The International Labour Organisation lays March 2017 ultimatum for Qatar – 17/03/16
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has released the report of its mission to Qatar, giving the Qatari Government a deadline of March 2017 to bring significant labour law reforms into place. Though it recognised that the government had ‘taken a number of concrete measures’, it reiterated that ‘many challenges remain’ (p 2).
In setting the March 2017, the ILO deferred its decision to institute a Commission of Inquiry. This mechanism is the organisation’s highest-level investigative procedure, with only 13 having been used in its history
For the full report, outlining the body’s investigations and on-the-ground meetings with key personnel in Qatar, see: http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_norm/—relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_459148.pdf
Introduction of the United Kingdom’s National Living Wage – 01/04/16
On April 1 2016, the much-anticipated ‘national living wage’ became law in the United Kingdom (UK). The wage is significantly higher than the national minimum wage, but it does not apply to workers aged 21 to 24.
For more information, see: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35935677
As expected, there is already controversy surrounding some large employers’ attempts to counter the increased rate of pay by limiting employee benefits in other respects.
Singapore’s migrant domestic workers face food rationing, long hours and sexual abuse – 06/04/16
An interesting article investigating the position of migrant workers in Singaporean Labour Law, including interviews with a number of migrant workers who have been victims of forced labour and exploitation. As Singapore continues to attract large numbers of migrant workers and others seek to return home after many years in the country, questions as to their legal status are increasingly important.
For the full article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-06/migrant-domestic-workers-in-singapore-face-constant-exploitation/7302760
Nation-wide protests in French in response to proposed labour law reform – 09/04/16
The draft law has attracted criticism for loosening the country’s rigid, but employee-slanted, labour code by allowing employers more scope in laying off workers, and cutting costs, and allowing some employees to work in excess of 35 hours a week.
For more information, see: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/09/seven-police-17-protesters-injured-france-demos-turn-violent
Authors: Arisha Arif and Nicholas Simoes da Silva