Labor/Economics

‛The Lithium Frontier: Empire, Oligarchs, and the Struggle for the Salt Flats of the Andes’; ‛Lithium Mining: A New Mineral Rush Spearheaded by the United States, Europe, and Other Major Powers

South Africa’s migration debate often focuses on border control, documentation and xenophobia, while paying less attention to the conditions that drive migration across the African continent. This article argues that economic stagnation, political instability and limited opportunities in neighbouring countries are central to understanding migration patterns. It examines South Africa’s own social and economic challenges, the political use of anti-immigration rhetoric, and the regional dynamics that shape migration flows. The article calls for a broader conversation that addresses both the realities facing migrants and the structural conditions that compel many people to leave their homes.

Reports on support for Palestine and its Workers at the 2026 Labor Notes conference, June 12-14, 2026

A new analysis by the Project On Government Oversight argues that the real cost of maintaining the U.S. military is far higher than officially reported. By examining spending across multiple agencies and including long-term obligations and debt-related costs, the study estimates total military-related expenditures in 2025 at between $1.5 trillion and $2.3 trillion. The authors contend that decades of fragmented budgeting have obscured the true scale of U.S. war spending. They call for greater transparency and reforms that would allow the public and lawmakers to assess military priorities alongside social and environmentalneeds.

South Africa’s growing anti-migrant movement blames Black African migrants for unemployment, crime, and strained public services, despite limited evidence supporting these claims. Khwezi Mabasa argues that the country’s deep economic inequalities are rooted in decades of deindustrialization, labor market precarity, and policy choices rather than migration. Drawing on research and labor data, the article examines how migrants occupy a small share of the workforce and are often concentrated in insecure, low-paid jobs. It calls for evidence-based reforms aimed at expanding employment, strengthening labor protections, and addressing the structural causes of exclusion and inequality.

The Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) argues that the new international convention on platform work falls short of workers’ demands for enforceable rights and accountability. While acknowledging issues such as unsafe work, algorithmic control, misclassification, and inadequate social protection, the union says the framework leaves too much to national laws and future implementation. It warns that exclusions, weak obligations, and reliance on ratification could limit its impact. GIPSWU calls for stronger national legislation, collective bargaining rights, wage protection, social security, data rights, and safeguards against arbitrary deactivation and termination.

The primary importance of the cooperative sector in Brazil and elsewhere, where cooperatives are established, lies in their effective embedding in communities. This inherent decentralization encourages local participation in resilience and adaptation projects.

A proposed U.S.-funded Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya has sparked protests, legal challenges and a wider debate over transparency, sovereignty and public trust. Busani Ngcaweni argues that the controversy reflects deeper concerns about governance, economic insecurity and the relationship between citizens and the state. Drawing on the idea of narrative economics, the article examines how repeated cycles of protest and official responses shape public perceptions and economic confidence. It also places Kenya’s experience in a broader African context, highlighting how trust, accountability and institutional responsiveness influence both political stability and economic outcomes.

In an historic victory for the working class — one that will have a political impact on the upcoming national election — Brazil’s chamber of deputies voted to end the odious “6×1” work week, writes Israel Dutra.