A comparative overview of the primary Southeast Asian safety and health laws

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 601-632
Author(s):  
Kuok Ho Daniel Tang
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
The Us ◽  
Research Experiment ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Health Laws

PurposeThis review compares the primary occupational safety and health (OSH) laws of the ASEAN members against the major provisions of the primary OSH laws of the United Kingdom (UK) and United States (US) grouped under the themes for OSH law adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO).Design/methodology/approachThis review employs the 11 themes for OSH law adopted by the ILO as the basis of comparison. As the themes lack specificity in terms of their respective contents, specific facets of the themes are drawn from the review of the primary OSH laws of the UK and the US.FindingsThe review shows that primary OSH laws of the ASEAN members encompass the fundamental aspects of the ILO OSH themes particularly the regulatory framework, scope, roles of authorities, duties of employers and employees as well as safety inspection and enforcement. The review demonstrates a lack of provision of worksite consultation by the authorities, the emphasis on research, experiment and demonstration by the government as well as certain aspects of training.Practical implicationsOSH in many developing members of the ASEAN is still evolving to advocate the basic rights of employees, protect the safety of the public and ensure the welfare, safety and health of employees are upheld at workplaces. There is an obvious disparity in the coverage of the primary OSH laws of the nations, resulting in widely varied OSH implementation. This study contributes to advancement of the primary OSH laws in developing ASEAN members by highlighting areas of their primary OSH laws that can be improved. Improvement of the primary OSH laws is crucial to subsequent improvement and development of subsidiary laws to provide for adequate protection at workplaces.Originality/valueMost studies of OSH laws in the ASEAN are country-specific and often theme-specific. There is currently no study which compares the primary OSH laws of ASEAN nations using themes derived from the ILO as well as primary OSH laws of the UK and the US. This review is one of its kinds to use such an approach in providing a comparative overview of the primary OSH laws of all ASEAN nations.

Market volatility endangers moves to replace LIBOR

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Market Volatility ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Loans ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Interest Rate Swaps ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Uk

Subject The transition away from LIBOR. Significance The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) has been relied upon worldwide since 1970 for setting interest rates on syndicated loans, corporate debt, consumer loans, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. Following the 'LIBOR scandal' of 2008, the UK Financial Conduct Authority took over the regulation and administration of the rate, and no manipulation has emerged since 2013. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom and United States are determined to replace LIBOR. Impacts COVID-19 could prompt the US Fed to increase its support to the repo market, exacerbating fears that SOFR is not market determined. The scale and duration of COVID-19-related economic disruptions loom over banking sector profitability. Banks will struggle to balance immediate priorities triggered by COVID-19, and the need to devote staff and funds to the LIBOR transition.

Spain’s budget majority promises political stability

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Socialist Party ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

Significance The minority Socialist Party (PSOE) - Unidas Podemos (UP) government needed the support of several left-wing and pro-independence parties to get the budget through. Its approval makes early elections unlikely and gives the government a better chance to shape the COVID-19 economic recovery and implement some of its 2019 electoral pledges. Impacts Spain’s poor record in absorbing EU funds suggests it will struggle to make the most of the EU recovery fund. The weakening of the UK currency will hurt Spanish exports to the United Kingdom, especially with fewer UK tourists coming to Spain. Greater political stability will enable Spain to pursue a more assertive foreign policy.

The implications of Brexit for the governance of telecommunications markets in the United Kingdom

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewan Sutherland
Keyword(s):  
European Economic Area ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Regulatory Governance ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Vested Interests ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the implication of the exit of the UK from the European Union (a.k.a. Brexit). Design/methodology/approach This paper analyses the options for the UK and the freedom this creates for the government to design its system of governance for the telecommunications and related economic sectors. Findings Brexit, other than the Norway Option or membership of the European Economic Area, allows the UK Government considerable freedom to reshape its system of governance for telecommunications. The strongest influence in such a redesign would be vested commercial interests, with the risk of subsequent underperformance and insufficient rigour. Research limitations/implications Events have moved relatively quickly, yet the outcome of the negotiations remains difficult to predict, beyond broad scenarios. Social implications There will be a need for greater involvement of consumers and business users in the process of recasting the regulatory governance system if it is not to be for the benefit of vested interests. Originality/value This is the first substantive analysis of Brexit for the telecommunications sector.

