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The <keyword id="22906567" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Unified-Pension-Scheme" source="keywords">Unified Pension Scheme</keyword> (<keyword id="19904859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPS" source="keywords">UPS</keyword>) is a newly introduced <keyword id="20146379" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pension" source="keywords">pension</keyword> system approved by the <keyword id="19909268" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-government" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Indian government" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Indian government">Indian government</keyword> aimed at providing guaranteed pensions, family pensions, and a minimum assured pension for central <keyword id="19933272" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-employees" source="keywords">government employees</keyword>. It is set to take effect from April 1, 2025. <h3>Who is eligible for the UPS?</h3>The scheme is applicable to central government employees who have completed a minimum of 10 years of service. It also reportedly offers a choice to current employees between the existing National Pension System (<keyword id="19919089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPS" source="keywords">NPS</keyword>) and the new UPS. This includes employees who are retired or retiring on or before 31 March 2025 with arrears. Once selected, the choice will reportedly be final for both current and future employees. <h3>What are the key benefits of the UPS?</h3><ul><li>Guaranteed Pension: Employees will receive a pension equivalent to 50% of their average basic salary from the last 12 months prior to <keyword id="19908343" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="retirement" source="keywords">retirement</keyword>, provided they have completed at least 25 years of service. This is proportionately reduced for those with less than 25 years but more than 10 years of service.</li><li>Family Pension: In the event of the pensioner's death, the family is entitled to receive 60% of the pension amount that was being disbursed at the time of the pensioner's passing.</li><li>Minimum Pension: A guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs 10,000 is assured after retirement for those with at least 10 years of service.</li></ul><h3>How will the pension be adjusted for inflation?</h3>The UPS includes a provision for <keyword id="22911270" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation-adjustment" source="keywords">inflation adjustment</keyword> through Dearness Relief (DR), which is linked to the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW). This ensures that the pension, family pension, and minimum pension keep pace with inflation. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112777109" title="GST Council meet: TMC&amp;#39;s O&amp;#39;Brien urges Sitharaman to withdraw 18 pc GST on insurance premiums" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>The government's contribution to the pension fund has been increased from 14% to 18.5% of the employee's salary. This is part of the government's commitment to ensuring the <keyword id="20615853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-security" source="keywords">financial security</keyword> of its employees in retirement. In addition to the regular pension, employees will receive a lump-sum payment at the time of superannuation. This will be 1/10th of the monthly salary (including basic pay and Dearness Allowance) for every six months of completed service. <h3>How does the UPS compare with the NPS?</h3>The UPS offers a guaranteed pension and family pension, whereas the NPS is a contributory scheme where the final pension amount depends on the accumulated corpus and market performance. Employees under the UPS have the security of a fixed pension, while the NPS offers potentially higher returns but with associated risks. The central government has made the framework of the UPS available to state governments. If adopted, it could benefit around 90 lakh state government employees currently under the NPS. <h3>What is the broader impact of the UPS?</h3>As per current estimates, the implementation of the UPS is expected to cost the government an additional Rs 6,250 crore in its first year. The costs will be reassessed every three years to ensure sustainability. The introduction of the new pension scheme is potentially a significant step toward ensuring the financial security and dignity of government employees in their retirement years. It remains to be seen whether it will effectively address the growing demands for a more secure pension system and improve <keyword id="21935721" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-welfare" source="keywords">employee welfare</keyword>.

Confused by the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme? Here’s all you need to know about how it will work

