Briefs, November 27, 2012
More than 100 mainland Chinese bus drivers in Singapore refused to work yesterday in a rare case of labour mass action in the city state. The drivers, disgruntled over their pay from state-linked transport firm SMRT, refused to board a shuttle ferrying them from their dormitory to a depot.
SINGAPORE - More than 100 mainland Chinese bus drivers in Singapore refused to work yesterday in a rare case of labour mass action in the city state. The drivers, disgruntled over their pay from state-linked transport firm SMRT, refused to board a shuttle ferrying them from their dormitory to a depot. Singapore has been hiring bus drivers from China and Malaysia amid a chronic shortage of manpower. One Chinese driver said the dispute arose over their basic salary of S$1,075 (HK$6,800), as Malaysians get S$1,375, and a lack of bonuses. AFP
LAHORE - At least 16 people have died after drinking a toxic cough syrup in Pakistan, forcing authorities to close three pharmacies and a medicine factory. The deaths occurred in the poor Shahdra Town neighbourhood of Lahore between Friday and Sunday, with the victims mostly drug addicts, a police official said. "Some of the victims were found dead in a graveyard where addicts used to take different kinds of drugs," he said. AFP