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Search 2 keywords found: basic income

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has proposed universal basic income (UBI) for Bangladesh as a promising tool to reduce poverty, empower citizens, and streamline social protection even within the constraints of the current fiscal framework.

The local think tank made the proposal at a seminar titled "Assessing the Viability of Universal Basic Income in Bangladesh: Target Population, Fiscal Requirements, and Institutional Challenges" in a city hotel on Sunday.

The proposal said the UBI would include a periodic, unconditional, and uniform cash payment system, offering financial security to all members of society.

Referring to several UBI schemes worldwide, the CPD said a partial one would be ideal for Bangladesh at the moment and could be more effective than the current social safety net programmes in alleviating poverty.

To ensure its effective implementation, the CPD recommended introducing a poverty scorecard as a reliable and cost-effective tool to assess poverty levels and identify target groups.

"The threshold of the scorecard will indicate households' susceptibility to poverty. Those scoring below the threshold are more vulnerable to poverty, while those above are not," said Towfiqul Islam Khan, a senior research fellow at the CPD, in his presentation.

He said the threshold would be determined by analysing various values in both urban and rural areas, aligning them to represent households that fall below the upper poverty line as defined by the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2022.

According to the CPD proposal, households in urban areas with a score below 48, and in rural areas below 52, would be eligible to receive allowances.

Speaking at the event, CPD Chairman Professor Rehman Sobhan said UBI had been discussed since the 1980s and it had taken 40 years to put the topic on the table in Bangladesh.

Describing the present time as unique, he said the head of the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus, had practically struggled his entire life to alleviate poverty.

"It is going to be Yunus among any leader, not just in Bangladesh but anywhere in the world, who would take a policy proposal on poverty seriously," he said.

The noted economist said it was not an academic paper just for discussion but was a serious policy proposition to be taken up for implementation.

The CPD chairman said the programme could be very innovative for poverty alleviation in Bangladesh. He urged the finance adviser to consider including this in the next budget.

BNP's National Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said any politician or party unable to uphold the new aspirations of the people following the July-August uprising would not sustain in politics.

He said the proposed UBI scheme matched people's aspirations, adding such a programme would help Bangladesh go ahead to become a welfare state.

Khasru said the BNP had planned to take universal healthcare as well as subsidised education at a higher level, which would make people spend more on welfare.

The senior politician termed the UBI a good programme, saying this could be taken up in coordination with other welfare schemes, including his party's proposed healthcare facilities. He said the BNP would examine the proposal and hold serious discussions.

Chairing the event, CPD's Distinguished Fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya said Bangladesh now stood at a critical juncture, balancing democracy and development.

"In this pivotal moment, it is essential to articulate our aspirations and ambitions for the future," he said.

Debapriya, also the convenor of the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, said he saw the programme as a rights-based approach where every citizen would have the right to have a minimum income.

He emphasised the vision of building a society where development would be inclusive as well as guaranteed for all and would include ensuring basic protection for the people and providing them with the minimum means of subsistence.

Such assurances, he noted, aligned with the promises enshrined in the constitution, which committed to ensuring social, economic, and human security for every citizen.

CPD's Distinguished Fellow Prof Mustafizur Rahman said now was the time to implement such programmes in Bangladesh where a government was in power as a consequence of an anti-discrimination movement.

Such a welfare programme was required if Bangladesh aspired to be a welfare state, said Mustafizur, also a core group member of Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh.

Former Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) president Rizwan Rahman said the tax-to-GDP ratio was typically between 20 and 25 per cent, or at least above 10 per cent, in countries implementing UBI.

In contrast, Bangladesh had only managed to increase its tax-to-GDP ratio by 1.2 percentage points over the past 17 years, reflecting a slow growth in this critical metric, he noted.

"This shows our growth in terms of numbers is quite low, and admittedly, we have also been misled by certain figures," he remarked.

Despite the availability of various models, Rizwan questioned the feasibility of implementing UBI in Bangladesh in light of the current tax-to-GDP ratio. He warned of potential resistance from some quarters, as the initiative would require replacing the existing transfer programmes.

While acknowledging the need to ensure the current social protection schemes' efficiency, he expressed doubts about the government's readiness to roll out a UBI programme in the current volatile economic and political climate.

He said any implementation should adopt a public-private partnership (PPP) model for better effectiveness. He also proposed the interim government initiate a pilot UBI project, saying a full-scale programme should be executed by an elected government.

The business leader emphasised that corruption, which he described as a pervasive virus, remained a significant challenge. However, he expressed optimism, stating that eliminating corruption would make implementing UBI feasible. Additionally, he stressed digitisation would be instrumental in ensuring transparency and efficiency in such programmes.

Chair of the taskforce on re-strategising the economy and mobilising resources for equitable and sustainable development Dr KAS Murshid said UBI was apparently attractive and matched the aspirations of the existing socio-political environment.

He said the interim government was now taking up programmes that were like the low-hanging fruit and actionable in a short period. He further said he did not favour scraping the previous welfare programme-related income transfers.

Central Coordinator of Ganosamhati Andolon Zonayed Saki said, "While only 2.4 million people pay taxes, over 10 million hold credit cards. This highlights a significant disparity, indicating a substantial segment of the population is not contributing to the tax system."

Aneeka Rahman, senior social protection economist at the World Bank; Iole Valentina Lucchese, attaché - programme manager of social protection of the European Union delegation to Bangladesh; and Nargis Khanam, additional secretary to the Ministry of Social Welfare; spoke as distinguished discussants.

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While automated hubs in Asia and Europe attract more trade, ports in the US and Canada are mired in inefficiency and recurring labour disputes

Globalised trade, the lifeblood of modern economies, is here to stay. Yet, as international commerce expands, the world’s ports face an unavoidable challenge: their physical and operational limits. Shorelines suitable for deepwater facilities are finite.

Expansions, such as Vancouver’s Roberts Bank Terminal 2 – built on reclaimed land in a river estuary – highlight the immense effort and expense required to increase port capacity. Even if new terminals and rail connections materialised overnight, constraints on available space make the existing ports indispensable, bestowing extraordinary leverage upon port workers.

This sway, however, has come at a cost. Labour action has secured significant gains for workers but left third parties – farmers, miners, manufacturers and consumers – to shoulder the burden of such disruptions.

In 2014, a protracted stand-off between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and US West Coast terminal operators left billions of dollars worth of goods in limbo, paralysing trade for months.

Last year, British Columbia port workers froze operations at Vancouver and Prince Rupert during a 13-day strike, affecting shipments also worth billions of dollars. More recently, strikes from Maine to Texas on America’s East and Gulf coasts further underscored the fragility of a system reliant on human labour at critical junctures.

Meanwhile, ports like Singapore and Rotterdam have embraced automation, setting new benchmarks for throughput and reliability. PSA Singapore’s port terminals are equipped with autonomous cranes and vehicles. With continuous operations, it handles 39 million container units annually, making it a world leader.

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League of Legends (LoL) has emerged as a choice, among multiplayer games with a massive global player base enjoying it immensely nowadays! With the game’s continuous development comes the evolution of tactics and resources utilized by players to outshine their competitors on the battlefield. Hacks and automation tools for League of Legends have especially caught the eye of enthusiasts lately. These tools enable players to automate in-game tasks, like minion farming and executing combos resulting in them being able to dedicate more attention to strategic gameplay elements. The rising prevalence of LoD cheats and hacks, like automated programs and vulnerabilities is causing worries regarding fairness and the integrity of the game world In this article we will delve into the expanding interest, in these utilities the concerns, and the essential insights you should grasp before contemplating their adoption.

What are League of Legends Scripts?

A loI script consists of instructions aimed at automating, in-game tasks to enhance a player’s performance by taking care of tasks that usually demand a degree of skill or accuracy. For example:

Dodging Skill Shots: Scripts can predict incoming enemy abilities and automatically move your character to avoid them.

Perfect Timing: They can execute actions, such as activating summoner spells or abilities, with flawless timing.

Last-Hitting Minions: Some scripts are designed to optimize farming by ensuring that you hit minions at the perfect moment to secure gold.

Scripts essentially take over specific aspects of gameplay, allowing players to perform tasks with superhuman accuracy.

What are League of Legends Bots?

In the League of Legends gaming world exist bots that run the game automatically unlike scripts that only help with tasks and actions performed during gameplay. These are often used for:

Account Leveling: Bots are frequently employed to level up accounts quickly without human intervention.

Farming Blue Essence: Players use bots to farm resources like Blue Essence to unlock champions and skins.Manipulating matchmaking: Systems using bots can result in gaining advantages in gaming scenarios.

The presence of automated bots, in League of Legends poses a challenge as they have the potential to disrupt the player experience significantly. Especially, in lower-tier matches where their prevalence is most pronounced.

How Do League of Legends Cheats Work?LoL cheats are tools or software that provide players with unfair advantages. These can range from simple overlays that provide extra information (such as ward timers) to complex tools that manipulate in-game mechanics. Some common types of League of Legends cheats include:

Map Hacks: These reveal hidden information, such as enemy locations, by bypassing the fog of war.

Cooldown Trackers: These display the cooldown times of enemy abilities, giving players an upper hand in engagements.

Damage Calculators: These show exactly how much damage a player can deal with, removing the need for estimation.Skill Accuracy Enhancers: To improve accuracy, skills ensure that skill shots consistently hit their intended targets.

Cheating may attract players. It harms the fairness of the game and can lead to harsh punishments.

The Rise of League of Legends Hacks

The category of LoL hacks covers a variety of tools such, as scripts bots, and cheats that are often promoted as methods to improve your gameplay but carry risks with them Many hacks, for League of Legends may involve players installing software, which can:Compromise Account Security: Downloading hacks from unverified sources can lead to account theft or bans.

Introduce Malware: Many hacks contain viruses or other malicious software that can harm your computer.

Violating the Terms of Service: Utilizing hacks is a violation of the rules set by Riot Games. This can result in permanent bans being imposed on individuals involved in such actions.

The underground market, for league hacks, has gained popularity, with buyers and sellers exchanging these tools; however, players involved in activities run the risk of losing their accounts.

What Are League of Legends Exploits?

League exploits are methods of taking advantage of unintended game mechanics or bugs to gain an advantage. Unlike hacks or scripts, exploits do not always require external software. Some examples of League of Legends exploits include:

Bypassing Cooldowns: Finding methods to utilize skills more often than originally planned without waiting for cooldown periods can be a strategy, in various scenarios.

Unjustly Advancing in Rankings: It’s important to tackle the problem of players moving up the ranks by manipulating matchmaking systems to face off against opponents.

Exploiting Bugs: Using Game Glitches for Advantage; Utilizing errors, in the game to disrupt the gameplay or achieve advantages.

Even though exploits may not require the use of software, they are still deemed unethical and can lead to consequences if discovered.

Why Do Players Use League of Legends Automation?

The demand for league of legends automation stems from various motivations. Here are some common reasons players turn to scripts, bots, and hacks:

Improving Performance: Some players struggle with mechanical skills and use these tools to compete at higher levels.

Saving Time: Automating tasks like account leveling and farming resources allows players to focus on ranked matches.

Achieving a Competitive Advantage: Securing an Advantage, in Competition; In a high-stakes game, like League of Legends players often strive to gain a hand over their rivals to ensure success.

However, it’s important to recognize that automated tools not only disrupt the gaming experience, for some but also take away the pleasure of improving one’s skills, as a player.

The Risks of Using LoL Scripts, Bots, and Hacks

Using LoL scripts, bots, or other tools comes with significant risks, including:

Account Bans: Riot Games has strict policies against cheating and uses advanced detection systems to identify offenders.Loss of Respect: In the Gaming Community; Cheating undermines your reputation among gamers.

Legal Consequences: In some cases, using or distributing hacks can lead to legal action.

Risks aside’ depending on automation tools may lessen the feeling of achievement gained from mastering the game.

How Riot Games Fights Against Cheats and Hacks

To tackle the issue of cheating in League of Legends and the use of bots and automation tools, within the game is something that Riot Games has taken steps to address through a range of measures.

Anti-Cheat Software: Riot’s anti-cheat system keeps an eye, on gameplay to spot any activity and maintain fairness.

Regular Updates: Regularly updating the software with patches helps to address and fix any exploits and vulnerabilities that may arise.

Player Reporting: Players are essential, in recognizing and reporting any actions, within the community.

Account Penalties: Players caught using cheats may face consequences, like account suspensions or permanent bans, as penalties. Riot upholds a strict zero-tolerance policy to ensure the integrity of the game.

Ethical Considerations of Using League of Legends Hacks

The ethical implications of using league hacks and cheats as automation tools give rise, to significant questions that need to be considered carefully by the community due to the potential short-term gains versus long-term impacts they may have on the overall gaming experience and integrity of the community, as a whole. Key issues include:

Unfair Advantages: Using hacks disrupts the competitive balance and undermines the efforts of honest players.

Community Impact: Automation tools degrade the overall gaming experience, particularly for new or casual players.

Personal Growth: Cheating prevents players from developing genuine skills and enjoying the learning process.

Ultimately, the decision to use these tools reflects a player’s values and respect for the game.

How to Spot Cheaters in League of Legends

While Riot’s systems are effective, players can also help by identifying potential cheaters. Signs of League of Legends exploits or automation include:

Unrealistic Dodging: Consistently avoiding skill shots with perfect timing.

Unusual Accuracy: Hitting abilities with improbable precision.

Inhuman Reflexes: Performing actions faster than is realistically possible.

If you suspect someone is using cheats, report them through the in-game system to assist Riot in maintaining a fair environment.

The Future of League of Legends Automation

As technology evolves, so do the tools used for League of Legends automation. Developers of scripts, bots, and hacks continually adapt to bypass detection methods. However, Riot Games is equally committed to staying ahead of these advancements. The ongoing battle between cheat developers and game developers highlights the importance of fair play and community support.Conclusion

The discussion surrounding LoL scripts and cheats in the League of Legends community continues to spark debate and controversy, among players and enthusiasts due, to the risks and ethical implications involved in their use.

To enhance your abilities effectively as an aspiring player or learner in gaming or any skill-based activity, you must dedicate time to practice diligently, acknowledge the value of learning from errors, and embrace the spirit authentically and ethically. This will create an enjoyable gaming atmosphere both personally and communally.

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As South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol enters the second half of his term, he has set “addressing polarization” as a new policy priority, signaling a potential departure from the government’s traditionally conservative fiscal stance. Reports indicate that the administration is now weighing a more active fiscal approach, including the possibility of a supplementary budget, under Yoon’s direction. This unexpected announcement has drawn attention, as has the implied shift in fiscal policy.

Designating polarization as a national agenda is not contentious in itself. Successive administrations have addressed or alleviated polarization at the forefront of their policy objectives, albeit under varying terminology. For instance, the Moon Jae-in administration’s “income-led growth” strategy aimed to combat polarization through back-to-back double-digit minimum wage hikes over two years, efforts to convert irregular jobs into permanent positions, and creating 1 million senior jobs. However, critics argue that these policies precipitated what they described as a crisis in labor markets and income distribution, saddling the country with over 400 trillion won ($284.6 billion) in new debt.

The deepening polarization in South Korea stems from glaring disparities, particularly between regular and irregular workers and between large corporations and small to medium-sized enterprises. This highlights the pressing need for labor reform. The fierce competition for “good jobs” has also exacerbated related issues, including surging private education expenses, insufficient retirement preparation, and a housing market overly concentrated in Seoul. These interlinked challenges defy simple solutions. Addressing them requires a comprehensive approach: sustained government efforts in labor and social reform, fostering the creation of quality jobs, and expanding access to affordable housing. Since jobs drive income and companies create jobs, reforming regulations such as the 52-hour workweek policy, the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and the world’s highest inheritance tax rate could be crucial steps toward narrowing inequalities.

Yet, South Korea’s political landscape has often opted for populist measures rather than tackling the root causes of polarization. Both ruling and opposition parties have proposed populist initiatives, such as a 50 trillion won COVID-19 relief fund for small businesses, 2 million won monthly wages for conscripted soldiers, universal basic income, higher basic pensions, and expanded child allowances. During April’s general election, the Democratic Party pledged to distribute 250,000 won per person, while the People Power Party (PPP) vowed to repeal the financial investment income tax. Recently, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon suggested postponing cryptocurrency taxation by two years, deferring its scheduled implementation next year. Such policies, which increase spending while reducing tax revenues, could ultimately worsen national debt—an approach critics liken to the previous administration’s fiscal strategies.

