Addicted to cheap labour

Addicted to cheap labour

0 Comments | New Straits Times, Feb 8, 2010

MOST estimates put the number of foreign workers at 2.1 million for 2008. In January of that year, we were told that the Economic Planning Unit had worked out a plan to cut the number to 1.5 million by 2015. In the same year, the human resources minister stated that the aim was to whittle it down by at least 500,000 by this year. After chairing the cabinet committee on foreign workers and illegal workers in July last year, the deputy prime minister said the government was working to cap the number at 1.8 million by this year. Whatever the variants in the targets – and the unknown number of illegal immigrants – as the figure has dipped to 1.6 million, according to the human resources minister, it would seem that the government has succeeded in reducing the number of foreign workers.

However, though the direction of government policy has been evident, it is less clear whether the reduction has been wholly the result of government initiatives. If the increased demand for foreign workers from glove manufacturers, furniture makers, plastic producers, and electronic factories is any indication, it would suggest that it is the ebb and flow of the economic tide that determines the flux of immigrant labour. When the economy slowed down and production stalled, employers did not renew the work permits and sent them back. But now that the economy is recovering and production has picked up, the manufacturers are scrambling to recruit foreign workers – and the government has relaxed the rules to let 100,000 of them in, just as it had tightened the regulations when exports fell and lay-offs climbed.

For now, at least, when “business is booming”, it would seem that “we cannot deny them” the foreign workers that they need. However business-friendly the concession may be, it is nevertheless troubling that the government has given in to pressure on this and other occasions, such as the time it put the decision to double the foreign worker levy on the back burner
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Slip into something more comfortable then step outside

Slip into something more comfortable then step outside

0 Comments | Herald, The; Glasgow (UK), Feb 8, 2010

IT’S hard to remember a fashion season when one designer or another hasn’t produced a beautiful, yet utterly unwearable, trend. Remember those conical bras at Gaultier?

Only Madonna was brave enough to wear them. Then there was silk socks with high heels at Prada last season, when even the normally balanced models fell over, one after the other, like skittles at the end of a bowling ally.

This spring, although the shoes are lower the clothes have got a little more risque. According to some designers (Mr Jacobs and Mr Galliano to name but two) spring is a time for wearing your underwear as outerwear.

Yes, that’s right, that means donning your bra outside your blouse and your pants, well, over your pants, as the Americans would say.

While some versions of this trend might look a little suggestive (at Sportmax some of the underwear was less outer wear and more nowhere) there are ways to don some silk and lace without looking like a Moulin Rouge dancer.

Dresses and skirts that look like pretty camisoles or slips are easy to find on the high street and, arguably, perfect for wearing if you’re getting into the Valentine’s Day spirit.

Terrified of revealing too much? The three outfits on the right should give you some ideas.

This underwear as outer wear trend doesn’t have to translate as going out half-dressed. Why not try out some satin and lace in a more demure manner? This skin-coloured silk dress from Topshop (pound(s)45) might be a little more skimpy than your average LBD, but it’s a subtle way to try out the trend. To add a bit of contrast to your outfit, try pairing the dress with this navy cardigan (pound(s)89) and this nautical-inspired bag (pound(s)100), both from Reiss.

Topshop 0845 121 4519; Reiss 0141 204 1449/ 0131 557 5008.

If wearing your bra as a top this Valentine’s Day doesn’t float your boat, then hopefully the pretty Topshop dress will. This frock is unashamedly girly, but with the right extras you could easily give it a more grown-up look. There’s nothing that says proper adult like some expensive-looking Chanel. While the real stuff is beyond most of our budgets, this Chanel-inspired cardigan from Topshop (pound(s)48) is not. Add to the ladylike look with this chunky pearl necklace from Marks & Spencer (pound(s)15).

Topshop as before; Marks & Spencer 0131 225 2301, 0141 552 4546.

