Latest news with #lowIncome
UAE Moments
a day ago
- Automotive
- UAE Moments
Abu Dhabi Extends Darb Toll Hours, Scraps Fee Limits
Big change for Abu Dhabi drivers — the Darb toll system is getting a shake-up starting Monday, September 1. The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has announced longer evening toll hours and the end of daily and monthly fee caps. Longer Evening Charges Currently, drivers only get charged in the evening from 5pm to 7pm. From September, that window will stretch from 3pm to 7pm, Monday through Saturday. Morning hours stay the same. Sundays and official public holidays? Still free. No More Caps Say goodbye to the Dh16 daily cap and monthly limits. Instead, every pass through a gate will now cost Dh4 — no matter how many times you cross. That means more trips could mean a bigger bill. Exemptions Still Apply People of Determination, low-income families, senior citizens, and retirees will still get their toll exemptions. Why the Change? The ITC says the move aims to keep traffic flowing and ease congestion during peak hours. Darb, launched in 2021, runs eight toll gates on the main bridges in and out of Abu Dhabi.
CNA
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Bukit Canberra hawkers will not be penalised for not providing meals for low-income residents: Ong Ye Kung
SINGAPORE: Stallholders at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre will not be penalised for not providing free meals to low-income residents, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Monday (Aug 11). Mr Ong, who is a Member of Parliament for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency, was responding to claims made on Facebook by food critic KF Seetoh about hawkers there being "contractually obligated" to offer 60 free meals every month. After being alerted to Mr Seetoh's posts, Mr Ong said that he looked into the matters raised. Mr Seetoh's claim "does not present the full picture", said Mr Ong. When the hawker centre first opened, the stallholders had initially agreed to provide 30 meals a month for low-income residents. This was later adjusted to 100 meals over the three-year duration of their leases, Mr Ong said. "There are no penalties if they do not or are unable to provide the meals," he said, adding that the initiative, which was meant to encourage hawkers to "pay it forward", has yet to commence. Mr Seetoh had also claimed that the hawkers were being charged S$70 (US$54) a month for the use of a basket, placed at the back of their stores, for suppliers to place their wares. "This is not true, as there is no such practice of charging for the use of the blue baskets at the back of their stalls," said Mr Ong. Responding to Mr Ong's post, Mr Seetoh on Monday said that the cost of using the baskets was "shown and told to me by a hawker there". He claimed to have seen the invoice and receipt of payment for it. The hawker "has no reason to make this up", he added. Mr Ong said that he appreciated Mr Seetoh's "concern for our hawkers" and that he shared his "passion for keeping our hawker culture alive and thriving". "However, let's do so without putting down anyone, whether they are patrons, hawkers, the hawker centre operator, or government agencies.
Malay Mail
06-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Circular economy for the poor: How waste can build wealth — Ahmad Ibrahim
JUNE 6 — In recent years, the concept of a circular economy has captured the imagination of policymakers, businesses, and environmentalists worldwide. It promises a world where products are designed to last, materials are reused, and waste is minimised — a refreshing alternative to the extractive, waste-heavy systems that have dominated for decades. But while much of the conversation revolves around high-tech recycling innovations and sophisticated industrial systems, there lies a compelling, often overlooked truth: the poor have been practicing forms of circularity for generations. From informal recyclers in Nairobi to artisans in Manila, millions of low-income communities already rely on waste as a means of survival. The question is no longer whether waste can build wealth — it's how we can structure systems to help them do it safely, fairly, and sustainably. At its core, a circular economy seeks to eliminate waste and pollution, keep products and materials in continuous use, and regenerate natural systems. It replaces the traditional linear 'take-make-dispose' economy with a system built on reuse, repair, recycling, and resource efficiency. While high-income nations pursue this through advanced recycling plants and closed-loop manufacturing, many of the world's poor have practiced informal circular economies through necessity — turning discarded materials into livelihoods long before sustainability became a global rallying cry. For low-income communities, waste is not merely refuse; it is a resource. In cities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America: Informal waste pickers earn their living by collecting, sorting, and selling recyclable materials. Artisans and micro-entrepreneurs transform waste into marketable products, from handicrafts to furniture. Urban farmers rely on compost made from organic waste to fertilise crops. At the same time, these communities disproportionately bear the brunt of environmental degradation. Poorly managed waste leads to polluted waterways, health hazards, and overcrowded landfills, all of which threaten both livelihoods and public health. A well-designed, inclusive circular economy can therefore be both an environmental imperative and a poverty alleviation strategy. How Can Waste Build Wealth? In many cities, informal waste pickers — often marginalised and unrecognised — perform the essential work of recovering recyclables. By formalising and supporting these workers through cooperatives, training, and fair compensation, entire communities can gain access to safer, more stable livelihoods. In Colombia, the Bogota Association of Recyclers transformed thousands of informal recyclers into organised, licensed professionals, improving incomes and working conditions while boosting the city's recycling rates. Turning waste into value-added products has proven a powerful tool for community entrepreneurship. Plastic bags become wallets, old tires become furniture, and discarded textiles find new life as fashionable accessories. Kenya's Ocean Sole turns discarded flip-flops collected from beaches and waterways into colourful sculptures, toys, and household items, employing local artisans and raising awareness about plastic pollution. Organic waste, which often constitutes up to 60 per cent of municipal solid waste in developing countries, presents an opportunity for local composting projects. These initiatives reduce landfill burdens, cut methane emissions, and provide compost for small-scale urban agriculture. In the Philippines, slum communities have organised micro-composting centers, converting food scraps into fertiliser for community gardens — generating both food and income. Biogas systems, fuelled by organic waste, can supply clean cooking gas and electricity in off-grid areas, reducing reliance on wood and charcoal, improving indoor air quality, and creating new economic opportunities. Despite their invaluable role, informal waste workers face numerous challenges: Lack of legal recognition, Health and safety risks, Social stigma, and Limited access to capital and markets. Governments and organisations can address these barriers by: Recognising and licensing waste workers, Providing micro-financing and grants for waste-based enterprises. Offering training in value-added waste processing. Establishing fair market linkages between informal sectors and formal industries. It's time to broaden the