The Yoon administration has already encountered significant tax revenue shortfalls, with deficits surpassing 56 trillion won last year and 30 trillion won this year. Funds initially allocated for currency stabilization are being repurposed to fill these gaps. Additionally, the government’s 16-year tuition freeze and expanded national scholarships for university students have resulted in 150 out of 200 million students receiving state-funded scholarships, a move some critics describe as cash handouts. Similarly, basic pensions now cover 70% of the elderly population, including those earning over 7 million won per month. Critics argue these measures are unsustainable and fail to address the underlying causes of polarization. If national debt were an effective solution to inequality, they contend, the issue of polarization would not persist.

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Search 2 keywords found: guaranteed income

The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a vital non-taxable financial aid provided by the Government of Canada. It is designed to support low-income seniors who rely on the Old Age Security (OAS) pension. Here are seven key details about this essential program:

1. Eligibility Requirements

• You must be 65 years or older and reside in Canada.
• You must already receive the OAS pension.
• Your annual income must fall below certain thresholds:
  • Less than $22,056 for single, widowed, or divorced individuals.
  • Less than $29,136 combined income if your spouse receives the full OAS pension.
  • Additional thresholds apply for spouses not receiving OAS or those eligible for the Allowance benefit.

2. Benefit Amounts

• GIS payments vary based on marital status, income, and OAS eligibility. Monthly amounts are recalculated annually and adjusted quarterly based on income changes and inflation.

3. Income Considerations

• The GIS payment amount depends on your net income reported on your tax return. For couples, combined income determines the payment.
• Exemptions apply to some income types, such as the first $5,000 of annual employment or self-employment income.

CPP Payment Dates 2025: Increases & Amounts

OAS Payment Dates 2025: Increases and Amounts Explained

$250 Working Canadians Rebate 2025: Eligibility and Distribution Details

4. Allowance for Spouses

• If you are aged 60 to 64, reside in Canada, and your spouse or common-law partner is receiving GIS, you may qualify for the Allowance. This benefit aims to provide financial support until you are eligible for OAS.

5. Allowance for Survivors

• If your spouse or common-law partner has passed away, you may be eligible for the Allowance for Survivors. Applicants must be aged 60 to 64 and meet specific income thresholds.

6. Automatic Enrollment and Application

• Many individuals are automatically enrolled based on their tax returns. If not automatically enrolled, you can apply by completing a GIS application through Service Canada.

6 Key Reasons: Why Canadian Retirees Are Struggling to Make Ends Meet

CPP Enhacement for 2025: How it Could Boost your Pension

Canada Announces Temporary GST/HST Holiday Exemption

7. Periodic Updates

• GIS payments are adjusted quarterly to reflect inflation and cost-of-living increases. For 2024, significant adjustments have been made to ensure financial support keeps pace with economic conditions.

To learn more about the GIS, including how to apply and current benefit amounts, visit the Government of Canada’s Guaranteed Income Supplement page.

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Search 2 keywords found: employment,services,technology

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) may reshape the world's understanding of work and even the very nature of humanity, said a Chinese professor.

As experts from over 130 countries and regions were gathering in Wuzhen Town, Tongxiang City of east China's Zhejiang Province for the 11th World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit, Zeng Yi, a professor of the Institute of Automation at the Chinese Academy of Sciences sat with China Global Television Network (CGTN) to discuss concerns about the development and governance of AI.

With the technology becoming increasingly pervasive, Zeng stressed the need to help underdeveloped countries build AI capacities to prevent them from being left behind.

"Firstly, for those underdeveloped countries, what they lack now is not only AI technology itself, but also the information and telecommunication infrastructure. And now, they even do not have the networking that is required for many of the largest data training and AI services. So, in the first place, we need to build the capacities and bring the capacity development capabilities for them. We need to build networking and data infrastructures for them," he said.

As workers around the world begin to question whether their employment could be threatened by technological advancements, Zeng underscored the need for societies to reevaluate how they understand human labor.

"On the other hand, I would have to say by using AI services, of course, that will bring new opportunities, as you discussed, but of course, there will be more challenges then. So the way of defining what we mean by work will be fundamentally changed for the future. For the work that now we do not consider as jobs, it will also help us to reconsider what do we mean by human, what humans exactly need to do for our society, for our community. I think it's the time for humans to reconsider ourselves," Zeng said.

The 11th edition of WIC Wuzhen Summit ran from Nov. 19 to 22. Themed "Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace", the event featured 24 sub-forums on topics delving into a wide range of topics.

Humanity must redefine work in AI-powered future: professor

Horgos Port, a major border junction linking China to Central Asia, handled over 38 million tons of goods in the first ten months of this year, marking a 10 percent year-on-year increase, according to the latest customs data.

Located on the border of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the port has played a pivotal role in the growing development of trade routes between China and Europe.

Data showed that from January to October this year, the main imported goods through the Horgos Port included electromechanical products, agricultural products, food items, and metal ores and sands. Exports mainly included new energy vehicles, electromechanical products, high-tech goods, textiles, and related products.

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Search 2 keywords found: inequality,employment,technology,inequality

from class:

Business Process Automation

Definition

Skill obsolescence refers to the decline in the relevance and applicability of certain skills due to advancements in technology or changes in job requirements. This phenomenon occurs when workers' skills no longer meet the demands of the modern workplace, often as a result of automation, which can lead to job displacement and the need for retraining or upskilling.

congrats on reading the definition of skill obsolescence. now let's actually learn it.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Skill obsolescence is accelerated by rapid technological advancements, particularly in automation and artificial intelligence.
2. Workers in industries heavily impacted by automation are often the most vulnerable to skill obsolescence.
3. Employers increasingly prioritize candidates with up-to-date skills, making it essential for workers to engage in continuous learning.
4. Skill obsolescence can lead to economic inequality, as those unable to adapt may struggle to find new employment opportunities.
5. Retraining programs are becoming more crucial for mitigating the effects of skill obsolescence and helping workers transition into new roles.

Review Questions

• How does skill obsolescence affect workers' job security in an automated environment?
  • Skill obsolescence poses a significant threat to job security as automation replaces tasks traditionally performed by humans. Workers whose skills become outdated may find themselves at risk of unemployment if they cannot adapt to new technologies or shift into roles that require different competencies. This situation creates pressure for workers to continuously update their skills to remain employable and relevant in an evolving job market.
• What strategies can organizations implement to address skill obsolescence among their workforce?
  • Organizations can adopt various strategies to combat skill obsolescence, such as offering regular training and development programs focused on current and emerging technologies. Implementing mentorship opportunities can also facilitate knowledge transfer between experienced employees and newer hires. Additionally, fostering a culture of continuous learning and encouraging employees to pursue upskilling initiatives can help maintain a workforce that is adaptable and equipped for future challenges.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of skill obsolescence on the workforce and economy as a whole.
  • The long-term implications of skill obsolescence can be profound, leading to a workforce that is increasingly divided between those who have adapted through upskilling and those who have not. This divide could result in significant economic disparities, with certain groups facing prolonged unemployment or underemployment. Furthermore, as industries evolve and certain jobs become obsolete, the economy may experience slower growth if a large portion of the workforce cannot transition into new roles. Addressing skill obsolescence is essential for ensuring both individual career success and broader economic stability.

Related terms

Upskilling:

The process of teaching employees new skills or enhancing existing ones to keep pace with technological advancements and changing job demands.

Job Displacement:

The loss of employment due to various factors, including automation, outsourcing, or economic changes, often forcing workers to seek new job opportunities.

Automation:

The use of technology to perform tasks that were previously carried out by humans, which can lead to increased efficiency but may also contribute to skill obsolescence.

"Skill obsolescence" also found in:

Subjects (2)

• Developmental Psychology
• Organization Design

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Search 2 keywords found: employment,consumer,technology,software,technical

Job Market Impact: As Amazon’s stock continues its dynamic journey, the effects ripple beyond Wall Street, making notable impacts on the global job market. The growth of this tech colossus has led to an expansion of employment opportunities across various sectors. Yet, questions linger about the sustainability and quality of these jobs, as debates surface about stability and workplace conditions.

Technological Advancements: The company’s strategic investments in artificial intelligence and cloud computing position it at the cutting edge of innovation. This progress holds dual implications for society: providing technological benefits to consumers and businesses while simultaneously raising concerns regarding data privacy and the encroachment of automation on traditional employment roles.

Environmental Concerns: The massive logistics network that supports Amazon’s operations contributes significantly to carbon emissions worldwide. There’s an ongoing, contentious dialogue about whether Amazon’s measures to address its environmental footprint are adequate. Environmentalists continually pressure the company for more comprehensive and proactive sustainability strategies.

Global Economic Influence: Amazon’s expansion into emerging markets alters local economies profoundly. While this shift offers growth opportunities for some businesses through new partnerships, it creates formidable challenges for others competing against the corporate giant. These developments prompt policymakers and individuals to reassess their strategies in response to Amazon’s powerful economic influence.

Amazon’s stock performance is a powerful barometer that extends far beyond financial charts, touching lives and shaping futures globally. As this narrative unfolds, the complex interplay between economic trends, job creation, technological innovation, and environmental accountability continues to captivate attention around the world.

Amazon’s Dual Impact: Benefactor or Bully in Global Markets?

As Amazon’s stock climbs, its influence extends over the global job market, inspiring both optimism and skepticism. While job creation in diverse sectors such as technology, logistics, and retail abounds, the stability and quality of these roles come under scrutiny. Are part-time contracts overshadowing full-time career opportunities? Could improved benefits alter perceptions?

Moreover, Amazon’s technological prowess in artificial intelligence and cloud computing pushes the boundaries of innovation. However, is society ready to embrace this inevitable shift towards automation that threatens traditional jobs? Privacy concerns also loom large, making consumers question how securely their data is being handled.

The environmental impact of Amazon’s expansive logistics network raises pivotal questions. Although the company pledges to cut emissions, critics argue whether these actions are mere token gestures. What responsibility should a giant like Amazon bear towards its carbon footprint? Beyond recycling initiatives, could serious investment in renewable energy redefine sustainability?

Amazon’s foray into emerging markets sparks vibrant discussions about economic advantages and challenges. On one hand, new partnerships present growth prospects for local businesses, yet, on the other, such expansion can stifle local enterprise innovation. Are policymakers prepared to mitigate the effects of Amazon’s sweeping economic influence?

Ultimately, Amazon’s footprint in global markets presents a paradox of opportunities and challenges. Balancing technological advancements, job quality, economic expansion, and environmental stewardship remains a critical discussion point on the world stage. For more on how Amazon reshapes our lives, explore Amazon.

Waverly Harmon is a renowned author specializing in the field of new technologies. She holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from Stanford University, a globally respected educational institution. Her passion for technology was honessed as she worked for several years at Siemens, a leading multinational conglomerate, where she was responsible for the research and development of innovative software solutions. There, she gained substantial hands-on experience with emerging technological trends and their potential impacts on businesses and societies alike. Waverly's acclaimed works are lauded for their insightful depiction of the rapidly evolving tech landscape. With her distinct voice and comprehensive analysis, she continues to provide a viable roadmap for those navigating the realms of future tech innovation. Her technical knowledge, infused with her gifted storytelling capabilities, makes her works both instructional and engaging. In her free time, Waverly mentors up-and-coming tech enthusiasts. She is truly a venerated figure in the technology literature circle.

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Search 2 keywords found: employment,consumer,services,technology,software,robot,academic,technical,mobility

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As people move through their routines in the ever-increasingly digital environment, it has become more imperative to make technology accessible.

There are more than a billion people or about 15% of the world’s population with one sort of disability or the other, hence the importance of developing technologies that meet their needs to enhance social inclusion.

Still, many of them are only partially developed, and it is possible to state that only a part of the currently available technologies is truly open.

Several reports indicate that there is a low usage of the internet in disabled people, or they may not own a smartphone.

This article focuses on the enhancement of the quality of life of those with a disability in relation to the access of technologies and or their improvement.

The Need for Accessible Technologies

As we have seen, there is the need for accessible technologies as a way of catering for the needs of the universally-challenged citizens.

Considering the current technologies used by the target group with disabilities, the problems are numerous and of different natures.

Most people face challenges in their daily use of technology, mainly because of designs that have not been friendly to people with accessibility challenges.

For example, only about 62% of the adults with disability possess a desktop or laptop, whereas 81% individuals without disability possess it, showing the digital divide.

This gap also extends to smartphone ownership, with a 16% difference between those with and without disabilities, limiting opportunities for education, employment, and social inclusion.

Personal narratives also have been used to explain the above barriers. For example, while there are pre-existing technologies such as voice control for the movement impaired, it is still a problem if a device does not have this particular assistive technology built in; or, for the visually impaired, it is frustrating if a website is not compatible with screen readers.

For example, individuals with cognitive or sensory impairments might feel overwhelmed by poorly designed interfaces, which can be frustrating and exclusionary.

All these daily challenges imply the necessity of advanced inclusive technologies that would account for the needs of all consumers.

Principles of Accessible Design

There’s a principle for designing accessible technologies referred to as Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

This general idea of UDL also focuses on developing products and services that can be accessible to all the users, especially the disabled at the time of designing the products/ services.

It consists of principles regarding the ways of participation, expression and access for individuals with disabilities - also called ‘theEight Principles’.

For instance, ensuring that information is delivered in different formats (visual, auditory, and text-based) can make it more accessible to people with diverse needs. (https://www.cast.org).

Inclusive design principles consider interaction for persons full of variation in their abilities, language and culture.

These principles aim to reduce barriers by building flexibility into products, recognizing that no single design works for everyone.

https://www.inclusioned.edu.au)

User-centered designing takes the process a step ahead as the people with disabilities are included in the process. This co-creation process leads to solutions that are not only technically sound but also deeply attuned to the lived experiences of the users (https://www.cast.org).

Emerging Accessible Technologies

AI and ML are the two examples that define new possibilities in accessibility. AI systems can also give captions in real time to the deaf or people with hard hearing conditions or voice dictation to people with motor difficulties.

Tools such as Google’s Live Caption or Microsoft’s Seeing AI are examples of AI improving daily interactions for people with disabilities.(https://www.microsoft.com).

Furthermore, IoT technologies allow better independent life for people with mobility restrictions.

Smart home devices like Amazon Echo or Google Nest allow voice control over home appliances, lighting, and even security systems, empowering individuals to manage their environments more independently.

Other technologies that are discovering impressive applications include virtual reality (VR), as well as augmented reality (AR) mainly in therapy as well as learning.

VR provides interactive contexts in which one can develop relevant skills within a safe environment; AR augments displays relevant to life contexts such as wayfinding for the blind.

These technologies not only enhance accessibility, but also improve engagement and outcomes in learning and rehabilitation settings (https://www.cast.org).

These emerging tools portray the potential of accessibility technologies to break barriers and transform the daily life and learning environment for people with disability.

Assistive Technologies and Devices

These are individual or collective tools and aids that are used to support persons with disabilities in performing their daily tasks.

It cannot be over-emphasized that the developments made in the technologies that help people with disabilities have gone a long way in enhancing their functioning.

Right from the basic forms of transportation like wheelchairs, to the complex forms of assistance like prosthetics and hearing aids, these technologies are a necessity for most daily tasks.

For instance, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are soon to be described as revolutionary for people with, for example, quadriplegia. Such systems enable people to command devices by signals from the brain, for spinal cord injury patients or ALS.

Also, BCIs combined with prosthetic limbs, known as neuroprosthetics, are being developed more a day. They enable users a sense of feeling when they touch objects with the prosthetic hands.

Exoskeleton wearables and soft robotic suits empowering limb mobility are becoming prevalent in rehabilitation with providing more autonomy to people with mobility impairment.

Industry Applications and Impact.

IN HEALTHCARE, affordable medical equipment is now available for the disabled persons, enabling them to get health attention.

For instance, the use of virtual consultations through telemedicine has increased accessibility to healthcare personnel, especially for patients with mobility issues, since they do not have to move to seek professional healthcare services; from the comfort of their homes.

IN EDUCATION, learning platforms which have been developed to cater for students in class should include attributes like screen readers and text to speech aid, and other kids’ friendly interfaces for users with learning disorders.

This is very important to make sure that all students have easy access to quality education.

BioMedCentral also claims that the workplace is also changing, and that businesses are incorporating assistive technologies in their workplaces to make them more accessible.

Speech-to-voice software, work desks for the disabled, as well as screen enlargement software allow the disabled employee to work receptively without compromising performance.

Such changes are useful in closing the gap between the availability of jobs and the disabled’s abilities to get jobs.