There are few things in life that look as good together than little slip dresses and dark, heavy coats. The juxtaposition of light-as-air silk with a more structured coat has to be one of the sexiest sartorial pairings you can find. Taking the same Topshop nude-coloured dress, try wearing it with this beautiful, navy blue, formal coat from Topshop (pound(s)75)
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First, the kind of health and vitality

First, the kind of health and vitality your baby gets is largely dependent on how much care you give to him or her; neglect your baby care needs and expect to have a baby that’s not healthy. Before everything else, don’t dilly-dally when you notice that your baby is not feeling fine; spend a little time checking what’s wrong, to see if you can do something about it; if not, see your pediatrician or doctor immediately. Baby care largely depends on the immunization you give your baby; he or she should be immunized against the different likely diseases so that the immune system will be able to deal with them if and when they show up. When your baby has nasal congestion, you can help him or her by using a humidifier in the house that will help to liquefy the baby’s nasal secretions. If your baby has diaper rash, remember to always change the diapers and start using ointments that have zinc oxide. If you are a working mum and needs to get back to work after giving birth to your baby, then get a child care provider that will take as much care of your baby as you would yourself; ensure it’s someone that has great love for children, not someone who is doing it only for the money. One of the major advantages to taking your baby to a normal full blown daycare center is that your baby will be exposed to a learning environment and get a chance to interact with other children his or her age. It’s more important to spend all the time necessary to take care of your baby than to spend money buying all your baby needs yet never been there for him or her. Many husbands are becoming as committed to taking care of their babies as their wives are. In conclusion, I understand how difficult it can be to maintain a full time job and to bring up your baby in the right way; a good nanny or babysitter can help you… so take the time to find a good one.
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I don’t care how

I don’t care how fantastic people say a particular bad breath cure system is, always get the advice or guide of a professional before taking it. Many people don’t do this and they end up with much bigger problems than the bad breath problems they had in the beginning. A very effective natural bad breath cure method that lots of people say works is to use lemon juice which is diluted with water to thoroughly rinse the affected mouth. But of course, if this works, it’s because the bad breath problem isn’t a chronic one. For chronic bad breath problems, the solutions are far from just rinsing the mouth with lemon juice. The reason why the chewing of mint leaves or parsley works for many people with bad breath problems is because of the natural oil that’s inherent in them. The natural oil help to keep your mouth lubricated. Apart from that, the natural oil acts to move out the particles of food which eventually break down to cause bad breath. So – yes, it’s a good idea to chew mint leaves of parsley as solution to your bad breath problem. If you are a chronic smoker, odds are that you will always experience bad breath, especially if you don’t do anything about it. If you are wondering why smoking will cause bad breath, listen to this – it dries your mouth when you smoke and dried mouths cause bad breath. So, it sure might be the right time now for you to give up on smoking, if you are serious about getting rid of bad breath. Many people now eat lots of fruits and vegetables to prevent bad breath, but do you know why? For most of them, it’s mainly because such vegetables, especially those that have low fat, help to prevent bad breath. I know you might not really like eating fruits and vegetables, but why shouldn’t you, if they can help you cure your bad breath?
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Stacks of period features

Stacks of period features

0 Comments | Western Daily Press, Feb 6, 2010

This fabulous old house has stacks of interesting features and plenty of land. West Knole House, in Knole, near Long Sutton, Somerset, is believed to date from 1525, with an Elizabethan addition, and is Grade II listed. It’s for sale at Pounds 950,000.

The property has been enhanced by the present owner to create an exceptional home sitting in gardens and a paddock extending to just over two acres.

Inside are all the great period features that one would expect from a house of this vintage, such as wood panelling, inglenook fireplaces, flagstone floors, oak doors, and beamed ceilings. There is also planning permission to relocate the drive through the paddock to create a long sweeping entrance to the house
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It’s wise to decide on what

It’s wise to decide on what the theme of your decor will be before going on a shopping spree for new home furnishings. Those that have particular furniture in mind can make such furniture the center of their decoration and use the actual furniture as the main theme. And if you already have the knowledge of what your decorating theme will be, all that remains is to choose the home furnishings that will blend with the colors and style of your theme. And when it comes to searching for ideal home furnishings, there is no better place to source for it that the internet because it offers a lot of online home furnishing options. Another advantage of shopping for home furnishings or other accessories is you can check the collections and make your choice without ever appearing in the store. Many online home furnishing stores also provide visitors to their sites the luxury of placing order for furniture catalogues for home delivery. It’s not difficult to find a home furnishing store on the net. Most retailers provide an array of home furnishings which are sometimes arranged by color, theme, or put in another format in which the consumer can envision they plan to decorate. It is noteworthy to say here that shopping for home furnishing on the internet is secure and very fast. It’s the encrypted server connections of most online furniture websites that makes the financial transactions made there secure.
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When it comes to the security

