Dentons Achieves Landmark 0% Median Gender Pay Gap in Australian Legal Industry, ET LegalWorld
International
2 min read
Dentons achieves 0% median gender pay gap
Dentons, an Australian law firm, reports a 0% median gender pay gap. This makes them the first large law firm in Australia to achieve this. The firm credits its Gender 360 Strategy for the progress. In 2022, the gap was 15%. Policies supporting work-life balance also helped. These include paid family leave and flexible work.
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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
From sledgehammer blast mining for iron ore to precision mining with gold, NMDC eyes big critical minerals move
HYDERABAD: When India's largest iron ore miner, NMDC Ltd, made a strategic foray into gold mining in Australia in November 2023, the company's managers believed they had nothing new to learn. After all, they were in the mining business for the past six decades. What they didn't anticipate was that their traditional blast and grab operation was of no use in gold mining, and for the first time, they were forced to acquire new skills—the precision of a surgeon needed for vein mining. This new skill is also giving the Navratna PSU specialised knowledge needed for deep-seated critical minerals extraction. Today, NMDC has not only mastered the art of vein mining but is also all set to rake in its first set of profits from mining this precious yellow metal through its Australian arm, Legacy Iron Ore Ltd, after the initial setbacks. 'The last two-three months we turned around and were cash positive. If things continue the way they are going right now, we should be in the green this year (2025-26),' Amitava Mukherjee, chairman & managing director, NMDC Ltd, told TOI in an exclusive chat recently. Mukherjee said the diversification into gold mining has been a strategic learning curve for the company, with its Mt Celia gold mine in Australia, though relatively small in scale, serving as a crucial learning ground. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo "It was a very conscious forward point. In the last 60 years, we did bulk mining of iron ore, which is completely different from vein-type, deep-seated mining. When we went ahead with this project, we found we had no expertise in this type of mining," Mukherjee said. Explaining the unique challenges this type of mining poses, he said the gold deposits at Mt Celia have veins as thin as one to two meters, requiring precise extraction techniques. This is in stark contrast to NMDC's traditional iron ore mining operations, where bulk extraction methods are employed. "In iron ore mining, you would blast from left to right throughout. But in gold mining, blasting has to be absolutely controlled. It has to be precise because all you have is just two meters. The moment you dilute it, the grade drops from 2 gm to 1 gm per tonne," Mukherjee said. 'You have to spot it correctly; the size of the equipment has to be very correct. Every aspect of vein mining and deep-seated minerals mining is completely different,' he added. He said the decision to start small with Mt Celia, which has reserves of around 8,000 tonnes, was conscious. 'As a matter of strategic forward thinking, we started with a very small gold tenement at Mount Celia. So if we lose, we lose less money. Let's not start with a Rs 1000 crore sort of investment, we thought,' he explained. The Mt Celia mine currently produces gold ore with grades ranging from 1.5 to 2.1 grams per tonne, which Mukherjee described as "pretty good in gold mining. " Having mastered precision vein-mining, NMDC is now looking to expand its gold mining portfolio, with several tenements adjacent to Mount Celia under consideration. "We have a lot of gold tenements which are pretty good for us. However, we decided to start with Mount Celia's Blue Peter and Kangaroo Bore pits to gain experience first," Mukherjee said. Apart from Mt Celia, it also has Yilgangi, Yerilla, Patricia North, and Sunrise Bore in Australia. While acknowledging the initial losses, he said NMDC remains confident about the long-term prospects of its gold mining operations. "I'm not really bothered about that Rs 150 crore or Rs 160 crore losses that we made. What we lost, we'll gain next year," Mukherjee stated, emphasising the strategic value over short-term financial results. NMDC, which acquired a 50% stake in Legacy Iron Ore in 2011 and has been steadily hiking its stake, currently holds over 92.84% stake in the Australian company with plans to take this up to 100% over a period of time. NMDC's experience in gold mining is expected to play a crucial role in its future diversification plans, particularly in mining other strategic minerals that require similar precision mining techniques, he indicated. The company views this as a necessary evolution in its mining capabilities that will help it position itself for opportunities in various strategic critical minerals, Mukherjee said, pointing out that minerals like lithium require the same set of expertise. Gold and lithium are among the 10 critical minerals that NMDC has decided to focus on. These also include copper, coking coal, nickel, manganese, dolomite, bauxite, and cobalt. 'As a company, we have been mandated by the board to focus on these 10 minerals, which includes our bread and butter iron ore and other critical minerals. We are very clear we are not going to do rare earth minerals,' he said. This foray has also meant the setting up of new operational divisions and acquisition of specialised expertise in NMDC. The company has established a dedicated team for precision mining operations, marking a departure from its traditional bulk mining focus. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Australia's Student Guardian visa explained
Australia offers three main types of visas for those seeking education and training: the Student visa , Student Guardian visa , and Training visa. Each serves a different purpose based on the needs of the applicant. This article focuses on the Student Guardian visa, explaining everything Indians need to know about this visa category. Stay This is a temporary visa. The length of your visa will be determined by the student visa holder's stay and their age. Cost From AUD1,600.00 by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Cost Exemption From 22 March 2025, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid Student or Student Guardian visa application. See About this visa. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) ALSO READ: How to get a student visa for Australia? Live Events Eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who applied between 1 July 2024 and 21 March 2025 can apply for a partial refund of the cost. See Getting a refund. Processing times For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application. With this visa you can Come to Australia to provide care and support for a student visa holder who is under 18 years of age or older due to exceptional circumstances. You must be the student's parent, custodian or relative who is 21 years or older have and show evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself and the student during your stay have adequate health insurance in place be able to provide accommodation, welfare and other support hold an eligible substantive visa, if in Australia. For more details visit the official site of the Australian government for Student Guardian visa .
