Home ministers

MADRID: The Spanish government has agreed with unions and business leaders to make employers cover home working expenses after the COVID-19 pandemic caused millions to work from their living rooms, Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias said on Tuesday (Sep 22). "It was fundamental to regulate remote working to protect the rights of workers," Iglesias said in an interview with state-owned TV channel TVE. READ: Spain reports 31,428 COVID-19 cases since Friday READ: Commentary: Why do you not feel like working from home? You’re probably procrastinating more The draft bill would force companies to pay for all expenses employees may have when working from home while allowing working hours flexibility and granting workers disconnection time, Iglesias said. He did not detail the expenses employers will have to assume or what employers may have obtained in the agreement. The draft bill still needs to be approved by the cabinet before being sent to parliament. During the … [Read more...] about Spain’s home working draft bill to make employers pay for expenses

PARIS: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday (Sep 18) he had tested positive for coronavirus, but had no symptoms and would continue to carry out his duties while quarantined at home. "I tested positive for COVID-19 this evening," Le Maire said in a statement on Twitter, adding that he would remain at home for seven days. "I immediately followed the health measures brought in by the government by self-isolating at home." He gave no further details. French Prime Minister Jean Castex last week tested negative for COVID-19, after he came into contact with someone who tested positive at the Tour de France cycle race. France has been grappling with a surge in new confirmed coronavirus cases, and earlier on Friday reported a record number of 13,215 for any 24 hour period since the start of the pandemic. The daily death toll jumped to a four-month high. Epidemiologists blame the increase on a combination of faster circulation of the virus and a six-fold increase in … [Read more...] about French Finance Minister tests positive for COVID-19

SINGAPORE: A new welfare home to help elderly destitute men was officially opened on Tuesday (Apr 17) by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Located in Admiralty, Acacia Home aims to reintegrate its residents back into the community by facilitating job placements and housing arrangements. Many of the men at the home have little to no savings, are unable to afford their own homes or are estranged from their families, said the superintendent of Acacia Home Regine Chan. In such cases, they are referred by social services to the home, which is run by Sathya Sai Social Service. The home is able to take in up to 250 elderly destitute men, up from its capacity of 100 at its previous interim location at Kaki Bukit Centre. Currently, the Admiralty facility is home to 110 residents aged between 55 and 88, who are referred to the home by MSF. Such welfare homes were established under the Destitute Persons Act for the reception, care and rehabilitation of destitute … [Read more...] about Acacia welfare home opens new facility in Admiralty for destitute elderly men

SINGAPORE: Members from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) on Thursday (Jan 16) failed in a bid to have their case against Manpower Minister Josephine Teo heard in open court. Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan, chairman Paul Tambyah and vice-chairman John Tan arrived in court early on Thursday morning for the in-chamber hearing for the case that is linked to directions under the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA). Thursday's hearing had initially been set for a hearing in chambers, and was the party's next step after they failed to get correction directions from Mrs Teo cancelled. The minister had rejected SDP's application to cancel correction directions she issued under the new Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) for three posts SDP had made online regarding local employment. However, the party indicated that it intended to apply for its summons against Mrs Teo heard in open court, where the public can attend. … [Read more...] about SDP fails in bid to have POFMA-linked case against Manpower Minister heard in open court

After repeated gaffe by Rahul Gandhi on no dedicated ministry to deal with the issues of fishermen, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Congress leader was on vacation when the National Democratic Alliance formed the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in 2019. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays obeisance at Maha Mrityunjay Temple near Puranigudam in Nagaon district of Assam, Thursday. Assam Chief Minister Sabananda Sonowal is also seen. Photograph: PTI Photo "Some days ago, Rahul Gandhi had asked why there is no fisheries department. I want to know from people whether they want a leader who doesn't know that Department of Fisheries has been in existence for two years (since 2019)," Shah said at a public rally ahead of assembly elections in the Union Territory Puducherry's Karaikal district. Questioning the capability of the Congress party to govern the Puducherry, he said, "Can the Congress party do the welfare of Puducherry?" … [Read more...] about Rahul was on vacation when fisheries ministry was formed: Amit Shah