A new documentary has revealed that over 21,000 workers from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal have died since 2017 while working on Saudi Arabia’s multi-trillion dollar Saudi Vision 2030 programme, which includes the NEOM project and the Line. The programme has also seen allegations of wage theft, illegal working hours, human rights abuses, and the forced removal of over 20,000 indigenous people. The documentary follows a report by the Wall Street Journal alleging corruption, racism, Islamophobia, and misogyny among the project’s senior executives. Despite some architecture companies leaving NEOM due to human rights concerns, others including BIG, Zaha Hadid Architects, and OMA remain involved. Over 100,000 people have also reportedly “disappeared” during the construction of NEOM.
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It’s no secret that Greece has been struggling financially for quite some time now. Ranked third in debt to GDP per country, the situation is dire. So, what does the government decide to do? Instead of exploring innovative solutions or policies that could potentially benefit the economy and its citizens, they opt for something rather archaic and counterproductive – a six-day working week.
As an individual who has personally experienced the draining effects of a six-day workweek, I can attest to how soul-sucking and demoralizing it can be. The idea that working more somehow equates to increased productivity is not only outdated but also detrimental to one’s mental and physical well-being.… Continue reading
The news that a poultry enterprise in California has been ordered to pay $4.8 million for employing children to work with sharp knives is absolutely appalling. The fact that children as young as 14 were working overtime in such dangerous conditions is sickening. It goes against all moral and ethical standards to exploit vulnerable children in this manner. The thought of young teenagers handling sharp knives to debone poultry is horrifying. How did we reach a point where child labor has resurfaced in the US?
The employers not only illegally employed children but also denied nearly $2 million in overtime wages to hundreds of workers.… Continue reading
I was completely taken aback when I stumbled upon the headline about North Korean workers in China rioting over unpaid wages, eventually escalating to the point where 2,000 workers occupied the factory and tragically killed the plant manager. The situation is not only dire but also sheds light on the harsh reality faced by these workers who are already enduring difficult circumstances.
The riot erupted after reports surfaced that previously employed workers who returned to North Korea did not receive their promised wages, despite assurances of payment in Pyongyang. The North Korean authorities managed to temporarily calm the workers by paying them what was owed.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker