes who we are, where we come from and what we do. Most maps feature county-level detail for the United States and Puerto Rico.
"The Census Atlas of the United States is an invitation to spend several hours considering the characteristics of our country," said former Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. "These maps do not merely offer graphic representations of the facts and data. They reveal the relationships among our nation's people and the states, cities and counties where they have chosen to live. In short, the book tells the story of our nation its past, present and future."
Census Atlas of the United States is available on the Census Bureau Web site < http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/censusatlas/>. A print copy of the Census Atlas can be purchased from the Government Printing Office online bookstore at < http://bookstore.gpo.gov>.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Census Atlas of the United States [31 January 2008]
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/censusatlas/
See in particular CHAPTER 11 -- WORK
http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/censusatlas/11_Work.pdf
[full-text, 22 pages]
Press Release
Census Bureau Produces First Comprehensive Atlas in More Than 80 Years [31 January 2008]
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/011433.html
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the U.S. Census Bureau's new Census Atlas of the United States speaks volumes about how the nation's population and housing characteristics have changed over the years. The atlas, with more than 700 full-color maps, is the first general population and housing statistical atlas published by the Census Bureau since 1925.
Featuring more than 300 pages and weighing about 7 pounds, the atlas presents data from 1790 through 2000. It is arranged by topic and grouped into three general themes who we are, where we come from and what we do. Most maps feature county-level detail for the United States and Puerto Rico.
"The Census Atlas of the United States is an invitation to spend several hours considering the characteristics of our country," said former Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon. "These maps do not merely offer graphic representations of the facts and data. They reveal the relationships among our nation's people and the states, cities and counties where they have chosen to live. In short, the book tells the story of our nation its past, present and future."
Census Atlas of the United States is available on the Census Bureau Web site < http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/censusatlas/>. A print copy of the Census Atlas can be purchased from the Government Printing Office online bookstore at < http://bookstore.gpo.gov>.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 12:04 PM
[IWS] New Zealand: ENVIRONMENT NEW ZEALAND 2007 (REPORT) [31 January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
New Zealand
Ministry for the Environment
Environment New Zealand 2007 [31 January 2008]
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-dec07/index.html
[download individual chapters]
or
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-dec07/html/index.html
and
SUMMARY
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-summary-dec07/index.html
Press Release
Current state of the environment report released [31 January 2008]
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/news/enz07-31jan08.html
[excerpt]
A comprehensive state of the environment report released today provides the basis for future action on the environment, says Environment Secretary Hugh Logan.
< http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-dec07/index.html> Environment New Zealand 2007 presents a thorough snapshot of the health of our environment and will help inform and prioritise decisions that will lead to a sustainable New Zealand, Mr Logan said.
The 450-page report is the country's second state of the environment report, but quantifies a range of key indicators in a way that the first report issued a decade ago did not.
AND MORE...
[Thanks to Kevin Adams, Information Specialist, ESR for the tip].
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
New Zealand
Ministry for the Environment
Environment New Zealand 2007 [31 January 2008]
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-dec07/index.html
[download individual chapters]
or
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-dec07/html/index.html
and
SUMMARY
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-summary-dec07/index.html
Press Release
Current state of the environment report released [31 January 2008]
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/news/enz07-31jan08.html
[excerpt]
A comprehensive state of the environment report released today provides the basis for future action on the environment, says Environment Secretary Hugh Logan.
< http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/ser/enz07-dec07/index.html> Environment New Zealand 2007 presents a thorough snapshot of the health of our environment and will help inform and prioritise decisions that will lead to a sustainable New Zealand, Mr Logan said.
The 450-page report is the country's second state of the environment report, but quantifies a range of key indicators in a way that the first report issued a decade ago did not.
AND MORE...
[Thanks to Kevin Adams, Information Specialist, ESR for the tip].
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 11:37 AM
[IWS] OECD: UNIT LABOR COSTS SLOW for MAJOR OECD ECONOMIES (except ITALY) [31 January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Paris, 31 January 2008
News Release
Unit labour cost growth slows for most major OECD economies in the third quarter of 2007
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/25/47/39999631.pdf
[full-text, 4 pages]
[excerpt]
Unit labour costs (ULC) in industry fell for most major OECD economies in the third quarter of 2007. In France, Germany, Japan and the United States they declined more than in the second quarter. Italy is the only G7 economy where ULC grew appreciably in the third quarter of 2007 (0.8%), although there as well they slowed, from the 1.1% increase recorded in the previous quarter.
AND MUCH MORE....
See also
http://www.oecd.org/document/33/0,3343,en_2649_201185_39999713_1_1_1_1,00.html
and
for ACTUAL DATA
Dataset: Unit Labour Cost - Quarterly indicators
http://stats.oecd.org/WBOS/default.aspx?DatasetCode=ULC_QUA
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Paris, 31 January 2008
News Release
Unit labour cost growth slows for most major OECD economies in the third quarter of 2007
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/25/47/39999631.pdf
[full-text, 4 pages]
[excerpt]
Unit labour costs (ULC) in industry fell for most major OECD economies in the third quarter of 2007. In France, Germany, Japan and the United States they declined more than in the second quarter. Italy is the only G7 economy where ULC grew appreciably in the third quarter of 2007 (0.8%), although there as well they slowed, from the 1.1% increase recorded in the previous quarter.
AND MUCH MORE....
See also
http://www.oecd.org/document/33/0,3343,en_2649_201185_39999713_1_1_1_1,00.html
and
for ACTUAL DATA
Dataset: Unit Labour Cost - Quarterly indicators
http://stats.oecd.org/WBOS/default.aspx?DatasetCode=ULC_QUA
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 11:18 AM
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
[IWS] INDIA: EMPLOYMENT & UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION: 2005-2006 and more [January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
INDIA
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Reports & Publications
http://mospi.nic.in/mospi_nsso_rept_pubn.htm
Scroll to the bottom of this page [URL above] to find the following:
Household Consumer Expenditure, Employment and Unemployment, Unorganised Manufacturing Enterprises NSS 62nd Round (July 2005 - June 2006)
522 Employment and Unemployment Situation in India
524 Operational Characteristics of Unorganised Manufacturing Enterprises in India
525 Unorganised Manufacturing Sector in India-Employment, Assets and Borrowings
The above can be downloaded after FREE REGISTRATION. Simply click on the document and a registration form will appear.