COVID-19 will hit US GDP but recovery may be V-shaped

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Market Liquidity ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Us Economy ◽  
The Us ◽  
Home Sales ◽  
The Government ◽  
National Emergency ◽  
Economic Outlook

Subject US economic outlook. Significance Before the COVID-19 outbreak, economic activity was growing at 2.0-2.5%, the stock market and employment were close to record highs, new home sales were rising and consumer spending had momentum. The immediate outlook for the US economy is now very unclear as the number of COVID-19 cases has surged above 3,800 and the virus is present in 49 states, prompting President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency on March 13. To bolster financial market liquidity and support businesses and households, the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut rates by 100 basis points to 0-0.25% on March 15. Impacts The public spending for the COVID-19 outbreak will add to the budget deficit as no party is willing to raise taxes in an election year. The Fed may cut rates more but will risk inflation if rates stay low too long; if recovery is rapid, rates may rise sooner than expected. Heavily indebted firms and individuals will seek assistance from the government, especially in the travel and entertainment industries. A sharper economic downturn will test Trump’s managerial skill as his voters expect him to be able to resolve their problems quickly.

OSH at Trinidad and Tobago's Fingertips

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon ◽  
Kit Fai Pun
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Health Agency ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Media Types ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Uk

As Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) embraces the digital age, one field in which the country must advance is Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). This paper seeks to identify how T&T's Occupational Safety and Health Agency (TTOSHA) addresses e-government (e-gov) through its website, how its approach compares to those used by leading OSH bodies in two first-world countries, the USA (US) and the UK, and how the T&T approach may be improved. The OSH e-gov practices of the US OSHA, UK HSE, and TTOSHA websites are presented. Through a content analysis and comparison exercise, e-gov shortcomings of the TTOSHA site are noted and recommendations for improvement are proposed. The paper's potential benefits include improved accessibility and utility of the TTOSHA site through improved matching of site content to international practice, broader ranges of resource topics and media types, improved responsiveness and connectivity with stakeholders, and better focus on OSH performance through the dissemination of searchable OSH statistics and performance reports.

scholarly journals Government efforts and roadmaps for building information modeling implementation: lessons from Singapore, the UK and the US

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Jiang ◽  
Chengke Wu ◽  
Xiang Lei ◽  
Ammar Shemery ◽  
Keith D. Hampson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Building Information Modeling ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Building Information ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThe government plays a critical role in driving building information modeling (BIM) implementation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the government efforts for driving BIM implementation in three benchmark countries, namely, Singapore, the UK and the US, so as to develop appropriate roadmaps for increasing BIM implementations in other countries.Design/methodology/approachThis study performs a review on the government efforts and roles in BIM implementation in three benchmark countries, namely, Singapore, the UK and the US.FindingsThrough cross comparison with existing literature, it is found that Singapore and the UK adopt a government-driven approach and a phase-by-phase development pattern is observed. The first phase focuses on the building sector to rapidly increase the use of BIM and the government generally plays the role of an initiator. In the second phase, BIM is expanded to other implementation areas, e.g. smart city. The importance of the initiator role decreases and more attention is paid to supporting roles such as researcher, educator and regulator. In contrast, an industry-driven approach is adopted in the US. The main role of the government is that of a regulator, with research institutions actively supporting the BIM implementation.Research limitations/implicationsGeneral roadmaps of the two mandating approaches are presented. The results can provide a useful reference for countries and regions that intend to develop roadmaps to increase their BIM maturity level and enhance readiness to accept and implement BIM.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first studies that investigate the step-by-step roadmaps for implementing BIM from the perspective of changing government roles.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and the ‘Myriad’: A Comparative Assessment of Emergency Responses from Europe and South America

Legalities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-143
Author(s):  
Kim Barker ◽  
Enrique Uribe-Jongbloed ◽  
Tobias Scholz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South America ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
The Public ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Share Data ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Emergency Measures

