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Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Embrace potential of people with disabilities: Minister
Lucknow: Minister of state (independent charge), social welfare & SC/ST welfare, Asim Arun on Thursday urged society to move beyond stereotypes and embrace the potential of people with disabilities. Even as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) announced the winners of the inaugural edition of the 'CII award for excellence in disability inclusion' at a prominent hotel in the city, Arun, who was chief guest on the occasion, said, "Economic growth alone cannot define development. Until every individual — regardless of ability — is given equal opportunity, visibility and dignity, we cannot call it real progress. Empowerment comes from enabling independence, not doing things on someone's behalf." He added, "Inclusion isn't a favour — it's a shared responsibility. From designing accessible spaces to building inclusive policies, we must plan with intention. Accessibility should not be an afterthought; it must be embedded in our systems." CM's chief advisor, Awanish Awasthi said, "When we began addressing accessibility, few understood it, and India lacked proper building compliance. Over the last 9-10 years, airports, railway stations, public spaces and institutions became more accessible. We also saw govt efforts to build accessible toilets, but many remain locked or poorly maintained, limiting real use. On a positive note, some companies now employ over 1,000 persons with disabilities, showing great inclusion. " Recognising excellence in disability inclusion, Wipro Limited received the Champion Company award for Disability Inclusion Excellence. Zomato Limited and Vindhya E-InfoMedia Pvt Ltd (MSME) won Best Employer awards for Disability Inclusion & Culture. Amazon Development Centre India, Bengaluru, earned Best Employer for Accessibility. Minda Corporation Limited and Worth Trust were honoured for Inclusive Recruitment. Persistent Systems Limited and EPL Limited received Best Employer awards as Emerging Inclusive Companies. A report, 'Inclusion Insights: Best Practices Report of Award-Aspiring companies' was launched at the event by P Rajasekharan, co-founder of V-Shesh. Principal secretary, backward welfare & empowerment of persons with disabilities & director handicapped, UP, Subhash Chand Sharma said, "We need to build sensitivity across all public-facing systems." Chairperson of CII (UP), Upasana Arora said, "We must build workplaces that take the whole society along."
Barnama
27-04-2025
- Business
- Barnama
USIM Grads Top Pick Among Industry Employers
SEREMBAN, April 27 (Bernama) -- Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) is among the public universities recognised as the Employer's Choice University in the field of graduate marketability by the renowned industry body, Talentbank. USIM Career and Alumni Centre director Prof Dr Mahazan Abdul Mutalib@Taib said the success is a result of the synergy between the government, industry, all faculties and departments at USIM in strengthening the marketability of its graduates. "It serves to drive us to continue producing superior human capital who are ready for the real working world,' he said in a statement here today.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Midlothian family-run cafe announces 'difficult' closure amid rising costs
The owners of a Midlothian cafe have announced its closure amid rising costs and thanked locals for their support. Callum Anderson opened up Ian's Wee Cafe back in 2023, in honour of his late father who instilled his passion for cooking. He's now made the tough decision to close, with the cost of national insurance and utilities going up. Despite the news, they're "very proud of what they've built." READ MORE: Edinburgh police on scene of third collision on same road within a week READ MORE: Horrified Edinburgh residents watch as car is engulfed by flames Posting to Facebook, owners said: "We're closing our doors, but not our hearts. "With a heavy heart, we announce that Saturday, April 26, will be our last day of trade as Ian's Wee Cafe at 5 Meadow Place, Bilston. Regrettably, a combination of factors, including the significant impact of the Labour UK Government's policies on small businesses, has made it impossible for us to continue. "The Minimum Wage Increase, Employer's National Insurance (NI) Contribution Increase, and Utilities Price Increase have put us in an extremely difficult position, alongside ongoing challenges within our business location. Despite all this, we are incredibly proud of what we've built here. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "Ian's Wee Cafe has been more than just a place to grab a bite; it has been a hub for the community, a space for local groups and organisations to come together, and a cornerstone for many of you who became part of our extended family. For that, we will forever be grateful." Callum Anderson opened up the cafe in honour of Calum's late father, Ian, who passed away in 2006. Speaking to Edinburgh Live back in 2023, Calum said: "Before he passed away, his sort of mobility was limited. "I was taught to cook by him, either being in his chair or through the bedroom, just shooting sort of order through to the bedroom and how to cook things sort of step by step. Since then sort of my passion has just become stronger." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. "With dad it took a bit of a downward spiral, but he's always sort of been unwell for sort of, most of my life." Locals were left gutted by the news of the closure. One said: "So sorry to hear this! You always made us feel so welcome." Another added: "Sorry to hear you are closing. It's so hard for small independent businesses nowadays. Good luck with whatever you choose to do in the future." A third posted: "So sorry to hear this! Wishing you guys all the best with your next chapter."