See Press Release
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION IN INDIA: 2005-06 [29 January 2008]
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=34970
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
INDIA
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Reports & Publications
http://mospi.nic.in/mospi_nsso_rept_pubn.htm
Scroll to the bottom of this page [URL above] to find the following:
Household Consumer Expenditure, Employment and Unemployment, Unorganised Manufacturing Enterprises NSS 62nd Round (July 2005 - June 2006)
522 Employment and Unemployment Situation in India
524 Operational Characteristics of Unorganised Manufacturing Enterprises in India
525 Unorganised Manufacturing Sector in India-Employment, Assets and Borrowings
The above can be downloaded after FREE REGISTRATION. Simply click on the document and a registration form will appear.
See Press Release
EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION IN INDIA: 2005-06 [29 January 2008]
http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=34970
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 10:45 AM
[IWS] INDIA: YEAR END REVIEW '07 (Ministry of Labour and Employment) [20 December 2007]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Ministry of Labour & Employment
NEW INITIATIVES TOWARDS PROTECTING INTERESTS OF UNORGANIZED LABOUR
UPGRADATION AND OPENING OF NEW ITIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=34153
----------
13:22 IST
YEAR END REVIEW 07
The introduction of the Unorganized Sector Workers Social Security Bill, 2007, the launching of the 'Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana' (RSBY), major programme for upgradation of ITIs and ITCs, the Revised Integrated Housing Scheme (RIHS) 2007-08 for beedi workers etc., expansion of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme to cover 250 districts with an additional $40 million Indo-US joint project on Child Labour in 21 districts, the initiation of concept of the national floor level minimum wage and its revision from Rs.66/- per day to Rs.80/- per day, constitution of two Wage Boards one for Working Journalists and another for Non-Journalist Newspaper Employees, action to provide the skills for youth with lesser educational qualification through the Skill Development Initiative Scheme in areas/clusters which have significant population of Muslims marked the activities and achievements of the Ministry of Labour and Employment during the year 2007.
UNORGANIZED SECTOR WORKERS
To provide social security to workers in the unorganized sector, the Unorganized Sector Workers Social Security Bill, 2007 was introduced in Parliament in September this year. The Bill seeks to provide for health insurance, life and accident insurance, maternity benefits and old age pension and any other benefits that may be decided by the Central Government.
AND MUCH MORE....
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Ministry of Labour & Employment
NEW INITIATIVES TOWARDS PROTECTING INTERESTS OF UNORGANIZED LABOUR
UPGRADATION AND OPENING OF NEW ITIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=34153
----------
13:22 IST
YEAR END REVIEW 07
The introduction of the Unorganized Sector Workers Social Security Bill, 2007, the launching of the 'Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana' (RSBY), major programme for upgradation of ITIs and ITCs, the Revised Integrated Housing Scheme (RIHS) 2007-08 for beedi workers etc., expansion of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme to cover 250 districts with an additional $40 million Indo-US joint project on Child Labour in 21 districts, the initiation of concept of the national floor level minimum wage and its revision from Rs.66/- per day to Rs.80/- per day, constitution of two Wage Boards one for Working Journalists and another for Non-Journalist Newspaper Employees, action to provide the skills for youth with lesser educational qualification through the Skill Development Initiative Scheme in areas/clusters which have significant population of Muslims marked the activities and achievements of the Ministry of Labour and Employment during the year 2007.
UNORGANIZED SECTOR WORKERS
To provide social security to workers in the unorganized sector, the Unorganized Sector Workers Social Security Bill, 2007 was introduced in Parliament in September this year. The Bill seeks to provide for health insurance, life and accident insurance, maternity benefits and old age pension and any other benefits that may be decided by the Central Government.
AND MUCH MORE....
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 8:58 AM
[IWS] DOL: MINIMUM WAGE IMPACT--AMERICAN SAMOA, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS [January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Prepared by
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy
U.S. Department of Labor
January 2008
Impact of Increased Minimum Wages on the Economies of American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands [January 2008]
http://www.dol.gov/asp/media/reports/ascnmi/ascnmi.pdf
[full-text, 51 pages]
[excerpt]
This report is limited to addressing the two questions contained in the Congressional mandate:
(1) what has been the impact on living standards and employment to the present date of the fifty-cent-per-hour increase in the minimum wages of each territory that became effective July 2007;
and
(2) what are the projected impacts of the future increases scheduled under the Act?
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ii
Section 1. Introduction 1
Section 2. American Samoa 5
Section 3. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 23
Bibliography 40
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Prepared by
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy
U.S. Department of Labor
January 2008
Impact of Increased Minimum Wages on the Economies of American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands [January 2008]
http://www.dol.gov/asp/media/reports/ascnmi/ascnmi.pdf
[full-text, 51 pages]
[excerpt]
This report is limited to addressing the two questions contained in the Congressional mandate:
(1) what has been the impact on living standards and employment to the present date of the fifty-cent-per-hour increase in the minimum wages of each territory that became effective July 2007;
and
(2) what are the projected impacts of the future increases scheduled under the Act?
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ii
Section 1. Introduction 1
Section 2. American Samoa 5
Section 3. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 23
Bibliography 40
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 8:24 AM
[IWS] CHARTBOOK of INTERNATIONAL LABOR COMPARISONS, THE AMERICAS, ASIA/PACIFIC, EUROPE--JANUARY 2008
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Foreign Labor Statistics
Chartbook of International Labor Comparisons, The AMERICAS, ASIA/PACIFIC, EUROPE -- January 2008
http://www.dol.gov/asp/media/reports/chartbook/2008-01/chartbook.pdf
[full-text, 73 pages]
{excerpt]
This chartbook focuses on the labor market situation in selected
countries in the 1996-2006 period. Charts in sections 1 through 4 and
section 6 include countries in North America (the United States, Canada,
and Mexico) and selected Asian-Pacific and European economies.
Weighted aggregates for 15 European Union countries (EU-15) are
shown on most charts. These represent European Union member
countries prior to the expansion of the European Union to 25 countries
on May 1, 2004 and to 27 countries on January 1, 2007. The EU-15
countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It should be noted that the selected
economies are not representative of all of Europe and the Asian-Pacific
region; rather, they tend to be the more industrialized economies in
these regions. In section 5, several indicators are presented for five
large emerging economies: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and the
Russian Federation. Due to the lack of suitable data, some of the
countries do not appear on all charts. The appendix describes the
definitions, sources, and methods used to compile the data in the
chartbook. For some series, the appendix provides cautions about the
exact comparability of the measures.