Overcoming Barriers to Adoption

To develop technologies that are inclusive and really can help the persons with disabilities, there are a few hurdles that have to be overcome.

Cost and affordability which are some of the key concerns, since the most available assistive devices are too costly to be afforded by persons of lower income status.

This is further complicated by the fact that some supporting technologies, such as specialized software or internet infrastructure, are not always available in certain regions.

[OUP](https://academic.oup.com/jamiaopen/article/3/2/167/5817895).

Awareness and education are both on the same level. Several users and potential employers are not well informed on the functionality of state-of-art systems to support persons with disabilities.

This is a very nice strategy because through enhancing peoples’ digital literacy levels, and ensuring they appreciate success stories, they get to understand, and in the process use digital technologies.

In addition, provincial governments must guarantee that support is made available for the existing policy and regulatory environment for people with disabilities.

Governments should incentivize companies to create accessible products and enforce inclusive design guidelines.

[OUP](https://academic.oup.com/jamiaopen/article/3/2/167/5817895).

Lastly, involvement of industry, government, and disability organizations is paramount in ensuring that all forms of accessibility technologies are well implemented.

A collective approach makes development of these technologies respond to actual needs of target groups of people with disabilities.

Future Directions and Innovations

It can be seen that the future of accessible technologies is very promising.

Some of the developing trends include, the use of artificial intelligence and interfaces that connect the mind and computer; these trends will enhance the level of independence of disabled persons.

With advancement in these technologies, the technologies will enhance employment chances and quality life standards as seen by WHO.

Conclusion

It can be seen that the great potential lies in proper provision of technologies to users with disabilities, to enhance their chances of living independent lives, and to be more included in society.

From smart technologies for disabilities and AI to ideology of inclusion and design guidelines, we are standing on the forefronts of enjoying major progress.

Nevertheless, for the provided technologies to be optimally effective, continuous cooperation between policy-makers, designers, and disability activists has to be sustained.

Most importantly we need to talk about accessibility and guarantee that further improvements will remain open to everybody.

In doing so, we will be able to develop a better society that is favorable for persons with disabilities in regards to technological advancement.

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Search 2 keywords found: basic income

Californians are in for a very merry Christmas after the announcement that the US Internal Revenue Service is distributing $4,530 Stimulus Payments before the end of 2024. The payments will be even higher for citizens with dependents. California is not the only state offering Stimulus Payments, and the aim of distributing these funds is to make up for shortfalls caused by inflation and the rising cost of living, and also offset some of the lasting adverse consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on local economies.

$4,530 Stimulus Payments for California

The payments are being distributed under America’s Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) program, which was set up to provide financial support to citizens who are battling to make it through the month with limited or no income. Target households are those that fit into the lower- to moderate-income bracket and the IRS intends that beneficiaries use the funds to meet daily and essential expenses such as housing, food and household needs, or healthcare.

The exact date that California payments will be processed is not available, but it’s been confirmed that they will be distributed before the end of 2024 in time for Christmas and New Year, meaning that many more families will have a comfortable and worry-free holiday season.

How does the COLA fit impact Americans?

The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is a mechanism for increasing Social Security benefits in line with inflation and the increased costs of goods and services so that beneficiaries maintain their buying power from year to year. In October, it was announced that the COLA for 2025 had been set at 2.5%, meaning that monthly Social Security benefits will be increased by the same percentage across the board from January.

Many Americans feel that the 2.5% COLA doesn’t adequately cover the increased costs of living, and there is some economic evidence available to validate this. The elderly, in particular, face steeper costs of living, for example, this age demographic’s medical costs are generally higher. Stimulus Checks are intended to make up for deficits that the COLA doesn’t cover.

Eligibility for the Californian Stimulus Check

There are a number of criteria to qualify for the 2024 California Stimulus Check program:

• Citizenship: Beneficiaries must be US citizens (or qualify under another status, such as a green card holder) with a valid Social Security Number.
• Residency: The Californian checks are only for residents of California.
• Tax filing status: Recipients must be up-to-date and in good standing with their tax returns.
• Income threshold: People are only eligible to receive the funds if they earn a maximum of $75,000. Anyone above this tax bracket is not eligible for the Stimulus Check.

It must be noted that households with children or dependents will receive more than $4,530, but these details and amounts are not available.

Payments will be made via bank deposit to people’s bank accounts or loaded onto their debit cards.

Which other states are distributing stimulus funds?

There are more states whose recipients will benefit from Stimulus Checks. The amounts are lower than what California is offering, but the qualifying criteria are similar. The five states are:

• Alaska: Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PDF) distributes a share of state mineral resource profits to Alaskans. The latest payment is $650 and payments started going out in October 2024.
• Idaho: Individuals will be paid tax rebates of $300 and couples exactly double at $600. Payments started being processed in September on a staggered basis, and everyone should have received their funds by the end of the year.
• Rhode Island: This state is distributing a one-off child tax rebate of $250 per child up to a maximum of three, or $750. Payments started going through in October.
• South Carolina: $1 billion was allocated to financial assistance, with residents qualifying for checks of $800. These started being processed in October.
• Virginia: Tax rebates of $250 for individual filers and $500 for couples who file jointly went out in October.

Anyone who would like to find out more about benefits or Stimulus Checks can visit the IRS or Social Security Administration websites.

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Search 2 keywords found: technology,robot

In the next five years, the overall work scenario expects the increasing implementation of new technologies. Over 60 percent of the companies surveyed expect big data to create more jobs, while approximately ten percent expect it to displace jobs by 2027. These give this technology the job creation net effect of approximately 58 percent and places it as the top one job creator technology for the next five years. High on the ranking are also climate-change mitigation technology, environmental management technologies, encryption and cybersecurity, and biotechnology, with over 40 percent job creation net effect. With a negative net effect are the automation industry technologies of robots, humanoid and non-humanoid, on a average of minus five percent job creation net effect.

Expected impact of technology adoption on jobs worldwide from 2023 to 2027

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Source

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Release date

April 2023

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

November 2022 - February 2023

Number of respondents

803 global companies

Special properties

Responses represent over 11.3 million employees worldwide.

Method of interview

Questionnaire

Supplementary notes

Job creation net effect is equivalent to the subtraction of the share of companies that expect each technology to displace jobs from the share of companies that expect them to create jobs.

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Economy

Forecasted unemployment rate in Italy 2020-2025

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Search 2 keywords found: employment,productivity,manufactur,technology,robot

Going back to Donald Trump’s first campaign for president in 2016, one of the former businessman’s key economic promises has been to revive the American manufacturing sector. As Trump now looks to continue the progress from his first term when he returns to the White House this January, investing in manufacturing innovations like artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced robotics will be key to making U.S. manufacturers competitive in the global economy.

Manufacturing employment decreased by 46,000 in October, just the latest in a series of bad headlines for the sector under the Biden-Harris administration. While Biden campaigned to continue Trump’s policies that brought about a pre-pandemic manufacturing boom, he failed to match the robust levels of growth seen during Trump’s first term.

Trump outlined a series of policies during this year’s campaign to jump-start the American manufacturing sector, including ensuring the country has the “#1 lowest cost energy in the world,” easing the regulatory burden on businesses and erecting more tariffs to protect American businesses from an influx of cheap foreign goods.

Another top priority for the incoming Trump administration will be securing America’s status as the global leader in manufacturing innovation and technology – a title that other nations, most notably China, are now contending for.

There are legitimate concerns about how the advent of advanced robotics and AI will replace human labor in the manufacturing sector. But the undeniable reality is that automation has significantly increased productivity and driven economic growth. The companies – and, by extension, the employees – that make the best investments in new technologies will be the ones best positioned to succeed in the years and decades ahead.

Yonathan Zilberman, an Israeli engineering professor whom I spoke to for this column, told me that industry and political leaders shouldn’t view automation and robots as taking jobs from humans. Instead, he explained that while robots perform demanding tasks that humans used to perform in faster and more efficient ways, they also create more jobs in building and maintaining them. Robots can also now perform many high-risk tasks, reducing the chances of workplace injuries and deaths.

In 2023, the latest World Robotics Report by the International Federation of Robotics, a networking group for the robotics industry, reported that the number of industrial robots in factories worldwide surpassed 4.28 million.

Approximately half a million, or about 11 percent, were installed in the United States, while around 1.5 million, or about 35 percent, were installed in China. The United States, China, Germany, Japan, and South Korea represent nearly two-thirds of all industrial robots globally. Professor Zilberman said that in all five countries, including the United States, a sizable share of labor is still engaged in manual manufacturing, indicating substantial potential for expansion.

China has understood the importance of robotics and automation in manufacturing for decades. Dr. Chun Wu, a former official at the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs of the Chinese Communist Party who defected to the West in 2000, supervised the automation of China’s metallurgic and shipbuilding industries. He explained that in the early 1990s, Beijing purchased used robots from Germany and “doubled ship production in five years.” Robots “perform about 60 percent of tasks in shipyards,” which is why China can now build ships “so quickly,” he added.

In order for the United States to keep pace with China and its exponentially larger workforce, American companies must maintain a decided edge in robotics and automation technologies. During the Chinese Communist Party’s Third Plenary Session earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping identified automation in the manufacturing sector as a primary focus in the years ahead, pointing to the rapid expansion of China’s car industry as a model.

The Chinese government has also announced its ambition to become “a hub of the global robotics industry” – a goal which, if achieved, would give Beijing a stranglehold over the global manufacturing sector.

In recent years only about five percent of China’s robotics production has been exported, but that could soon change as Chinese companies look to not only create their own technology but also copy designs from other countries. Last year, for instance, a Chinese firm released robotic patrol dogs that closely resembled a device from Boston Dynamics that is now being used by the Secret Service.

Currently, virtually every American industry, including the electrical, electronic, automotive, chemical, food, and medical industries, extensively utilizes pre-programmed or remotely controlled robots for assembly, welding, and other industrial tasks. Many of these robots require highly qualified operators and programmers to maintain them. These positions necessitate extensive training and often a four-year degree in computer science, which remains scarce among American workers.

Dr. Ilka Makela, a Finnish robotics expert, told me that currently the U.S. is being forced to import talent from abroad, including Finland, to meet its current needs in this field. For the incoming Trump administration, addressing this skills gap through investment in education is a crucial step toward revitalizing the U.S. manufacturing sector overall.

In a recent report, the U.S. Robotic Association also named regulations and impeded economic growth due to inflation as crucial obstacles slowing the adoption of automation and robotics in the manufacturing sector.

Embracing the robotics revolution is not just a strategic choice for the United States but a necessity to secure a prosperous and competitive future in global manufacturing. By expanding access to computer science and engineering programs, the U.S. can cultivate a robust pipeline of talent to support the demands of an increasingly automated manufacturing landscape. These efforts, paired with policies encouraging innovation and mitigating inflation, will ensure that American companies maintain their competitive edge on the world stage.

The robotics revolution, if fully harnessed, can be the foundation of a revitalized manufacturing sector that secures long-term economic growth, strengthens national security, and reaffirms the United States as a global industrial powerhouse.

Ben Solis is the pen name of an international affairs journalist, historian, and researcher.

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Search 2 keywords found: guaranteed income

By investing in FD, customers get guaranteed income after a certain period. Currently, the country’s big private and government banks are giving excellent returns on FD.

If you are planning to invest in Fixed Deposit (FD) then this news is useful for you. Actually, by investing in FD, customers get guaranteed income after a certain period. Let us tell you that at present, the big private and government banks of the country are giving great returns on FD. Apart from this, banks are also offering additional interest to their senior citizen customers. In such a situation, let us know about 10 such banks which are offering the highest interest to their customers on 1 year FD.

Here you can get up to 7.75% return

DCB Bank is giving 7.25% interest to its general customers on 1 year FD and 7.75% interest to senior citizen customers. While Tamilnadu Mercantile Bank is giving 7.25% interest to its general customers on 1 year FD and 7.75% interest to senior citizen customers. Canara Bank is giving 7% interest to its general customers on 1 year FD and 7.50% interest to senior citizen customers. On the other hand Karnataka Bank is giving 7% interest to its general customers on 1 year FD and 7.40% interest to senior citizen customers.

BOI is offering up to 7.50 percent interest

On the other hand, Deutsche Bank is offering 7 percent interest on 1-year FD to its general customers and the same interest to senior citizen customers. Apart from this, RBL Bank is offering 7 percent interest to its general customers and 7.50 percent interest to its senior citizen customers on 1-year FD. On the other hand, Bank of India is offering 7 percent interest to its general customers and 7.50 percent interest to its senior citizen customers on 1-year FD.

SBI is giving bumper returns

State Bank of India (SBI) is offering 6.80 percent interest to its general customers and 7.30 percent interest to its senior citizen customers on 1-year FD. Whereas Bank of Baroda is offering 6.75 percent interest to its general customers and 7.25 percent interest to senior citizen customers on 1-year FD. On the other hand, Central Bank of India is giving 6.75 percent interest on 1 year FD to its general customers and 7.25 percent interest to senior citizen customers.

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Search 2 keywords found: basic income

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Search 2 keywords found: employment,productivity,consumption,technology,academic

Anticipation Builds Ahead of Key Financial Results

Dell Technologies has seen a remarkable surge in its stock price, soaring 76% in 2024, primarily due to the soaring demand for its server solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Investors are eager for the upcoming fiscal 2025 third-quarter results, scheduled for release on November 26, which will reveal whether this upward momentum can be maintained.

With an optimistic outlook, recent guidance suggested that revenues could reach approximately $24.5 billion for the third quarter, marking a significant 10% increase compared to the previous year. The adjusted earnings are anticipated to hit $2 per share, though some analysts project even higher earnings of $2.04 per share along with revenues slightly surpassing expectations.

A key driver for this potential growth lies in the current demand for AI servers, where Dell achieved over $3 billion in sales during the last quarter alone. Impressively, the company also boasts a $3.8 billion backlog in AI server orders, hinting at robust future sales.

Dell’s prospects are further bolstered by challenges faced by its competitor Super Micro Computer, which has seen a downturn amid controversy, allowing Dell to potentially capture additional market share. With the AI server market predicted to reach $177 billion by 2032, Dell’s strategic positioning and strong order pipeline may pave the way for substantial long-term growth.

Investors eyeing this opportunity may find the current stock valuation attractive, as Dell continues to navigate this dynamic and expanding landscape.

The Rise of AI Infrastructure: Transformative Impact on Global Economies

The burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector is reshaping not only technology companies like Dell Technologies but also influencing economies worldwide, communities, and the workforce. This rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has raised numerous conversations surrounding its implications, both positive and negative.

Employment Transformation
One of the most significant impacts of the growing demand for AI is the transformation of employment sectors. While this demand for AI-driven products such as servers results in job creation within tech companies, it also raises questions about job displacement in more traditional sectors. For instance, roles in data entry and analysis are increasingly being automated, leading to fears of widespread job losses. The challenge for the workforce is to adapt and reskill to meet the evolving demands of the job market.

Infrastructure Investment
The rise of AI technology necessitates substantial investment in infrastructure, not only in IT centers but also in energy consumption and data privacy. As companies ramp up their AI capabilities, the corresponding energy requirements—particularly for cooling data centers—require innovative solutions. This surge in power consumption poses sustainability challenges, leading some to advocate for greener technologies to offset environmental impacts.

Controversies and Market Dynamics
The AI boom has not come without controversies. For instance, concerns over data security, ethical AI usage, and the implications of AI-related decision-making processes dominate discussions. Furthermore, as companies like Dell capitalize on the struggles faced by competitors like Super Micro Computer, questions arise about market monopolization and healthy competitive practices. As such, lawmakers in various countries are being pushed to develop regulations governing AI technologies and their deployment.

Global Economic Disparities
The development and deployment of AI technologies have the potential to exacerbate global economic disparities. Countries with existing technological infrastructure and capital to invest in AI can sprint ahead, while those without these resources may find themselves falling further behind. This could lead to a bifurcated global economy where only a handful of nations reap the benefits of AI advancements.

Advantages of AI Infrastructure Growth
– Increased Efficiency: AI capabilities streamline operations, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency across industries.
– Innovation Boost: The need for AI infrastructure prompts innovations in various sectors, creating new markets and opportunities.
– Economic Growth: Investments in AI technology can stimulate economic growth, generating jobs and increasing corporate profits.

Disadvantages of AI Infrastructure Growth
– Job Displacement: Automation and AI could make certain jobs obsolete, leading to unemployment in specific sectors.
– Security Risks: The more interconnected our systems become, the greater the risks for data breaches and cyberattacks.
– Environmental Concerns: Increased energy consumption from AI technologies contributes to climate change challenges.

