workers

Health authorities have confirmed a case of mpox in a northeastern Congolese city that has been the epicentre of an Ebola outbreak. The finding raises concern about overlapping disease burdens in a region already stretched by years of epidemic response, with health workers facing the challenge of tracking two dangerous infections in the same community.

Montreal's city council has adopted a bylaw that prohibits insults directed at police officers and municipal employees. Supporters argue it protects workers from abuse, while critics say it risks restricting free speech and could be applied unevenly against citizens voicing complaints. The measure has drawn attention well beyond Quebec as other cities weigh similar rules.

Texas Public Radio's Science & Medicine segment examines efforts to train a new front line of workers for mental health care in Texas. The initiative aims to expand the workforce able to respond to mental health needs across the state, where access to care remains a pressing challenge. Details of specific programs and participants were not provided in the available coverage.

China has introduced new travel restrictions affecting technology workers, and the measures are reportedly causing concern among major tech companies and skilled professionals. Observers say the rules could complicate international travel for engineers and experts in fields like artificial intelligence, raising questions about talent mobility, business operations, and China's push to retain and control its technology expertise.

High-level meetings have been held on measures to address climate change and ensure a fair transition, according to a government announcement from Kyrgyzstan's e-government portal. The discussions focus on policy steps to curb climate impacts while protecting workers and communities during the shift to a greener economy. Details of specific commitments or outcomes have not yet been made public.

Trade unions are intensifying efforts to counter what they see as a growing risk from artificial intelligence to their members' jobs. The push reflects broader concerns across labour movements about automation replacing workers and eroding workplace protections, with unions seeking safeguards, negotiations and policy responses as AI adoption accelerates across industries.

The Trump administration is reportedly looking to soften a vital protection for 401(k) retirement accounts, according to a Forbes report. The reported change touches a safeguard considered important for American workers' retirement savings. Details of which rule is targeted and how it would be changed have not been laid out, and the full scope of the proposal remains unclear.

Around 4,600 Service Employees International Union staff across Oregon's seven public universities are poised to begin a strike on Monday. The potential walkout threatens operations at campuses statewide, including the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, as union workers press for a new contract. It comes amid a wave of labor actions in the state and nationwide.

Some members of Gen Z are teaching themselves touch typing, a skill many skipped as smartphones replaced keyboards in their upbringing. The motivation is twofold: typing fluently lets them write and refine AI prompts more efficiently, and it gives them an advantage in office jobs where fast, accurate keyboard skills still matter. The trend highlights a skills gap created by a mobile-first generation entering keyboard-centric workplaces.

Artificial intelligence researchers and engineers do not agree that the technology poses a threat capable of wiping out humanity, according to a BBC report. The piece highlights a split within the AI workforce: while some leaders warn of catastrophic outcomes, many people building the systems reject those doomsday scenarios and view the risks as more ordinary and manageable.

Around 4,600 SEIU staff at Oregon's seven public universities are poised to begin a strike on Monday. The workers, who provide support services across the state's university system, appear to have not reached an agreement in contract negotiations, setting up one of the largest higher education labor actions in Oregon. Students and staff are bracing for disruptions to campus operations if the walkout proceeds as planned.

Meta's growing network of data centers is drawing construction and operations staff to small towns, and purpose-built workforce housing is emerging to accommodate them. Reports describe how developers are building or converting apartments near the sites to serve these workers, a sign of how large tech infrastructure projects are reshaping local housing markets and economies across the United States.

A newly unveiled humanoid robot drops to its knees and 'cowers' whenever workers approach too closely. The behaviour is being presented as a safety feature, with the machine reacting defensively to nearby humans rather than continuing its tasks. The unusual response is drawing attention and debate about how humanoid robots should behave around people in workplaces.

In 2025, Oak Ridge fitted a demolition robot with a large scoop attachment, allowing crews to clear hazardous debris without directly exposing workers. The upgraded machine can shovel and move dangerous material remotely, reducing risk in contaminated or structurally unsafe areas. The modification is drawing attention for showing how robotics are being adapted to handle cleanup jobs too dangerous for people.

Commentary on the so-called 'Gen Z stare' is connecting a perceived blank or unresponsive expression among young workers to broader conditions in today's service economy. Writers and commenters are debating whether it reflects generational attitude, workplace stress, low pay, or simply changed customer-service norms, with the discussion tying individual behaviour to wider economic pressures on young employees.

New York State laws extend legal protections to whistleblowers who raise concerns about artificial intelligence, according to local reporting. The protections mean workers who flag risks or wrongdoing involving AI systems can seek safeguards against retaliation. The reporting highlights how state legislation is being applied to the fast-growing AI sector, where employees at tech companies have increasingly spoken out about safety and ethical concerns.

The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre is drawing attention to the situation of workers affected by the technology transition, including those in manufacturing and supply chains whose jobs and rights are reshaped as industries shift to new technologies. The initiative highlights concerns over labour conditions, job displacement and corporate responsibility during this economic change.