Tajikistan More than 5,000 'workers' who derive a living practisingwitchcraft and fortune-telling clearly didn't see their government's banon it at the start of the year. It follows an increasingly hard linebeing taken by authorities as they battle to tackle rampant poverty andunemployment. Prior to this latest edict, the ruling president, EmomaliRahmon, banned extravagant weddings and funerals, and sought to prohibitstudents from driving expensive cars.
Mexico shares the limelight with the UK, Singapore, Ireland and HongKong as having the shortest statutory notice periods (from no notice toone month) out of 43 countries listed in Mercer's Global HR Factbook.Laws in these countries require employees with one year's service togive minimum notice of one week. In contrast, for employees inSwitzerland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic it is at least twomonths.
Taiwan The Audrey Underwear Company in Taizhong city recently managed topersuade 90% of its 500 female staff to don just camisoles and knickersfor the day to celebrate record sales. The swell in sales mirrored therelease of eight new product ranges that sold 20,000 units in less thantwo months.