When it comes to the security industry the use of video is indispensable. Due to the importance of video surveillance system are every where and very cheap to buy. Thereby making your home or your business safe from burglars. It is generally known that no technology that is doing well today, started in a rosy way. So much for video conferencing. It has also had it ups and downs before it finally became the bride of every party that relies on communication using this technology. Colleges have had the opportunities to use video conferencing technology as corporations like VB Rick gave several MPEG.4 systems to universities around the country. With the level of developments that is being witnessed in the advancement of video conferencing, every thing is pointing to the future where it will become a necessity in personal and business endeavors. Video conferencing deals with the hosting of meetings between two or many participants, who are in different locations at the same time. This usually becomes possible by using internet connection to send sounds and vision.
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It pays you to remove the roof

It pays you to remove the roof racks on your automobile. That would spare you the temptation of loading the car that way, and you will spend less on gas ultimately. Besides that, the racks themselves are a little extra weight that you do not need to be logging all over the place. No wonder you have so much trouble saving gas. You need to take them down. I hear there are electric cars out in the market already. I personally read an extract last year in which Honda committed to flooding the market with this great new product. Great. As yet they may be too expensive for the likes of you and I to purchase, but not for too long. Get one when the time and tide are right, and save yourself the cost of gas from now till whenever. Every part of your automobile engine is important. Any fault will force other parts to compensate, leading to burning more fuel. To save gas, you ought to keep a lid on that always. You might want to avoid taking your vehicle over rough terrain. The rougher the terrain, the harder the vehicle engine has to work to be able to get over it, and thus, the more unnecessary gas is burnt. If it is not built for it, youll especially not much like the amount of gas youll be burning that way. Use if for what it is built for. If you are not actually using them, lose whatever extra pounds your car may be packing. You could have some stuff in the trunk that you really do not use, and you could be carrying things on the roof of the car that need not be there. All that extra load is burning gas in a way you don’t want. You can do better without them.
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Are you planning for a vacation to

Are you planning for a vacation to the sunshine state? You probably want to enjoy a stress free holiday with your family? If you must achieve this, then rather than rent a hotel room an Orlando vacation home will do the magic. Nothing can be more relishing than this. Do you want to maximize your vacation budget as you visit Orlando this time? An Orlando vacation rental home is what you want. For a reasonable price you can get a three bedroom complete with every facility you can think of. That way you dont have to go paying for exorbitant hotel charges which might even be less comfortable. Did you know that the price of a three bedroom that is fully equipped with two bath, games room, pool, and health resort is roughly $ 140 for nightly rental? This cost is equivalent to renting a single room in a luxurious hotel. If you opt for a vacation home, you know you will be saving more. There are wonderful places to consider renting in home for your vacation. These places provide benefits such as privacy, convenience and conformability after you have visited places of interest and had a hectic day. If you dont like eating out all the time, this is the more reason why, you will need to rent an Orlando vacation home. Their kitchen is well en suited with all the culinary implements you can ever think of. With this you can prepare your own meals and relax at home instead of wondering about looking something to eat and getting more tired.
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A common backyard landscape idea is

A common backyard landscape idea is hardscape; this is a combination of rocks, fences and walls placed in strategic points in the backyard to enhance the comeliness of a homesome landscapers further beautify it by adding climbing plants and trees that are a match for all seasons. In a bid to save time and money, home owners sometimes use clover to landscape their frontyard instead of grass because clover does not require constant mowing like grass does. If you are determined to save costs on landscaping and you have absolutely no knowledge about how to do it on your own, you can educate yourself by browsing through detailed websites online or by reading up on landscaping by borrowing books on the subject from your local library. An arid area is usually characterized by inferior soil; the good news for people who live in places like this is that they can still landscape their homes using shrubs or flowers that do not need excellent soil to grow but which do quite well in poor soil. Concrete landscaping is a type of landscape that uses concrete to frame the house; this form of landscaping is commonly used to create paths and walkways through the garden or to the front of the house and can be designed in a series of delightful twists, turns and patterns.
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