A sixth-grade social science textbook that I read described India as a piece of fabric, with countless threads coloured in a myriad of majestic shades, woven together. This metaphor holds exceptionally well when put into the context of our <keyword id="22706215" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-industry" source="keywords">handloom industry</keyword>. India has a rich history of handlooms and weaving cultures. The culture of handlooms is so intricately woven into Indian culture, that there are whole towns dedicated to the same: <keyword id="248532" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chanderi" source="Orion">Chanderi</keyword> in Madhya Pradesh to Pochampally in Telangana and a dozen more! Unfortunately, the handloom industry in India is dying. The struggle is multi-faceted, ranging from a declining workforce to fierce competition from <keyword id="20496028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-looms" source="keywords">power looms</keyword>. Hence, five years ago, August 7 was proclaimed <keyword id="22677698" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Handloom-Day" source="keywords">National Handloom Day</keyword> in response to this crisis and to heighten public awareness. This date holds special historical significance, commemorating the initiation of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905—a pivotal act of defiance against British colonial rule. <h2>When did this industry come into existence?</h2>According to archaeological findings, the origins of handloom in the Indian subcontinent may be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The Mughal Empire was known to support and patronise <keyword id="20258864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="weavers" source="keywords">weavers</keyword>. The support from the royal patrons resulted in the invention of new textiles such as ‘Mulmul’ and ‘Banarasi Brocade’ among others. This era witnessed a heightened worldwide demand for Indian textiles. In the 17th century, India produced 25% of the world’s textiles, with Bengal accounting for more than 50% of textiles and 80% of silks imported by the Dutch from Asia. <h2>What led to the decline of the <keyword id="19934660" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-handloom" source="keywords">Indian handloom</keyword>?</h2>The East India Company's entry fuelled the industry's initial decline, which started in the 1830s. The weavers were obliged to sell only to the British, and that too at exceedingly cheap prices, virtually putting them out of business. On the other hand, Indian cloth was taxed excessively to promote machine-made British clothing. The Industrial Revolution in Britain strengthened their indigenous textile industry, giving rise to new markets for cheaper textiles. In India, the collapse of the Mughal aristocracies meant no access to royal patronage. As a result, textiles like Khadi and muslin had little demand in the market. Circling back to the present, the industry is facing both similar and new challenges. Fabrics made on power looms are cheaper and faster to produce, in comparison to handloom fabrics. The industry is largely unorganised, and the wages are shockingly low. 67% of <keyword id="22706216" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="handloom-workers" source="keywords">handloom workers</keyword> are earning less than the minimum wage every month. Faced with economic challenges, the older artisans are thus forced to encourage the newer generation to choose an alternative career path. This migration of the workforce from a traditional sector is evident from the fall in the number of weavers less than 35 years of age- from 26.13 lakh in 2009-10 to 16.07 lakh in 2019-20. The majority of weavers do not have access to banking facilities, let alone institutional credit. Furthermore, if one manages to accumulate credit, there is a mismatch between the supply and demand forces due to the lack of awareness about handwoven textiles in the current generation. <h2>Initiatives for revival</h2>The cultural significance of the Indian handloom isn’t just limited to its beauty and extravagance, but it extends to our independence struggle as well. The Swadeshi movement immortalised the charkha and advocated for the use of indigenous goods. Following independence, the Indian government took many measures to revive the handloom industry. In 1953, India’s Parliament approved the Khadi and Other Handloom Industries Development Act. In 1955, the All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society was formed to promote the sale of fabrics produced by handloom cooperatives across India. The National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP) aimed to provide financial assistance for marketing and production. The Handloom Weavers’ Comprehensive Welfare Scheme offers health and life insurance to weavers, to ensure social security. The organisation commenced a fortnight-long exhibition, “VIRAASAT” dedicated to celebrating the 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath, New Delhi on Saturday, 3rd August 2024, and will conclude on 16th August 2024. The Handloom Mark scheme was introduced to authenticate handloom products, thus enabling weavers to gain better market access and ensuring that consumers get genuine products. Moreover, the India Trade Portal also mentions that the GOI plans to provide financial assistance of Rs. 30 crore to at least 10,000 handlooms. Various state governments also regularly conduct handloom expos and fairs, providing platforms for weavers to showcase and sell their products directly to consumers. <h2>Contemporary Brands and their love for Indian handloom</h2>Modern, popular designers such as <keyword id="8264" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sabyasachi" source="Orion">Sabyasachi</keyword> and <keyword id="21493890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ritu-kumar" source="keywords">Ritu Kumar</keyword> are known to work closely with weavers and have been doing their part by bringing worldwide attention to the handloom industries. Recently, <keyword id="1472101" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajrakh" source="Orion">Ajrakh</keyword> was brought into the limelight when Alia Bhatt wore a custom Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla Ajrakh saree to Joy Awards in Riyadh. However, it’s not just the fashion moguls who are working towards the revival of this industry. Contemporary indie brands are partnering with local weavers, and creating awareness about their work. The emergence of such indie brands and their association with local artisans is beneficial for both entities. For instance, Joskai Studio derives its name from ‘Joskai’, a woven piece of cloth worn as a part of the traditional costume of the Tiwa community of Assam. They work with artisans in northeast India, specifically from the weaving village of Saualkuchi in Assam. Rouka by Sreejith Jeevan is a Kerala-based brand that works strictly with weavers from Kerala, specifically Chendamangalam and Kuthampally. <h2>Employment and Exports</h2>According to the Indian Trade Portal, the Indian handloom sector is the country’s second-largest employer after agriculture in rural areas. The Handloom Census 2019-20 mentions that the industry employs about 35,22,512 workers across the country, with women forming 77.29% of the workforce. India is the second largest exporter of handloom products in the world, with exports valued at $ 353.9 million in 2017- 18, as per EXIM bank's working papers. The major handloom export centres are Karur, Panipat, Varanasi and Kannur where handloom products like bed linen, table linen, toilet linen, floor coverings, and embroidered textile materials and curtains etc. are produced for export markets. During April 2021-February 2022, India exported handloom products worth 1693 crore, as per Indian Trade Portal. Indian silk scarves also form a sizable chunk of total handloom exports, in addition to home textiles like carpets, rugs and mats, which constitute over 13.6% of India’s total handloom exports. <h2>The Path Forward</h2>The mere existence of organisations and allocation of funds isn’t enough to sustain the legacy of India’s rich handloom industry. Big corporations working with local weavers ensure employment but don't protect them from exploitation and meagre wages, leaving them vulnerable. The people in power ought to come up with strategies that ensure the trickle-down effect of the schemes and funds. The new generation of buyers has a greater purchasing power than the one before them. Marketing focused on bringing Indian handloom practices into the limelight can do wonders in this case.