Telegraph
01-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Storm Rachel is about to wreck your finances – here's how to defend yourself
Britain is usually well prepared for April's chilly showers. But this year the nation will shiver at a different phenomenon – Storm Rachel. The first week of April will see many of the measures announced in Rachel Reeves's maiden Budget coming into force. Households and businesses across the country will be hit with the double whammy of soaring bills as well as the knock-on effect of the Chancellor's tax raid on businesses. Here Telegraph Money details the threat to your finances and what you can do to soften the blow. Tax raid on jobs Business owners are facing an onslaught of changes following the Budget. Employer National Insurance contributions will rise from 13.8pc to 15pc next month. The Office for Budget Responsibility has estimated that companies will pass on 60pc of the higher costs – from the increased taxes and reduced business rates relief – through wage cuts and higher prices. Care homes and nurseries are among those warning of significant fee rises due to the raid. A scheme introduced by the last government during the pandemic handed retail, hospitality and leisure companies discounts of up to 75pc on their business rates bills. But this rate will be reduced to 40pc next month. further education fee rises as the eligibility of private schools for charitable rate relief will also be removed, the second hit to independent schools since the imposition of VAT on fees, which came into effect on January 1. Stamp duty Getting on the property ladder will be more expensive for first-time buyers from April as the stamp duty threshold is dropping from £425,000 to £300,000. Other home movers, including downsizers, will also be hit, as stamp duty will be payable on purchases over £125,000, down from £250,000. Brokers have condemned the move for damaging the market as house prices fell for the first time in nine months in December. Buyers are racing to complete before April 1, and half a million are at risk of missing the deadline. Yet Alex Ogario, of estate agency Knight Frank, said: 'The market is getting busier – lenders and solicitors are all showing signs of strain – but it is still possible to squeeze deals through ahead of the April deadline. 'Those unable to do that can still save significant sums or perhaps borrow more by engaging the right lender. The high street banks are engaged in a fierce battle for market share, which is good for borrowers.' From April 6, holiday homeowners will be hit with higher costs as they will no longer be able to claim for capital allowances such as furnishing or maintenance work. Tax relief on mortgage interest will also be reduced to no more than 20pc. Road tax The standard rate for cars registered after April 2017 is rising by £5 to £195 a year. The exact amount depends on when your car was registered and which fuel it uses. For the first time, electric vehicles (EVs) will not be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). EVs registered from April 2025 will only pay £10 in the first year, but then move to the standard rate. If your EV was registered after 2017, the standard rate will also apply. Diesel drivers will be hit with a £5,490 bill if their cars emit more than 250g/km of carbon, which is a more than £2,000 jump from last year. You may pay less, or more, if your car was first used before 2017. There are only two exemptions for road tax. If you receive a Personal Independence Payment and the enhanced mobility element, you do not have to pay. You only qualify if you have both a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing everyday tasks. You will also be exempt if you receive the higher rate mobility element of Disability Living Allowance. Council tax One of the changes that will be felt mostly keenly by households is soaring council tax. Nine in 10 councils are increasing bills by the maximum amount of 5pc from April. A further six councils have been granted exceptional increases by Angela Rayner. Labour-run Bradford has been allowed a 9.99pc increase and Labour-run Newham will raise the tax by 8.99pc. Cash-strapped Windsor and Maidenhead proposed a 25pc increase