CONTENTS
iv | Contents
Section 1. Gross Domestic Product Per Capita 1
1.1 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, 2006 2
1.2 Average annual growth rates for real GDP per capita, 1996-
2006 3
Section 2. Labor Market Indicators 5
2.1 Size of the labor force, 2006 6
2.2 Average annual growth rates for the labor force, 1996-2006 7
2.3 Labor force participation rates by sex, 2006 8
2.4 Labor force participation rates for youth, 2006 9
2.5 Labor force participation rates for older workers, 2006 10
2.6 Employment as a percent of the working-age population, 2006 11
2.7 Average annual growth rates for employment, 1996-2006 12
2.8 Average annual growth rates for full-time and part-time employment, 1996-2006 13
2.9 Annual hours worked per employed person, 1996 and 2006 14
2.10 Unemployment rates, 2006 15
2.11 Unemployment rates for youth, 2006 16
2.12 Ratio of youth to adult unemployment rates, 2006 17
2.13 Persons unemployed one year or longer, 2006 18
2.14 Ratio of unemployment rate of persons without high school degrees to that of persons with college or university degrees, 2005 19
2.15 Educational attainment of the adult population, 2005 20
Section 3. Competitiveness Indicators for Manufacturing 21
3.1 Hourly compensation costs, 2005 22
3.2 Average annual growth rates for hourly compensation costs, 1995-2005 23
3.3 Employer social insurance expenditures and other labor taxes as a percent of hourly compensation costs, 2005 24
3.4 Average annual growth rates for manufacturing productivity, 1996-2006 25
3.5 Average annual growth rates for manufacturing output and hours worked, 1996-2006 26
3.6 Average annual growth rates for manufacturing unit labor costs in U.S. dollars, 1996-2006 27
3.7 Manufacturing output as a percent of world manufacturing output, 2006 28
Section 4. Other Economic Indicators 29
4.1 Public expenditures on labor market programs as a percent of GDP, 2005-06 30
4.2 Measures of regulation on labor and product markets, 2003 31
4.3 Share of labor costs taken by tax and social security contributions, 2006 32
4.4 Dependency ratios, 2005 and projections to 2025 33
4.5 Trade in goods as a percent of GDP, 2005 34
Section 5. Indicators for Large Emerging Economies 35
5.1 World population distribution, 2005 36
5.2 Age composition of the population, 2005 37
5.3 Dependency ratios, 2005 and projections to 2025 38
5.4 GDP per capita, 2005 39
5.5 GDP per employed person, 1996 and 2005 40
5.6 Labor force participation rates by age, 2006 41
5.7 Employment as a percent of the working-age population by sex, 2006 42
5.8 Trade in goods as a percent of GDP, 2005 43
5.9 Manufacturing output as a percent of world manufacturing output, 2006 44
Section 6. Disability indicators 45
6.1 Persons with disabilities as a percent of the working-age population 46
6.2 Employment as a percent of the working-age population 47
6.3 Persons receiving disability benefits as a percent of the working-age population, 1990 and 1999 48
6.4 Labor market status of persons receiving disability benefits 49
Appendix. Definitions, Sources, and Methods A1
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Foreign Labor Statistics
Chartbook of International Labor Comparisons, The AMERICAS, ASIA/PACIFIC, EUROPE -- January 2008
http://www.dol.gov/asp/media/reports/chartbook/2008-01/chartbook.pdf
[full-text, 73 pages]
{excerpt]
This chartbook focuses on the labor market situation in selected
countries in the 1996-2006 period. Charts in sections 1 through 4 and
section 6 include countries in North America (the United States, Canada,
and Mexico) and selected Asian-Pacific and European economies.
Weighted aggregates for 15 European Union countries (EU-15) are
shown on most charts. These represent European Union member
countries prior to the expansion of the European Union to 25 countries
on May 1, 2004 and to 27 countries on January 1, 2007. The EU-15
countries are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It should be noted that the selected
economies are not representative of all of Europe and the Asian-Pacific
region; rather, they tend to be the more industrialized economies in
these regions. In section 5, several indicators are presented for five
large emerging economies: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and the
Russian Federation. Due to the lack of suitable data, some of the
countries do not appear on all charts. The appendix describes the
definitions, sources, and methods used to compile the data in the
chartbook. For some series, the appendix provides cautions about the
exact comparability of the measures.
CONTENTS
iv | Contents
Section 1. Gross Domestic Product Per Capita 1
1.1 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, 2006 2
1.2 Average annual growth rates for real GDP per capita, 1996-
2006 3
Section 2. Labor Market Indicators 5
2.1 Size of the labor force, 2006 6
2.2 Average annual growth rates for the labor force, 1996-2006 7
2.3 Labor force participation rates by sex, 2006 8
2.4 Labor force participation rates for youth, 2006 9
2.5 Labor force participation rates for older workers, 2006 10
2.6 Employment as a percent of the working-age population, 2006 11
2.7 Average annual growth rates for employment, 1996-2006 12
2.8 Average annual growth rates for full-time and part-time employment, 1996-2006 13
2.9 Annual hours worked per employed person, 1996 and 2006 14
2.10 Unemployment rates, 2006 15
2.11 Unemployment rates for youth, 2006 16
2.12 Ratio of youth to adult unemployment rates, 2006 17
2.13 Persons unemployed one year or longer, 2006 18
2.14 Ratio of unemployment rate of persons without high school degrees to that of persons with college or university degrees, 2005 19
2.15 Educational attainment of the adult population, 2005 20
Section 3. Competitiveness Indicators for Manufacturing 21
3.1 Hourly compensation costs, 2005 22
3.2 Average annual growth rates for hourly compensation costs, 1995-2005 23
3.3 Employer social insurance expenditures and other labor taxes as a percent of hourly compensation costs, 2005 24
3.4 Average annual growth rates for manufacturing productivity, 1996-2006 25
3.5 Average annual growth rates for manufacturing output and hours worked, 1996-2006 26
3.6 Average annual growth rates for manufacturing unit labor costs in U.S. dollars, 1996-2006 27
3.7 Manufacturing output as a percent of world manufacturing output, 2006 28
Section 4. Other Economic Indicators 29
4.1 Public expenditures on labor market programs as a percent of GDP, 2005-06 30
4.2 Measures of regulation on labor and product markets, 2003 31
4.3 Share of labor costs taken by tax and social security contributions, 2006 32
4.4 Dependency ratios, 2005 and projections to 2025 33
4.5 Trade in goods as a percent of GDP, 2005 34
Section 5. Indicators for Large Emerging Economies 35
5.1 World population distribution, 2005 36
5.2 Age composition of the population, 2005 37
5.3 Dependency ratios, 2005 and projections to 2025 38
5.4 GDP per capita, 2005 39
5.5 GDP per employed person, 1996 and 2005 40
5.6 Labor force participation rates by age, 2006 41
5.7 Employment as a percent of the working-age population by sex, 2006 42
5.8 Trade in goods as a percent of GDP, 2005 43
5.9 Manufacturing output as a percent of world manufacturing output, 2006 44
Section 6. Disability indicators 45
6.1 Persons with disabilities as a percent of the working-age population 46
6.2 Employment as a percent of the working-age population 47
6.3 Persons receiving disability benefits as a percent of the working-age population, 1990 and 1999 48
6.4 Labor market status of persons receiving disability benefits 49
Appendix. Definitions, Sources, and Methods A1
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 8:15 AM
[IWS] CRS: Proposed U.S.-SOUTH KOREA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (KORUS FTA): PROVISIONS & IMPLICATIONS [22 January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34330
