The Common Ills: Episode 93: Nepalese Women Empowered; The Stock Buy-Back Robbery

Wednesday, August 01, 2018

Episode 93: Nepalese Women Empowered; The Stock Buy-Back Robbery

In the sea of millions of migrant workers who end up slaves or in forced labor, a pilot project has empowered Nepalese women working in Jordan’s garment industry to make a better deal. I spoke to the International Labor Organization’s Phillip Fishman about how the project works—and whether it can be scaled up.

I, then, talk to the co-authors of a study looking at how companies are using the majority of profits to buy back shares, a gambit that goes back to the time before the Republican tax cuts which are going, as well, largely to buy back shares--which is great news for CEOs who get rich but not so much for workers.

Our Robber Baron is the CEO of Lowe’s, a company buying back shares with money that could, if used for workers’ wages, give a pay hike of almost $20,000 to each worker.

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In today's Working Life Podcast:

Episode 93: Nepalese Women Empowered; The Stock Buy-Back Robbery

Episode 93: In the sea of millions of migrant workers who end up slaves or in forced labor, a pilot project has empowered Nepalese women working in Jordan’s garment industry to make a better deal. I spoke to the International Labor Organization’s Phillip Fishman about how the project works—and whether it can be scaled up. I, then, talk to the co-authors of a study looking at how companies are using the majority of profits to buy back shares, a gambit that goes back to the time before the Republican tax cuts which are going, as well, largely to buy back shares--which is great news for CEOs who get rich but not so much for workers. Our Robber Baron is the CEO of Lowe’s, a company buying back shares with money that could, if used for workers’ wages, give a pay hike of almost $20,000 to each worker.

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