Fabric of a nation: Sustaining India's handloom legacy in modern times

This article is part of "<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/workforce-innovation">Workforce Innovation</a>," a series exploring the trends and leaders shaping enterprise transformation.When Peter Montgomery worked in advertising, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-to-quit-six-figure-job-for-mental-health">long days at the office</a> were part of the culture."If you left at 6 p.m., the old criticism was, 'Oh, you're having a half day, are you?'" he said.Now in a role overseeing the creative team at the cloud-based accounting platform Xero, Montgomery can make dinner most nights for his wife and two children.The flexibility built into his job allows him to head to his home in Wellington, New Zealand, in time to prepare one of his hit meals, like burrito bowls or Thai meatballs with coconut sauce. Cooking gives him a chance to connect with his family and unwind before, on some nights, he logs back on to crank out a bit more work."It's really satisfying — gratifying — to actually have the ability to make work fit around the needs of my family," Montgomery, 50, told Business Insider.<div type="image" title="Peter Montgomery stands in his kitchen" height="2268" width="3024" msid="112355413" hostid="261" sizebytes="296412"></div>That ability to make a career conform, where possible, to an employee's life is one of the simple and often inexpensive ways employers can boost their employees' well-being. Increasingly, employers are looking for novel methods to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-companies-boost-employee-wellbeing-build-healthy-culture-2021-11">improve workers' welfare</a> because provisions like health insurance aren't cutting it on their own.A recent Gallup survey found worker well-being slipped globally to 34% in 2023 from 35% the year before. The decline followed several years of modest gains during the pandemic, when many bosses were quick to check in on workers. In recent years, however, many have reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/burnout-work-boss-left-office-on-stretcher-2024-4">feeling burned out</a> and stressed by their jobs.Boosting worker well-being is good for employees, of course, but it's also good for the bottom line. And it's critical for boosting other measures of corporate and worker health — things like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/employee-engagement-productivity-remote-work-hybrid-burnout-managers-office-expectations-2024-1">engagement on the job</a>.<h2 id="69df1fe1-7cd9-4199-a2b8-983c72206fc1">Helping ease money worries</h2>Erica Golden, the chief people officer at Banyan Software, told BI that perhaps the biggest threat to employee well-being was worry over money. So the company, which owns more than 50 software businesses, is setting up what it's calling an employee resource fund. Workers can ask to tap into it when they face a surprise expense. That could be an unexpected medical bill or an outsize expense related to caring for a family member.The parameters for what might win approval, Golden said, are broad because the company wants to be responsive to a worker who might, for example, ask to draw $5,000 from the fund to deal with a unique financial hardship. A small number of business leaders review requests to keep the process simple and to respect worker privacy, she said."We just wanted them to be able to fill out a simple form and get what they need and feel that relief without a lot of judgment or protocol or their leaders really being involved in a lot of conversations," Golden said.To start, there's about $100,000 in the fund, she said.Golden said the company's leaders understood that employees facing crises would not be able to focus on their work. She added that these types of benefits were good for retaining workers. The employee resource fund also represents a modest shift away from big, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/workforce-innovation-series-c-suite-worker-well-being-dei-2024-6">one-size-fits-all benefits</a> that might not be as useful to all workers, Golden said.Leaders paying attention to what employees want are finding the questions on people's minds are, "Are you seeing me as an individual?" she said. "And: Would you be there if I was in a time of crisis?"Supporting employees extends to other areas, Golden said. Part of solving the well-being puzzle involves workers being able to feel they can trust their leaders — including with the direction of their careers, she said."Some of that is learning and development. This other piece is, 'I want to be able to make some choices about what gear I shift into for my career,'" Golden said. There might be times when employees need to pull back and take on a less intense role to make room for things going on in their lives.<h2 id="958d4c5c-85ed-42d1-97ee-389d90623e00">From legal services to pet insurance</h2>Other forms of flexibility can benefit workers and improve well-being. Bradd Chignoli, head of national accounts for group benefits at MetLife, told BI that many employers were offering more in their benefits packages than a decade ago.In some cases, workers pay for all or a share of these add-ons, he said. But that's often because these benefits are things workers have asked for in surveys. Chignoli said these offerings included <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-legal-advice-workplace-benefit-financial-help-2023-11">legal services</a>, identity-theft programs, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/thousand-dollar-vet-bill-pet-insurance-2024-3">pet insurance</a>.Laying out a wider variety of benefits better meets workers' needs — and thereby boosts their overall well-being — by lining up more-nuanced benefits, instead of the blanket approach, he said."If I'm Gen Z versus a baby boomer, there may be certain products that are better fit," Chignoli said. "If I'm single versus having three kids, there may be certain benefits that are more appropriate for me. So that's where a lot of that personalization comes in."For Xero's Montgomery, what works is leaving the office on time so he can prepare those meals for his family. He tries to instill the idea of achieving a personal balance in those who report to him.Montgomery tells his team the quality of their work can't decline but that flexibility is often possible. Sometimes, they have to work extra time or outside normal business hours, but not too often."It's the exception, not the expectation, that we do that," he said. "So there's always a balance."