The Proposed U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA): Provisions and Implications
January 22, 2008
William H. Cooper (Coordinator),
Mark E. Manyin, and Vivian C. Jones, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Stephen Cooney and Remy Jurenas, Resources, Science, and Industry Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34330_20080122.pdf
[full-text, 56 pages]
Summary
On June 30, 2007, United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab and South
Korean Foreign Trade Minister Kim Hyung-chong signed the proposed U.S.-South
Korean Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) for their respective countries. If
approved, the KORUS FTA would be the largest FTA that South Korea has signed
to date and would be the second largest (next to North American Free Trade
Agreement NAFTA) in which the United States participates. South Korea is the
seventh-largest trading partner of the United States and the United States is South
Korea's third largest trading partner. Various studies conclude that the agreement
would increase bilateral trade and investment flows.
The final text of the proposed KORUS FTA covers a wide range of trade and
investment issues and, therefore, could have wide economic implications for both the
United States and South Korea. The KORUS FTA includes issues on which the two
countries achieved early agreement, such as the elimination on tariffs on trade in
most manufactured goods and the partial liberalization in services trade. The
agreement also includes provisions on a number of very sensitive issues, such as
autos, agriculture, and trade remedies, on which agreement was reached only during
the final hours of negotiations.
If the agreement is to enter into force, Congress will have to approve
implementation legislation. The negotiations were conducted under the trade
promotion authority (TPA), also called fast-track trade authority, that the Congress
granted the President under the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-
210). The authority allows the President to enter into trade agreements that receive
expedited congressional consideration (no amendments and limited debate). The
White House has not indicated when it will send the draft implementing legislation
to Congress. (The TPA sets no deadline for the President to do this.)
While a broad swath of the U.S. business community supports the agreement,
the KORUS FTA faces opposition from some groups, including some auto and steel
manufacturers and labor unions. In addition, the agricultural community and some
Members of Congress have withheld support for the agreement until South Korea
lifts its restrictions on imports of U.S. beef. Some U.S. supporters view passage of
the KORUS FTA as important to secure new opportunities in the South Korea
market. Opponents claim that the KORUS FTA does not go far enough in opening
up the South Korean market and is a lost opportunity to resolve long running
concerns about South Korean barriers. Other observers have suggested the outcome
of the KORUS FTA could have implications for the U.S.-South Korean alliance as
a whole.
Differences between the White House and the Democratic leadership in the
Congress over the implications of the KORUS FTA have made the timing and even
the likelihood of the President's submission and the Congress's subsequent
consideration of implementing legislation uncertain.
This report will be updated as events warrant.
Contents
The KORUS FTA in a Nutshell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Automobiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Other Key Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Estimates of the Overall Economic Effects of a KORUS FTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
An Overview of the U.S.-South Korean Economic Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
U.S. and South Korean Objectives in An FTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Sector-Specific Issues and the KORUS FTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Agriculture and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Autos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Textiles and Apparel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Other Manufactured Goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Financial and Other Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Trade Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Kaesong Industrial Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Foreign Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Intellectual Property Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Labor Rights and Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Government Procurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Environment Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Institutional Provisions and Dispute Settlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Other Technical Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Next Steps, Implications, and the Emerging Debate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Appendix A: South Korea's restrictions on Imports of U.S. Beef . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Appendix B: South Korean Motor Vehicle Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Appendix C: South Korea's Entry into the Visa Waiver Program . . . . . . . . . . . 52
List of Tables
Table 1. Annual U.S.-South Korea Merchandise Trade, Selected Years . . . . . . . 7
Table 2. Asymmetrical Economic Interdependence (2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34330
The Proposed U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA): Provisions and Implications
January 22, 2008
William H. Cooper (Coordinator),
Mark E. Manyin, and Vivian C. Jones, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Stephen Cooney and Remy Jurenas, Resources, Science, and Industry Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34330_20080122.pdf
[full-text, 56 pages]
Summary
On June 30, 2007, United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab and South
Korean Foreign Trade Minister Kim Hyung-chong signed the proposed U.S.-South
Korean Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) for their respective countries. If
approved, the KORUS FTA would be the largest FTA that South Korea has signed
to date and would be the second largest (next to North American Free Trade
Agreement NAFTA) in which the United States participates. South Korea is the
seventh-largest trading partner of the United States and the United States is South
Korea's third largest trading partner. Various studies conclude that the agreement
would increase bilateral trade and investment flows.
The final text of the proposed KORUS FTA covers a wide range of trade and
investment issues and, therefore, could have wide economic implications for both the
United States and South Korea. The KORUS FTA includes issues on which the two
countries achieved early agreement, such as the elimination on tariffs on trade in
most manufactured goods and the partial liberalization in services trade. The
agreement also includes provisions on a number of very sensitive issues, such as
autos, agriculture, and trade remedies, on which agreement was reached only during
the final hours of negotiations.
If the agreement is to enter into force, Congress will have to approve
implementation legislation. The negotiations were conducted under the trade
promotion authority (TPA), also called fast-track trade authority, that the Congress
granted the President under the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-
210). The authority allows the President to enter into trade agreements that receive
expedited congressional consideration (no amendments and limited debate). The
White House has not indicated when it will send the draft implementing legislation
to Congress. (The TPA sets no deadline for the President to do this.)
