World

UK government introduces stricter regulations to protect foreign workers

Published

2 months ago

November 30, 2024 12:23 pm

BodexNG

The UK government is set to introduce new measures to combat the exploitation of foreign workers, with tougher penalties for employers who break visa rules or fail to meet minimum wage standards.

The proposed Employment Rights Bill, currently under discussion in Parliament, aims to hold employers accountable and curb unethical practices, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on migrant labor, such as health and social care.

Tougher penalties for rule-breaking employers
TravelBiz reports that the UK government is planning to impose stricter penalties on employers who violate visa and wage laws.

The new Employment Rights Bill proposes to double the period during which employers can be sanctioned for serious breaches.

Currently, employers who fail to comply with minimum wage laws or repeatedly break visa rules face a one-year restriction on hiring foreign workers. Under the new measures, this period will be extended to two years, making it harder for non-compliant businesses to hire from overseas.

Stronger enforcement and action plans

The reforms will also introduce more robust enforcement measures. The government plans to introduce action plans for businesses found to have violated visa rules. These plans will require companies to make improvements within one year, a significant increase from the previous three-month period.

During this time, businesses will be restricted from hiring international workers, increasing the pressure on companies to comply with regulations.

Focus on the care sector

Reports inform that the UK government is particularly concerned with sectors where workers are most at risk of exploitation, such as health and social care.

Many migrant workers in these sectors have been vulnerable to unethical practices, such as being forced to pay for their visa sponsorship or being underpaid.
The Home Office has revoked 450 sponsor licenses in the care sector since July 2022, as part of efforts to crack down on exploitation.
The government is also working to support care workers who are affected by these changes, helping them transition to new jobs when their employers lose their sponsorship licenses.

The government’s commitment to protecting workers

Migration Minister Seema Malhotra emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting migrant workers from exploitation.

“Worker exploitation is completely unacceptable,” Malhotra said, stressing that businesses that shift the costs of visa sponsorship onto employees or engage in other exploitative practices would face serious consequences.

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock echoed this view, underscoring the importance of safeguarding migrant workers in the care sector and ensuring they are not subjected to abuse.

Plans for future expansion of rule changes

While the initial focus of these reforms will be on skilled worker visas, including those for care workers, reports inform that the government plans to extend these rules to other visa categories in the future. The aim is to ensure that all foreign workers are treated fairly and are not subjected to exploitation by employers who break the law.

Key requirements for employers

It is stressed that employers must comply with several key requirements to avoid facing penalties under the new regulations.

These include paying for all costs associated with visa sponsorship, ensuring workers are paid at least the minimum wage, and adhering to all immigration rules.
Businesses that fail to meet these standards may face up to two years of sanctions and be banned from hiring overseas workers.
The UK government’s focus is on protecting vulnerable migrant workers, especially those in high-risk sectors such as health and social care.
By introducing these stricter measures, the government aims to reduce exploitation and ensure that the immigration system is fair and accountable for both workers and employers.

World

Trump’s official portrait sparks mixed reactions on social media

Published

5 days ago

January 17, 2025 9:58 am

BodexNG

The official portrait of the US President-elect, Donald Trump, has been unveiled.

Daniel Torok, the president-elect’s chief photographer, shared the photo in an X post on Thursday alongside that of Vice-President-elect JD Vance.

“We are entering the GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA!” Torok captioned the starkly contrasting photos of Trump and Vance.

As Vance struck a relaxed pose, smiling for the camera, Trump opted for a stern, unyielding stare.

The brightly lit photo is also a departure from his 2017 portrait where he smiled warmly.

The president-elect’s stare closely mirrored his mugshot after leaving jail in 2023.

In the mugshot, the 78-year-old stared menacingly at the camera with furrowed brows and a clenched jaw.

He was the first US former president to have their mugshot taken.

The photograph sparked a fundraising bonanza, appearing on t-shirts and mugs. It soon became the physical characterisation of Trump as a politically motivated prosecuted victim.

Trump’s transition team said the official photographs “go hard.” The pair will be sworn in on Monday.

Social media users had mixed reactions to the presidential pose.

World

UK approves first vertical rocket launch

Published

5 days ago

January 16, 2025 3:41 pm

BodexNG

The first vertical launch of a rocket into orbit from European soil could take place from the UK’s most northerly point this year after a German company won approval for spaceflight, regulators announced Thursday.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it had granted a launch licence to Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), allowing it to send a rocket into space from SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland’s Shetland Islands.

“This is a new era for aerospace and granting the first vertical launch licence from UK soil builds towards a historic milestone for the nation,” said CAA CEO Rob Bishton.

“This licence is the culmination of extensive hard work behind the scenes to put appropriate safety and environmental measures in place before launch,” he added.

It is the final large regulatory step allowing Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) to launch from on Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Islands.

Jorn Spurmann, co-founder and chief commercial officer of RFA, called it a “groundbreaking moment for RFA and for Europe’s space industry.

“Securing the first-ever launch license outside European Space Agency’s established site in Kourou (French Guiana) is not just a regulatory milestone -– it’s a powerful endorsement of our technical excellence and a turning point for European space innovation,” he added.

“By enabling cost-effective and flexible launches from European main land, we are laying the foundation for a new era of space exploration and commercialization, ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of the global space race,” he added.

The CAA had already granted the privately-owned SaxaVord a spaceport licence and a range control licence.

RFA hopes to carry out the first test flight of its 30 metre-tall (100 feet) three-stage rocket, which can deliver a 1,300kg payload into orbit, in 2025.

The first stage of the initial rocket caught fire and exploded during a static fire test last year, pushing back plans for a 2024 launch.

World

South Korean president finally arrested over insurrection, martial law declaration

Published

7 days ago

January 15, 2025 9:02 am

BodexNG

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested for questioning by the anti-corruption agency.

Yeol was impeached by parliament on December 14 following his botched martial law declaration. His presidential powers and duties have since been suspended pending the ruling from the constitutional court — which has up to 180 days to dismiss Yeol as president or restore his powers.

Previous attempts to arrest Yeol after his impeachment proved abortive.

On Wednesday morning, Yeol was picked up from his residence by investigators after a stand-off that pitted his security details against those of the state.

He was then driven in a motorcade to be taken into custody. It would be the first time a sitting South Korean president has been arrested.

The warrant allows investigators to hold Yeol for up to 48 hours. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) would need to apply for another warrant to detain him further.

Yeol’s supporters and opponents clashed at the scene of the arrest, with each group baying for the other’s jugular. Police officers had to cordon off the street to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Yeol is accused of martial law declaration and leading an insurrection — a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty.

After his arrest, Yeol released a pre-recorded message to say “the law is all broken in this country”.

“As a president who must protect the constitution and legal system of the Republic of Korea, responding to these illegal and invalid procedures is not an acknowledgment of them, but in the hopes of preventing unsavoury bloodshed,” he said.

Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others