Questions and Answers
– Will AI lead to more jobs than it eliminates?
While AI will create new roles within technology and service sectors, the net job loss or gain will depend on how quickly the workforce can adapt and reskill.

– How can communities prepare for the shift towards AI?
Communities can focus on education and training programs that emphasize technology and AI literacy, preparing their workforce for future employment opportunities.

– What steps can businesses take to reduce the environmental impact of AI?
Companies can invest in renewable energy sources for data centers, optimize their energy consumption, and commit to sustainable practices.

As the AI wave continues to gather momentum, understanding the complexities and nuances of its implications is vital for individuals, businesses, and policymakers alike. The way forward lies in finding a balance between innovation and responsibility. For more insights, visit McKinsey & Company for resources on sustainable growth through technological advancements.

Gabriel Harris is a leading author and authority on emerging technologies. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Georgetown University, where he examined the impacts of artificial intelligence on societal structures. Following his esteemed academic career, he became a key researcher at TechForward, Inc., a renowned tech company known for creating ground-breaking technological solutions. At TechForward, his research focused on the development and application of AI and Machine Learning. Harris has several patented developments to his name and authored over a thousand articles, further solidifying his place as an industry expert. His fascination with technology and its potential continues to inspire his work, bridging complex topics to everyday lives.

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Search 2 keywords found: manufactur,technology,robot,mobility

Comau SpA, a developer of advanced automation solutions based in Turin, Italy, is participating in the European Union’s Reinforce project, which aims to address the growing need for effective end-of-life management of electric vehicle (EV) and stationary storage batteries.

As part of the initiative, Comau, based in Turin, Italy, has the dual role of managing one of the eight work plan groups and developing a versatile and safe dismantling solution for handling batteries and stationary packs based on robotics, machine learning and “industry 4.0 concepts.”

Leveraging its expertise in robotics, automation and e-mobility, Comau intends to enhance the disassembly process while ensuring safety, efficiency, flexibility and cost reductions.

The company says the project aligns with its focus on developing technologies that support the transition to a sustainable energy future, and in building a solution that efficiently handles compact battery and stationary pack formats, the project is helping address a critical aspect of the EV life cycle and contributing to the broader goal of reducing scrap and promoting the reuse of valuable materials.

The shared goal of the multifaceted project is to create a standardized, automated, safe and cost-effective system that will repurpose spent batteries for second- and third-life use and recycling. To do so, it will focus on optimizing the collection and logistic path, improving diagnostics and recovering techniques and implementing safe and efficient dismantling processes that optimize repurposing while allowing full traceability.

Comau is the project lead on Work Plan 5, which is tasked with assessing dismantling safety procedures and standardization; developing automated disassembly processes for end-of-life battery packs with different shapes and types; focusing on pack to module, module to cell and cell to electrode disassembly; evaluating and developing a simulation of a fully automated large-scale disassembly processing; and reassembling the battery packs with the desired parameters for second life applications.

“This project underscores the increasing need to develop a circular electrification path and represents a significant step forward in sustainable battery management,” Comau Chief of Engineering Andrew Lloyd says. “Our advanced robotic disassembly solution will not only enhance the efficiency and safety of the disassembly process but also support the circular economy by maximizing the recovery and reuse of materials from end-of-life batteries.”

Comau also is part of multiple pan-European e-mobility projects, including Upcell—the European Battery Manufacturing Alliance, an association that promotes the creation of an integrated European value chain for the development and production of electric batteries.

The company also is involved industry alliances that include the European Battery Alliance (EBA), the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA) and the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP), and participates in numerous other projects regarding electrification as part of the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs.

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Search 2 keywords found: guaranteed income

Front & Center is a groundbreaking Ms. series that began as first-person accounts of Black mothers living in Jackson, Miss., receiving a guaranteed income from Springboard to Opportunities’ Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT). Moving into the fourth year and next phase of this series, the aim is to expand our focus beyond a single policy intervention to include a broader examination of systemic issues impacting Black women experiencing poverty. This means diving deeper into the interconnected challenges they face—including navigating the existing safety net; healthcare, childcare and elder care; and the importance of mental, physical and spiritual well-being.

My name is Kiara, and I’m 30 years old. I am a single mother, and my family and I live in a subsidized housing complex in Jackson. I’m a proud mom of four amazing kids: my daughter, who is 10, and three boys—9, 5, and my baby Khalil, who just turned 8 months.

I’ve been working from home as a medical assistant for about two years now after graduating from school in 2022. It’s been a rewarding journey, but my ultimate goal is to become a registered nurse. I’ve always loved learning and the medical field and taking care of people. I’ve started taking baby steps toward that goal by considering phlebotomy first before pursuing my RN.

Turning 30 has been a transformative experience for me. I’ve realized that life is all about perspective and growth. Instead of dwelling on past distractions, I’m focused on building a stable future for my children.

When I learned about the Magnolia Mother’s Trust program, it felt like a lifeline during a tough time when I was recovering from multiple eye surgeries. I have a lot of eye issues and bad vision and currently need new glasses but the cost is just too high, and I’m trying really hard to protect my savings. The program gives you the option of getting $1,000 a month, or $700 with $300 going straight to savings. I chose the second option because I had big goals.

Owning a home has always been my dream. I want my kids to have space to grow and play instead of living in an apartment forever. Through the NACA [Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, an organization focused on increasing homeownership among people of color and other marginalized groups] program, I’m now on the path to becoming a homeowner. I was able to save the down payment thanks to MMT. It’s incredible to think that after enrolling in the program, I’m now going through the process of getting my own home. It has always been my dream to have a house. I want a house with me and my kids. I want them to just enjoy the space and to have more room to move around. I don’t want to stay in an apartment all my life. So I knew I wanted to make that investment in the future, and so I decided to focus on saving during the MMT program.

The process has been surprisingly easy thanks to my counselor at NACA. They guide you through every step and help you understand what you need to do. I attended a workshop at the Salvation Army to get started and paid a membership fee that lasts a year. My counselor has been instrumental in helping me gather everything required for my home purchase.

I only put down $2,700 as my minimum financial responsibility because I wanted to save the rest for future investments on my home. The homeownership program means I don’t have to pay any closing costs and that my credit score didn’t matter. Now I’m just waiting on the bank approval to know what my budget will be. The MMT program has truly opened doors for me and my kids that I never thought possible.

While I haven’t splurged much with the funds from Magnolia Mother’s Trust—most of it has gone toward bills—I’ve enjoyed taking my kids out to parks and even visiting the aquarium in Biloxi. But overall, I try to keep it to the essentials: It’s important for me to prioritize my children’s needs over unnecessary spending on wants. I’m also figuring out other ways to save, like refinancing my vehicle with a better interest rate. I hadn’t even had a checking account in years until the MMT program.

This summer was particularly tough with food assistance; we faced significant reductions in food stamps that made it challenging for me to feed my kids while they weren’t in school. Springboard [the organization that oversees MMT] was offering supplemental cash for each child, but I wasn’t paying attention to the notices for applying for that program so I missed out on that. Thankfully, I was able to go to local food banks to help make ends meet.

I used to get TANF [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families], but I don’t anymore. It’s become so difficult. My sister just tried to apply. They wouldn’t help her do anything. She had to get a childcare voucher in order for her daughter to go to daycare, but they wouldn’t help her until she was actually working, but without childcare, how can she go out and look for work?

(Editor’s note: Mississippi officials have been embroiled in a TANF scandal in which millions of dollars meant for welfare was used for the pet projects of celebrities and politicians, while nearly every application for TANF in the state was denied. The head of Springboard, Aisha Nyandoro, testified on Capitol Hill last year urging leaders to reform the program so that it provided unrestricted cash based on the success of the MMT program.)

When it comes to support systems, I’m close with my mom and one of my sisters, but it’s mostly just us at home. My counselor at Salvation Army has also been a great resource for securing childcare vouchers for Khalil at a daycare.

I got so much more excited about the election when Kamala Harris stepped in as nominee. Honestly, I think we’re going to finally have a female president, so I think everything’s going to be good. I’m betting on Ms. Harris. I know she’s fighting and she’s not backing down and I have seen her debate and if she can have the power to fight, I can keep fighting.

(Editor’s note: This conversation happened prior to the election.)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all this, it’s that life is about making smart choices and focusing on what truly matters—my children’s future and well-being. I’m embracing growth and looking forward to what lies ahead for us as a family.

Click here to view original web page at www.adecco.ie

Search 2 keywords found: employment,manufactur,robot,technical

New

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* To maintain condition and performance of automation cells, Robotics and Vision inspection systems
* Troubleshoot electrical, mechanical an pneumatic equipment to find faults and repair them in timely manner
* Carry out preventive and reactive maintenance and document it
* Optimise machine cycle times and lead other process improvements
* Participate in development and commissioning of automated equipment
* Maintain adequate spare parts stock levels
* Assist developing technical documentation
* Carry out changeover of machines in line with production schedule

����� ��������� ������ ����:
* Relevant experience in manufacturing environment (electrical, mechanical, instrumentation)
* Working experience with robots and machine vision inspection systems
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills
* Computer literate with MS Office skills
* Experience commissioning and optimising new equipment

Adecco Ireland is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Please apply with your CV to: Robyn Lynch

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Search 2 keywords found: employment,technology,software

BICO has reached an agreement to sell Nanoscribe to LAB14 GmbH. BICO is a laboratory automation partner and provider of selected workflows to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. With 46,000+ instruments installed in over 65 countries, BICO products, software, and solutions are found in more than 3,500 laboratories. Operating through three business areas – Lab Automation, Life Science Solutions, and Bioprinting – BICO strives towards the vision to enable and automate the life science lab of the future. BICO is listed on Mid-Cap, Nasdaq Stockholm under BICO. Nanoscribe is a high-precision 3D printing technology company, specializing in two photon polymerization (2PP).

Hengeler Mueller team for BICO

M&A: Clemens Höhn (partner, lead, Berlin), Christoph Roth (senior associate, Munich), Moritz Evertz (senior associate, Düsseldorf), Felix Schwalm (associate, Berlin),

IP/IT: Matthias Rothkopf (counsel), Johannes Jäkle (associate, both Düsseldorf),

Public law/FDI: Jan D. Bonhage (partner), Nikolaus Wallraf (associate, both Berlin),

Antitrust: Christian Dankerl (counsel, Brüssel),

Tax: Markus Ernst (partner), Tim Würstlin (senior associate), Florian Lenhart (associate, all Munich),

Employment: Sonnhild Draack (counsel, Frankfurt).

Click here to view original web page at www.automationworld.com

Search 2 keywords found: manufactur,technology,software,technical

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Search 2 keywords found: basic income,guaranteed income

It was 7 a.m. on a warm August morning and Voycetta White had just finished an eight hour shift at the Best Western Vancouver, where she works as a night auditor. By 8 a.m., she would need to be at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland for another grueling eight hours of work as an optician — a trade she picked up while in prison.

Amid the hustle, White’s youngest daughter delivered a harsh reality check.

“I ran home, got dressed and got ready for my second job,” White said. “And my 13-year-old says, ‘Mom, this is crazy, you’re going to work? I hardly see you.’ And I said, ‘Honey, this what I have to do right now, we have bills to pay.’”

Since July, White has worked two jobs totaling 64 hours a week to support her two youngest daughters.

But it wasn’t always this way. In 2021, she became one of 100 Black mothers and caregivers who received monthly checks of $500 or more from Multnomah County’s Mother’s Trust guaranteed income program. The pilot was designed to ease the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black households, which officials and experts have said were disproportionately impacted in the years that followed.

Mother’s Trust was part of a larger county program called the Multnomah Idea Lab, which focused on “piloting new policy approaches, with a specific focus on addressing poverty and racism,” officials said.

But in July, when the county’s pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act funds ran dry, Mother’s Trust and the Idea Lab were shut down.

County officials said that before it ended, the county’s experiment showed results. In an interim report reviewing its first two years, officials found participants used the money to pay off debts, cover costs for their children’s sports and educational opportunities and put funds towards large assets like cars and houses, overall increasing their financial stability.

Commissioner Jesse Beason, whose predecessor Susheela Jayapal strongly supported the Mother’s Trust program, said it was a concrete way to help a community often faced with societal barriers.

“When we look at the data, Black mothers in particular are facing a number of roadblocks put up by society,” Beason said. “Starting this pilot here made plenty of sense, and it worked.”

Seven years at Coffee Creek

For its participants, the initiative was a crucial catalyst to help get them back on their feet.

In 2013, White said she got mixed up with three other people in a shoplifting attempt that turned into robbery. White said she was the getaway driver and that after things went south, she turned herself in, seeing no better alternative if she wanted to see her children again. A Multnomah County Circuit Court judge doled out a seven year sentence with three years of post-prison supervision upon release for four counts of second-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree theft.

“I was devastated,” she said. “I was the sole provider for my children.”

It was a monumental setback, but White said she took advantage of her time in prison to make sure she’d never return. She got her GED, took classes designed to help incarcerated women ease back into society and began training through the Oregon Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation, which offers a year-long “work based” educational program for incarcerated women to become certified as opticians.

By the end of her sentence, she’d landed an internship with the foundation and was released from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility on post-prison supervision in November 2020. She made frequent visits with her children while they were under the custody of Washington’s Department of Human Services.

White regained custody of her children in March 2021, eventually moved into a full-time position with the Lions Foundation and found stable housing.

“It felt like I was rebirthed and had a second chance,” she said. “Being incarcerated changed my life.”

The newfound success didn’t come without hurdles, most prominently the $20,000 she owed for past court charges, White said. Moving up to full-time meant White needed to pay back those debts through garnishments, while also supporting herself and two teenagers.

When the email landed in her inbox in late 2021 with details on the Multnomah Mother’s Trust program, she said it seemed too good to be true.

“I was thinking, ‘Yeah right,’” White said. “‘Nobody’s just going to give away $500.’”

She applied and was soon accepted, with guidance from nonprofit WomenFirst Transition and Referral Center. White said the county’s guaranteed income program came at the perfect time to help her focus on rebuilding her life without the stress of piling bills and financial hardship.

Monthly payments, no strings attached

Others in the program agreed it was a golden opportunity.

Raven Smith used the income to support her family while she finished her associate degree and worked with the county’s Healthy Birth Initiative to help parents and women of color. She has three younger children, including a son with autism, she said, and had to stop working to take care of her family. The county program made that possible.

“I was able to acquire stability, time for myself, time to focus on my mental health and my kids — which are my No. 1 priority,” Smith said.

Mother’s Trust was a different approach than Measure 118, which voters struck down on Nov. 5. That measure would have delivered annual checks of $1,600 to every Oregonian by establishing a 3% tax on most corporations’ sales in Oregon above $25 million and distributing that money equally among residents of all ages. Supporters claimed it would relieve some financial burden on low-income families, while others argued the new tax would increase prices for the very people it was built to help.

Multnomah County’s program took after similar efforts nationwide, including Mississippi’s Magnolia Mother’s Trust initiative, The Compton Pledge in California and the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot. Each program focused on uplifting communities of color or low-income populations.

In its short lifespan, Multnomah Mother’s Trust did not produce enough data to understand its full impact, officials wrote in a 2023 report. What the county did glean were increases in net assets such as homes, cars, retirement funds, stocks and other investments. The report found the program also helped participants climb out of debt, with loans and other dues decreasing by $5,000 on average.

The county’s review also found improvements in housing stability. In 2022, 11% of participants reported being at high risk of being evicted, compared to 5% the following year.

Impacts and the county’s tightened wallet

For White, the end of the pandemic-era payments meant getting a second job. She said she’s rarely able to spend time with her children, but has few other options to keep food on the table.

“I would have liked just a little bit more time, because this year, I’ll finally be out of garnishments,” she said. “I’m literally working paycheck to paycheck with both jobs.”

Smith has aspirations of launching her own nonprofit to support Portland’s Black community, but said she’s put those plans on hold. The program’s end put her in a tight spot financially.

“I was grateful to have taken part,” she said, “and I worry a lot about the other moms.”

County officials said the impacts of the lost federal support were felt across the board, draining funds from areas like rent assistance and eviction prevention. The county filled some of those gaps using its general fund — its largest pot of discretionary dollars at officials’ disposal — and money from Metro’s Supportive Housing Services tax. It wasn’t enough to supplement the decline in federal funding, officials said.

