Monday, November 30, 2009

[IWS] NYT: THE SAFETY NET (Series of Articles about the U.S. System)

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 York Times (NYT)

THE SAFETY NET [SERIES of ARTICLES]
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/us/series/the_safety_net/index.html

With millions of jobs lost and major industries on the ropes, America's array of government aid - including unemployment insurance, food stamps and cash welfare - is being tested as never before. This series examines how the safety net is holding up under the worst economic crisis in decades.

Articles in the Series thus far:

Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades
By JASON DEPARLE and ROBERT GEBELOFF
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/us/29foodstamps.html

A program once scorned as a failed welfare scheme now helps feed one in eight Americans and one in four children.

November 29, 2009

Jobless Checks for Millions Delayed as States Struggle
By JASON DEPARLE
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/24/us/24unemploy.html

Sixteen states are paying unemployment benefits with borrowed money, and hundreds of thousands of needy people have waited months for checks.

July 24, 2009

Slumping Economy Tests Aid System Tied to Jobs
By JASON DEPARLE
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/us/politics/01poverty.html

The modern safety net was designed to shrink welfare, but now joblessness, not dependency, is the scourge.

June 1, 2009

For Victims of Recession, Patchwork State Aid
By JASON DEPARLE
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/us/10safetynet.html

As millions of Americans seek aid, many are finding it dispensed through a jumble of disconnected programs that reach some and reject others.

May 10, 2009

________________________________________________________________________

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
****************************************


[IWS] EWCO: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WORKING TIME IN THE EUROPEAN UNION [16 November 2009]

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 Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)

European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO)

 

Comparative analysis of working time in the European Union [16 November 2009]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/studies/tn0803046s/index.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/studies/tn0803046s/tn0803046s.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/docs/ewco/tn0803046s/tn0803046s.pdf
[full-text, 59 pages]

The number of hours worked every week or year, and the way in which work is organised, are issues of central concern and interest to both employees and employers. In the case of employees, working hours have a direct bearing on standard of living, level of work–life balance and the overall sustainability of working life. For employers, working time is a key element in the calculation of costs, productivity and competitiveness. Working time, and its regulation, is likewise an important policy issue for national governments. This report, covering the 27 Member States of the EU and Norway, focuses on changes in working time and practices relating to the organisation of work over the period 2000-2006.

 

The study was compiled on the basis of individual national reports submitted by the EWCO correspondents. The text of each of these national reports is available below. The reports have not been edited or approved by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. The national reports were drawn up in response to a questionnaire and should be read in conjunction with it.

 

CONTENTS

Introduction

Methodology and data

Working time developments in the EU 2000–2006

Part-time working

Working time flexibility

Trade union concerns regarding working time

Conclusions

References

Annexes

 

________________________________________________________________________

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                  
****************************************

 

 


[IWS] INDIA IN FIGURES 2009

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 Implemenation

 

INDIA IN FIGURES 2009
http://mospi.nic.in/rept%20_%20pubn/ftest.asp?rept_id=siu03_2009&type=nsso

 

 

“India in Figures” is an annual publication of the

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

(MOS&PI). As the nodal ministry for integrated development

of the official statistical system in India,

MOS&PI is involved with the collection and compilation

of statistical data and co-ordination of statistical

activities of various central and state organizations.

 

________________________________________________________________________

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                  
****************************************

 

 


[IWS] OECD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, No. 86, November 2009

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
________________________________________________________________________

 

OECD Economic Outlook No. 86, November 2009
http://www.oecd.org/document/18/0,3343,en_2649_34109_20347538_1_1_1_1,00.html

 

The Automobile Industry in and beyond the crisis (special chapter).
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/57/61/44089863.pdf
[full-text, 30 pages]

 

 

COUNTRY SUMMARIES
http://www.oecd.org/document/52/0,3343,en_2649_34109_19726196_1_1_1_1,00.html

 

The economic recovery now spreading across OECD countries is still too timid to halt the continuing rise in unemployment. The jobless rate is expected to peak in the first half of 2010 in the US, but it may not be until 2011 that unemployment begins to fall in the Euro area.

 

The report says the recovery is tepid because economic activity is being held back by households and businesses repairing their finances and reducing their debts. With a subdued recovery and substantial spare capacity, inflation is projected to continue to fall well into 2010.

