general labor issues

Boris Johnson Introduces New Covid-19 Restrictions to Curb Second Wave in the U.K.

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Boris Johnson Introduces New Covid-19 Restrictions to Curb Second Wave in the U.K.

LONDON—British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a series of new coronavirus restrictions for England, including earlier pub-closing times, as his government tries to quell a second wave of infections while avoiding another economically damaging nationwide lockdown. In an address to Parliament, Mr. Johnson unveiled both tightening and tougher enforcement of social-distancing rules, with fines of … Read more

‘They Called Me ‘Slave’: Beirut Blast Exposes Migrant Workers’ Plight in Mideast

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‘They Called Me ‘Slave’: Beirut Blast Exposes Migrant Workers’ Plight in Mideast

BEIRUT—On a May morning last year, Rosemary Nyambura fled the Lebanese household where she had worked as a maid for nearly a year, leaving behind her passport, which her employer had confiscated. But the 25-year-old Kenyan’s departure from one household—where she said she had suffered abuse—led to another traumatic chapter as a domestic worker in … Read more

In France, the Young Lose Their Jobs to Coronavirus

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In France, the Young Lose Their Jobs to Coronavirus

PARIS—Young workers in France, who have suffered from chronically high unemployment for more than a decade, are now bearing the brunt of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. In France, it is less expensive to fire young people than older workers, who tend to have contracts with heftier job protections. Government furlough programs are … Read more

In the Covid-19 Recession, Europe Props Up Jobs While the U.S. Props Up Workers

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In the Covid-19 Recession, Europe Props Up Jobs While the U.S. Props Up Workers

Karren Madere and Andrea Knebel are both victims of the Covid-19 recession. Ms. Madere was laid off in June from her job at a travel-management company, where she negotiated hotel-room rates for corporate clients. Ms. Knebel was sent home in April from her job as a business consultant at an auto-parts factory. Ms. Madere, 61 … Read more

Extended Montreal Dock Workers’ Walkout Rattles Canadian Supply Chains

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Extended Montreal Dock Workers’ Walkout Rattles Canadian Supply Chains

TORONTO—A strike at Canada’s second-busiest port is showing few signs of progress deep into the second week of the walkout, as concerns rise about the damage an extended shutdown could do to the Canadian economy. The longshore workers’ union at the Port of Montreal has been agitating for better scheduling, arguing that workers who are … Read more