“The magnitude of the federal emergency funding we had during COVID just simply can’t be backfilled,” the county said in a statement.

On Tuesday, county Economist Jeff Renfro laid out a grave financial forecast for the county’s 2025-26 budget, with a general fund shortfall of $21 million dollars. That deficit, which is five times higher than the previous year, is a result of declining growth in property tax revenues in Portland and inflationary impacts on wages, Renfro said. Officials expect that deficit to grow as the next Board of Commissioners starts the budgeting process.

Smith said that although the county’s financial future is uncertain and more programs may face cuts in the coming year, its short-lived universal basic income experiment should not be forgotten.

“We were not lazy, and we did not take the money for granted,” Smith said. “We did amazing things, all of us. Many of us conquered fears we never thought we would.”

— Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios.

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Multnomah County

• Multnomah County heading towards $21 million shortfall next year, officials say
• Longtime Portland City Hall insider tapped as Multnomah County commissioner-elect’s chief of staff
• Former Multnomah County official alleges retaliation after she raised alarm about public records violations
• Multnomah County voters want change. Will they get it from the Board of Commissioners?
• Business coalition drops another $130k to back Multnomah County Commission candidate

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Search 2 keywords found: guaranteed income

November 22, 2024 – Canada Revenue Agency: The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program is an essential initiative of the Canada Revenue Agency that requires host organizations and volunteers to register or renew their registration each year.

As many government credit and benefit payments are income-tested, filing an annual income tax return is necessary, even for those with no income to report or whose income is tax-exempt.

For those who face barriers to doing their taxes, the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) can help.

Through this free program, community organizations and their volunteers assist vulnerable persons to file their taxes and access entitled disbursements.

Credits and benefit payments, like the federal monthly tax-free Canada child benefit, the GST/HST rebate, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Disability tax credit, can be life changing for those living in poverty by helping to pay for everyday necessities like food, clothing, shelter and medication.

Last year on Prince Edward Island, 40 community organizations and 160 volunteers helped 6,050 individuals receive $10,513,000 in tax refunds, credit and benefit entitlements through the CVITP.

The program has identified an immediate need for volunteers to complete tax returns for eligible people with modest-to-no income and a simple tax situation in Alberton, Tignish, Evangeline and O’Leary, a need for host organizations and volunteers in Montague, Murray River, Wood Islands, Belfast, and Cardigan and a provincewide need for English and French volunteers, particularly in Rustico, Charlottetown and the Summerside areas.

Volunteering is easy. If you have a basic understanding of taxes and a 2023 tax return was filed in your name, you can register to volunteer to prepare and file taxes for others. You’ll receive training, free tax software and support, including a dedicated help line.

Flexible volunteer options allow you to volunteer when and how you want to fit your schedule. In return, you’ll develop new skills, gain experience, stay active and connect with others in your community while making a positive difference and helping to change lives.

–

READY TO HELP?
The Community Volunteer Income Tax Programhas identified an immediate need for organizations to host free tax-help clinics and volunteers to help prepare simple income tax and benefit returns for those in need in our community.

Visit canada.ca/taxes-volunteer or call 1-866-837-1531 to volunteer today.

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Search 2 keywords found: basic income

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Search 2 keywords found: productivity

Retail businesses are being hit hard by theft. The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported last year that “shrink,” the industry term for store theft, accounted for $112.1 billion in losses in 2022 across the industry, up from $93.9 billion in 2021. This covers everything from the traditional “five-finger discount” to organized criminal groups that target stores.

The upsurge in shoplifting may be an inadvertent consequence of another rising trend: automation. With stores now having fewer people minding them, thieves have felt emboldened.

In response, trade groups are pushing for new federal legislation to help fix the problem. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, for example, would create an organized retail theft division within the Department of Homeland Security.

A better solution would be for businesses to realize that workers are a greater anti-theft asset than they think.

Hire more people

Hire more people to monitor the floors. Have more watch the stores. This will reduce the opportunities for would-be thieves and embolden store owners and workers to stop theft when it happens.

It will also make the stores appear to be more a part of the community where friends and neighbors work and less like the large vending machines they have become. Stores have become ghost towns largely devoid of staff. Many stores now use primarily self-checkout and have skeleton crews running the location.

There is still no substitute for a pair of human hands and eyes. Most stores have cameras watching all areas, for example, but cameras still need someone to monitor them, in addition to people on the floor who can be alerted to stop would-be thieves. Otherwise, the cameras are just an elaborate home-movie system.

Self-checkout can drive away paying customers, too. Amazon mostly abandoned its experiment with cashier-less “Just Walk Out” grocery stores in early 2024 when it realized that potential customers weren’t going for it. It frequently took hours for customers to get their receipts because the purchases were monitored by off-site cashiers via cameras.

Interestingly, the big retail chains do not appear to be employing fewer people overall. CVS Pharmacies, for example, had an average of 28 employees per store last year and an average of 32 employees this year. Automation is not reducing total headcount.

But the growth clearly has not translated to more people working in the stores. The automation seems to have coincided with more hires elsewhere within corporations.

CVS announced in October it was shedding 2,900 jobs and notably said that the positions impacted would be “primarily corporate roles.” Jobs in stores and pharmacies would, the corporation said, avoid the ax, presumably because they cannot afford to cut back there any further.

The effects

The lack of store staff has several effects. It means that not only are there fewer workers to spot shoplifting, but they are more likely to be reluctant to try to stop thieves because they have fewer co-workers to back them up should the situation escalate. NRF reported in 2023 that 41% of surveyed retailers said that “no employees are authorized to stop or apprehend shoplifters,” up from 38% in 2022.

One can understand the stores’ position. Prosecuting shoplifters in most cases will be more expensive than whatever the store might recover in court and can cause hard feelings within the surrounding community. But it is clearly a self-defeating stance if it opens the doors, figuratively and literally, to further theft.

And, finally, the broader American culture seems to be more accepting of theft if it is framed as stealing from faceless corporations, not individuals. The fewer people minding a store, the less stealing from the store feels like stealing from people.

The executives running the retail stores are struggling to figure out what to do, journalist Marc Fisher, author of a recent study on the rise of shoplifting for the Atlantic Monthly, told this author. “All of the retail industry executives, retail security experts and criminologists I spoke with cited automation as one of the key causes of the current crisis.”

They recognize that “the shift in recent decades toward automating everything from checkout to store security (cameras, AI monitors, programs such as those I described in the piece) has been accompanied by big cuts in staffing, which in turn came about in part as a cost-saving measure and, perhaps more often, because of the difficulty in hiring and retaining shop workers,” he said in an email.

Workers are an asset

Management needs to remember that workers are an asset, not just for labor productivity but also for intangible human qualities they bring to the shopping experience.

They bring pride in making sure their section is clean and well stocked; the assistance they can give to customers searching for the right item; or the ability to respond to unusual situations like a customer having a health emergency. Thieves are less likely to steal if they can see multiple people watching them rather than just one.

Fixing the shoplifting crisis does not require elaborate federal legislation or tougher criminal sentences or stricter security measures or more elaborate surveillance. It requires more workers. That is something management can easily fix. It will cost more, of course, but it is a worthwhile investment.

Sean Higgins is a research fellow specializing in labor policy for the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

First Published: November 22, 2024, 2:30 a.m.

Click here to view original web page at www.forbes.com

Search 2 keywords found: consumer,consumption,manufactur,technology,software,robot,technical

Kevin Beasley is the CIO at VAI.

Business strategies are continuously influenced by changes in technology, and 2025 looks to be an incredible year for technical advances. As the business world prepares for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have had ever-greater advancements.

Utilizing capabilities that reduce manual labor, human error and costs, plus automate workflows that generate greater efficiency, structured and analyzed data, and advanced security measures, ERP systems will continue to transform industries and ultimately directly affect end users and consumers. Companies should keep a watchful eye on evolving industry challenges and remain vigilant to trends that can be handled and maintained by their ERP system, if they hope to remain competitive.

Here’s a look at what some of these could be.

Industry-Specific Functionality

An ERP system is no longer a one-size-fits-all solution. Food, healthcare and manufacturing are just a few examples of the industries that need specific solutions to address their unique challenges. Industry-specific ERP is necessary for the healthcare sector to manage patient data, ensure HIPAA compliance and simplify revenue cycle management. Inventory control and tracking are essential for food and beverage businesses to adhere to food safety laws. There are numerous moving parts in manufacturing since they must manage production, acquire supplies and complete orders. ERP serves as a single hub to link all these aspects of the company and thereby acts in service and betterment of whole industries.

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An Integration With The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) has many potential uses and is expected to become more significant in influencing our world as the number of devices linked to the internet rises by utilizing later technologies in existing 5G and future 6G telecommunications and changing the ways in which we work, live and communicate with one another.

According to IBM, IoT devices can be used in the transportation industry to monitor vehicle performance, optimize routes and track shipments. Sensors can be used to monitor the fuel efficiency of connected vehicles, reducing fuel costs and improving sustainability. IoT devices are utilized to monitor machine performance, energy usage, temperature, humidity and air quality in addition to cargo monitoring. If this information is stored in a blockchain, this can give an end-to-end history of the conditions of the cargo.

Similarly, supply chain management may be optimized and inventory levels tracked in retail using IoT-enabled ERP systems. IoT and ERP integration, which work well together, are going to be quite popular as companies try to use data to make better decisions and run their operations more efficiently.

Powering Industrial ERP With AI

AI is expected to see an annual growth rate of 36.6% from 2023 to 2030, and it is inevitable that AI and machine learning will be integrated deep into ERP systems as they develop. AI-driven ERP deployments will completely transform how companies run in 2025 and beyond. These technologies facilitate enhanced decision-making processes, advanced predictive analytics and the automation of repetitive jobs by integrating robotics. The massive volumes of data produced by ERP systems today require data scientist expertise and can take a long time to be analyzed. Using AI to analyze the data will yield insightful information that can enhance business results in dramatically reduced time.

AI has the potential to also automate tasks such as regulatory financial reporting and warehouse and supply chain operations. Furthermore, AI can improve user experiences by enabling customizations of interfaces according to user behavior and preferences. AI has many capabilities such as comprehending natural languages, which makes voice-activated ERP and automated customer support possible in an end user’s primary language.

Cybersecurity

The realization that security is essential to tech-driven success will push businesses to aggressively fortify their cybersecurity posture. Partnerships with managed service providers will be essential in navigating this environment to develop and sustain resilience against cyber risks, particularly as the application of AI in operations continues to advance.

AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, able to anticipate and eliminate cyber threats before they have a chance to inflict damage, will become standard. Proactive defense mechanisms will become the focus, with AI constantly learning and adjusting to new threats.

There are additional measures businesses can take to bolster protection against cybersecurity attacks, such as:

Ongoing investments in IT and all other departments to install and test security software.

Updating hardware frequently to meet regulatory requirements and prevent outdated components from causing network vulnerabilities.

Subscribing to CISA common vulnerabilities and exposure (CVE) and known exploited vulnerabilities (KEV) notifications to receive the latest news on cybersecurity risks and solutions.

Cloud ERP

A major driver in sustainable technology is cloud-based ERP, which is transforming management within the corporate world. Projected to be worth $57.17 billion in 2024 and reach $181.04 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights, cloud ERP is exhibiting a CAGR of 15.5% during the forecast period.

Unlike traditional systems that are installed on on-premises servers and data centers, cloud ERP is provided online and shares power consumption, cooling requirements, security and operations functions with all the tenets of the cloud. This reduces each cloud tenet’s carbon footprint by sharing these resources. Businesses can adapt to their evolving needs thanks to their nearly unlimited scalability and anytime, anywhere access. Cloud ERP also reduces expenses by eliminating upfront hardware purchases and IT maintenance. Rather, these companies receive a reliable subscription service that maintains the security and modernity of the system. All things considered, cloud ERP is a major development in modern business management since it offers businesses a scalable, cost-effective and secure alternative.

Modern ERP systems have many advantages that can help businesses prosper. These businesses should maximize their system’s functionality, monitor and secure the safety of all data and stay ahead of trends and emerging technologies that can be integrated into their ERP.

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Click here to view original web page at elitebusinessmagazine.co.uk

Search 2 keywords found: productivity,technology,software,robot,technical

Claire Harris, Vodafone UK’s Head of Small, Medium & Enterprise Business, explains why it’s time to embrace the latest technologies to ensure your business thrives in an automated age

By taking the leap into automation, UK businesses can unlock unparalleled efficiencies, driving innovation, and positioning themselves for long-term success.

For many businesses, working hard has been replaced by a new mantra: working smart.

Though it may sound cliché, working smart enables your business to make efficiencies, maximise creativity, and harness technology to achieve more with less effort.

It’s important to note however that this shift is not about cutting corners: it’s about driving productivity and adapting to the realities of our modern economy, where marginal gains make all the difference. And, when it comes to working smart, one of the most powerful tools a business has at its disposal is automation.

Whether you’re a startup striving for growth, a mid-sized company looking to scale, or a large enterprise focused on maintaining a competitive edge, automation offers many transformative benefits.

In this article we’ll delve deeper into the advantages automation presents to companies of all sizes and the role it can play in driving your own business forward.

Automation is accessible

One of the most compelling aspects of automation is its universal applicability. Contrary to popular belief, automation is now accessible to businesses of all sizes due to advancements in technology and the availability of cost-effective tools.

Cloud-based platforms and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions allow small businesses to automate tasks like customer service using chatbots, social media management with tools like Buffer, or invoicing with apps like QuickBooks.

Meanwhile, larger enterprises can employ more complex automation, such as robotic process automation (RPA) for streamlining operations. These tools are scalable, affordable, and require minimal technical expertise, making automation a practical solution for any business aiming to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Boosts productivity and efficiency

Automation significantly enhances efficiency by streamlining repetitive tasks, reducing the time and effort required to complete them. For instance, automating customer relationship management (CRM) tasks, such as follow-up emails or data entry, empowers teams to focus on higher-value activities like building client relationships and developing strategic initiatives.

Moreover, automation can lead to a substantial increase in productivity. Automated processes run 24/7, ensuring that critical tasks are completed without the delays associated with human intervention. This can be particularly beneficial for small businesses that may not have the resources to operate around the clock.

Reduces costs

While there is an initial investment involved in implementing automation, the long-term savings can be substantial. By reducing the need for manual labour, automation helps businesses cut down on operational costs. For example, automating inventory management can reduce errors and minimise excess stock, leading to significant savings in inventory holding costs.

For smaller businesses, this can be a game-changer. With fewer resources at their disposal, SMEs often operate on thin margins. Automation allows these businesses to optimise their resources, ensuring that every pound spent contributes directly to growth and profitability.

Improves accuracy and consistency

Human error is inevitable, but it can be costly. Automation enhances accuracy by eliminating the variability associated with manual processes. Whether it’s processing transactions, managing data, or handling customer inquiries, automated systems perform tasks with precision and consistency.

For mid-sized companies, where operations are expanding but resources are still limited, maintaining accuracy is crucial. Errors in data management, for example, lead to poor decision-making and lost opportunities. With automation, in-play data is accurate, up-to-date, and reliable, enabling better strategic decisions.

Easily enables businesses to scale and flexible

As businesses grow, their processes must scale accordingly.

Automation provides the scalability that companies need to expand without proportionally increasing their overheads. This is particularly important for startups and SMEs, where rapid growth can strain existing resources. Automation enables these businesses to scale their operations seamlessly, meeting increased demand without compromising on quality or customer service.

Moreover, automation offers the flexibility to adapt to changing business needs. Automated systems can be easily reconfigured to accommodate new processes, products, or market conditions, providing businesses with the agility to stay competitive.

Enhances customer experience

In today’s competitive marketplace, customer experience is a key differentiator. Automation can significantly enhance customer satisfaction by providing a faster, more efficient service. For instance, automated chatbots can handle customer inquiries in real-time, providing instant responses to common questions and freeing up human agents to handle more complex issues.

For large enterprises, where customer interactions are often high-volume, automation ensures that no customer is left waiting. For smaller businesses, automation enables them to provide a level of service that rivals larger competitors, helping them build and maintain customer relationships.

Provides valuable data-driven insights

Automation doesn’t just perform tasks—it generates valuable data that can provide insights into business operations. By analysing this data, businesses can identify trends, optimise processes, and make informed decisions.

For example, automated systems can track customer behaviour, providing insights into purchasing patterns that can inform marketing strategies. For businesses of all sizes, these insights are invaluable for staying ahead of the competition and responding to market changes proactively.

