Tuesday, November 10, 2009 SINGAPORE: From nurses to welders, Asia-Pacific economies including the United States and Japan face critical labour shortages if they fail to allow easier movement of temporary workers, a study has warned.The research, commissioned by the APEC Business Advisory Council urged governments to address the problem or risk hampering business competitiveness and economic growth.The report, expected to be circulated at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Singapore this week, said most free-trade deals within the grouping looked at easing travel for businessmen. 'They ignore the movement of the actual skilled and lower-skilled workers that are needed in large numbers to fill these labour shortages and skill gaps,' it said.The study, by the University of Southern California Mashall School of Business, raised the need for a 'policy framework' among APEC members to facilitate the movement of temporary labourers.'Real shortages of skilled and lower skilled workers exist in many APEC economies, even during this recessionary period,' it said.'And these labour shortages and imbalances of skills and jobs are predicted to become increasingly critical because of the changing demographics of ageing populations,' it added. 'This gives business real concern as access to workers is directly correlated with business competitiveness and growth.'
Friday, August 14, 2009 MUMBAI: A 26-year-old woman died Thursday of H1N1 swine flu in the southern city of Bangalore, raising India's death toll from the virus to 20, authorities said.The death was the first reported in India's information technology capital, the Press Trust of India reported.Meanwhile in Pune, the worst-affected in India, two more victims of the virus died Thursday, raising the death toll in that western city near Mumbai to 12, the report said. The victims were an 11-month-old boy and a 75-year-old old woman.US media reported movie halls, schools and colleges were ordered closed Thursday for three days to a week in Mumbai, the commercial and financial capital of the country, as fear of the pandemic spread.Prajakata Lavangare, a spokeswoman for the government of Maharashtra state of which Mumbai is the capital, said similar orders were issued in Pune, which is also located in the state.The woman who died in Bangalore was identified only as Roopa, a teacher in
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