While a broad swath of the U.S. business community supports the agreement,
the KORUS FTA faces opposition from some groups, including some auto and steel
manufacturers and labor unions. In addition, the agricultural community and some
Members of Congress have withheld support for the agreement until South Korea
lifts its restrictions on imports of U.S. beef. Some U.S. supporters view passage of
the KORUS FTA as important to secure new opportunities in the South Korea
market. Opponents claim that the KORUS FTA does not go far enough in opening
up the South Korean market and is a lost opportunity to resolve long running
concerns about South Korean barriers. Other observers have suggested the outcome
of the KORUS FTA could have implications for the U.S.-South Korean alliance as
a whole.
Differences between the White House and the Democratic leadership in the
Congress over the implications of the KORUS FTA have made the timing and even
the likelihood of the President's submission and the Congress's subsequent
consideration of implementing legislation uncertain.
This report will be updated as events warrant.
Contents
The KORUS FTA in a Nutshell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Automobiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Other Key Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Estimates of the Overall Economic Effects of a KORUS FTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
An Overview of the U.S.-South Korean Economic Relationship . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
U.S. and South Korean Objectives in An FTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Sector-Specific Issues and the KORUS FTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Agriculture and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Autos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Textiles and Apparel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Other Manufactured Goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Financial and Other Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
General Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Trade Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Kaesong Industrial Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Foreign Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Intellectual Property Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Labor Rights and Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Government Procurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Environment Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Institutional Provisions and Dispute Settlement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Other Technical Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Next Steps, Implications, and the Emerging Debate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Appendix A: South Korea's restrictions on Imports of U.S. Beef . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Appendix B: South Korean Motor Vehicle Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Appendix C: South Korea's Entry into the Visa Waiver Program . . . . . . . . . . . 52
List of Tables
Table 1. Annual U.S.-South Korea Merchandise Trade, Selected Years . . . . . . . 7
Table 2. Asymmetrical Economic Interdependence (2006) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 7:45 AM
[IWS] CRS: CHINA'S SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND [22 January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34337
China's Sovereign Wealth Fund
January 22, 2008
Michael F. Martin, Analyst in Asian Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Department
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34337_20080122.pdf
[full-text, 22 pages]
Summary
China established its major sovereign wealth fund, the China Investment
Corporation (CIC) on September 29, 2007 six months after it first announced its
intention to create such a fund. Financed with $200 billion in initial capital, the CIC
is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) in the world.
Although many of the CIC's initial investments were apparently political in
nature, the CIC's top management have repeatedly asserted that future investments
will be commercially-based, seeking to maximize the return on investment. Since
its creation, the CIC and its subsidiaries have already made several investments,
including the purchase of 9.9% of the U.S. financial firm, Morgan Stanley, on
December 19, 2007.
According to top Chinese officials, the CIC was created to improve the rate of
return on China's $1.5 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and to soak up some of
the nation's excess financial liquidity. Depending on its performance with the initial
allotment of $200 billion, the CIC may be allocated more of China's growing stock
of foreign exchange reserves.
A number of experts in international finance have expressed some concern
about the recent growth in SWFs and China's creation of the CIC. Analysts have
cautioned that major shifts in SWF investments potentially could disrupt global
financial markets and harm the U.S. economy. Other experts are less concerned
about SWFs and the CIC, and welcome their participation in international investment
markets.
China has responded by maintaining that the CIC will prove to be a source of
market stability. China has also stated that it has no intention of using its SWF to
cause harm to the U.S. economy or global financial markets.
Despite China's reassurances, there have been calls for greater oversight and
regulation of the activities of SWFs. A senior official in the Bush administration has
called on the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop guidelines
for SWFs. Some international financial experts have suggested elements to be
included in such guidelines, including standards for transparency, governance, and
reciprocity. Other experts have suggested that the United States should review its
current laws and regulations governing foreign investments in the United States, and
possibly implement special procedures or restrictions on proposed investments by
SWFs. These include financial reporting requirement, limits on SWF ownership of
U.S. companies, and restrictions on the types of equity investments SWFs can make
in U.S. companies.
This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Policy Responses to SWFs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Administrative Details of the China Investment Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
CIC's Management Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
CIC's Working Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Investment Activities of China's Sovereign Wealth Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CIC's Existing Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CIC's Future Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Investment Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Reciprocity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Market Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Implications for China's Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Implications for Global Financial Markets and the U.S. Economy . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Congressional Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
List of Figures
Figure 1. CIC's Major Investments (as of 12/07) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
List of Tables
Table 1. Leading Sovereign Wealth Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34337
China's Sovereign Wealth Fund
January 22, 2008
Michael F. Martin, Analyst in Asian Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Department
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34337_20080122.pdf
[full-text, 22 pages]
Summary
China established its major sovereign wealth fund, the China Investment
Corporation (CIC) on September 29, 2007 six months after it first announced its
intention to create such a fund. Financed with $200 billion in initial capital, the CIC
is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) in the world.
Although many of the CIC's initial investments were apparently political in
nature, the CIC's top management have repeatedly asserted that future investments
will be commercially-based, seeking to maximize the return on investment. Since
its creation, the CIC and its subsidiaries have already made several investments,
including the purchase of 9.9% of the U.S. financial firm, Morgan Stanley, on
December 19, 2007.
According to top Chinese officials, the CIC was created to improve the rate of
return on China's $1.5 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and to soak up some of
the nation's excess financial liquidity. Depending on its performance with the initial
allotment of $200 billion, the CIC may be allocated more of China's growing stock
of foreign exchange reserves.
A number of experts in international finance have expressed some concern
about the recent growth in SWFs and China's creation of the CIC. Analysts have
cautioned that major shifts in SWF investments potentially could disrupt global
financial markets and harm the U.S. economy. Other experts are less concerned
about SWFs and the CIC, and welcome their participation in international investment
markets.
China has responded by maintaining that the CIC will prove to be a source of
market stability. China has also stated that it has no intention of using its SWF to
cause harm to the U.S. economy or global financial markets.
Despite China's reassurances, there have been calls for greater oversight and
regulation of the activities of SWFs. A senior official in the Bush administration has
called on the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to develop guidelines
for SWFs. Some international financial experts have suggested elements to be
included in such guidelines, including standards for transparency, governance, and
reciprocity. Other experts have suggested that the United States should review its
current laws and regulations governing foreign investments in the United States, and
possibly implement special procedures or restrictions on proposed investments by
SWFs. These include financial reporting requirement, limits on SWF ownership of
U.S. companies, and restrictions on the types of equity investments SWFs can make
in U.S. companies.
