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This week's international news.
US-based Cisco Systems has put a temporary freeze on recruiting staff, a sign that the US economy’s slowdown is hitting businesses. In contrast, Cisco nearly tripled its workforce in the past two years, adding 30,000 employees worldwide. John Chambers, chief executive of the manufacturer of switches and routers to direct traffic for telecoms and Internet providers, admitted a temporary recruitment freeze has been in place since the beginning of the year. http://www.cisco.com/
Police smash into car firm to break up staff sit-in
Thousands of police stormed bankrupt Korean car giant Daewoo’s main plant, ending a four-day sit-in by 300 workers. Officers used excavators to demolish the gate after clashing with staff, who hurled firebombs before fleeing inside the Bupyong factory, near the South Korean capital Seoul. Unions were protesting at Daewoo’s decision to issue 1,700 redundancy notices. A Korean court ordered the firm to cut 12,800 jobs worldwide after it collapsed with debts of £55bn. http://www.daewoo.com/
Nike ‘disturbed’ by allegations at factories
A survey into conditions at Indonesian contract factories used by sports clothing company Nike has uncovered allegations of sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Interviewees also claim that two employees, in different plants, had died at work having been denied medical attention. Workers in one factory claimed that female recruits were encouraged to date managers to ensure promotion. Nike, which released the report last week, has promised to implement a “remediation plan” due to the “disturbing” findings. www.theglobalalliance.com/content/news.cfm
