The universal declaration of human rights

Rights groups reacted in horror Wednesday to the latest hardline move from the resource-rich nation on Borneo, which practises a stricter brand of Islam than its neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia. The tiny sultanate will implement the harsh new penal code -- which also prescribes amputation of a hand and foot for theft -- next Wednesday. Homosexuality is already illegal in Brunei but it will now become a capital offence. The law only applies to Muslims. The new penalty for theft is amputation of the right hand for a first offence, and the left foot for a second offence. Amnesty International Wednesday urged Brunei to "immediately halt" implementing the new penalties. "To legalise such cruel and inhuman penalties is appalling of itself," Brunei researcher Rachel Chhoa-Howard said in a statement. "Some of the potential 'offences' should not even be deemed crimes at all, including consensual sex between adults of the same gender." A notice on Brunei's Attorney General's Chambers dated … [Read more...] about Brunei to impose death by stoning for gay sex and adultery

"Casting Light in the Shadows: Child and youth migration, exploitation and trafficking in Vietnam," released on Tuesday at a conference in Hanoi, said they were either trafficking victims or exposed to trafficking risks. Vietnamese girls and boys are equally at risk of trafficking, while less than one in 10 victims of trafficking or labor exploitation received any form of support. The report, surveyed 3,885 people aged 12 to 24 in 36 Vietnam localities from 2017. "This study provides important evidence of the prevalence of child trafficking and the experiences of exploited or trafficked children," Lesley Miller, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Vietnam, said. "It also reveals that both boys and girls are impacted, reinforcing the need for gender-responsive prevention and responses." Kara Apland, senior researcher at research institute Coram International, said: "The majority of trafficking survivors never access support services. Furthermore, services were found to be focused on a … [Read more...] about Over 5 pct of Vietnamese children have trafficking-related experiences: report

Paris has been hard hit by the transport strikes. (AFP/Aurore MESENGE) Public transport networks in Paris and other cities have been paralysed by the walkout, which began last Thursday and left shops, hotels and restaurants fearing for their bottom line. Edouard Philippe insisted the government would pursue its objective of creating a new points-based pension system that fuses the country's 42 existing plans into one, but said the reform was "not a battle". He declared the new-look scheme would be fairer and guarantee better basic coverage for the most vulnerable workers, insisting "there will be no winners and no losers". In a televised address, Philippe sought to assuage unions' fears by saying the changes would be implemented gradually, "without brutality", and would not affect workers born before 1975. But he angered many with his announcement that although the legal retirement age would remain 62, the government would introduce a "bonus/penalty" system aimed at trying to get … [Read more...] about French PM fails to appease strikers with pension reform plan

Community STF, PNJ offer scholarships to students in Nha Trang, Dong Nai By My Huyen Tuesday,  Sep 10, 2019,15:23 (GMT+7) STF, PNJ offer scholarships to students in Nha Trang, Dong NaiBy My Huyen Nha Trang University students receive STF-PNJ scholarships - PHOTO: STF HCMC - The Saigon Times Foundation (STF) under the Saigon Times Group joined hands with Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ) to provide 27 scholarships for students in Khanh Hoa Province’s Nha Trang City and Dong Nai Province on September 6 and 9. The STF-PNJ scholarships, worth VND60 million in total, were donated to students of Nha Trang University and Dong Nai University at the beginning of the school year to help them pay tuition fees. PNJ took the occasion to call on students to join the “Green community” program and launch the “Thank you for not littering” program. The company donated waste bins to the schools, … [Read more...] about STF, PNJ offer scholarships to students in Nha Trang, Dong Nai

Le Dinh Quang, deputy head of its labor affairs division, told VnExpress on Monday that more working hours mean less downtime, reduced productivity and heightened risk of occupational health hazards. Vietnamese laws require manual workers to work 48 hours a week against only 40 for all others. But Quang said Convention 47 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) approved a 40-hour work week without reducing living standards, and many countries are actively trying to reduce the number of working hours and increase downtime for workers, with only around 40 countries still having a 48-hour work week. Besides, the total number of working hours per year in Vietnam is 2,320 and the country has only 10 public holidays, while Convention 132 of the ILO states that all workers should be entitled to annual paid holidays of no less than three working weeks for every year of service, he said. As a result, workers have little time for themselves or their families, find partners or interact with … [Read more...] about Having manual workers work more than others ‘unfair’: labor confederation