Workers

Defence Minister Chan calls for data sharing, energy networks, and free movement to unlock a regional economy larger than its parts, a crucial step towards a truly integrated economic community. Singapore is set to chair the organisation in 2027.

The blast was likely caused by a build-up of methane gas. Rescue operations are still under way and further casualties are feared. Trade unions and human rights campaigners have denounced serious shortcomings in safety measures and are calling for stricter controls. The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace states that the protection of miners is “a human rights obligation”.

Some 46 Thai migrants were killed when Hamas attacked on 7 October. Another 31 were abducted, with three dying in captivity in Gaza. In northern Israel, five were killed by Hezbollah rockets. Despite this, most chose to stay and continue to provide an essential service to Israeli agriculture.

On a social media account that has gone viral in China, a researcher has exposed data fabrication in prestigious Chinese studies published in *Nature*. This problem is fuelled by an academic system that regards articles published in scientific journals as a rigid criterion for promotion.

A ruling against the builder of a condominium that collapsed in the Mandalay earthquake put the spotlight back on the 2025 earthquake that also killed several Myanmar workers on the other side of the border in Thailand. An investigation shows that thousands of migrant workers continue to work for low wages on Thai construction sites without adequate protections.

According to official licence statistics, as many as 30,000 are aged between 70 and 79. This reflects not only the ageing population but also the financial difficulties faced by those who lost their jobs during the Covid pandemic. And with pensions insufficient to cover their expenses, many make ends meet by working as taxi drivers.

Job losses stem from weakening exports, rising costs, soaring gas prices, an influx of imported products, and uncertainty in the global economy. The central government is preparing mitigation measures. Observers and experts are calling for collaboration between the government, employers, and trade unions to safeguard sustainability.

Shakeel and Sammer Masih, sewer cleaners, are the latest victims of workplace fatalities among Christians. Activists denounce the failure to comply with safety protocols. The Bishop of the Sahiwal Baptist Church has spoken out, and the authorities have promised a thorough investigation. Also weighing heavily is the lack of access to education for Christians, who are exploited in dangerous jobs.

A trade union is threatening an 18-day production stoppage if its demand for bonuses proportional to the group’s record revenues is not met. The production halt would create a shortfall of nearly $700 million. President Lee calls on workers and trade unions to act “responsibly” against excessive demands and urges greater “solidarity”.

UN experts are urging Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur to dismantle fraudulent recruitment networks and protect migrants from abuse. Growing indebtedness is a major factor. Migrants from Bangladesh are the largest group of foreign workers, with more than 800,000 active work permit holders as of June this year, or 37 per cent of the total foreign workforce.

According to a report, at least 600 workers have been without a salary for months. Those who protested were arrested and detained, then released. The "actual number" of those who are not paid "could be significantly higher", expert said. A source: "We didn't know that calling for a strike was a crime. They accused us of trying to overthrow the state.”

For years, a mother suffering from health problems and her son lived in conditions of slavery in a brick kiln in Pakistan. A debt contracted with the owner after the husband’s death turned out to be a trap. Their freedom was regained thanks to the intervention of a Christian activist. Now they face the challenge of rebuilding their lives from scratch — without a home, savings, or a stable source of income.