The future of business will be powered by automation

The future of business is undoubtedly automated. As technology continues to advance, the scope of automation will only expand, encompassing more complex tasks and processes. Businesses that embrace automation today will be well-positioned to leverage these future developments, gaining a competitive edge in their industries.

For small and medium-sized businesses, the journey to automation may seem daunting, but the rewards are worth the effort. By starting with simple, high-impact processes and gradually expanding automation efforts, businesses can achieve significant gains in efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Automation is no doubt a powerful tool that can drive growth, enhance efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction for businesses of all sizes. By embracing automation, companies are unlocking their full potential, ensuring long-term success in an increasingly competitive and dynamic business environment.

If you’re a looking to gain a better understanding on the right automation tools to help drive your business forward, head over to the Vodafone V-Hub to speak with a dedicated adviser today – either over the phone or online – free of charge.

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Click here to view original web page at www.socialeurope.eu

Search 2 keywords found: employment,productivity,services

Technological advancements promised shorter workweeks, yet full-time workers in Europe still clock the same hours as in the 1980s.

From the late 19th century until the 1980s, there were consistent and significant reductions in the number of hours that full-time workers devoted to work in Europe. However, a clear historical shift occurred in the 1980s: since then, full-time workers have continued working roughly the same number of hours per week up to 2022, as seen in Figure 1. Why do regular workers continue working the same number of hours despite technological advancements and productivity gains? This is one of the questions addressed in a recent study by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Only if we include part-time workers in the analysis (see Figure 3 in the cited study) can we observe a continuation in the historical trend of working time declines for the average worker. Although, even in this case, there is a clear slowdown from the 1980s compared with previous periods. This implies that part-time work has played a key role as the main driver of aggregate reductions in working time in recent decades in Europe.

Why do full-time workers continue working the same hours?

In the six EU countries we focus on, full-time workers represent 3 out of 4 employees, and they work roughly the same number of hours as they did in the 1980s. This is due to countervailing forces influencing their work schedules, which together explain the relative stability of working hours among full-time employees over time.

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On the one hand, structural economic changes partially explain why full-timers continue registering long working hours. Longer hours are typically worked by high-skilled workers and in private services. Therefore, occupational upgrading and the notable growth of private service jobs have pushed working time up in the last decades. On top of this, there is a cultural shift having a similar effect. While in the past, leisure was used to signal status, nowadays, the opposite happens, with time at work and “busyness” being used as status markers. This is consistent with the following observation: high-skilled workers, that is, those who usually have higher autonomy and control at work, tend to work more hours than low-skilled workers (see Figure 2). From an individual (and economic) perspective, this could also be interpreted as a substitution effect: the opportunity cost of leisure is higher for those earning more, making them decide to work longer hours.

On the other hand, other sectoral trends are pushing full-time working hours in the opposite direction. These are mainly the expansion of public services (where shorter working hours are typical), the declining weight of the goods-producing sector (which historically involved long working hours), and the reduction in both the prevalence and time intensity of self-employment.

While on aggregate working time has slightly decreased in Europe in the last decades, this is because of the expansion of non-standard forms of work, mainly part-time. In the meantime, most workers (those that work on a full-time basis) have continued doing similar hours. For this reason, reductions in working time are still considered by many as a mirage.

The expansion of part-time work: the main driver behind reductions in working time

As noted above, since the 1980s, reductions in working time in Europe are only evident when part-time workers are included in the analysis. The rise and establishment of part-time work has been the primary driver of aggregate work time reductions in recent decades.

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Indeed, part-time workers work approximately half the number of hours of their full-time counterparts. As part-time contracts gain importance (in the six countries in our sample, part-time employment rose from 16 per cent of total employment in 1992 to 24 per cent in 2022), they will automatically reduce average working hours. Compared to the 1980s, there are more people employed, especially women; however, employment has also become, on average, more fragmented (and less time-intensive for those outside the full-time norm).

What are the main factors explaining the expansion of part-time work? Since the 1980s, regulatory changes and the shift towards de-standardisation of the employment relationship enabled the development of more flexible and less time-intensive employment options, such as part-time work. These new forms of work became more prevalent among women and in the service sector (see Figures 5 and 6 in the reference study). That is why we consider that the tertiarisation of the economy and the feminisation of employment are two major factors contributing to reductions in working time, as they supported the expansion of part-time work.

Conclusions and policy implications

After a long period of consistent reductions in working hours (1870-1980), trends in Europe stabilised around a segmented pattern, with the bulk of workers still following the norm of 40 hours a week. A growing share of non-standard workers have shorter and more flexible schedules. If average working hours have reduced slightly since then, it is largely due to the growing prevalence of part-time work. However, the majority of workers (those with full-time schedules) still work as long as they did in the 1980s. Structural transformations, such as the expansion of private services and occupational upgrading, along with changing attitudes towards work (fostered by status competition and changing work values), have contributed to this stabilisation and prevented further reductions in full-time working hours.

Reductions in working time, exemplified by the four-day workweek proposal, are a prominent topic in current European debates. This attention is warranted, given that most European workers have not experienced significant reductions in working time for decades. The narrative that technological progress has led to decreased workloads rings hollow for many, as they continue to work long hours despite advances in computerisation, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, around 20 per cent of part-time workers in the EU are trapped in involuntary part-time employment, working fewer hours than they desire. Future working time policies in the EU should address these imbalances directly, acknowledging the underlying segmentation of employment conditions. Promoting a more equitable distribution of work and leisure, policies can benefit full-time workers by reducing their working hours. Conversely, policies that incentivise companies to offer extended hours to part-time workers who desire them could improve the quality of non-standard jobs, aligning with the broader goal of enhancing job quality.

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Search 2 keywords found: basic income

Fergal Phillips/Fine Gael

day 15

Here’s what’s happening on the campaign trails today.

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IT’S DAY 15 and there’s only one week to go until voters take to the polling stations. Here’s what’s happening today:

• People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny will be in the Dublin mid-west constituency, where he’ll be speaking about the party’s election manifesto proposals to decriminalise drugs and make cannabis legal. MEP Luke Ming Flanagan will be joining him.
• Meanwhile, People Before Profit’s environment spokesperson Paul Murphy be in the city centre talking about the party’s call for a ban on new LNG infrastructure.
• Minister Paschal Donohoe will be out for Fine Gael along with more of the party’s candidates to launch its plan to invest in Dublin city centre.
• Back in Dublin, Labour’s finance spokesperson Ged Nash and workers’ rights spokesperson Marie Sherlock will be launching Labour’s plan to end low pay and give employees more power at work.
• The Social Democrats’ justice spokesperson Catherine Murphy and other candidates will be launching the party’s youth manifesto in Dublin.
• For the Greens, leader Roderic O’Gorman and Minister Malcolm Noonan will be in Kilkenny to launch proposals for a new Basic Income for Carers and other cost of living measures, including lower childcare fees.
• Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and other candidates will be speaking about how a Sinn Féin-led government would prioritise Irish unity at an event in Dublin.
• In Roscommon, Minister Charlie McConalogue and fellow Fianna Fáil candidate Dr Martin Daly will outline the party’s policies on agriculture, fisheries and rural areas.
• Also in Roscommon, Independent Ireland is launching its general election manifesto.

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Search 2 keywords found: employment,services,technology

You're an experienced professional armed with a polished résumé, countless hours spent on crafting cover letters, and an inbox full of job application confirmations. Yet, week after week passes and there's not a single callback, not even a whisper of a job interview. It's a scenario all too familiar for many out there. The job market feels like a labyrinth where every turn leads to another dead-end.

It’s not just a feeling. According to the latest Workforce Monitor® report from the American Staffing Association and The Harris Poll, four out of ten unemployed job seekers reported not having a single job interview in the past year. At a time when 45% of Americans anticipate looking for a job within the next year, these numbers are not just concerning—they’re alarming. As staffing leaders, this scenario represents a profound challenge in our hiring processes.

The Disconnect by the Numbers

To fully grasp the extent of this issue, let's delve into some statistics that underscore the current employment malaise:

72% of Americans believe that applying for jobs feels akin to sending a résumé into a “black box." This perception highlights a core disconnect that job seekers experience—one where effort seldom equates to feedback or opportunity.

60% find the job search process to be impersonal.In an era where personalization is key in services and customer experiences, the recruitment process seems to lag, creating a chasm between candidates and employers.

42% of unemployed job seekers have applied to ten or more job openings in the past year without success. This speaks to the inefficacies and frustrations inherent in the current recruitment process.

With these statistics in mind, it’s evident that the traditional approach to recruitment is under strain, and transformation is not just welcome—it's necessary.

The Invisible Barriers to Employment

Among the many hurdles facing job seekers, several stand out:

1. Generic Résumés - Many candidates resort to using the same universal résumé for multiple job roles. This generic template not only fails to capture the applicant's unique abilities but also slips through automated systems that are designed to filter out non-relevant applications.

2. Lack of Personal Touch - The shift towards automation has stripped away the personal element in recruitment, leaving candidates feeling like mere numbers in a vast pool.

3. Rigid Application Processes - Requiring cover letters or on-site application forms can deter potential talent who might otherwise be ideal fits for roles, especially in a world gravitating towards remote work policies.

Empowering Job Seekers with Data and AI-Driven Tools

The path forward for TA leaders lies in harnessing technology that not only elevates efficiency but champions the cause of job seekers by giving each a fair and personalized chance to shine. Here’s how:

Tailored Screening Through AI

At Glyde Talent, we've embraced a philosophy that strives to provide every applicant the chance to present their individuality effectively through our AI-driven screening solutions. By offering self-service options candidates are no longer just data points but active participants in the selection process. AI-guided questions assess their capabilities in real-time, fostering a more engaging and insightful application journey.

This form of screening provides instant feedback, helping applicants understand their suitability while syncing results with the ATS for a streamlined process. This systematic synchronization not only accelerates the hiring process but ensures relevant talent isn’t overlooked.

A More Human Connection in Recruitment

To combat the impersonal nature of recruitment, Glyde Talent introduces automated, personalized candidate re-engagement strategies. By tailoring messages to the recipient’s background and optimizing outreach based on analytical feedback, we create meaningful touchpoints that bridge the gap between employers and passive, yet high-potential candidates.

Through these tools, job seekers are no longer left in the lurch with unanswered applications. Instead, they become active contributors to a dialogue that recognizes their potential and actively pursues mutual fit

Supporting Flexibility and Modern Preferences

The findings show that 50% of job seekers will not accept positions without remote or hybrid work options, highlighting the shift in workforce preferences. Similarly, 31% would sidestep job opportunities requiring traditional cover letters. Recognizing and adapting to these preferences empowers us to attract a broader, more diverse talent pool while keeping pace with evolving workplace trends.

Thus, the integration of strategic recruitment automation, AI, and machine learning becomes paramount. These technologies are not only instrumental in adopting a candidate-first strategy but also in optimizing the recruitment journey to better align with contemporary work and life expectations.

The Future of Hiring is an Adaptive Spirit

As we stand at a crossroads in talent acquisition, it's imperative for us to adopt an adaptive spirit that recognizes the potential within every candidate and systematically removes entrenched barriers that inhibit diverse and dynamic workforce constitution.

The latest report from ASA and The Harris Poll is more than just a summary of current labor pains—it's a clarion call for change in the way we perceive the recruitment process. As HR strategists, we must wield the tools of tomorrow—#ai, #machinelearning, and #automation—to reinstate faith in a system that promises more than a mere job, but a fulfilling and connected career path for every aspiring professional.

In embracing these advancements, we not only rejuvenate the recruitment landscape but also reaffirm our commitment to a #futureofwork that is equitable, efficient, and endlessly innovative—for both the candidates who dare to dream and the organizations bold enough to adapt.

By leading this charge, we are not just addressing present challenges; we're paving the way for the transformations of tomorrow—ensuring that every job seeker gets the chance they deserve to put their best foot forward.

Let us work together to transform hopeless hunting into hopeful horizons.

#GlydeTalent #Recruitment #HRTech #JobMarket #Innovation #TalentAcquisition #FutureOfWork

Click here to view original web page at www.printweek.in

Search 2 keywords found: productivity,technology,software

Fujifilm India has launched Revoria XMF PressReady, an advanced digital print workflow automation solution specifically designed for the Revoria Press PC 1120.

The workflow

This breakthrough solution is set to transform and automate digital print production, empowering print businesses to meet the demands of today’s fast-paced market with precision and ease.

In a digital printing industry that demands customisation, shorter runs, and quick turnaround times, businesses face challenges from a shortage of skilled manpower.

The Revoria XMF PressReady addresses these issues by providing intelligent process automation and is designed to handle print jobs from various inputs, including web-to-print, print management information systems (MIS), or customer-supplied PDF files. This solution enhances efficiency, reduces repetitive tasks, and boosts production capacity, helping businesses remain competitive.

In a digital printing industry that demands customisation, shorter runs, and quick turnaround times, businesses face challenges from a shortage of skilled manpower. The Revoria XMF PressReady addresses these issues by providing intelligent process automation and is designed to handle print jobs from various inputs, including web-to-print, print management information systems (MIS), or customer-supplied PDF files. This solution enhances efficiency, reduces repetitive tasks, and boosts production capacity, helping businesses remain competitive.

Koji Wada, managing director of Fujifilm India, said: “At Fujifilm India, we are committed to delivering innovative products and solutions that embody our philosophy of value from innovation. By blending diverse ideas, unique capabilities, and extraordinary people, we aim to create solutions that bring joy and smiles to the world. With the introduction of Revoria XMF PressReady, we aim to empower digital printing businesses to transform their workflow, achieve greater accuracy, and unlock new levels of productivity. Fujifilm is dedicated to supporting the industry with solutions that truly make a difference.”

Priyatosh Kumar, associate director and head of graphic communication and device technology, Fujifilm India, added: “Revoria XMF PressReady is a strong pre-press solution for digital print businesses, offering a comprehensive automation solution that simplifies complex workflows. By enabling intelligent automation and seamless integration, this tool makes it easier for our customers to meet the challenges of today’s print demands efficiently and reliably.”

Key benefits

Intelligent automation of print process: Revoria XMF PressReady automates pre-press and repetitive tasks, reducing human involvement and significantly improving efficiency and turnaround times.

Unified printer and job management: With Revoria XMF PressReady, printers have a central control point for monitoring and managing printer and job status, minimising operator intervention and maximising overall productivity.

Seamless integration: The system integrates effortlessly with Revoria Flow PPSP, managing workflow from order intake to final delivery for a fully streamlined process.

Hybrid digital and offset production: Revoria XMF PressReady offers hybrid capabilities, intelligently routing jobs between digital and offset production through FUJIFILM XMF software, giving users unparalleled control over their production process from a single interface.

Click here to view original web page at www.badgerinstitute.org

Search 2 keywords found: basic income,guaranteed income

Unconditional cash did nothing to raise recipients out of poverty; Madison and Milwaukee have dabbled with idea

Results from the nation’s most comprehensive experiment in offering people a guaranteed basic income offer a warning to those places — including some Wisconsin cities — dabbling with the idea: Unconditional cash payments did nothing to permanently lift participants out of poverty and dependency.

A three-year study of 3,000 people in Illinois and Texas found that those paid a guaranteed income atop any other public benefits worked less, were less likely to work at all, and their households’ income fell relative to those not receiving unconditional cash payments.

The findings suggest that rather than enabling people to overcome financial barriers and find better work, unconditional cash payments detach them from work making it less likely that they will achieve self-sufficiency, potentially harming their longer-term economic well-being, and raising the cost of social welfare programs.

Guaranteed income programs, sometimes called “universal basic income” (UBI), are a type of social welfare in which beneficiaries receive cash not conditional on work or training. Interest has risen in recent years. Pilot programs have been tried in Madison and Milwaukee, among other places.

Advocates argue that cash payments can allow recipients to engage in longer searches for better jobs or to pursue education or entrepreneurial opportunities.

Critics argue payments diminish the incentive for recipients to find work or do things that allow them to eventually escape poverty. As income rises, the marginal benefit of an additional dollar falls. Recipients of unconditional payments thus may choose to work less and spend more time on leisure.

Findings from the two Wisconsin pilots have yet to be released.

But results from the OpenResearch Unconditional Cash Study, or ORUS, published in a series of academic papers by the National Bureau of Economic Research this past summer, do not match advocates’ hopes.

Guaranteed income programs in Wisconsin

Several Wisconsin cities considered using COVID and taxpayer funds to launch guaranteed income pilot programs. Two did it.