circular economy conversation. Far from being passive beneficiaries, low-income communities are already practicing grassroots circularity in ways that deserve recognition and support. By investing in these informal systems and integrating them into national sustainability frameworks, countries can advance their environmental goals while creating dignified, inclusive economic opportunities. The next phase of the global circular economy movement must be as much about social justice as it is about sustainability. In doing so, waste can truly become wealth, not just in monetary terms, but in fostering resilience, dignity, and hope for the world's most vulnerable populations. In Malaysia, if the circular economy is fully embraced in the palm oil business, smallholder farmers can enjoy additional income if the oil palm biomass can be value added. As of now, the conversion of oil palm biomass especially the EFBs into energy is still haphazard. Once a clear market value is established, then the new additional value will also trickle down to benefit the farmers. There is much to gain in a circular economy for the palm oil industry. Government intervention is key. * The author is affiliated with the Tan Sri Omar Centre for STI Policy Studies at UCSI University and is an associate fellow at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. He can be reached at [email protected]. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Washington Post
05-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Judge and lawmakers question the Trump administration's plan to gut Job Corps centers
Members of Congress and a federal judge are questioning the Trump administration's plan to shut down Job Corps centers nationwide and halt a residential career training program for low-income youth that was established more than 50 years ago. The Department of Labor last week announced a nationwide 'pause of operations' for dozens of Job Corps centers run by private contractors . The department cited an internal review that concluded the program was costly and had a low success rate.
Associated Press
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Judge and lawmakers question the Trump administration's plan to gut Job Corps centers
Members of Congress and a federal judge are questioning the Trump administration's plan to shut down Job Corps centers nationwide and halt a residential career training program for low-income youth that was established more than 50 years ago. The Department of Labor last week announced a nationwide 'pause of operations' for dozens of Job Corps centers run by private contractors. The department cited an internal review that concluded the program was costly and had a low success rate. The review also identified safety issues at the residential campuses. The Department of Labor said it would transition students and staff out of the locations by June 30. The program was designed for teenagers and young adults who struggled to finish high school in traditional school settings and then go on to obtain training and find jobs. Participants received tuition-free housing, meals and health care. Critics have argued that closing the campuses would leave young people homeless and deprive them of opportunities and hope. They also maintained the Trump administration did not have legal authority to suspend Job Corps because it was created by Congress. Lawmakers asked Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer about the decision when she appeared before the House Education and Workforce Committee on Thursday. 'Job Corps, which you know has bipartisan support in Congress, trains young, low-income people, and helps them find good-paying jobs and provides housing for a population that might otherwise be without a home,' U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott said. Scott, a Virginia Democrat, read from a letter Chavez-DeRemer wrote in support of Job Corps last year. The letter said the program increased participants' employment and wages, and decreased their reliance on public benefits. 'You've made a starkly abrupt shift from a champion to a destroyer of this important program,' said Democratic Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, adding that students in her district were distraught. In response, Chavez-DeRemer said she recognized that only an act of Congress could eliminate Job Corps. She said the Labor Department had instead used its authority to halt the program's operations but planned to comply with a federal court order that temporarily blocked the action. U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter of New York issued a temporary restraining order on Wednesday that prohibited the Labor Department from terminating jobs, removing students from the 99 contractor-run centers or eliminating the Job Corps program without congressional authorization. The order was sought as part of a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the National Job Corps Association, a trade group which includes business, labor, volunteer and community organizations. The group alleged the Labor Department's decision would have disastrous consequences, including displacing tens of thousands of vulnerable young people and forcing mass layoffs. During Thursday's House committee hearing, Scott asked several Job Corps students in attendance to stand. 'These students were on their way to getting a good job and earning a living wage. On behalf of them, I urge you to immediately reverse the decision to effectively shut down all Job Corps centers,' Scott said. Chavez-DeRemer responded that the Trump administration wanted to eliminate ineffective training interventions. The report released in April by the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration said Job Corps operated at a $140 million deficit during the last fiscal year and had an average graduation rate of under 39%. 'Our recently released Job Corps transparency report showed that in 2023 alone, more than 14,000 serious incidents were reported at the Job Corps centers, including cases of sexual assault, physical violence, and drug use,' Chavez-DeRemer said. 'This program is failing to deliver safe and successful outcomes our young people deserve.' The National Job Corps Association maintained the statistics were misleading. It said the 14,000 serious incidents included power outages, inclement weather, athletic injuries that required treatment and adult students leaving campus without prior approva. The group also said that Job Corps' graduation rates have historically been above 60%, but were depressed by COVID-19 policies during the year the Labor Department reviewed. Seth Harris, senior fellow at the Burnes Center for Social Change at Northeastern University, said in an interview that Job Corps is wildly popular on Capitol Hill. He recalled having to slow down Job Corps due to funding challenges when he served as acting secretary of labor during former President Barack Obama's administration. 'I got angry calls from elected members of the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle,' Harris said. The Job Corps program was designed to help young people who were not succeeding in school or who had left school without a place to go, placing them in a residential setting outside their community and providing them with vocational training, he said. The Labor Department shutting down Job Corps would be illegal because there's a process outlined for closing down the centers which includes publishing performance data, justifying the closure and allowing time for public comment and remediation, he said. 'This is plainly illegal,' Harris said. 'But it is entirely on brand for Donald Trump to beat up on poor kids, largely kids of color, who are trying to make their lives better.'