but this was rejected and the town hall was instead permitted a 8.99pc rise. Households in Scotland also face increases of as much as 10pc from April, and in Wales this shoots up to 15pc in certain areas. The rocketing bills come at a time when councils are making huge cuts to services, such as bin collection, meaning you are paying more for less. If you live alone, or only with under-18s, then you will qualify for a single-person discount, which is 25pc. If you live with a student the household also qualifies for a 25pc discount. Student-only homes don't have to pay. If someone has an illness, such as dementia, or lives with someone who does, they could receive a considerable discount. However, they must have been certified as 'severely mentally impaired' by the GP, a diagnosis is not enough. If they live alone they do not pay any council tax and if they live with an adult carer, the household gets a 50pc discount. If they live with another adult who is not a carer, they qualify for a 25pc discount. You can challenge your council tax banding if you find you are paying more than similar properties in your street. If you have an estimate for the current value of your house, you can use the Nationwide house price index to work out the rough value in 1991. If this number pushes you into a lower tax band, and you're also in a higher band than most of your neighbours, then you have a strong claim to make against the local authority. Utility bills Water bills are also rising by £10 a month on average in England and Wales. However, this can vary massively from company to company. For instance, average annual Southern Water bills will shoot up by 47pc to £703 whereas Anglian customers will pay 19pc more, or £626 a year. In Scotland bills will rise by almost 10pc. Four in 10 households don't have a water meter, which means that their bill does not reflect their usage. Instead the homes are billed according to the property's rateable value, which is based on its location and size and is set by the Government. If you don't have a meter, you could be paying for more water than you are using. However it is worth remembering that if your usage increases sharply, this will be reflected in your bill. This week regulator Ofgem announced the energy price cap will rise by 6.4pc from April 1. This means typical gas and electricity bills will increase by £111 a year, from £1,738 to £1,849. More expensive bills will hit pensioners harder than ever after they were stripped of the winter fuel payment worth £200 or £300. Around 2.7 million more families will qualify for the Government's £150 Warm Home Discount next winter to help with the soaring costs of energy. Dennis Reed, director of charity Silver Voices, said: 'The shock increase in the energy price cap will be a further blow for struggling pensioner households, already facing swingeing rises in water bills and council tax at the same time. These hikes are all greater than the triple lock increase on state pensions due in April (4.1pc), so for the Government to suggest that the triple lock is generous compensation for the loss of winter fuel payments is an outrage.' Consumer champion Martin Lewis, of Money Saving Expert, this week advised households to consider a fixed-rate energy deal rather than a standard variable plan that will rise with the price cap. TV, broadband and mobile Millions of households will see their mobile and broadband bills rise by as much as 7.5pc in April. Mobile and broadband providers now have to inform customers about price rises in pounds and pence, after Ofcom banned inflation-linked hikes. But this generally only applies to new customers. Meanwhile, the TV licence will rise by £5 to £174.50, in line with inflation. But don't be tempted to cancel your existing broadband contract as you'll be charged early exit fees. You can, however, switch for free if your contract comes to an end. Sky lets broadband and home phone customers quit without penalty if prices are rising, but only for 30 days after the change is announced. It is worth noting that you can often avoid mid-contract price rises with smaller providers who will fix your monthly rate. Over-75s in receipt of pension credit do not have to pay the TV licence fee.