________________________________________________________________________

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                  
****************************************

 

 


[IWS] ERM: RESTRUCTURING IN BANKRUPTCY: RECENT NATIONAL CASE EXAMPLES [26 November 2009]

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
________________________________________________________________________

 

Eurofound > EMCC > European Restructuring Monitor >  Comparative Information >  Comparative study

 

Restructuring in bankruptcy: recent national case examples [26 November 2009]
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/emcc/erm/studies/tn0908026s/tn0908026s.htm
or
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/docs/erm/tn0908026s/tn0908026s.pdf
[full-text 37 pages]

 

Cases of bankruptcy generally have more serious consequences for the workers who lose their jobs as a result since, unlike other cases of restructuring, the company concerned might have little or no possibility of providing support, either financial or practical. The number of bankruptcy cases has increased significantly in many countries as the global recession has deepened and spread. This report examines cases of bankruptcy over the past year in order to gain a better understanding of what they involve, the kinds of company affected, the reasons for their difficulties, the consequences for the workers concerned and the support that they receive.

 

CONTENTS
Introduction

Main reasons for bankruptcy

Regulations relating to bankruptcy

Position of employees

Government and social partner support

National reports

 

________________________________________________________________________

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                  
****************************************

 

 


[IWS] PWC: 2009 GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRIME SURVEY

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
________________________________________________________________________

 

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC)

 

2009 GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRIME SURVEY
http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/economic-crime-survey/index.jhtml
or
http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/economic-crime-survey/download-economic-crime-people-culture-controls.jhtml
or
http://www.pwc.com/en_GX/gx/economic-crime-survey/pdf/global-economic-crime-survey-2009.pdf
[full-text,24 pages

 

The 5th Global Economic Crime Survey

The survey, entitled Economic crime in a downturn, is based on more than 3,000 companies in 54 countries. It is the largest, most comprehensive international survey of economic crime worldwide.

 

Highlights:

 

    * Despite the attention of regulators and companies' investment in controls, fraud remains one of the most problematic issues for companies around the world.

    * The actual level of economic crime and associated financial and non-financial losses has not decreased.

    * One third of companies fell victim to economic crime in the past twelve months.

    * The report finds that economic crime is intractable because of the many kinds of fraud and the broad range of employees, including senior executives, who commit them.

    * It concludes that companies cannot rely on fraud controls alone to detect and deter economic crime. Companies need to build loyalty to the organisation, give employees the confidence to do the right thing, and put in place clear sanctions for those who commit fraud, regardless of their position in the company.

________________________________________________________________________

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                  
****************************************

 

 


[IWS] PWC: FRAUD IN A DOWNTURN: A REVIEW OF HOW FRAUD AND OTHER INTEGRITY RISKS AFFECT BUSINESS

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
________________________________________________________________________

 

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC)

 

FRAUD IN A DOWNTURN: A REVIEW OF HOW FRAUD AND OTHER INTEGRITY RISKS AFFECT BUSINESS
http://www.pwc.com/us/en/forensic-services/publications/fraud-downturn.jhtml
or
http://www.pwc.com/en_US/us/forensic-services/assets/fraud-downturn.pdf
[full-text, 20 pages]

 

This paper considers whether fraud, corruption, abuse and other integrity threats are changing during this period of global economic decline and, if so, how.

Looking forward, we consider the issues that boards of directors and audit committees need to beware of: the frauds that may emerge and the likely regulatory response.

Finally, we describe the strategies proactive organizations are implementing to manage short term risks and enhance stakeholder value in the longer term.

________________________________________________________________________

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                  
****************************************

 

 


[IWS] PWC: CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN: How the FCPA is changing the way the world does business [July 2009]

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
________________________________________________________________________

 

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC)

 

Corruption Crackdown*: How the FCPA is changing the way the world does business

http://www.pwc.com/us/en/foreign-corrupt-practices-act/publications/corruption-summary-download.jhtml
or
http://www.pwc.com/en_US/us/foreign-corrupt-practices-act/publications/assets/pwc-corruption-crackdown-fcpa-2009.pdf
[full-text, 48 pages]

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations and enforcement actions have spiked in the last several years. Penalties have grown appreciably, with the largest settlement to-date reaching $1.6 billion and criminal prosecutions landing executives in jail. This new anticorruption era is forcing companies to change their behaviors to adapt to greater financial and reputational risks. How well companies prepare for geopolitical risk and anticorruption compliance could make or break the viability of doing business in a desired region. Companies that commit to competing internationally need to build in aggressive and thorough anticorruption compliance measures, especially in monitoring contracts, M&A due diligence and budgets -- thus guarding against risks of unpredictable employee behavior in all corners of the world where companies do business.

