Government regulatory agencies

2-DAY STRIKE Jeepney drivers are starting a two-day transport strike starting today to oppose the government’s modernization plan for public utility vehicles. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ Suspending work and classes nationwide today, Monday, shows that Malacañang “is nervous” about the two-day transport strike protesting a program phasing out jeepneys at least 15 years old, the leader of the mass action said on Sunday. Already, the Land Registration Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the mass action could be part of destabilization efforts. “We are receiving reports that the transport strike tomorrow led by Piston (Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper and Operator Nationwide) will be supported by other left-leaning groups. Allegedly, the plot is to destabilize the government,” an LTFRB board member, Aileen Lizada, said on the eve of the strike. Piston claims 200,000 members nationwide. Palace, number coding More than a week ago, President Rodrigo Duterte, facing accusations of … [Read more...] about Jeepney strike: Schools, gov’t offices closed

This article is from Capital & Main , an award-winning publication that reports from California on economic, political, and social issues. After decades of decline in overtime pay, the Biden administration is considering action to sharply expand access in a time of high inflation. This is the fourth article of a four-part series examining the 40-year effort by big business and elected officials to deny Americans extra pay for extra work. advertisement advertisement With Americans struggling with inflation, workers’ advocates are banking on a White House that has promised to make millions more workers eligible for overtime wages that pay time and a half. Two presidents who made similar promises over the last 45 years failed to deliver, resulting in outdated federal overtime guidelines and underfunded labor enforcement. But during decades in which lawmakers and lobbyists cut away at overtime access, states like Washington and California … [Read more...] about How several states are taking the lead on restoring overtime pay

- A + A KOTA KINABALU (May 22): The "Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia'"or Malaysian Family Aspirations (AKM) Tour held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) received an overwhelming response from the local community during the three-day programme which concluded on Sunday (May 22). The AKM Tour Programme secretariat, in a statement, said the event saw a total of 24,198 visitors as of 3pm on Sunday, while a total of RM6.47 million in sales and potential business were also recorded. The involvement of 181 stalls for Small and Medium Industry (SMI) entrepreneurs and the business matching programme also boosted economic activities, especially for local entrepreneurs. The JaminKerja Keluarga Malaysia Career Carnival also saw 459 participants being called to attend interviews, of which 148 made it to the final screening in the positions they applied for, while 139 of them were successfully offered jobs. Apart from that, the Malaysian Family Sales were … [Read more...] about Sabah AKM tour records RM6.47 mil in sales, potential business

Employees of the Department of Finance (DOF) are playing catch me if you can with their employer. The DOF is faced with the challenge of discovering the unexplained wealth of its employees, who it says are better at hiding assets the higher they are in the bureaucracy. “Our problem is, the higher the rank, the smarter they get in hiding assets. We just have to outthink them,” said Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin. The DOF is conducting lifestyle checks on its employees and on those working at its attached agencies after finding out that some workers own expensive condominium units and cars despite their meager salaries. Review of SALNs “So what we do is to look up the SALNs [statements of assets, liabilities and net worth] of everyone under our umbrella.” Agabin told reporters on Friday night. “And then we compare, look at the trend and [their SALN] declaration.” The DOF’s attached agencies are the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Local … [Read more...] about DOF conducts lifestyle checks on all its employees

Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (The Edge filepix by Suhaimi Yusuf) - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 22): The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is looking into e-hailing services and holding discussions with the service providers, following complaints that the increasingly expensive fares are becoming a burden to consumers. Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said he had instructed the top management to call the companies involved to provide an explanation and clarification on the alleged increase in fares. "An increase from RM20 to RM70 in the current situation is seen as burdensome to the people, so I think as a policymaker, we will see if any party is taking advantage to make a profit. "I've also asked the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to review, ask the companies to explain what really happened. In a day two I expect them to give an explanation so that we can see in terms of what we should do and whether to encourage more competition." He said this to reporters … [Read more...] about E-hailing service providers to explain alleged fare hikes