Boosting worker well-being doesn't have to be pricey

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dr. Kiki Ramsey chose a social work career because she wanted to help people.</li><li>Being a social worker was physically and mentally exhausting, leading her to pivot careers.</li></ul>From higher caseloads to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-full-picture/202309/your-therapist-rarely-sees-a-rate-increase">inadequate pay</a>, many working in psychology professions <a target="_blank" href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/04/psychologists-covid-burnout">are burned out</a>. Among them are social workers, the majority of whom <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10987033/">report feeling emotionally exhausted</a>.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kikiramsey.com/">Dr. Kiki Ramsey</a> used to be one of them.She first became interested in psychology because of her upbringing: her mother struggled with addiction, something Ramsey was always trying to help her overcome."It ultimately led me into just wanting to help other women, wanting to learn what made people tick, what made people do the things that they do," Ramsey said.Being in social work "was a beautiful life, but it was also difficult," Ramsey explained. She began her career in child welfare, working with teen moms. But after nine months, she was burned out. As important as the work felt, she was being pushed to an emotional brink that made it hard to make ends meet and spend enough time with her son.Eventually, she reframed her career to focus on positive psychology. Now, as an executive coach and professor, Ramsey said she's "seen her emotional wellness skyrocket' because of how fulfilling her work is and how flexible her hours are.<h2 id="a89cc785-f485-4fa0-aab3-7ddbebde8c5e">She was emotionally drained as a social worker</h2>Social work is often a more accessible way into the field of psychology. While a doctorate degree in psychology usually takes <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ollusa.edu/blog/masters-vs-doctorate-in-psychology.html">5-7 years</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://research.com/degrees/best-doctorate-degree-in-psychology-programs">costs $30,000-$50,000 per year</a>, a master's in social work takes <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://socialworklicensemap.com/become-a-social-worker/how-long-does-it-take/">two years on average</a> and the total tuition can be anywhere from <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://research.com/degrees/social-work-degree">$7,000 to $45,000</a>.Ramsey, who had her first son at 17, knew a PhD in psychology would be too big a time commitment while she was raising him. She got a bachelor's in child and family studies, then a master's in social work.After graduating, Ramsey moved from Georgia to DC, became a director at a teen moms facility, and eventually worked at a hospital where she counseled pregnant women.The schedule was grueling. "There just weren't enough social workers to go around for all the kids," Ramsey said. She had about 20 to 30 children on her caseload, and she felt like she couldn't give them all the attention she needed. Sometimes having to stay overnight with a child at a hospital, or picking up kids from unsafe homes. She missed her son, who was 8 at the time.Ramsey's salary was $40,000, which made it difficult to pay her bills. "It was frustrating because I put so much effort into my job, and it didn't seem fair that my paycheck didn't reflect that hard work," she said. "I think social workers should be making six figures plus, but that is not the case." According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm">social workers make around $58,000</a> a year on average, while <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm">psychologists are paid closer to $92,000</a>.The toughest part of her job was what she witnessed every day, which started to take a heavy toll on her."I would come home and just bawl about the situations that I would have to deal with on a daily basis," she said, such as seeing babies go through drug withdrawal.Ramsey isn't the only social worker who felt <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/socialwork/comments/13rfutb/f_this_weekly_leaving_the_field_and_venting_thread/">underpaid and understaffed</a> at her job: many have been quitting to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quit-social-worker-to-become-freelancer-making-six-figures-2023-11">pursue new careers</a>. She still loved psychology and wanted to help uplift people, but she knew she needed a change.<h2 id="6eb52dde-2352-4dea-9bcf-31edff8d903e">Discovering business psychology</h2>Ramsey quit her social work job and started her own company, where she would give inspirational talks at conferences, churches, and women's groups. Some women started asking her for one-on-one help, which got Ramsey interested in coaching.She learned about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/happiness-expert-professor-yale-guide-happiness-2024-6">positive psychology</a> and found her calling. "Positive psychology is the study of what goes right with you, how to focus on your strengths," she said. It aligned with her desire to motivate people to improve their lives.She attended Life University in Georgia and earned a master's in positive psychology in one year. Then, she studied for four years and received a PhD in business psychology from the Chicago School because she wanted to focus on helping women in leadership roles.Going back to school wasn't an easy choice: both her degrees required Ramsey to pay out of pocket and take out student loans, which "was definitely a strain," she said. But she made a calculation that the time and money would pay off."For about five years, completing school took priority, and I couldn't fully engage in all the family activities I wanted to," she said.Now, Ramsey leads a B2B coaching company, employing 20 coaches who teach organizations leadership skills and how to improve <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/diversity-and-inclusion">DEI</a> initiatives. She also takes on individual clients, often women who feel stuck at their jobs or Black women in high leadership positions looking for support.<h2 id="87b7d374-4561-4a88-984b-0dca74247a76">Better 'work-life harmony'</h2>Overall, Ramsey said the career change has made her so much happier than when she was a social worker. She's now "fortunate to be a multi-six figure earner," meaning her salary is over $200,000 compared to the $40,000 she made as a social worker."It's not emotionally draining for me to deal with my clients," she said. While it's still challenging work, she focuses more on helping executives make tough business decisions or improve communication on their teams.She also loves working remotely in Atlanta, Georgia and being in charge of her own schedule. "I call it work-life harmony, because balance doesn't exist," she said. If her son or daughter is going through something, she has the freedom and flexibility to prioritize her family's needs. And the pay is much better: " I make 3, 4, 5 times more than what I ever made as a social worker."It doesn't mean that Ramsey doesn't sometimes experience exhaustion on the job. "People look at this as the glamorous life, but they don't realize I sometimes work from sun up to sundown," she said. It took her 15 years to build up clients on her own, which was especially stressful in the beginning."But those trade-offs are totally worth it," she said.

A social worker who quit to become a life coach explains how she made a career pivot that quintupled her salary