This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Policy Responses to SWFs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Administrative Details of the China Investment Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
CIC's Management Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
CIC's Working Capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Investment Activities of China's Sovereign Wealth Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CIC's Existing Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
CIC's Future Investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Investment Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Reciprocity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Market Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Implications for China's Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Implications for Global Financial Markets and the U.S. Economy . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Congressional Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
List of Figures
Figure 1. CIC's Major Investments (as of 12/07) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
List of Tables
Table 1. Leading Sovereign Wealth Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 7:36 AM
[IWS] CRS: SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUNDS: BACKGROUND & POLICY ISSUES FOR CONGRESS [28 January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34336
Sovereign Wealth Funds: Background and Policy Issues for Congress
January 28, 2008
Martin A. Weiss, Analyst in International Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34336_20080128.pdf
[full-text, 24 pages]
Summary
Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are investment funds owned and managed by
national governments. Such funds currently manage between $1.9 and $2.9 trillion
and are expected to grow to over $12 trillion by 2015. This is due to the rapid growth
of commodity prices and large trade surpluses in several emerging market economies.
During the second half of 2007, interest in SWFs increased as Asian and Middle
Eastern SWFs, fueled by surging foreign exchange reserves, invested large sums of
capital in U.S. and other Western companies.
Policy makers in the United States have raised two broad policy concerns about
SWFs: (1) their lack of transparency and (2) their possible misuse for political or
other non-commercial goals. The Senate Banking Committee held hearings on SWFs
in November 2007. Additional congressional hearings are expected in 2008.
SWFs pose a complex challenge for policy makers. On one hand, SWFs are
long-term investment vehicles looking beyond quarterly results and therefore serve
as stable funding sources during financial turbulance. On the other hand, however,
there are operational concerns stemming from government control (i.e., lack of
transparency and possible non-commercial investment goals). Without transparency,
it is difficult to attain a clear picture of SWF investment activity. A lack of SWF
transparency can also obscure governance and risk-management problems within
SWFs.
Many are also concerned that countries will use SWFs to support what one
analyst has called "state capitalism," using government-controlled assets to secure
stakes around the world in strategic areas such as telecommunications, energy and
mineral resources, and financial services, among other sectors.
In response to these concerns, many analysts and policy makers are evaluating
the operations of existing SWFs and are looking to the international financial
institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to establish guidelines
for SWF operations. All of these institutions are currently developing proposals that
will be deliberated during 2008. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
What Are Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
What Countries Operate SWFs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Middle East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Size of SWFs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Policy Issues for Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Transparency and Governance-Related Concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Non-commercial Investment Motives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
U.S. and International Policy Responses to SWFs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Multilateral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
List of Figures
Figure 1. SWF Investments in Western Financial Institutions ($ billions) . . . . . . 3
Figure 2. Global Asset Volume Comparison 2005, $ Trillion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Figure 3. Standard Chartered Ranking of SWFs,by Investment Approach and Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
List of Tables
Table 1. Foreign Exchange Reserves and Current Account Balances . . . . . . . . . . 8
Table 2. Large Sovereign Wealth Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Order Code RL34336
Sovereign Wealth Funds: Background and Policy Issues for Congress
January 28, 2008
Martin A. Weiss, Analyst in International Trade and Finance, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34336_20080128.pdf
[full-text, 24 pages]
Summary
Sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are investment funds owned and managed by
national governments. Such funds currently manage between $1.9 and $2.9 trillion
and are expected to grow to over $12 trillion by 2015. This is due to the rapid growth
of commodity prices and large trade surpluses in several emerging market economies.
During the second half of 2007, interest in SWFs increased as Asian and Middle
Eastern SWFs, fueled by surging foreign exchange reserves, invested large sums of
capital in U.S. and other Western companies.
Policy makers in the United States have raised two broad policy concerns about
SWFs: (1) their lack of transparency and (2) their possible misuse for political or
other non-commercial goals. The Senate Banking Committee held hearings on SWFs
in November 2007. Additional congressional hearings are expected in 2008.
SWFs pose a complex challenge for policy makers. On one hand, SWFs are
long-term investment vehicles looking beyond quarterly results and therefore serve
as stable funding sources during financial turbulance. On the other hand, however,
there are operational concerns stemming from government control (i.e., lack of
transparency and possible non-commercial investment goals). Without transparency,
it is difficult to attain a clear picture of SWF investment activity. A lack of SWF
transparency can also obscure governance and risk-management problems within
SWFs.
Many are also concerned that countries will use SWFs to support what one
analyst has called "state capitalism," using government-controlled assets to secure
stakes around the world in strategic areas such as telecommunications, energy and
mineral resources, and financial services, among other sectors.
In response to these concerns, many analysts and policy makers are evaluating
the operations of existing SWFs and are looking to the international financial
institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to establish guidelines
for SWF operations. All of these institutions are currently developing proposals that
will be deliberated during 2008. This report will be updated as events warrant.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
What Are Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
What Countries Operate SWFs? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Middle East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Size of SWFs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Policy Issues for Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Transparency and Governance-Related Concerns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Non-commercial Investment Motives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
U.S. and International Policy Responses to SWFs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
United States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Europe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Multilateral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
List of Figures
Figure 1. SWF Investments in Western Financial Institutions ($ billions) . . . . . . 3
Figure 2. Global Asset Volume Comparison 2005, $ Trillion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Figure 3. Standard Chartered Ranking of SWFs,by Investment Approach and Transparency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
List of Tables
Table 1. Foreign Exchange Reserves and Current Account Balances . . . . . . . . . . 8
Table 2. Large Sovereign Wealth Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 7:31 AM
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
[IWS] USITC: TRADE & LABOR ISSUES INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION [January 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
No. ID-17
OFFICE OF INDUSTRIES WORKING PAPER
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION (USITC)
International Cooperation on Trade and Labor Issues [January 2008]
Jennifer Baumert, Kyle Johnson, Dawn Heuschel, Brendan Lynch
http://www.usitc.gov/ind_econ_ana/research_ana/research_work_papers/documents/LaborWPID17%20.pdf
[full-text, 68 pages]
ABSTRACT:
The relationship between the labor market and international trade is a broad
and complex subject that has been the focus of significant attention in recent years.
