Latest news with #Myanmarese
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
New taskforce to target 'Grey Chinese' labour exploitation and illegality in Thailand
BANGKOK: A new government committee has been established to clamp down on "Grey Chinese" groups and other foreign nationals suspected of engaging in illegal labour practices within Thailand. The Ministry of Labour announced the formation of the committee following alarming discoveries of numerous foreign workers occupying professions specifically reserved for Thai citizens. Labour Minister Phongkawin Juangroongruangkit revealed on Friday (July 18) that the newly formed committee will investigate employment conditions, instances of forced labour, and the exploitation of child labour among foreign workers. This initiative is a direct response to a surge in illegal employment across various sectors. "Current circumstances indicate the continued use of illegal labour in many areas, especially involving child labourers and foreign workers," stated Minister Phongkawin. He highlighted the impact of certain foreign capital groups, particularly from China and neighbouring countries, who are reportedly exploiting labour unlawfully. This trend, he noted, directly undermines employment opportunities for Thai workers, compromises fairness in the labour market, and poses a long-term threat to workers' rights. In line with the government's "Urgent Regulation of Foreign Workers in Thailand" policy, the Ministry of Labour is intensifying cooperation with all relevant agencies. The aim is to rigorously monitor, inspect, and enforce legal measures to rectify illegal employment issues and create more job prospects for Thai citizens across all industries. Thailand has stringent laws protecting its workforce, with 27 specific occupations strictly prohibited for foreign nationals. These include skilled trades such as wood carving, diamond and gem cutting, and the production of traditional Thai crafts like lacquerware and musical instruments. Other restricted roles encompass service-based professions like hairdressing, Thai massage, tour guiding, and legal services. Disturbingly, investigations have uncovered evidence of foreign nationals, including Chinese individuals working as tour guides, and Myanmarese or Cambodians engaging in local market trade, directly infringing upon these reserved occupations. Myanmarese individuals have also been found working in Thai traditional massage parlours and street vending. This widespread violation poses a significant threat to job security and the economic stability of Thai workers. Therefore, the comprehensive regulation of foreign labour is deemed crucial. The objective is to ensure that foreign workers are employed legally and within the specific job categories permitted by Thai law, without impinging on the rights of Thai workers. The newly formed advisory and inspection committee will consist of 15 members. It will include advisors to the Minister of Labour, the Minister's Secretary, representatives from the Office of the Attorney General, and the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Furthermore, various agencies under the Ministry of Labour's purview will participate, ensuring an integrated and highly effective operational plan. - The Nation/ANN
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Continue Operation Sindoor till Pahalgam terror attack perpetrators are apprehended or killed: AIMIM chief Owaisi
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) night demanded that the Centre continue Operation Sindoor until the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terrorist attack are apprehended or killed. Addressing a public meeting in Bodhan protesting the new waqf legislation, Mr. Owaisi described the terror attack as a glaring example of the Narendra Modi government's security lapse. Owaisi Demands Revenge for Pahalgam Attack, Slams Modi Govt 'Pahalgam must be avenged. Continue Operation Sindoor. Till the time those four terrorists are caught and killed, we will keep asking you these questions,' he said. Mr. Owaisi criticised Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for his recent remarks in which he took 'full responsibility' for the attack. 'If you are responsible, then resign. Resign and leave,' the AIMIM president said. 'How did those terrorists reach Pahalgam? Tell us.' Seeking to link claims of information being available of Nepalese, Myanmarese and Bangladeshis residing in Bihar, Mr. Owaisi wondered when this was the case, how the Modi-led government could not have information on how the terrorists entered Pahalgam. 'In Bihar, you say there are Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Then tell me, how did those four terrorists reach Pahalgam? You talk of Nepalis in electoral rolls. But how did the terrorists get into Pahalgam? Was your administration asleep? Did your administration have their eyes closed ?' he asked.
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Mainichi
With water accidents involving foreigners rising in Japan, what precautions are needed?
TOKYO -- As Japan is experiencing extreme heat, a spate of water accidents has been reported across the country, and many foreigners are recently getting caught in those incidents amid rising foreign worker and inbound tourist numbers. Local governments and other bodies are pursuing measures to prevent water accidents involving foreigners by taking differences in cultures and customs into account. 'Want to swim as no sea back home' In June, two Vietnamese men were swept away from Katakai Beach in the town of Kujukuri, Chiba Prefecture, while a Myanmarese man visiting a beach in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, for swimming drowned. According to a survey by the Nippon Foundation's Umi no Sonae Project, there were media reports on 229 water accidents involving 265 people between July 1 and Aug. 31, 2024, of which 172 people died. Roughly 10% of those who drowned were foreigners, with nearly half at rivers and around 40% at sea. Some of the accidents occurred at no-swimming zones where safety measures were not in place. In some cases, foreigners caught up in water accidents lacked understanding of rules along waterfront areas. This was, however, not the only cause. According to data released in 2019 by OECD, the ratio by country of people aged 15 and older who can swim on their own stood at 90% for Sweden, 60% for Japan, 40% for Vietnam and 20% for Nepal. While Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands reached 90%, with Sweden topping the list, the ratio for African and Asian countries was generally low. Among the countries that many foreign residents in Japan come from, the ratio of such people was in the 50% range for Thailand, followed by Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia in the 40% range, Myanmar and India in the 30% range, and China and Nepal in the 20% range. It is thought that the availability of school education and whether they have swimming pools and other facilities or a natural environment where people can become familiar with water affect the ratio. A 30-year-old Nepalese staff member at a cafe in Nagoya, who came to Japan in June, told the Mainichi Shimbun, "I have experience swimming in a river, but not everyone else does that." They added, with their eyes sparkling, "As there's no ocean in Nepal, I'd like to go swimming in the Japanese sea." For inexperienced bathers, swimming in unknown areas entails risks. In addition, there are geographical features and nature unique to Japan. River currents are complicated and could become rapid, unlike the slow flows on continents. In Gifu Prefecture, home to many river leisure spots, seven foreigners died in water accidents in 2024. In response, the prefectural government created flyers in six languages listing the features of Japanese rivers, such as "deep," "rapid" and "slippery," as well as points to keep in mind. This summer, the prefecture commissioned companies hiring foreigners, volunteers working for a multicultural inclusive society and leaders in disaster prevention efforts to disseminate those precautions. A representative at the prefectural government's diversity and inclusion promotion division commented, "To ensure that the content is communicated without fail, we asked those directly associated with foreigners to act as a bridge between us." 