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Workers' unions and the Workers' Party called for protests in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday.</li><li>They oppose the new economic measures announced by Javier Milei's government.</li></ul>Argentina's new government has threatened to punish protesters by taking away their welfare payments.Sandra Pettovello, Argentina's Human Capital Minister, revealed the plans <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/OPEArg/status/1736822803658146259">in a 2-minute video address shared by the president's office</a> on Monday.She said those who promote, instigate, organize, or participate in the protests will be stripped of welfare payments.The country's main workers' unions and the opposition Workers' Party have called for protests to be held in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/protocolo-antipiquetes-bullrich-articula-con-la-ciudad-un-operativo-estricto-para-impedir-cortes-en-nid18122023/">according</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eldestapeweb.com/sociedad/protestas/ruidazo-y-manifestaciones-por-el-19-y-20-de-diciembre-en-todo-el-pais-donde-son-y-a-que-hora-202312199550">to</a> <a target="_blank" href=" https://www.conclusion.com.ar/politica/bullrich-pidio-que-no-haya-manifestaciones-el-20-de-diciembre-van-a-perder-el-plan/12/2023/">Argentinian</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.laizquierdadiario.com/Contra-el-ajuste-de-Milei-y-las-amenazas-de-represion-convocan-a-movilizarse-este-20-de-diciembre">media</a>.They will protest against the austerity measures contained in the new emergency package announced by Javier Milei's government earlier this month, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/protocolo-antipiquetes-bullrich-articula-con-la-ciudad-un-operativo-estricto-para-impedir-cortes-en-nid18122023/">according</a> <a target="_blank" href=" https://www.conclusion.com.ar/politica/bullrich-pidio-que-no-haya-manifestaciones-el-20-de-diciembre-van-a-perder-el-plan/12/2023/">to</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.laizquierdadiario.com/Contra-el-ajuste-de-Milei-y-las-amenazas-de-represion-convocan-a-movilizarse-este-20-de-diciembre">reports</a>.The package includes not renewing state employment contracts that have been in force for less than one year, bringing down the number of ministries from 18 to nine, cutting public expenses by $42 million, and reducing the government's energy and transportation subsidies, <a target="_blank" href="https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2023/12/12/argentina-economia-medidas-luis-caputo-orix/">per CNN Español</a>.Argentina's newly-elected president, Milei, had warned of a "shock adjustment" in his inauguration speech on December 10, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dedollarization-dollar-dominance-currencies-javier-milei-argentina-economic-shock-recession-2023-12?r=US&amp;IR=T">Business Insider previously reported</a>.Those who protest won't get paid, he said in his inauguration speech earlier this month, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jySRdtIemLU">per a livestream by the Argentinian newspaper La Nación</a>.In a <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MinSeg/status/1735435855861342246">press statement</a>, Argentina's Ministry of Security said the country's four federal forces would crack down on protesters without the need for a judicial order."To carry out these measures, the forces shall employ the minimum necessary and sufficient force, which shall be graduated in proportion to resistance," the statement said.The right to protest is not explicitly mentioned in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-24430-804">Argentina's Constitution</a>.However, it is "contemplated" in the form of freedom of expression, freedom of opinion and expression, and freedom of peaceful assembly and association, as well as international treaties like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, <a target="_blank" href="https://chequeado.com/el-explicador/protestas-sociales-que-se-propone-en-la-argentina-y-como-se-regulan-en-otras-partes-del-mundo/">per the Argentinian non-profit organization Chequeado</a>.In a <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/EBelliboni/status/1736841198793281851">post on X</a>, Workers' Party leader Eduardo Belliboni said the government wants "brutal adjustment against the people" and to "repress those who complain.""With an inflation rate of 60% monthly, the [welfare] plan will disappear in 2 months," he wrote, before calling on all Argentinians to take to the streets on Wednesday.

Argentina's new government says it will punish protesters by taking away their welfare payments

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Japanese companies are subsidizing 'tropical escape' programs for employees with severe hay fever.</li><li>The Washington Post reported on an employee who got $1,300 to work from a tropical island.</li></ul>Some employers in Japan are offering "tropical escape" programs, where workers with bad seasonal allergies get <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/list-countries-with-most-paid-time-off-summer-vacation-2023-4">subsidized trips</a> to regions with lower pollen counts, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/04/japan-hayfever-season/?utm_source=feedly&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=wp_homepage">according to The Washington Post.</a>One example cited by the Post came from the IT company Aisaac, which provides around $1,300 to employees to temporarily relocate to areas of Japan where <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/health/conditions-symptoms/hay-fever">hay fever symptoms</a> are less severe.Such programs are seen as a way to enhance worker productivity in Japan, where hay fever is much more prevalent than in the US.Naoki Shigihara, a 20-year-old engineer who struggles to focus on work because of his hay fever, told the Post that Aisaac funded his <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/remote-work">remote-work trip</a> to Okinawa, the tropical region in southern Japan."When I talk to people from other companies, they're all in agreement that it's a great idea, and many are jealous," he told the newspaper.According to the Post, Aisaac allows employers to go anywhere with low pollen levels from mid-February to mid-April, Japan's peak hay fever season.Okinawa is popular, but some go further afield to places like Hawaii and Guam, the newspaper said.An Aisaac spokesperson told the Post that more than a third of its 185 employees used the program last year. It started in 2022 because its CEO has bad hay fever.Aisaac did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.Similar initiatives are taking place at other companies. According to a government survey reviewed by <a target="_blank" href="https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20240220-169866/">The Japan News,</a> around 20% of Japanese companies now allow employees to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-work-from-home-worth-pay-cut-less-time-off-2024-3">do remote work </a>during hay fever season.Some, like Aisaac, are also footing the bill, the Post said.In Japan, hay fever is not only a public health concern but also a challenge to the economy.According to a report by the country's <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230126130717/https://www.env.go.jp/chemi/anzen/kafun/2022_full.pdf">Ministry of Environment, </a>citing data from 2019, 42.5% of Japanese people suffer from hay fever.This is significantly higher than the US, which has a rate of about 25%, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20220126.htm#:~:text=About%20one%20quarter%20(25.7%25),%2DHispanic%20(17.0%25)%20adults.">according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.It's particularly bad in Japan because of the presence of high-pollen cedar and cypress trees around Tokyo, planted as part of post-World War II reforestation policies, per <a target="_blank" href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/02/04/japan/science-health/otake-national-pollen-allergy-qa/">The Japan Times.</a>In February, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/kishida230/status/1760308047849967998?s=46&amp;t=tHxCHggmgvDCHc0IPyopLw">described hay fever as a "national disease"</a> that negatively impacts productivity.Mitsuhiro Okano, a professor of otorhinolaryngology at Chiba Prefecture's International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, told the Post that serious hay fever symptoms can reduce work efficiency by more than 30%."The decline in labor productivity has the biggest impact on the economy," Okano said in an interview with the newspaper.<a target="_blank" href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Japan-shifts-battle-against-hay-fever-into-high-gear">According to Nikkei Asia,</a> national efforts to mitigate the problem of hay fever include the felling of Japanese cedars, with the government aiming to halve pollen emissions within 30 years.The government also plans to use AI to predict the spread of pollen from forests and it aims to increase the production of anti-allergy drugs, the financial publication said.