Discussion and analysis in this area has covered a number of discrete issues, including the
effect of shifting trade patterns on employment levels and earnings in domestic markets, the
impact of wage levels and labor legislation on the location of production facilities, and the
positive and negative aspects of the cross-border movement of workers, among others. The
continuing importance of labor issues within the larger trade debate is highlighted by the
inclusion of measures relating to labor standards and/or the cross-border movement of
workers in recent bilateral and multilateral trade agreements such as the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the
U.S.Oman Free Trade Agreement. This paper aims to provide background for future work
on trade-related labor issues by describing how labor issues such as internationally recognized
labor standards and the cross-border movement of workers have been addressed by
international organizations, as well as in U.S. trade legislation and recent trade agreements.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
No. ID-17
OFFICE OF INDUSTRIES WORKING PAPER
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION (USITC)
International Cooperation on Trade and Labor Issues [January 2008]
Jennifer Baumert, Kyle Johnson, Dawn Heuschel, Brendan Lynch
http://www.usitc.gov/ind_econ_ana/research_ana/research_work_papers/documents/LaborWPID17%20.pdf
[full-text, 68 pages]
ABSTRACT:
The relationship between the labor market and international trade is a broad
and complex subject that has been the focus of significant attention in recent years.
Discussion and analysis in this area has covered a number of discrete issues, including the
effect of shifting trade patterns on employment levels and earnings in domestic markets, the
impact of wage levels and labor legislation on the location of production facilities, and the
positive and negative aspects of the cross-border movement of workers, among others. The
continuing importance of labor issues within the larger trade debate is highlighted by the
inclusion of measures relating to labor standards and/or the cross-border movement of
workers in recent bilateral and multilateral trade agreements such as the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the
U.S.Oman Free Trade Agreement. This paper aims to provide background for future work
on trade-related labor issues by describing how labor issues such as internationally recognized
labor standards and the cross-border movement of workers have been addressed by
international organizations, as well as in U.S. trade legislation and recent trade agreements.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 1:28 PM
[IWS] ILO Bangkok: DISABILITY RESOURCES GUIDE for EMPLOYERS in ASIA & the PACIFIC [2007]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
International Labour Organization (ILO) Bangkok
EmployAbility: A resource guide on disability for employers in Asia and the Pacific [2007]
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/skills/disability/download/perry.pdf
[full-text, 142 pages]
[excerpt]
Many companies around the region are learning that people with disabilities are
productive and that they bring many benefits to the workplace. EmployAbility:
A resource guide on disability for employers in Asia and the Pacific has been
developed at the request of employers who need information to take advantage
of this often untapped human resource. These employers know that to compete
in a highly competitive, global marketplace, companies must have full access to
talent and be responsive to the communities in which they operate.
Preface
Introduction
What is the business case?....................................................................................5
About this resource manual...................................................................................6
Publications
Publications available and free of charge on the Internet..................................7
Publications free upon request............................................................................ 10
Priced publications...............................................................................................11
Websites
Employers' organizations.....................................................................................13
Information for employers...................................................................................13
General disability information.............................................................................14
General disability organizations..........................................................................14
International and regional organizations............................................................15
Policy Examples
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry................................................18
American Telephone &Telegraph........................................................................24
British Broadcasting Corporation.......................................................................25
Employers' Federation of Ceylon........................................................................33
International Labour Office..................................................................................38
Marriott International...........................................................................................44
Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities...............................................45
Nike: Statement on People with Disabilities......................................................46
Nike: Code Leadership Standard on Non-discrmination..................................52
Westpac Banking Corporation............................................................................53
Good Practice Examples
CEI Plastics............................................................................................................60
Chang Shin............................................................................................................61
CJ Telenix..............................................................................................................63
Employers' Federation of Ceylon........................................................................65
Jollibee Foods Corporation.................................................................................67
JW Marriott...........................................................................................................69
Kyobo Life Insurance............................................................................................71
Nanglo International.............................................................................................73
Panasonic............................................................................................................74
UBS AG.................................................................................................................75
Organizations and Government Offices
Afghanistan.............................................................................................................78
Australia..................................................................................................................79
Bangladesh.............................................................................................................80
Cambodia...............................................................................................................82
China.......................................................................................................................84
Fiji...........................................................................................................................85
Hong Kong SAR, China.........................................................................................85
India.........................................................................................................................87
Indonesia................................................................................................................90
Japan.......................................................................................................................91
Korea, Republic of..................................................................................................91
Lao PDR...................................................................................................................92
Macau SAR, China..................................................................................................92
Malaysia..................................................................................................................93
Mongolia.................................................................................................................95
Nepal.......................................................................................................................96
New Zealand...........................................................................................................96
Pakistan...................................................................................................................97
Philippines..............................................................................................................98
Samoa...................................................................................................................100
Singapore.............................................................................................................101
Sri Lanka................................................................................................................102
Taiwan, China........................................................................................................103
Thailand................................................................................................................103
Viet Nam...............................................................................................................105
Guidelines and Fact Sheets
Hiring persons with disabilities...........................................................................108
Company disability policy guidelines and self-assessment checklist...............110
Inclusion of persons with disabilities...................................................................112
Language..............................................................................................................114
Overcoming fears and concerns........................................................................116
Disability-friendly strategies...............................................................................118
Attitudinal barriers...............................................................................................121
Psychiatric disabilities and mental illness.........................................................125
Hidden disabilities................................................................................................128
Barrier-free tourism..............................................................................................132
Glossary
thanks
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
International Labour Organization (ILO) Bangkok
EmployAbility: A resource guide on disability for employers in Asia and the Pacific [2007]
http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/skills/disability/download/perry.pdf
[full-text, 142 pages]
[excerpt]
Many companies around the region are learning that people with disabilities are
productive and that they bring many benefits to the workplace. EmployAbility:
A resource guide on disability for employers in Asia and the Pacific has been
developed at the request of employers who need information to take advantage
of this often untapped human resource. These employers know that to compete
in a highly competitive, global marketplace, companies must have full access to
talent and be responsive to the communities in which they operate.