 

With cross-border business becoming more integral to the growth of US companies, there is much that companies can and should do to mitigate risks, particularly when carrying out due diligence before entering into business combinations and hiring third-party agents, consultants and suppliers. Also, companies need to prepare so that if corruption issues do arise, they are able to act swiftly and collaborate openly with regulators to minimize the potentially devastating effects that full-blown prosecutions can cause.

 

Table of Contents
The heart of the matter 2

Anticorruption compliance rises on the boardroom agenda.

An in-depth discussion 4

Enforcement wave puts companies on notice.

Anticorruption trends

FCPA enforcement actions strong in 2008, large backlog into 2009 5

Proceedings against individuals, voluntary disclosures persist 9

Resolution trends: deferred prosecutions,

disgorgement, forfeiture, remedial actions 13

Investigation domino effect 14

US regulators in corruption battle for long term, with long reach 20

Breaking an old habit

Global drivers of the anticorruption era 21

When zero enforcement actions raise red flags 25

Companies encountering graft 30

Closing the gap between knowledge and action 32

What this means for your business 38

Corporate accountability in the new anticorruption era.

Building a strong anticorruption program amidst new risks Navigating the gray areas of FCPA 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                  
****************************************

 

 


Friday, November 20, 2009

[IWS] NO MESSAGES until 30 November 2009

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 MESSAGE will be sent until 30 November 2009.

________________________________________________________________________

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                  
****************************************

 

 


[IWS] Dublin Foundation: WORKING CONDITIONS & SOCIAL DIALOGUE [17 November 2009]

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 Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)

 

Working conditions and social dialogue [17 November 2009]

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0943.htm

or

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2009/43/en/1/EF0943EN.pdf

 

 

Author:           

Voss, Eckhard

Summary:       

This report seeks to investigate the contribution played by social dialogue structures in boosting the quality of work and employment. Focusing in particular on national experience in six Member States, and the situations of the construction and healthcare sectors, it provides an overview of major framework conditions from both a European and national perspective, presents key findings from existing research and national working conditions surveys, as well as giving an overview of examples of good practice at company level and of the results of case studies carried out as part of the research for this report. An executive summary is available.

 

CONTENTS

Foreword v

Executive summary 1

Introduction 1

Part 1 – European and national experience 7

1. Working conditions as an issue of public policy 9

2. Experience in six Member States 21

3. Conclusions 33

Part 2 – Analysis of existing research 35

4. Overview of previous surveys 37

5. Conclusions 63

Part 3 – The construction and healthcare sectors 65

6. Overview 67

7. Construction 69

8. Healthcare 83

9. Conclusions 91

Bibliography 95

Annex 1: Overview of case studies and authors 99

Annex 2: Interview guidelines for management and employee representatives

on working conditions and social dialogue 100

 

 

________________________________________________________________________

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                  
****************************************

 

 


[IWS] ECLAC: SOCIAL PANORAMA OF LATIN AMERICA 2009 [November 2009]

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
________________________________________________________________________
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
 
 
The 2009 edition of Social Panorama of Latin America links trends in poverty and income distribution with social protection systems, placing special emphasis on how these systems have responded to the social impacts of the current crisis and on medium- and long-term projections. It focuses in particular on the impact of public transfers, trends in social spending, the mechanisms by which social vulnerability is reproduced and changing intergenerational and gender relations. These changes pose significant challenges for the role played by the State, the market and families in jointly meeting needs related to the population's welfare.
 