Companies in Japan are offering workers with bad allergies subsidized trips to low-pollen destinations

While <keyword id="6354720" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ola" source="Orion">Ola</keyword> and tech-enabled logistics company <keyword id="67819" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="porter" source="Orion">Porter</keyword> scored zero on a scale of 1-10, <keyword id="1042120" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uber" source="Orion">Uber</keyword> and <keyword id="3275685" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dunzo" source="Orion">Dunzo</keyword> received only one point, according to the 'Fairwork India 2023' report, spearheaded by the Centre for IT and Public Policy (CITAPP) at International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B), in association with Oxford University. The report evaluated 12 platforms offering location-based services in sectors such as domestic and personal care, logistics, food delivery and transportation, in the country. This year, the report was structured around the theme of discrimination and alienation that often come up in experiences shared by platform workers. In a year that has seen the formulation of a significant regulation based on inputs from workers called The Rajasthan Platform Based <keyword id="7771650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gig-workers" source="Orion">Gig workers</keyword> (Registration and Welfare Act, 2023, "we hope that highlighting the experiences of workers will point to the structural changes that platforms, consumers and the state alike will need to undertake if the platform economy is to offer its workers decent work," said Professors Balaji Parthasarathy and Janaki Srinivasan, principal investigators. Fairwork assessed platforms against five principles: Fair Pay, Fair Conditions, Fair Contracts, Fair Management, and Fair Representation. Each principle was broken down into two points: a first point and a second point that can only be awarded if the first point has been fulfilled. The report looked at 12 platforms, including Amazon Flex, Bigbasket, BluSmart, Dunzo, Flipkart, Ola, Porter, Swiggy, Uber, Urban Company, Zepto and Zomato. No platform scored more than six out of the maximum of 10 points, and none scored all the first points across the five principles. In its first year of participation, ride-hailing platform aggregator BluSmart scored higher than more established platforms in its sector, with 5 points out of 10. "There is room for cautious optimism that BluSmart's operational model might represent a step towards better conditions for drivers in the platform economy," the report mentioned. Bigbasket, Flipkart and Urban Company were the only platforms with a minimum wage policy to ensure that all their workers earn at least the hourly local minimum wage after factoring in work-related costs. "No platform made the second point of the Fair Pay principle, which requires platforms to provide sufficient evidence that workers earn at least the local living wage after work-related costs," the findings showed. Under the 'Fair Conditions' principle of providing adequate safety equipment and periodic safety training to their workers, Bigbasket, Swiggy, Urban Company, Zepto and Zomato were awarded the second point. Bigbasket, BluSmart, Urban Company, Zepto, and Zomato met the requirements for the second point under 'Fair Contracts' by adopting a change notification clause in their contracts, reducing asymmetries in liability, adopting a code of conduct for their subcontractors, and making the variables of pricing transparent where dynamic pricing was used. Under the 'Fair Management' principle, there was sufficient evidence only from BluSmart and Swiggy to meet the second point. "No platform could be awarded a point for 'Fair Representation' principle this year," said the report.