Madison’s guaranteed income pilot began in September 2022. It provided $500 a month for one year to 155 households that were earning less than 200% of the poverty level. Another 200 households — applicants not selected for payments — served as a control group. The program was funded privately by the Madison Forward Fund. Researchers at UW-Madison and the University of Pennsylvania oversaw it. The program ended in August 2023.

Milwaukee’s pilot began in 2024. The Bridge Project has 100 participants. Eligibility is limited to expectant mothers in certain low-income Milwaukee ZIP codes. The program began as a two-year pilot with a $1.8 million grant from the Zilber Family Foundation and the New York-based Monarch Foundation. It was extended another year when the City of Milwaukee allocated $350,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pandemic relief funds.

The city funding was approved by the Milwaukee Common Council in October over the objection of Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who said funding “unconditional cash transfers is not sustainable” by the city. He wanted funding limited to private sources.

What did the ORUS study find?

The ORUS is the most scientific study of the response of lower-income individuals to unconditional cash payments ever undertaken. It was privately financed by OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman. Altogether, participants in the study received $45 million.

Each of the 3,000 participants was between 21 and 40 years old and had an income below 300 percent of the federal poverty level.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1,000 recipients each received a monthly check of $1,000, while a 2,000-person control group received $50 a month to encourage continued participation. The design allowed researchers to measure differences in participants’ choices through detailed time diaries and lengthy surveys concerning their finances and daily activities.

Researchers went to great lengths to ensure that the $1,000 cash payments did not result in the loss of benefits from other programs. Special legislation in Illinois, for example, protected the government benefits of those in the treatment group.

The study’s three-year period contrasted with most other pilots’ shorter length. Some adaptations to changing economic circumstances occur gradually, and initial changes in behavior may not last. The three-year window allowed researchers to see whether participants’ work-leisure trade-off changed over time and whether recipients were left in a better position to exit poverty.

They weren’t. While working hours and employment rates for both groups were similar at the start of the study, by year three recipients were 2 percentage points less likely to be employed. They worked about 1.3 fewer hours a week — about 4% to 5% less — than those in the control group by the end of the study.

Others living in the same household as recipients also reduced the amount of time that they spent working.

Earnings and outside income (excluding the $1,000 monthly payments) of recipients fell relative to the control group. By the end of the study, the earned income of recipients was roughly $1,500 a year less than the control group. Other individuals in their households also earned less: By the end of the study, the household income of recipients was $2,500 a year less than the control group.

The study examined the jobs held by participants, including compensation, flexibility, stress levels and self-satisfaction, as well as studying investments by participants in education and training (such as obtaining a GED). Again, the results were negative. As the authors put it, “We do not find evidence of the type of job quality or human capital improvements that advocates had hoped might accompany the provision of greater resources.”

Researchers found that recipients spent the time they gained from not working on leisure. There was no increase in the amount of time recipients spent on activities that could benefit others, such as childcare, care for others, or community engagement, or that could benefit themselves over the longer run, such as job searches, exercise or other forms of self-improvement.

“Our results demonstrate that monthly cash transfers have a moderate effect” on reducing work, and the reduction “is not fully offset by substitutions towards other productive activities,” the research team summarized, adding, “We also do not find support for other hypothesized benefits to long-run employment, like an improved quality of job fit.” They conceded that it’s possible some participants “are making investments with payoffs that will take longer to observe.”

Additional issues with guaranteed income programs

Pilot programs like those in Madison, Milwaukee and the ORUS are useful in understanding how individuals respond to unconditional cash payments. However, they’re not “universal” as envisioned by advocates of universal basic income programs.

A true UBI would provide unconditional cash payments to a wide segment of the population. That would be extremely expensive.

In 2019, then-presidential candidate Andrew Yang proposed a Freedom Dividend program in which the federal government would provide $1,000 a month or $12,000 a year to every American 18 or older. The Tax Foundation estimated that would cost approximately $2.8 trillion a year, more than the combined budgets of the Social Security and Medicare programs at that time.

Even a more limited program would be extremely costly. The Census Bureau estimates that there are 50 million Americans 18 to 64 years old whose income is at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Providing each with $1,000 a month would cost $600 billion a year.

If eligibility is limited on the basis of income, unconditional cash grants would result in the same type of income cliff as other social welfare programs. The prospect of losing eligibility as income from work rises would disincentivize participants from spending more time and effort trying to earn more or get ahead.

Pilot programs may also understate the negative labor supply effects from a true UBI program.

Guaranteed income pilot programs in the United States are undertaken in a broader society in which others receiving government-funded benefits are subject to pro-work incentives and requirements. The widespread disbursement of cash without work or training requirements may lessen the social stigma of freeloading. If so, the actual labor supply response to unconditional cash benefits would be much more negative than seen in the ORUS study.

Wisconsin voters signaled their disapproval for such programs in an advisory question on the spring 2023 ballot. Asked whether “able-bodied, childless adults” should be “required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits,” 79.6% of Wisconsin voters agreed. A majority of voters in every Wisconsin county, including Dane and Milwaukee, favored such a requirement.

In late 2023, AB 146, a bill that would prohibit local governments from using taxpayer funds to finance guaranteed income programs, passed both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers, and Republicans were unable to override the veto.

Findings from the ORUS study are available on the OpenResearch website at https://www.openresearchlab.org/studies/unconditional-cash-study/study.

James Bohn is an economist with over 30 years of experience in government, business and academics. Most recently, he served as an assistant vice president and senior professional with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Bohn holds a doctorate in business economics from Harvard University and is a CFA charterholder. He resides in the Milwaukee area.

Any use or reproduction of Badger Institute articles or photographs requires prior written permission. To request permission to post articles on a website or print copies for distribution, contact Badger Institute President Mike Nichols at mike@badgerinstitute.org or 262-389-8239.

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Search 2 keywords found: basic income

• Elon Musk's AI startup xAI has been valued at a reported $50 billion, 16 months after its founding.
• It hit the milestone nearly nine years faster than it took rival OpenAI to cross the threshold.
• The funding round widens the valuation gap between xAI and its rivals like Anthropic and Perplexity.

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One of his other companies, his artificial-intelligence startup xAI, has catapulted from launch just 16 months ago into an AI company now worth a reported $50 billion.

The chart below underlines just how rapid xAI's rise has been.

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So how does that $50 billion compare to the competition?

It took OpenAI, last valued at $157 billion in October, about nine years to reach the $50 billion milestone, according to PitchBook data.

Elon Musk, starting with a team of 12 people in July 2023, did it in less than a year and a half.

The $50 billion valuation furthers the valuation gap between xAI and smaller rivals like Anthropic (valued at $19 billion) and Perplexity (valued at $2.8 billion), and has it approaching the market cap of companies like the fast-fashion giant Shein, which was valued at $66 billion last year.

It's also a testament to the high level of investor interest in the so-called Musk economy of companies he oversees — and his ability to raise vast sums of money quickly (also see the billions in funding Musk quickly put together to support his acquisition of Twitter).

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The startup, which created the AI chatbot Grok and the large language model Grok-2 that underpins it, recently set up an AI data center brimming with Nvidia H100 chips. Musk said the process took 122 days — and the startup plans to double the number of AI chips in the center in the coming months.

Click here to view original web page at wzmq19.com

Search 2 keywords found: employment,services

ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – An Escanaba employer has been recognized for its commitment to hiring men and women who served in the Armed Forces.

On Thursday, Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! honored Engineered Machined Products (EMP) as its 2024 Veteran Business of the Year.

“We machine mostly conventional products, so aluminum and steel, grey iron casting,” explained EMP Plant Director Chad Leiter. “We are also fully automated, so it’s a very full-service supplier. All our automation designers sit here locally, we have tool designers that sit here locally, a full apprenticeship program that we grow here.”

At EMP, 10% of the workforce is made up of veterans.

“Veterans have always been important to EMP,” Leiter said. “U.P. Michigan Works! introduced us to a new veteran program. That was really nice because we didn’t know that was necessarily out there.”

U.P. Michigan Works! collaborates with Veterans Employment Services to help vets transition from service to civilian life.

“A lot of veterans just want to come home,” said Jim Messer, Director of Talent Services. “We want to be able to help them come home, and at the end of that is employment so they can take care of their family. They need help; they need another career.”

One such veteran is EMP Quote Coordinator Nicki Owens, who served in the Army National Guard.

“I trained at Fort Jackson in South Carolina to be a paralegal specialist, so I went through JAG Corps training and I was stationed at the 107th Engineer Batallion in Ishpeming,” Owens said. “I was out of work and looking for a local opportunity that would be a good fit for me, so I went to Michigan Works! for resources.”

In addition to resume writing and interviewing assistance, U.P. Michigan Works! connected Owens with a benefit that will allow her to earn her master’s degree. Michigan Works! also helped her secure her current position with EMP.

“What attracted me to EMP is the benefits here, their respect for veterans,” said Owens. “There’s a really good leadership group here, and people come in and they don’t leave. This is really a top-tier employer in the area, and it’s hard to sometimes find that high-quality position in somewhat of a rural area.”

U.P. Michigan Works! says that dedication to employees—particularly those who have served—is what makes EMP the 2024 Veteran Business of the Year.

“EMP has been a longstanding partner with Michigan Works!, and they employ a lot of veterans,” Messer said. “To all the veterans out there, come see us. We have a lot of different programs and partners that we can help you with, so come talk to us.”

“There’s always been a longstanding acknowledgment for the value of our armed forces and veterans, so anything that we can do to help, we will always do,” said Leiter.

To learn more about services available through Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!, click here.

Click here to view original web page at basicincometoday.com

Search 2 keywords found: basic income

Basic Income Grant coalition in Namibia protests conditional basic income grant

By Veripuami Kangumine

See original post here.

The Basic Income Grant (BIG) Coalition of Namibia protested against the government’s proposed basic income grant on Saturday.

They say the grant excludes the majority of the population. This comes after the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Welfare and Poverty Eradication began registering qualifying households countrywide for the conditional BIG of N$600 last week.

BIG Coalition coordinator Rinaani Musutua says the government has not made an effort to collaborate with the organisation despite their advocacy for a universal and unconditional BIG for people for the past 19 years.

“We are not happy with what the government is doing right now: excluding a lot of people in the country who are not eligible for that Haraambe cash grant,” she said.

Musutua says the government should work with the organisation to find a solution to widespread poverty after Namibia was named a hunger hotspot by the United Nation’s agencies this month.

She also alleges that the government’s conversion of the food bank into a ‘Haraambee cash grant’ was an intentional move to derail the organisation’s campaign, which has demanded a BIG of N$500 per person for Namibians aged 0-59 years.

“You don’t set conditions on a basic income grant, because the basic income grant is unconditional. As soon as you set conditions on it, find another name for it,” she added.

Musutua further alleged the coalition has been doing the government’s job addressing the public’s concerns regarding eligibility for the conditional grant that has been extended to more towns.

The ministry is rolling out the conditional BIG as part of the transition from the food bank programme and the marginalised communities special feeding programme.

“We will continue to make it clear that what we campaign for is completely different from what the government is busy with right now or trying to implement,” she said.

“[This gathering] is an information session to explain to the public what exactly is going on now, because the public doesn’t really know,” she said.

The gender ministry’s executive director, Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, said the ministry has actively engaged various stakeholders, non-governmental organisations and local leaders to address poverty and hunger in Namibia.

“While there may have been challenges in achieving a fully unified approach, the ministry recognises the importance of collaboration and is committed to enhancing stakeholder engagement as we move forward,” she said.

Nghipondoka-Robiati noted that the ministry implemented the conditional Basic Income Grant (CBIG), which is an extension of the former food bank programme designed for vulnerable and destitute households in urban and peri-urban areas.

To qualify, households must meet specific criteria, including household income levels below N$1600, unemployment status or lack of access to other forms of support.

She further said the ministry employed a verification system to confirm eligibility by cross-referencing information with the National Population Register and the Social Security Commission database.

“This process ensures that only eligible households receive support while preventing fraud and maintaining accurate records,” she said.

Some citizens may not qualify for the CBIG due to its specific eligibility criteria. The ministry is actively working to educate the public about these distinctions through media campaigns, community outreach and information sessions, she said.

“The ministry is exploring options and modalities for expanding support services and considering alternative assistance programmes that may cater for those who fall outside the current eligibility provision framework,” she added.

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Explainer

Postal workers say they are fighting to protect pensions, improve working conditions and push for higher wages that keep pace with inflation

November 21, 2024

Wondering why you haven’t received that package you were waiting for?

Postal workers across the country are currently striking for better wages, protection of their pensions and to address health and safety concerns on the job.

55,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have been on a massive nationwide strike since Friday after negotiations at the bargaining table stalled with their employer Canada Post.

Here’s why postal workers are pushing back against Canada Post’s “race to the bottom,” and refusal to negotiate in good faith.

How did Canada end up in a nationwide postal strike?

According to CUPW National President Jan Simspon, the union first started bargaining with the employer a year ago in November of 2023, before their collective agreement expired.

“We were (wanting) to avoid this kind of issue. We were hoping we wouldn’t still be bargaining now but we still have really seen any movement at the bargaining table,” Simpson told PressProgress.

After CUPW issued a strike notice, Simpson says Canada Post issued a lockout notice as well.

“And on the day of our possible strike Canada, Post changed our working conditions. For example, they took away our benefits, we no longer had wages, people who are on short term disability, those benefits were cancelled for them as well,” Simpson said. “That pushed us to a full-on strike.”

What are CUPW postal workers fighting for?

Stagnating wages, particularly after the pandemic, are one reason workers are on strike, said Colleen Dzogan, one CUPW member who was on the picket line in Maple Ridge.

“Wages are a big issue,” Dzogan told PressProgress. “I know multiple people who work more than one job just to make ends meet. So working full-time and not being able to afford just your rent, your groceries, that kind of thing.”

“As a full-time worker, we should be able to support ourselves.”

Pensions are another big issue of concern for postal workers, who are not on board with the employer’s proposal to move from a defined benefit pension plan to a defined contribution plan.

A defined benefit pension provides guaranteed income, whereas a defined contribution plan is funded primarily by the worker.

“We can’t just sell out the new workers coming in. We got to take care of them too because we have the things that we do have because other people stood up for us,” Dzogan said.

“There’s other unions that are going to be striking soon. So if we protect our rights, if we look out for our people, it helps them.”

How is Canada Post responding to the strike?

Canada Post’s public statement regarding the strike frames the CUPW’s decision to take job action as the reason for service delays.

However, Simpson says bargaining has been difficult, with the employer “saying no to everything.”

“We are not about a race to the bottom,” Simpson said. “Canada Post is Crown Corporation and they should be trying to lift everybody up.”

“For us in negotiations, we thought it would be done a long time ago, but Canada Post has dragged this out for quite a while and now it’s impacting the Canadian public.”

Simpson says that in many recent job actions, employers’ refusal to negotiate stems from the hope that the government will intervene and legislate workers back to work.

“They are not negotiating in good faith. Workers have finally exercised their power by saying enough is enough,” Simpson said.

“They just want to come to work and to be able to retire with dignity. They love their customers and they love the work they do.”

How is the public reacting?

Despite being on strike, postal workers recognize their services are essential to Canadians.

For example, postal workers are going out of their way to make sure social assistance checks are delivered to those who depend on social assistance, with many workers temporarily leaving the pickets and volunteering to deliver checks to the public on their own time.

Dzogan was one of those volunteers.

“People were stopping me to just say thank you so much because as much as we’re striking, we don’t want the people who rely on our services to suffer,” Dzogan said. “It’s nice to know what we do on a daily basis. Really matters to people

Workers on the pickets add that “morale is high” and they are receiving lots of support from the public.

“If we don’t stand up for our rights, then it trickles down, so we want to raise that bar for everyone.”

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Search 2 keywords found: employment,productivity,technology,software

The rise of AI has spawned fears in many people’s minds irrespective of industries-computational, health, and even in fields which demand creation and problem-solving by human minds, such as software development. In fact, with continuous evolution, AI has made many employees, even programmers, seem to believe that their jobs are threatened. While AI does bring many efficiencies and opportunities undoubtedly, serious questions about the future of work arise. In this article, we will discuss why employees are afraid of AI taking their jobs and come up with ways to help dispel such fears.

AI is growing at almost a runaway rate. Many tasks at work that were considered strictly the domain of human domain expertise have now been handled effectively by AI systems. The capabilities of AI keep growing from simple and repetitive tasks into more complex and high-skill areas of writing code and diagnosing diseases. For developers, the emergence of AI code generators like Copilot developed by GitHub and advanced algorithms of machine learning automates quite a lot of work they do on a daily basis. This raises concerns that as long as AI keeps improving, many professions are going to become history.

