cyber-clippings (dec2708)

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Most of us who work away from home are most likely in a situation that does not allow enough time to keep ourselves updated with news that we cannot afford to miss. I'm just lucky though that my job involves mining the Net for information, so let me gather from time to time some tidbits that I guess will be useful reading for you guys. The items below are clippings from websites that I believe are reliable sources of information.


Global unemployment to increase by 20 million

The global financial crisis could increase world unemployment by an
estimated 20 million women and men, the Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO) said. "We need prompt and coordinated government actions to avert a social crisis that could be severe, long-lasting and global", he added.

Based on revised global growth estimates by the International Monetary Fund (Note 1) (IMF), the UN and early reports suggesting rising job losses for most countries where data was available, ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said the ILO's preliminary estimates indicated that the "number of unemployed could rise from 190 million in 2007 to 210 million in late 2009."
Mr. Somavia added that "the number of working poor living on less than a dollar a day could rise by some 40 million – and those at 2 dollars a day by more than 100 million".

"The demand for Filipino seamen will continue to rise because of their ability to speak English, which other seamen in Asia do not possess," he said.

Linsangan said the ability of Filipinos to speak English is an advantage in the shipping industry, and they can get a higher rate of at least $500 compared to their Asian counterparts. --- From GENEVA (ILO News)


Not so stormy sea for Pinoy seamen

More than 200,000 Filipino seamen on board foreign vessels will not be affected by the global
economic crisis because the demand for skilled and English-speaking seafarers will continue to rise, a leading international maritime lawyer said yesterday.

Lawyer Pedro Linsangan told reporters during the weekly Philippine Business and News Forum that despite the economic crisis, countries will continue shipping their products to various parts of the world. --- From Philippine Star