Ola, Porter, Uber & Dunzo worst digital platforms for gig workers: Report

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Tulsa Remote program offers remote workers $10,000 to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma.</li><li>Research finds that the influx has boosted local businesses and jobs and increased residents' well-being</li></ul>A few years ago, Tulsa, Oklahoma, began to offer something unique to remote workers who moved there: $10,000.The offer was through a program called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tulsa-oklahoma-remote-workers-pay-move-there-for-year-2020-11">Tulsa Remote</a>, which aimed to lure in professionals from elsewhere in the US who can work remotely full-time. The idea is that those workers will come in, bring their skills and spending power, and hopefully stick around.And it seems to be working: The program counted over 2,000 people relocated to Tulsa as of December 2022, according to its <a target="_blank" href="https://23811891.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/23811891/Tulsa%20Remote%20Economic%20Impact%20Report.pdf">economic impact report</a>. At the end of 2022, Tulsa Remote had brought in almost $307 million in direct labor income to the economy, according to Tulsa Remote. For every two Tulsa Remote members who move to the city, three more come with them. And, going back to 2019, out of everybody that's completed a year there to date, 76% have stuck around.Similarly, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/work-from-anywhere-as-a-public-policy-three-findings-from-the-tulsa-remote-program/">2022 Brookings Institution report found</a> that Tulsa Remoters saw their real incomes go up by $26,500 a year more than those who had been accepted but hadn’t yet moved to the area. And their productivity did not fall, even with the move.But what happens to the rest of the economy when remote workers come to town? A <a target="_blank" href="https://users.ssc.wisc.edu/~hyoo36/JMP_YOO.pdf">new paper</a> from Hoyoung Yoo, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, looked at the impacts of the program on local residents.The answer: It was especially good for places like coffee shops, restaurants, and hair salons — and the people who work there or want to. Overall, local residents saw a 1.28% increase in their average welfare as wages rose from remote workers spending their salaries on local goods. "There's obviously a lot of labor demand that has been created. You have a need for more people working at the coffee shop or more folks visiting, so therefore you need more people working at the hotel or more bartenders or whatever else it would be," Justin Harlan, managing director of Tulsa Remote, said. Overall, Tulsa Remote estimates the new demand created 722 local jobs and added almost $40 million to locals' incomes.Yoo found that the local service sector saw a 7.95% increase in employment, most likely because of how much remote workers spent. Yoo told BI that one of the “special characteristics” of remote workers is that they’re often high-skilled and high-income — and that means that they’ll spend a lot in their new locations.“They go to restaurants, coffee shops, hair salons, and it can be helpful in boosting local economic growth,” Yoo said.And, importantly, the remote workers coming in aren’t newcomers in search of a job. That’s also key, as Yoo notes: “They will not compete with local residents for local jobs.”<h2>What remote workers mean for local businesses and residents</h2>The increased spending at local coffee shops and services shook out to 2.36 service jobs created per new remote worker, according to Yoo’s research. It also meant more service establishments were actually created, “which contributes to enrich the varieties of local service goods offered to local residents,” as the paper found.Indeed, Yoo found that remote workers were much more likely to spend at restaurants — and eat out — than their non-remote counterparts. People were switching into these coveted service roles from what Yoo called the tradable sector — the sector that produces goods like electronics, clothing, and so on. <a target="_blank" href="https://inheritancejuicery.com/">Inheritance Juicery</a>, a juice bar and restaurant in Tulsa that touts its space as a “welcoming gathering place,” has felt the Tulsa Remote boost. Parker Vincent, the operations manager at Inheritance Juicery, said that at least five program participants have become regulars, and some have even hosted special events for their businesses there. “I'm very sure that our sales have increased because of the program,” Vincent said. There’s been an increase in coffee and food sales, he said, and people are coming in to work on their laptops or have meetings there. “You get to hear a lot of cool stories, and see a lot of different types of businesses and hear about what people are doing — different types of entrepreneurs, or maybe they work for another company, but they're able to be remote,” Vincent said. “I've had a lot of really cool conversations with different people.”And the people moving in seem to be enjoying it. In November, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-tulsa-oklahoma-cost-of-living-california-michigan-philadelphia-2023-11">Business Insider’s Noah Sheidlower reported</a> on four workers who took the plunge and made the move to Tulsa. All said they wanted to stick around."What's really exciting about living in Tulsa is it's so affordable, and my mental health increased like never before," Laura Landers, a 32-year-old entrepreneur who moved from Los Angeles, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-tulsa-oklahoma-cost-of-living-california-michigan-philadelphia-2023-11">previously told BI</a>. "I was actually a person and not just the shell of a human."Harlan, the managing director, said that one in five Tulsa Remoters has started a business since moving to Tulsa. And their impact has been felt beyond just the economy: Harlan gave the example of one participant who came in in the original cohort and starred in a local theater production. That participant is now "one of the big names in local theater," even directing shows."His wife has opened a restaurant where they employ 15 to 20 employees every year," Harlan said.<h2>Navigating a new landscape</h2>Of course, a changing landscape means different things for different people.Remote workers coming to town benefited high-skilled local service workers — workers who have at least some college education — more, per the research, since they had more variety in local goods to choose from and consume and are making more money.The same is true for homeowners since rising housing prices mean that their homes are more valuable. That’s not all good news for low-skilled workers, especially those in the trade sector, who may have to pay more for housing — and while their nominal income still went up, it didn't go up as much as the high-skilled workers, widening what Yoo terms a “welfare gap.” Similarly, unemployed workers take a hit as prices for goods and housing go up. “There are people who definitely get more benefit out of it, like homeowners or the local service sector workers,” Yoo said. “So if we redistribute the benefit that these kind of folks receive to subsidize the other group, then there can be the room to make everybody better off.”Harlan said that the program shares resources proactively with participants about how to buy a home in a way that's equitable and doesn't lead to gentrification. And some of those changing economic winds might also be attributable to the landscape of Tulsa as a whole changing, especially as housing prices increase nationwide.But, as the country contends with brain drain and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/midwest-america-cities-downtown-crisis-office-apocalypse-urban-doom-loop-2023-6">doom loops</a> in smaller cities — and remote work is here to stay, at least in some forms — it might just turn out that luring in workers could be an effective one-two punch. In Tulsa, <a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/TULPOP">where population growth stagnated in the early 2000s</a>, the 2020s have been a boon. Harlan said that he hears from people every month — for a while, it felt like every week — who were interested in "wanting to learn what the special sauce is that makes this go."For Vincent, the operations manager at Inheritance, the program has already meant an influx of New Yorkers checking out the juice spot. “They're coming from a big city, coming to Tulsa — which is still an up-and-coming city — and it's cool to hear what they have to say,” he said. “Like, ‘wow, Tulsa's actually really cool. There's a lot going on here, it's so under the radar that you wouldn't have thought, but I'm glad that I'm here.’”Did you move to Tulsa, or another area, to work remotely? Do you have a story to tell about remote workers moving to your city? Contact this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:jkaplan@businessinsider.com">jkaplan@businessinsider.com</a>.

Tulsa offered remote workers $10,000 to move there. The results show how the program shook up the local economy — and what the future of smaller cities could look like.

<ul><li><a href="https://uhi.abdm.gov.in/">UHI </a>is a network that can enable interoperability in health services.</li><li>Through <keyword id="1766345" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="uhi" source="Orion">UHI</keyword> enabled applications, patients can discover, book, conduct and pay for services via an application of their choice. </li><li>e-RUPI is a new fintech initiative for instant payment to healthcare service providers in the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.</li></ul>Just like <keyword id="6358921" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="upi" source="Orion">UPI</keyword> revolutionized payment transactions in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, Unified Health Interface or UHI will revolutionize digital health service delivery, said Dr R S <keyword id="445" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sharma" source="Orion">Sharma</keyword>, CEO, <keyword id="7183605" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-health-authority" source="Orion">National Health Authority</keyword>, <keyword id="191419" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-health-and-family-welfare" source="Orion">Ministry of Health and Family Welfare</keyword> at IFTA 2022 held in Mumbai. A foundational layer of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) stack, <a href="https://uhi.abdm.gov.in/">UHI </a>is a network of open protocols that can enable interoperability in health services. Through UHI enabled applications, patients can discover, book, conduct and pay for services offered by a variety of participating providers via an app of their choice. “UHI facilitates the ease of doing business for health care service providers by granting them access to a large number of users, through the medium of a common platform. This paradigm shift in healthcare delivery also gives rise to a sea of opportunities for the emerging HealthTech ecosystem” said Dr Sharma. Some of the services that will be included in UHI are teleconsultation, lab booking and ambulance services. The healthcare system is also working on enabling payments via e-RUPI, as part of a fintech initiative for instant payment to healthcare service providers - under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, a government funded health insurance scheme. e-RUPI is a person and purpose specific digital instrument based on the architecture of UPI. It’s a one-time, cashless, contactless prepaid digital voucher which can be availed through an SMS or QR Code. It can be redeemed without a card, digital payments app, or internet banking access. “e-RUPI will have myriad use cases: to start with, health, nutrition, education and agriculture are just a few areas that are going to benefit from it. A number of states have already started using e-RUPI for various benefit delivery programmes in their states,” Dr Sharma added. It was launched by <keyword id="12394777" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-payments-corporation-of" source="Orion">National Payments Corporation of</keyword> India (NPCI) in August <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1743056">2021</a>. Dr Sharma believes that it is time that we innovate new products in the fintech industry which could be combined with healthtech for an affordable, scalable and accessible digital healthcare ecosystem. IFTA 2022 is a fintech event hosted by <keyword id="8249528" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india-fintech-forum" source="Orion">India FinTech Forum</keyword>, an advocacy group. More than 2,750 fintech companies and over 30,000 individuals are members of this forum. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/urban-company-grants-shares-worth-rs-5-2-cr-to-497-gig-workers/articleshow/95828715.cms">Urban Company grants shares worth Rs 5.2 cr to 497 gig workers</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/indonesia-relaunches-multiple-entry-visa-that-was-deactivated-during-the-pandemic/articleshow/95828509.cms">Indonesia relaunches multiple entry visa that was deactivated during the pandemic</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/tips-to-make-whatsapp-more-private-and-secure/articleshow/95825054.cms">Tips to make Whatsapp more private and secure</a>