NDTV
9 hours ago
- NDTV
How Fast-Fashion Giants Like Shein And Temu Got Worse Under Trump's Trade War
Sydney: When US President Donald Trump introduced sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports, the goal was to bring manufacturing back to American soil and protect local jobs. However, this process of reshoring is complex and requires years of investment and planning - far too slow for the world of ultra-fast fashion, where brands are used to reacting in weeks, not years. Many clothing companies started to move production out of China during Trump's first term. They relocated to countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia when the initial China-specific tariffs hit. This trend accelerated with the newer 'reciprocal' tariffs. Instead of reshoring production, many fashion brands simply sourced from whichever country offered the lowest total cost after tariffs. The result? The ultra-fast fashion machine adapted quickly - and became even more exploitative. From Guangzhou To Your Wardrobe In Days Platforms such as Shein and Temu built their success by offering trend-driven clothing at shockingly low prices. Much of Shein's production takes place in the so-called 'Shein village' in Guangzhou, China, where workers often sew for 12–14 hours a day under poor conditions to keep pace with the demand for new items. When the US cracked down on Chinese imports, the intention was to make American-made goods more competitive. This included raising tariffs on Chinese goods as high as 145% (since paused), and closing the 'de minimis' loophole, which had allowed imports under $800 to enter tariff-free. But these tariffs did not halt ultra-fast fashion. They just rerouted production to countries with lower tariffs and even lower labour costs. The Philippines, with a comparatively low tariff rate of 17%, emerged as a surprising alternative. However, the country can't provide the industrial scale and infrastructure to match what China can offer. So, Why Does Australia Matter? Much of the cheap fashion previously bound for the US is now flooding other markets, including Australia. Australia still allows most low-value imports to enter tax-free, and platforms such as Shein and Temu have taken full advantage. Australian consumers are among the most frequent Shein and Temu buyers per capita globally. Just 3% of clothing is made in Australia, and most labels rely on offshore manufacturing. This makes Australia an ideal target market for ultra-fast fashion imports. With high purchasing power, lenient import rules and strong demand for low-cost style, especially due to the cost-of-living crisis, Australia has become a prime territory. The Hidden Costs Of Cheap Clothes The environmental impact of fast fashion is well known. However, amid the chaos of Trump's tariff announcements, far less attention has been paid to how these policies combined with the retreat from climate commitments worsen environmental harms, including those linked to fast fashion. The irony is that the tariffs meant to protect American workers have, in some cases, worsened conditions for workers elsewhere. Meanwhile, consumers in Australia now benefit from faster delivery of even cheaper goods as Temu, Shein and others have improved their shipping capabilities to Australia. Australian consumers send more than 200,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill each year. But the deeper problem is structural. The entire business model is built on exploitation and environmental damage. Factory workers bear the brunt of cost-cutting. In the race to stay competitive, many manufacturers reduce wages and overlook hazardous working conditions. Will Ethical Fashion Ever Compete? Fixing these problems will require a global rethink of how fashion operates. Governments have a role in regulating disclosures about supply chains and enforcing labour standards. Brands need to take responsibility for the conditions in their factories, whether directly owned or outsourced. Alternatives to fast fashion are gaining traction. Clothing rentals are emerging as a promising business model that help build a more circular fashion economy. Charity-run op shops have long been a sustainable source of second-hand clothing. Australia's new Seamless scheme seeks to make fashion brands responsible for the full lifecycle of the clothes they sell. The aim is to help people buy, wear and recycle clothes in a more sustainable way. Consumers also matter. If we continue to expect clothes to cost less than a cup of coffee, change will be slow. Recognising that a $5 t-shirt has hidden costs - borne by people on the factory floor and the environment - is a first step. Some ethical brands are already showing a better way by offering clothes made under fairer conditions and with sustainable materials. These clothes are not as cheap or fast, but they represent a more conscious alternative - especially for consumers concerned about synthetic fibres, toxic chemicals, and environmental harm. Trump Reshuffled The Deck, But Did Not Change The Game Trump's trade rules aim to re-balance global trade in favour of American industry, yet have cost companies more than $34 billion in lost sales and higher costs. This cost will eventually fall on US consumers. In ultra-fast fashion, it mostly exposed how fragile and exploitative the system already was. Today, brands such as Shein and Temu are thriving in Australia. But unless we address the systemic inequalities in fashion production and rethink the incentives that drive this market, the true cost of cheap clothing will continue to be paid by those least able to afford it.