Automation has always threatened jobs that are repetitive, and AI has increased what is taken to be “routine.” Data processing, pattern recognition, even to customer service, have started passing on to AI systems, thereby potentially reducing further employment in such sectors. With the AI tools smoothing the workflows, it’s scary to imagine that complex tasks might get automated soon enough.

AI is something that can work nonstop, make fewer human mistakes, and save money in the process. Companies may see this AI as a means to save on labor costs by reducing the workforce or by completely ousting laborers from their companies-issues that might take place in industries which would indeed yield massive economic benefit thanks to large-scale automation. In return, this change in employer priorities certainly raises anxiety in their employee base, as most workers fear their jobs will be phased out for cheaper alternatives.

A further related major concern is the uncertainty regarding what, exactly, will be required as skill sets for the workforce of the future. Many expressed a comfort in their present work but fear that their skill sets will not be relevant in continuing AI evolution. For programmers and other technology professionals, the concern is not only that their jobs may be automated, but also that the character of their work could change in ways that require new skills they do not yet have.

One of the best ways to solve these fears of job losses due to AI is to invest in continuous education and upskilling programs. Workers, too, need to understand that the workforce is changing, and learning new skills is one crucial strategy toward staying relevant. In the case of programmers, this might mean diving deeper into the understanding of AI, machine learning, and data science, or focusing their work in areas where human oversight and creativity are still substantially relevant, such as solving complex problems and making strategic decisions.

The training programs should be made available, and toward this, governments, educational institutions, and employers can collaborate. They will develop in workers the skills to work alongside AI. It not only reduces anxiety about job loss but also fosters a workbench that can thrive in an AI-augmented environment.

AI does not replace human creativity, critical thinking, or emotional intelligence. In fact, the future of work will be very much collaboration between humans and AI, filling each other out where one lacks. Programmers already use AI in performing repetitive work, such as generating codes or debugging, and can therefore devote this time to doing more strategic creative work, which is developing innovative solutions and improving software architecture.

This could be overcome when the battle of perception is reversed from “AI Replaces Human” to “AI Augments Human.” Companies can best foster this shift by highlighting those jobs that require interaction between a human and AI, and by sharing success stories where the intervention of AI increased productivity and innovation without displacing workers.

Policies of governments and organizations should be put in place to protect the workforce against replacement with AI when support is not suitable. Such insurance may include unemployment for displaced workers, retraining programs, or the use of humane labor practices when AI adoption increases.

Companies are in a better position to make better use of AI by building technologies that complement the human employee rather than making the human totally redundant. Setting humane considerations on par with innovation will make it easier to take some heat off the immediate anxiety about losing jobs.

New industries and jobs have usually emerged from technological advancement throughout history. While AI may render some jobs obsolete, many new ones will be opened regarding development, maintenance, ethics, and regulation of AI. Entrepreneurial and innovative spirit in industries complementary to AI will provide different opportunities for the workforce that is to be displaced by AI.

This would also encompass expertise in data privacy, ethics in AI deployment, policy around AI, and new roles that center on the human experience with AI. The companies and governments can also enable such career shifts by providing guidelines on how to navigate these new industries.

This is a valid fear, in the sense that AI is going to replace jobs, particularly among people working in technological areas like programming. Several remedies are possible to consider and reduce such fears: upskilling, collaboration of AI with humans, worker-centric policies, and fostering innovation in new fields. The key is to focus on enhancing human capabilities with AI, not replacing them, so the workforce can continue to be vibrant and dynamic in the face of such rapid change.

Hasitha Bhandaru is a sophomore Information Systems major and an Opinions Staff Writer for The Retriever.

Contact Hasitha Bhandaru at: h177@umbc.edu

Published in Opinions

Hasitha Bhandaru

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Click here to view original web page at www.hawaii.edu

Search 2 keywords found: employment,consumer,technology

Reading time: 2 minutes

Nearly 120 people received legal assistance to expunge (erase) arrest records and recall bench warrants at the Waiʻanae Public Library in September thanks to a free legal clinic put on by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law. The clinic introduced a new expungement automation tool developed by UH law school Innovator-in-Residence Matthew Stubenberg and student Ben Leider.

The event, coordinated with partners including the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary, the Office of the Public Defender, ACLU Hawaii and the Hawaii Workers Center, provided support to community members in clearing old legal issues that can create barriers to employment, housing and other opportunities.

“The chrome extension was an indispensable asset during the clinic by expediting the records research that was done by the attorneys to determine the eligibility of an applicant for expungement,” said Edward (Eddie) Aquino, deputy public defender at the State of Hawaiʻi Office of the Public Defender.

Data analysis, algorithm use

The tool analyzes the case data on eCourt Kokua and uses an algorithm to assist attorneys in determining whether a case is eligible for expungement. After each case has been analyzed the tool generates a completed expungement application, a summary of the cases determined to be eligible for expungement, and the request letters to seal court records upon approval of the expungement.

The clinic marked the soft launch of the tool, offering real-time feedback from attorneys and attendees. In total, 72 applications for expungement and 39 bench warrant recall requests were processed during the clinic.

“The expungement process in Hawaiʻi offered a great opportunity where the addition of technology could really help scale the great work done by the volunteer attorneys,” said Stubenberg. “Instead of tediously filling out paperwork the attorneys can now spend that time communicating with the client and ultimately helping more people in less time. There are still many more areas in the law where technology can help make attorneys more efficient and ultimately increase access to justice.”

Recognizing the transformation of legal practice due to advancements in technology, the UH law school has expanded its curriculum to include classes such as artificial intelligence and social justice, coding for lawyers, cybersecurity and the law and more.

“The rise of consumer AI is what really brought home for me how overdue law is for truly massive disruption, whether by AI itself or by good old-fashioned programming logic,” UH law student Ben Leider said.

For more information, see the UH law school website.

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• UH law librarians dig into importance of legal…

lawUH ManoaWilliam S. Richardson School of Law

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Search 2 keywords found: guaranteed income

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which offers financial assistance to employees throughout their retirement years as well as to the families of those who become handicapped or die, is an essential component of Canada’s social security system. As per rumors, CPP Payment Increase 2025 has been announced by the Canadian government as 2025 draws near, and it may have an impact on when and how much you get.

Millions of Canadians will be directly impacted by these changes in their retirement planning, particularly those who are getting close to retirement age. Monthly payments for retirees will climb by up to 14% over the course of the next few years. Rethinking the CPP start date and modifying retirement plans appropriately are suggested for Canadians.

CPP Payment Increase 2025

No retirement plan in Canada would be complete without taking the CPP into account. An individual can get replacement income after leaving the workforce under the Canada Pension Plan. Old Age Security (OAS), the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and personal savings are the other three “pillars” of the Canadian retirement income system, which includes the CPP, a social insurance scheme. Employers, workers, and independent contractors all contribute to the CPP. Although many Canadians may believe otherwise, the government does not fund it.

Beginning in 2025, the new Canada Pension Plan will gradually raise pension benefits and payments during the next years. There have been requests in last many years to CPP Payment Increase Amount 2025 in order to better serve seniors’ needs, particularly since living expenses have increased. The Canadian government responded by announcing adjustments that would begin to take effect in 2025 with the goal of improving Canadians’ retirement financial security.

• COLA Increase 2025

• 2025 COLA SSI Increase

• Student Loan Forgiveness

Canada Pension Plan 2025 Contributions

While the baseline exemption amount stays at $3,500, YMPE will rise to $71,300 in 2025, while the employer and employee Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contribution rates will stay at 5.95 %. This increase, which was determined in compliance with CPP regulations, accounts for the rise in the average weekly income and salaries in Canada. The maximum CPP contribution for 2025 will be $4,034.10 for both the employer and employee shares, according to this. The self-employed CPP contribution rate stays at 11.9%, while the maximum amount that may be contributed will rise to $8,068.20.

The first earnings ceiling’s level determines the second earnings ceiling’s level. The 2nd earnings ceiling for 2025 will be set at a level 14% higher than the 1st earnings ceiling because of this, pensionable earnings that fall between $71,300 and $81,200 in 2025 will be subject to “second CPP contributions” (CPP2) at a four % employer and employee rate, with a maximum contribution of CAD 396 per employee. 8 % will be the self-employed CPP2 contribution rate in 2025, with a maximum self-employed contribution of $792.

YMPE under CPP for 2025 increases to $71,300

Under the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE) for 2025 will be $71,300, up 4.1% from $68,500 in 2024, according to the Canada Revenue Agency. The Year’s Additional Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YAMPE), the second earnings limit, will be $81,200, which is 10.9% more than the 2024 earnings maximum of $73,200. To calculate extra CPP contributions (CPP2), the YAMPE will be used. Pensionable earnings that fall between $71,300 and $81,200 are thus liable to CPP2 payments. As in 2024, the employer and employee contribution rates will remain at 5.95% in 2025.

Up from $3,867.50 in 2024, the maximum employer and employee contributions to the CPP in 2025 will be $4,034.10 each. The amount of the standard exemption will stay at $3,500.00. For 2025, the additional employer and employee contribution rates will stay at 4.00% on earnings over the YMPE until the YAMPE. Employer and employee contributions to the CPP will increase from $188.00 in 2024 to a maximum of $396.00 in 2025.

CPP Changes 2025 Latest Update

Pension levels and CPP contribution rates are regularly updated by the Canadian government. People are better able to handle the growing recession thanks to these improvements. In 2024, the first ceiling earnings and second ceiling earnings both increased due to growing inflation. It is expected that a similar pattern will be there in new year, but till now no formal announcement or remarks have been made about the issue, according to news.

To prevent any misunderstanding, the people are encouraged to visit canada.ca or give the CRA a call immediately. To avoid falling victim to fraud, individuals are likewise encouraged to only trust the information found on certified websites.

How to apply for your CPP benefits

• Depending on your residence at the time of your application, you may be eligible for either the CPP or the QPP if you made contributions to both throughout your working years.
• You can download the CPP Payment 2025 Application to apply, on paper or apply online using your My Service Canada Account. Please be aware that you may not get a determination of your benefits for up to 120 days, or four months. You will either get checks in the mail or, if you choose direct deposit, CPP payments will be transferred into your bank account. Every month on the final three working days, checks are mailed out.

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• 1504076092-2
• Date Posted:
• Recruiter: Uber
• Location: California, Missouri
• Salary: On Application

Job Description

Drive with Uber and earn a guaranteed minimum of $1444 when you complete 146 trips in your first 30 days!

Why Choose Uber?

Driving with Uber offers an excellent opportunity to enhance your income while enjoying the flexibility to fit your lifestyle, whether you are looking for a gig, part-time, full-time, seasonal, hourly, or temporary work.

Key Highlights:

• Quick Signup: Get started in just a few seconds with ongoing support throughout the process.

• Fast Payments: Enjoy the convenience of cashing out up to 5 times a day through Uber's Instant Pay feature.

• Guaranteed Earnings: You receive guaranteed earnings for your initial 146 trips.

• Flexible Hours: You have full control over when and where you drive.

• 24/7 Assistance: The app provides turn-by-turn navigation and round-the-clock support for any inquiries.

Requirements to Get Started:

• Must be 21 years old or older.

• Possess a 4-door vehicle.

• Valid U.S. driver's license and vehicle insurance are necessary.

• A minimum of one year of driving experience in the U.S. (three years if under 23 years old).

Additional Information:

If you have prior experience in transportation (such as a delivery driver, taxi driver, shuttle driver, or similar roles), you may find driving with Uber to be a beneficial side job. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, whether you have a traditional driving history or not. Driving with Uber is a fantastic way to supplement your full-time or part-time income. Applications are accepted year-round across all seasons!

Join Uber now and earn at least $1444 when completing 146 trips within your first month! Terms and conditions apply.

This promotional offer is exclusive to new drivers who have never signed up with Uber before, and it is subject to the terms outlined. Any additional tips and promotions you earn are on top of this guaranteed amount. This offer is limited and subject to change. Please refer to the full terms and conditions for more details.

Click here to view original web page at www.qualitymag.com

Search 2 keywords found: productivity,manufactur,robot

AutomationVision & Sensors

Vision & Sensors | Automation

Many manufacturers miss out on automation’s potential for improving quality. To achieve these gains, quality must be prioritized from the business case to sourcing and implementation.

November 21, 2024

Manufacturing has come a long way in improving product quality, but many companies are still missing out on one huge opportunity—automation. While most people recognize that automating processes can lead to fewer human errors and more consistent output, many manufacturers aren’t taking full advantage of how much it can actually improve their quality performance.

Through our consulting work helping manufacturers gain clarity on their automation potential, we’ve seen that automation can, on average, reduce around 50-75% of quality issues depending on the industry. The potential is real, but businesses often struggle to unlock it for several reasons.

The Potential is There, But Not Always Realized

The good news is that manufacturers are well aware of this potential. Our data shows that in 2024, improving quality was listed as a key objective in 38.6% of the automation projects we tracked globally through our procurement platform—making it one of the top priorities, right behind boosting productivity and increasing capacity. But even though companies are setting out with quality in mind, they don’t always achieve the results they’re hoping for.

READ MORE

• Using Robotics and Automated Inspection in Manufacturing to Achieve Autonomous Process Control
• Collaborative Robots Emerge as Viable Automation Options for SMEs

So why does this happen? One reason is that the path from recognizing the need for quality improvements to actually implementing effective solutions is tricky. While automating a process can solve some quality issues, if it’s not done right, it can also introduce new problems.

Removing Human Oversight Can Create New Issues

Automation can free the human element from certain manufacturing tasks, and that’s usually a good thing when it comes to cutting down on inconsistencies and fatigue. However, the downside is that you also lose a pair of eyes that might catch defects before they become a major issue.

If you automate a process without putting proper quality checks in place, you run the risk of replicating the same mistake over and over again. That’s where automated quality control systems come into play—whether it’s sensors, cameras, or other inspection tools that can detect when something goes wrong. Without these in place, manufacturers might not notice a problem until it’s too late, and thousands of defective products have already been produced.

Why Quality Improvements Get Downplayed: The Challenge of Quantifying Costs

One of the challenges we’ve seen is that many companies don’t have an overview of the cost of quality issues. It’s tough to put a number on things like rework, scrap, customer complaints, and warranty claims, even though these can eat into a company’s profits more than they realize. Research suggests that poor quality are typically costing companies around 15-20% of their sales revenue.

Because it’s hard to pin down these costs, they often get left out of business cases for automation projects. Instead, companies tend to focus on more easily measurable benefits like boosting productivity. But if you don’t take the time to accurately calculate the costs of poor quality, you’re missing out on a major part of the potential savings that automation can deliver.

We help companies integrate these costs into their business cases and have found that by doing so, quality improvements become a central part of the overall goal, leading to projects that reduce both defects and unnecessary costs.

Sourcing and Implementation: Where Quality Gains Are Won (or Lost)

Even when manufacturers know how much they could save by reducing quality issues, the next challenge is translating these goals into the sourcing and implementation of a solution. It’s not enough to just buy a robot and expect it to magically improve quality—you need to make sure that your quality goals are built into the project from day one.

That means being clear in your requirement specifications. If your goal is to reduce scrap by 60%, the requirements you give to vendors when you’re sourcing your solution must support this goal. We’ve seen too many projects fall short because quality wasn’t prioritized in the early stages, leaving manufacturers with automation that improves efficiency but doesn’t tackle their quality issues.

Setting the right goals and expectations for quality improvements with suppliers upfront also makes it easier to hold them accountable after implementation. However, it’s also crucial to provide enough flexibility for vendors to propose the most cost-effective solutions while keeping them accountable to your quality goals. Specifying too many features or having too high quality goals may just as well make solutions unnecessarily complex or costly. Striking this balance when sourcing automation solutions can be tricky, but is well worth it. In our experience, the difference between a poorly or correctly scoped project can be several hundred percent in solution costs. Knowing the automation market’s sweet spot–or consulting with someone who does–is key to getting the most “quality for money.”

The Takeaway: Quality Needs to Be Prioritized Throughout the Whole Journey

Automation offers huge potential to improve quality in manufacturing, but it doesn’t happen automatically. To really capitalize on it, companies need to make quality a key focus throughout the entire process—from building the business case to sourcing and implementation. By taking the time – or getting help – to quantify the true cost of quality issues and embedding those goals into every stage of the automation project, manufacturers can unlock significant savings and improve their products.