The document is divided into two parts. Part 1 includes the usual chapter on poverty and income distribution in the region and a second chapter that examines these issues in greater depth through an analysis of social spending, monetary transfers and conditional cash transfer programmes. The third chapter examines poverty and social vulnerability in light of the crisis and post-crisis situation and analyses how the countries' social protection systems can mitigate these effects of the crisis. Part 2 focuses on the care economy. It includes a chapter on paid and unpaid work from a gender perspective, highlighting inequalities and outstanding debts in the sexual division of labour; a chapter that looks at population projections and trends and underscores the pressing short- and medium-term priorities for care work; and a final chapter on the policy implications of these transformations.
 
CONTENTS

Introduction.........................................................................................................................5
Summary..............................................................................................................................9
Poverty and inequality in the context of the economic crisis ........................................9
Dynamics of social spending, monetary transfers and co-responsibility
transfer programmes.........................................................................................................22
The crisis, post-crisis scenarios and social vulnerability in Latin America ...............33
Gender and paid and unpaid work: links in the chains of discrimination
and inequality ....................................................................................................................41
Generational impacts of population dynamics and care provision in
the framework of social protection .................................................................................51
Public policies and the care crisis: alternatives and initiatives....................................58
 
 
______________________________
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                  
****************************************


Thursday, November 19, 2009

[IWS] USCC: [CHINA] 2009 REPORT TO CONGRESS [19 November 2009]


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.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION (USCC)

2009 REPORT TO CONGRESS
of the
U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION
ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
NOVEMBER 2009

http://www.uscc.gov/annual_report/2009/annual_report_full_09.pdf
[full-text, 381 pages]
Among the topics addressed in the 367-page Report are:
* China's increasingly aggressive espionage efforts to obtain U.S. secrets and technology for the benefit of China's military and its economy.
* China's stepped-up cyber espionage and cyber warfare capabilities that constitute a growing threat to U.S. computer networks.
* China's extensive use of foreign propaganda and China's efforts to influence public opinion and policymaking in the United States.
* China's detailed industrial policy designed to attract foreign investment and production and to create "national champions" to compete on a global scale.
* China's use of subsidies and other trade-distorting measures in violation of its international commitments.
* China's role in the creation of the economic imbalances that that helped produce the global financial crisis.

* The expansion and modernization of the Chinese navy and its effects on U.S. access to the waters around China and Taiwan and the likelihood of a maritime arms race.
* The use of new and more sophisticated methods by Chinese authorities to control the Chinese news media and the Internet.
* China's activities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia.
* Mainland China's increasing influence in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
* The effect of China's policies on the economy of the upstate New York region.
CONTENTS

TRANSMITTAL LETTER TO THE CONGRESS ............................................................... iii
COMMISSIONERS APPROVING THE REPORT .............................................................. v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................... 1
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS ........................................................... 12
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 15
2009 REPORT TO CONGRESS OF THE
U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION
Chapter 1: The U.S.-China Trade and Economic Relationship ............... 19
Section 1: The U.S.-China Trade and Economic Relationship's Current Status
and Significant Changes During 2009 ..................................................... 19
Section 2: China's Role in the Origins of the Global Financial Crisis and
China's Response .............................................................................................. 38
Section 3: China's Industrial Policy and its Impact on U.S. Companies,
Workers, and the American Economy ............................................................. 56
Section 4: China's Industrial Policy and its Impact on Upstate New York .... 80
Recommendations .................................................................................................. 90
Chapter 2: China's Activities Directly Affecting U.S. Security Interests
........................................................................................................................ 113
Section 1: China's Military and Security Activities Abroad ............................. 113
Section 2: China's Naval Modernization ............................................................ 128
Section 3: China's Human Espionage Activities that Target the United
States, and the Resulting Impacts on U.S. National Security ..................... 148
Section 4: China's Cyber Activities that Target the United States, and the
Resulting Impacts on U.S. National Security ................................................ 167
Recommendations .................................................................................................. 182
Chapter 3: China in Asia ................................................................................... 209
Section 1: China in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Central Asia ......................... 209
Section 2: Taiwan ................................................................................................. 231
Section 3: Hong Kong .......................................................................................... 245
Recommendations .................................................................................................. 254
Chapter 4: China's Media and Information Controls—The Impact in
China and the United States ......................................................................... 269
Section 1: Freedom of Expression in China ....................................................... 269
Section 2: China's External Propaganda and Influence Operations, and the
Resulting Impacts on the United States ......................................................... 289
Recommendations .................................................................................................. 310
Comprehensive List of the Commission's Recommendations .................. 325
Additional Views of Commissioners ................................................................ 331
Appendices:
Appendix I: United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission
Charter .......................................................................................................... 335
Appendix II: Background of Commissioners ....................................................... 345
Appendix III: Public Hearings of the Commission ............................................... 355
A. List of Witnesses Testifying Before the Commission—2009 Hearings ........ 359
Appendix IV: Interlocutors' Organizations—2009 Asia Fact Finding Trip ........ 363
Appendix V: List of Research Material ............................................................... 365
Appendix VI: Abbreviations and Acronyms ......................................................... 367
Commission Staff and Acknowledgements .................................................... 369
______________________________
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
****************************************


