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"The Life of the Chinese Gold Farmer"
by Julian Dibbell
Friday, June 22, 2007
Julian Dibbell wrote an article in The New York Times about the life
of Chinese gold farmers. Working for pennies (effective wage of
approximately 30 cents an hour), they help players from the
Western Hemisphere level up their characters in online games such as
"World of Warcraft," which counts over 8 million players worldwide.
One of the main characteristics of these games is that they require
players to invest a lot of time to accumulate coins to buy virtual
equipments and online points to reach the next level (and become
more powerful). Since that task is very tedious, it is
subcontracted to people in developing countries.
Although a game, the work is far from easy. There are frictions as
in the real world and "real players" looking down on "gold farmers"
who are just trying to earn a living. Interesting article worth the
read. This will open your eyes to other realities of this world.
Poland Faced with Mass Exodus of
Workers
Monday,
May 08, 2006
The number of young Poles leaving the country to go to the UK to
look for work has reached an alarming level to the point that
employers in Poland worry that there won't be enough talent left to
propulse the economy going forward.
More than half a million Poles have left for the UK since Polan
joined the European Union two years ago and the exodus doesn't seem
to be slowing. With 18 percent unemployment and an economy still
struggling to get out of its communist past, the choice to leave is
not too hard for some young Poles looking for a brighter future
abroad.
The world is getting smaller and national boundaries are no longer
the obstacles they used to be.
Chirac Backs Down on the First Job
Contract
Monday,
April 10, 2006
After months of protest and public pressure from unions and student
groups, the French Government finally backed down.
Perspective from French Expats on
Current Controversy in France over Job Security
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
In light of the ongoing controversy in France regarding a law that
would give employers the right to fire workers under 26 without
cause within their first two years of employment, Bloomberg seeked
the perspective of some French expats now living in Ireland.
According to them, the new law is necessary to create jobs in
France, which has been struggling with high unemployment for over a
decade now. The magnitude of the bureaucracy in France is perceived
to be a major impediment to the French economy. Many businesses
have moved away from France for that specific reason.
Here is a comparison between Ireland and France:
"Irish employers are obliged to give a week's notice for staff who
have worked for less than two years. In contrast, most French people
have contracts that give them the right to two months' notice.
Employees can be fired only if companies can prove a "serious''
fault or economic weakness. About 192,000 contracts, or 1 percent of
the total, are brought before courts each year, according to the
Ministry of Justice. Cases can drag on for long periods of time,
11.8 months on average in 2003."
According to the article, Ireland's economy has expanded at an
annual average rate of 5.1 percent since 2001. Three times faster
than the French economy.
Indeed, globalization is now a reality. Mentalities need to change.
France Struggling with Youth
Unemployment
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Crowds of students and union activists are demonstrating against
a legislation allowing employers to fire employees under 26
without cause during their first two years on the job.
The law makes students "disposable" according to some. The
government's position, however, is that it will encourage
employers to take chances on young workers.
France is struggling with unemployment with a 23 percent youth
unemployment rate, more than double the national rate. In some
immigrant neighbourhoods, the unemployment rate goes as high as
50 percent.
Although some groups are protesting, not everybody disagrees
with the law. After all, is it better to have a precarious job
or no job at all?
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