'Float and wait' So what points should inexperienced swimmers take note of for safety? Professor Hidetoshi Saitoh at Nagaoka University of Technology graduate school, who serves as a director of the Society of Water Rescue and Survival Research, pointed out, "It is essential to check the depths of rivers and seas before entering them." Among accidents involving foreigners, there are often cases where people drown in deep water after jumping into a river, deeming it highly transparent. At sea, people should be wary of the same location potentially getting deeper when waves come in. Saitoh also advises that those playing in rivers and the sea should make sure the water is below the knee. The professor emphasized that the most important action to protect your life is to "float and wait." In case people fall into the water or are about to be swept away, they should not try to swim, but rather wait for help while floating face-up. "It's OK even if you can't swim. It's actually better if you don't try to swim," Saitoh noted. This approach is widely taught at elementary schools and elsewhere, alongside swimming while wearing clothes, as part of safety education in Japan. Since 2011, the Society of Water Rescue and Survival Research has been teaching the approach of "float and wait" in Southeast Asian countries to let people protect themselves from a series of flood disasters. The organization has held classes in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and elsewhere, and has also taught at adult swimming schools. "If people who receive such an education increase, the number of fatal accidents will decline, even if they cannot swim," Saitoh said. "All we can do is to continue steady efforts." Education, culture and the natural environment vary greatly depending on countries. It is crucial to carefully communicate information about various risks to foreigners, without taking these things for granted because they are in Japan.
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'Reels Causing A Lot Of Damage': Owaisi Tells Youth To Stop Scrolling And Read Newspapers
Last Updated: Owaisi highlighted the dangers of young minds getting addicted to social media, and appealed to them to not ruin their future by watching reels. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday called on the youth not to waste their time watching reels on social media and read newspapers instead, saying it will prevent them from becoming leaders and high-level professionals. 'I would like to appeal to the youth not to waste their time watching reels. I request you all to read newspapers. You can't become leaders, doctors, engineers, or scientists if you waste your time watching reels," he said at an event in Hyderabad. 'Watching reels will only spoil your mind and waste your time. It will influence your intelligence," he added. 'If our young minds get addicted to them at this age, it will cause a lot of damage." VIDEO | Hyderabad, Telangana: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) urges youth, saying, 'I would like to appeal to the youth not to waste their time watching reels. I request you all to read newspapers. You can't become leaders, doctors, engineers, or scientists if you… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 15, 2025 Referring to the revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, Owaisi asked, 'If you get addicted to reels, how will you answer Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the electoral roll revision? Under the pretext of revision, many are being labelled Bangladeshi, Nepali or Myanmarese." He also emphasised that India's Muslim minorities must become politically and professionally empowered to boost participation in democracy and shape the country's future. Owaisi also expressed concern over alarming dropout rates among Muslim students, calling it a loss for the Muslim community and the country, as per reports. The AIMIM MP also stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' would remain incomplete unless minorities are provided with equal access to educational opportunities. view comments First Published: July 15, 2025, 22:28 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Don't ruin your future by getting addicted to social media, Owaisi tells youth
Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday linked educational and social awareness and addiction to social media directly to the community's political inclusion, citing the ongoing controversy in Bihar over the special intensive revision of electoral rolls. Mr. Owaisi was speaking at the All India Majsli-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party headquarters where he distributed educational kits to students. 'If you get addicted to reels, and tomorrow a BLO (Booth Level Officer) comes to your house in the name of intensive revision, how will you respond?' he asked. 'Under the pretext of revision, many are being labelled Bangladeshi, Nepali or Myanmarese,' he said. Cautioning students against addiction to social media, reels in particular. 'When you go home, do not waste your time watching reels,' he told children in the audience. 'By watching a one-minute or two-minute reel, you will not become a leader, or a scientist, or a schoolteacher, or a doctor, or an engineer. Addiction to reels will only waste your time and distract you.' The AIMIM president emphasised that India's Muslim minorities must become politically and professionally empowered. This, he said, would not only enable participation in democracy but also facilitate defending their rights and shape the nation's future. 'In our beloved country, there are big challenges for minorities and especially Muslims. We will overcome them if we are united and strong: politically, and in fields like science, engineering, medicine and law,' Mr. Owaisi said. Underscoring the acute need for more lawyers within the community, he said, 'The Muslim minorities need more and more lawyers who will raise their voices for their sharia, personal laws, fundamental rights and against police injustice.' He also expressed concern over alarming dropout rates among Muslim students, noting that over 21 lakh children had dropped out, of whom 51 % were girls. He warned that such educational exclusion, which was primarily due to fee non-affordability by weaker sections. This, he said, was not only a loss for the minority community, but for the nation as a whole. He criticised the narrowing of pre matric scholarships by the Union government. Mr. Owaisi said the Prime Minister's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' would remain unfulfilled unless minorities received equitable educational opportunities. 'If you go to Muslim areas, you will find more liquor shops and police stations. What is required are schools and hospitals, only then will the country become stronger,' he opined.