Preface
Introduction
What is the business case?....................................................................................5
About this resource manual...................................................................................6
Publications
Publications available and free of charge on the Internet..................................7
Publications free upon request............................................................................ 10
Priced publications...............................................................................................11
Websites
Employers' organizations.....................................................................................13
Information for employers...................................................................................13
General disability information.............................................................................14
General disability organizations..........................................................................14
International and regional organizations............................................................15
Policy Examples
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry................................................18
American Telephone &Telegraph........................................................................24
British Broadcasting Corporation.......................................................................25
Employers' Federation of Ceylon........................................................................33
International Labour Office..................................................................................38
Marriott International...........................................................................................44
Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities...............................................45
Nike: Statement on People with Disabilities......................................................46
Nike: Code Leadership Standard on Non-discrmination..................................52
Westpac Banking Corporation............................................................................53
Good Practice Examples
CEI Plastics............................................................................................................60
Chang Shin............................................................................................................61
CJ Telenix..............................................................................................................63
Employers' Federation of Ceylon........................................................................65
Jollibee Foods Corporation.................................................................................67
JW Marriott...........................................................................................................69
Kyobo Life Insurance............................................................................................71
Nanglo International.............................................................................................73
Panasonic............................................................................................................74
UBS AG.................................................................................................................75
Organizations and Government Offices
Afghanistan.............................................................................................................78
Australia..................................................................................................................79
Bangladesh.............................................................................................................80
Cambodia...............................................................................................................82
China.......................................................................................................................84
Fiji...........................................................................................................................85
Hong Kong SAR, China.........................................................................................85
India.........................................................................................................................87
Indonesia................................................................................................................90
Japan.......................................................................................................................91
Korea, Republic of..................................................................................................91
Lao PDR...................................................................................................................92
Macau SAR, China..................................................................................................92
Malaysia..................................................................................................................93
Mongolia.................................................................................................................95
Nepal.......................................................................................................................96
New Zealand...........................................................................................................96
Pakistan...................................................................................................................97
Philippines..............................................................................................................98
Samoa...................................................................................................................100
Singapore.............................................................................................................101
Sri Lanka................................................................................................................102
Taiwan, China........................................................................................................103
Thailand................................................................................................................103
Viet Nam...............................................................................................................105
Guidelines and Fact Sheets
Hiring persons with disabilities...........................................................................108
Company disability policy guidelines and self-assessment checklist...............110
Inclusion of persons with disabilities...................................................................112
Language..............................................................................................................114
Overcoming fears and concerns........................................................................116
Disability-friendly strategies...............................................................................118
Attitudinal barriers...............................................................................................121
Psychiatric disabilities and mental illness.........................................................125
Hidden disabilities................................................................................................128
Barrier-free tourism..............................................................................................132
Glossary
thanks
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 11:47 AM
Monday, January 28, 2008
[IWS] EC: DATABASE: WOMEN & MEN IN DECISION-MAKING
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Commission
Database: Women and men in decision-making
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/women_men_stats/index_en.htm
Data on decision-making in the political domain at national and European level are updated every three months. All other data are updated annually unless there has been an election in one of the regions covered in the political domain when the results will normally be included with the next quarterly update.
Highlight:
* Following the July elections, there was a threefold increase in the number of women members of the Turkish parliament but this still amounts to less than 10% of all members. Turkey and Malta remain the only countries covered by the database where more than 90% of the members of parliament are men.
* Amongst the central banks of EU Member States there is not a single woman governor all 27 are men and the proportion of female representatives in the highest decision-making body of the banks is also low at just 15%. Indeed, seven Member States have no women members of these powerful decision-making bodies and only in Sweden is the gender balance close to parity. The situation is even worse in the three European Financial institutions where there are again only male leaders and just 5% women members of the most senior bodies.
* In the supreme courts of Member States the gender balance is better than in the central banks, with an average of 30% female and 70% male judges but the European courts again lag behind with just 22% women members.
Database:
* Database: This section allows the user to investigate the percentage of women and men in a number of decision-making positions in organisations in the political, public and juridical and social and economic domains.
Indicators:
* Indicators: This section allows the user to consult indicators on women and men in political decision-making.
The other main sections are:
* What's New?: information on recent changes to the website.
* Definitions and Concepts: a glossary of terms used.
* Links: a list of links to other relevant projects regarding gender equality in decision-making.
* About this Site: an overview of the background to this project, the scope and objectives of the website and its target audience.
* Site Map: structure of the website, allowing quick navigation to the different sections and sub-sections.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
European Commission
Database: Women and men in decision-making
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/women_men_stats/index_en.htm
- The Commission < http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/women_men_stats/index_en.htm > Database on Women and Men in decision-making covers information on progress in the goal towards gender balance in the political, public, juridical, social and economical domains. Figures are updated quarterly in the political domain, once a year in the other domains.
- The database covers all Member States, the acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania and the EFTA countries Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. From 2006 also Turkey will be included. The goal of the Database is to support the Commissions work on gender equality and will assist in strengthening women's position in decision-making at the European and national level.
- The database covers all Member States, the acceding countries Bulgaria and Romania and the EFTA countries Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. From 2006 also Turkey will be included. The goal of the Database is to support the Commissions work on gender equality and will assist in strengthening women's position in decision-making at the European and national level.
Data on decision-making in the political domain at national and European level are updated every three months. All other data are updated annually unless there has been an election in one of the regions covered in the political domain when the results will normally be included with the next quarterly update.
Highlight:
* Following the July elections, there was a threefold increase in the number of women members of the Turkish parliament but this still amounts to less than 10% of all members. Turkey and Malta remain the only countries covered by the database where more than 90% of the members of parliament are men.
* Amongst the central banks of EU Member States there is not a single woman governor all 27 are men and the proportion of female representatives in the highest decision-making body of the banks is also low at just 15%. Indeed, seven Member States have no women members of these powerful decision-making bodies and only in Sweden is the gender balance close to parity. The situation is even worse in the three European Financial institutions where there are again only male leaders and just 5% women members of the most senior bodies.
* In the supreme courts of Member States the gender balance is better than in the central banks, with an average of 30% female and 70% male judges but the European courts again lag behind with just 22% women members.
Database:
* Database: This section allows the user to investigate the percentage of women and men in a number of decision-making positions in organisations in the political, public and juridical and social and economic domains.
Indicators:
* Indicators: This section allows the user to consult indicators on women and men in political decision-making.
The other main sections are:
* What's New?: information on recent changes to the website.
* Definitions and Concepts: a glossary of terms used.
* Links: a list of links to other relevant projects regarding gender equality in decision-making.
* About this Site: an overview of the background to this project, the scope and objectives of the website and its target audience.
* Site Map: structure of the website, allowing quick navigation to the different sections and sub-sections.
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 1:56 PM