The Hill
12-02-2025
- Business
- The Hill
The long and bumpy road to the new Trump economy
What a roller coaster we have been on since President Trump's inauguration! Democrats are up in arms. Republicans are cheering. Agencies are being shut down. Regulations are being rolled back. Tax cuts are looming. Government pork is being slashed. Our president is a businessman, and he's certainly been getting down to business over the past few weeks. So this is good for business, right? Maybe in the long term. But right now, Trump is creating more headaches for businesses of all sizes. And I'm not expecting these challenges to go away any time soon. Take the workplace. For the past four years we've complained about all the Biden-era regulations that have increased our costs. With Trump in office, shouldn't these headaches go away? They will, at the federal level. Federal minimum wages will likely stay the same. Overtime rules have already been rolled back to pre-Biden levels. Harassment and discrimination requirements are now mostly toothless, thanks to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that has been reduced to just two of five commissioners. Worker classification regulations are in the courts. Business ownership requirements are at a standstill. Fewer, if any, rules are expected to come from the Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board and Occupational Safety and Health Administration over the next few years (with the exception of the Labor Department, whose designated secretary is pro-union and could be a wild card). But mostly, it's good for businesses, right? I'm not really sure. That's because with the federal government backing away, many states are stepping in to pick up the slack. Several states now have tougher overtime rules than the federal government. Thirty states have a higher minimum wage than the national level, with more than 25 states and 65 cities overseeing increases this year alone. Twenty-one states and localities have or are proposing new laws around paid time off and mandatory leave. Other states are requiring mandatory retirement plans. A number of states are rolling out new legislation on using AI in the workplace. This trend was happening even before Trump took office, but given that he often advocates pushing issues to local levels, it's very likely to grow. So now instead of dealing with one federal regulation, businesses have to deal with countless rules at the state level. And it's not just their home state. It could be any state where there's operations or remote employees. That's why so many companies are turning desperately to HR companies like Paychex and ADP or hiring Professional Employer Organizations to keep up with the compliance. They just can't do it any more on their own. Then there are tariffs. I understand that the president wants to level the playing field and gain concessions from countries on issues like immigration and the import of narcotics, but his policies are creating uncertainty. It's unsure what countries are being targeted, what tariffs are in effect or on hold, what products specifically apply or even what the future is. The safest thing to do is to buy only American products, but this isn't always realistic. There's been 60 years of a post-war global economy, and key materials that many businesses use still must be purchased overseas. Trump wants to see more manufacturing in America, but this can't happen overnight. Businesses can deal with tariffs. But they can't do business when things are this uncertain. Will taxes come down? The president and the GOP, while campaigning, promised to make permanent many of the provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which would result in lower long-term rates and higher deductions. But this is not a done deal by any stretch. The Republican Party holds a slim majority in Congress and Democrats will rightfully be asking how these permanent tax cuts will be paid for. When will this be resolved? This summer? The fall? Taxes are among the largest — if not the largest — expenditures for a business. Smart managers incorporate tax planning as part of their strategic decisions. It's impossible to do this while we wait for clarity. Elon Musk is doing a yeoman's job with DOGE. Budgets are being cut and many examples of questionable funding are being frozen or stopped altogether. But there are countless small businesses and nonprofits who do perform great work for the government and are facing a cash flow crisis. Across-the-board stoppages of payments can be crippling to these business owners. It's important work, what Musk is doing. But there will be collateral damage from these changes, and unfortunately many small businesses will be part of that collateral. Can Musk find the cost savings to help pay for the president's tax cuts and reduce the deficit while minimizing this pain? Can businesses wait around to find out? None of this is unexpected. For anyone who was listening, Trump clearly told the world what he would be doing if elected. Talk to any business owner — particularly the ones that support the president — and you'll see that they're willing to give him some rope. Few supporters fully support all of this actions. But agree or not, they know there are a lot of problems that need to be fixed, and they appreciate his energy and determination to do what he promised to do. They know that this won't happen overnight, and they're prepared for disruption. The promise is that, in the long term, things will shake out for the better. Maybe so. But it will be a very bumpy road for most businesses in the meantime.