‘United Health Interface will do to service delivery what UPI did to payments’

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12242577" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="carl-icahn" source="Orion">Carl Icahn</keyword> is slamming <keyword id="11916300" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mcdonalds" source="Orion">McDonald's</keyword> for the continued use of gestation crates for pregnant <keyword id="12077442" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pigs" source="Orion">pigs</keyword>.</li><li>The billionaire investor has been advocating on the subject for years.</li></ul>Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn has penned a letter to McDonald's shareholders slamming the fast-food giant for having "impugned its credibility" by failing to "eliminate usage of cruel gestation crates in its supply chain."His eight-page open letter, released on Thursday, blasts McDonald's, saying the company has not lived up to its commitment to end the controversial practice of confining pregnant pigs in cramped spaces. McDonald's first agreed in 2012 to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-pork-pig-crates-2012-2">eliminate</a> gestation crates, which have been widely criticized as inhumane devices, over a <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/05/31/1103959/0/en/McDonald-s-USA-Outlines-10-Year-Plan-for-Ending-Gestation-Stall-Use.html">10-year period</a>.In February, Icahn threatened to kick off a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-carl-icahn-pregnant-pigs-gestation-crates-2022-2">shareholder fight</a> over the subject. By <a href="https://carlicahn.com/carl-c-icahn-files-definitive-proxy-statement-and-issues-open-letter-to-shareholders-of-mcdonalds-corporation/">releasing Thursday's letter and proxy statement</a>, in which he nominated new board members, Icahn has followed through on that promise."They are patting themselves on the back, while condoning cruelty – apparently, blind to the writing on the wall," Icahn wrote. "I believe the obscene cruelty inflicted on these animals through confinement is completely needless, reprehensible and misaligned with what Americans expect from our country's No. 1 fast-food chain."In addition to McDonald's, Icahn also raked "large number of Wall Street firms and their bankers and lawyers," "Big Meat," and the meat industry's "connected lobby" over the coals, saying they espouse "hollow" environmental, social, and governance agendas.The investor wrote that McDonald's is "misleading customers, employees, and shareholders" by claiming that the company expects to "source 85% to 90%" of its US pork "from sows not housed in gestation crates during pregnancy.""But that assertion is a cynical fabrication intended to fool us into believing this egregious form of <keyword id="12004919" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="animal-abuse" source="Orion">animal abuse</keyword> in McDonald's' supply chain is largely not occurring," Icahn wrote. "In reality, these sows, who have multiple litters of piglets each year, are confined in gestation crates during each pregnancy for approximately four to six weeks, 24 hours a day, seven days a week."The billionaire wrote that he is calling on McDonald's to cease acting in an "irresponsible and reprehensible manner" and "commit to eliminating gestation crates (zero days in stalls) from its supply chain by the end of 2023" and to expand that goal to its "global supply chain by 2024." He also demanded that the company add new directors to its board.McDonald's did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.While the pork industry has defended gestation crates as a necessary measure to boost productivity and prevent the pigs from fighting, animal welfare activists have disagreed. In a 2013 <a href="https://www.humanesociety.org/sites/default/files/docs/hsus-report-gestation-crates-for-pregnant-sows.pdf">report</a>, the Humane Society of the United States stated that these crates take "a psychological toll and impairs" the welfare of pigs. In his latest letter, Icahn wrote that the crates also impede the animals' "tremendous maternal instinct" and ability to "bond with their babies." He first became aware of the issue through his daughter Michelle, a vegetarian who has worked with the Humane Society.This isn't the first time that McDonald's has come under fire on animal-welfare grounds. In 2015, McDonald's had to drop a Tennessee supplier where workers were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-mcdonalds-tyson-foods-drop-farm-after-videotape-shows-animal-cruelty-2015-8">caught on film stomping on chickens</a>. The company also cut ties with a California slaughterhouse under investigation for animal cruelty in 2012, according to the New York Post." This grotesque mistreatment of animals – and the Company's inability to make significant progress on promises made to multiple stakeholders in 2012 – clearly stem from dysfunction and indifference in McDonald's' boardroom," Icahn wrote Thursday. "I believe McDonald's' customers want food that is sourced ethically, responsibly and humanely. Gestation crates are none of those."

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