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

[IWS] IADB: BRIDGING REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS IN THE AMERICAS [New Book] [16 November 2009]

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
________________________________________________________________________

Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)

Bridging Regional Trade Agreements in the Americas [16 November 2009]
Antoni Est evadeordal and Kati Suominen with Jeremy T. Harris and Matthew Shearer
http://idbdocs.iadb.org/wsdocs/getdocument.aspx?docnum=2252290
[full-text, 180 pages]

[excerpt]
But as this report shows, the regional economies would significantly
augment the gains from trade through improved convergence among their
manifold common trade agreements. The current web of agreements has
been a positive force for the region, but it has also created complexities
of overlapping trade rules and regulations that increase the transaction
costs for entrepreneurs and enterprises aiming to operate region-wide.
Bridging the regional trade agreements would enable these end users of
integration agreements to pursue multinational export strategies, pool
production, and harness region-wide production possibilities, as well as
to score competitiveness gains in the global export markets.

Press Release 16 November 2009
Nov 16, 2009
IDB study provides roadmap for promoting convergence among regional trade agreements
http://www.iadb.org/NEWS/detail.cfm?language=English&id=5950

New book identifies common features that could help countries use regional trade agreements to foster further integration

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is publishing today a new book that offers countries a roadmap to use their existing regional trade agreements to foster greater integration and trade liberalization.

The book Bridging Regional Trade Agreements in the Americas reveals that liberalization in the regional agreements is similarly sequenced, and that these accords share common regulations in areas such as rules of origin, investment, services, customs procedures, and competition policy rules.

The study comes as policymakers are increasingly concerned about the proliferation of regional trade agreements (RTAs) as the world prepares for another Doha trade talks in December. RTAs could lead to excessive and overlapping rules, hurting the world's ultimate goal to increase trade and investments. At the regional level, the issue was in the agenda of APEC leaders in Singapore last week and it will be discussed next week in Mexico during the Trade Ministerial of the ARCO of the Pacific Initiative.

Some 200 deals have been notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and many more are under negotiation. Practically all countries around the world belong to a free trade agreement, and several countries in the Americas such as Chile, Mexico or Peru among others have inked numerous deals, often across oceans.

"The study identifies common features among these deals that could serve as the starting points for connecting the agreements together,'' said Antoni Estevadeordal, head of the IDB's integration and Trade Department and one of the authors of the book.  "It is vital for countries to foster convergence of such agreements because it can make their companies more competitive in the global market."


The study includes the results of an IDB survey where Latin American companies say they could significantly cut trade-related costs from such "convergence". For example, in Colombia, 54 percent of small and medium-sized firms and 34 percent for larger firms report that cost-savings from connecting the various FTAs would be "high" or "very high". In Mexico, the figures are 50 percent SMEs and 52 percent for large firms, and in Panama 73 percent and 67 percent, respectively.


The IDB's latest book complements the findings of another book the Bank produced in collaboration with the WTO earlier this year. The book Regional Rules in the Global Trading System said, despite some protectionist measures in certain sensitive sectors,   regional trade agreements are deeply liberalizing, freeing more than 90 percent of the traded products by the tenth year they are implemented.

IDB economists Estevadeordal, Kati Suominen, Jeremy Harris and Matthew Shearer are the authors of Bridging Regional Trade Agreements in the Americas, which has been published by the IDB. Estevadeordal and Suominen together with Robert Teh are the editors of the book Regional Rules in the Global Trading System. This book, a joint IDB and WTO publication, has been published by Cambridge University Press.

______________________________
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                  
****************************************


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