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted – across intricate borders, different geographies, and legal jurisdictions – that there is only so much that can be done in the way of governance to tackle the challenge posed by a virus. The pandemic is a global problem, one which has affected almost every country in significant and seldom-felt ways. Governments have been forced to react, to respond with emergency measures, temporary rules and legislation, and impose restrictions on freedoms. It has brought to the fore a range of responses, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. What is particularly evident across the unfolding of the pandemic is the divergent approaches in introducing governance measures to control behaviour, to share data and information, and to report on the pandemic while holding decision-makers to account. Much of the reporting of government reactions to the pandemic has focussed on emergency restrictions, lockdowns, the suspension of ‘normal’ gatherings, public health data, and tracing apps. Each of these is bundled up with concerns over the interferences with freedoms, a lack of scrutiny and holding to account of governance bodies and lawmakers, and privacy concerns. The new ways of working, governing, and communicating emergency rules is a COVID-19 legacy for governments, but is it one that will shift our expectations? The balance between fundamental freedoms has been – to an extent – pitted against the public health agenda and the nature of the emergency response by governments across the world, but particularly in Germany, the UK, and South America. This article explores the nature of the government responses through emergency measures (and restrictions) and tracing programmes in three countries: Germany, the United Kingdom, and Colombia. The assessment – and comparison – of three countries, across two diverse regions – offers a unique discussion from the perspective of pandemic responses to the COVID-19 emergency. The pandemic itself provides an opportunity to compare countries, governance responses, and legalities that may not otherwise be possible. The myriad of responses seen throughout the pandemic offers a unique opportunity for comparative discussion – this paper provides that discussion, but in so doing, assesses whether it is possible to recommend a ‘one size fits all’ approach to governance emergencies.

Bahrain’s foreign military bases could become a target

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Military Bases ◽  
Internal Stability ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Arab Uprisings ◽  
Regional Role ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

Significance Manama is gradually rolling back some of the reforms to limit the power of the security forces that were put in place after the post-2011 Arab uprisings. The government has been emboldened by Saudi backing and by its security alliance with key Western powers. The new US administration’s more confrontational policy towards Iran’s regional role, which has been echoed by the UK government, could strengthen that alliance. Impacts The strategic importance to Washington of its military presence in Bahrain will rise as tensions with Iran increase. Spillover from US and Saudi confrontations with Iran in Yemen or Gulf shipping lanes could affect Bahrain’s internal stability. Iranian-linked Shia militant groups such as Saraya al-Ashtar or Saraya al-Mukhtar may escalate hostilities. The US and UK governments will seek to increase base security, but could also quietly pressure Manama to make concessions to the Shia.

UK fraud and tax evasion measures enhanced

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Money Laundering ◽  
Tax Evasion ◽  
House Prices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Terrorist Financing ◽  
Financial Activity ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Government ◽  
Overseas Territories ◽  
The Uk

Subject Money laundering and terrorist financing clampdown. Significance On March 15, the UK Treasury announced plans to create a new watchdog aiming to improve detection of crimes relating to money laundering and terrorist financing, and published draft updates to money-laundering regulations. After Brexit, the United Kingdom will no longer have to adhere to EU money-laundering rules; improving the regulatory framework around suspicious financial activity is crucial to ensure it does not become even more attractive to international launderers. Impacts The new watchdog should make compliance easier, minimising the regulatory burden on high-value sectors. Increased scrutiny of estate agents and lawyers may reduce demand for high-end UK residential property, slowing growth in house prices. Against the backdrop of Brexit, the government may shy away from pressuring Overseas Territories in case it provokes independence demands.

UK politics prolongs doubt over relations with Trump

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
National Health Service ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Us Congress ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Intelligence Sharing ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Large Sections

Subject Future UK-US relations. Significance During his state visit to the United Kingdom, US President Trump took a conciliatory line towards his hosts. There was little substantive progress on bilateral issues, but neither was there open disagreement. Trump appeared to walk back a threat to cut off intelligence-sharing with the United Kingdom over London’s stance towards China, and he also attempted to minimise the damage he caused by suggesting the National Health Service (NHS) should be part of a future US-UK trade deal. Impacts Trump remains unpopular among large sections of the UK public, which makes it risky for Conservative politicians to appear close to him. Trump suggested that Nigel Farage should become the UK’s chief Brexit negotiator, indicating he still holds hard-line views on Brexit. A hard border in Northern Ireland after Brexit would complicate the already-difficult politics of a US-UK trade deal in the US Congress.

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