Jul252017

Monorail prototype unveiled

East Asia

A prototype of a mounted monorail train is tested at CRRC Qingdao Sifang.[Provided to China Daily]

Chinese rail car manufacturer CRRC Qingdao Sifang has unveiled a prototype of a mounted monorail train with a maximum operating speed of 70 kilometers per hour, the fastest of its kind in China.

Driven by a high-efficiency magnet motor, the experimental train runs along an overhead monorail.

The mounted monorail train is a rising new mode of transportation featuring light weight, moderate speed and low manufacturing cost.

Liu Yuwen, deputy head of the company’s technology center, said the train can comprise three or five cars, with a passenger capacity of 300 to 510 people.

“The train has a strong climbing ability, with a maximum rise of 100 meters over a distance of 1,000 meters,” Liu said. “The mounted monorail system is suitable for passenger transport in scenic areas, mountainous regions and urban areas where road traffic is heavy.”

The train is built to the strictest European safety standards, with various safety devices, including a whole-train monitoring system that can help passengers escape in the event of danger.

The company, based in Qingdao, Shandong Province, is undertaking China’s first overhead monorail project in Hancheng, Shaanxi Province. The construction of the line, which is designed to stretch 55 kilometers, began in November.

Wang Mengshu, a railway expert and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering in Beijing, applauded the breakthrough.

“Mounted monorail does not rely on land facilities, and is even immune from bad weather such as a big snowfall or frost. It should be an important part of China’s urban transportation network,” Wang said.

Moreover, it costs only about one-third of what a subway costs. Building one kilometer of subway or light rail generally costs 500 to 800 million yuan (US$74 million to 118 million).

China plans to complete more than 2,500 kilometers of rail transportation in major cities during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), at an estimated cost of 1 trillion yuan.

“If one-fifth of the investment is put into mounted monorail projects, loads of money will be saved,” Wang said.

Jul252017

Public opinion solicited on express delivery regulation

East Asia

China has started to solicit public opinion on a provisional regulation on express delivery services, the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council announced Monday.

The regulation said that courier companies should establish management systems for waybills and electronic data, regularly destroy waybills, and are prohibited from selling, leaking or illegally providing customers’ personal information.

Those who violate these rules will face a fine of up to 100,000 yuan (about 14,830 U.S. dollars) and have their license revoked, according to the regulation.

Companies who have leaked or are suspecting of leaking customers’ information should report the situation to local postal administration departments, the regulation said.

The public may visit the official website (chinalaw.gov.cn) to submit their opinion before Aug. 25.

Jul252017

Sun Zhengcai under investigation

East Asia

The former secretary of Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Sun Zhengcai is under investigation for “serious discipline violation” by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, according to a decision by the CPC Central Committee.

It was announced on July 15 that Chen Min’er had been appointed to replace Sun.

The decision fully reflected the CPC Central Committee’s clear attitude towards and strong determination in the Party’s strict self-governance, and that everyone is equal before the law, reads a commentary to be published Tuesday on People’s Daily, the CPC’s flagship newspaper.

The commentary reviewed the practices of the strict Party governance in the term of the 18th CPC Central Committee, including the investigation into graft cases of Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai, Xu Caihou, Guo Boxiong, Ling Jihua, and Su Rong, and ensuing punishment on them.

The handling of these cases demonstrated that all are equal before discipline, that nobody has the privilege of not observing it and that no exception – no matter how high or low his or her current or past official rank is – will be allowed in anti-graft crackdowns, the article says.

Investigation into Sun’s case serves as a warning for all Party members, it says, adding that senior officials must practice strict self-discipline, conform firmly to the CPC Central Committee and CPC party constitution as well as party discipline, and set examples for cadres at all levels.

Jul252017

Press release: Director of Labour Market Enforcement warns rogue bosses of plans to use powers to jail worst offenders

HM Government

Director of Labour Market Enforcement Sir David Metcalf today (25 July) warned rogue employers he would be consulting on how to make full use of powers to jail the worst offenders.

Sir David Metcalf was appointed in January 2017 to oversee a government crackdown on exploitation in the workplace by setting the strategic priorities for the government’s 3 enforcement agencies:

  • HMRC’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) enforcement team
  • the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA)
  • the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS)

Publishing his introductory report, Sir David said he would work with the government’s enforcement bodies to:

  • better tackle illegal practices by implementing labour market enforcement undertakings and orders, which came into force in November 2016 and carry a maximum 2-year prison sentence for serious or repeat offences
  • identify how best to ensure large employers’ supply chains do not breach labour market laws, particularly in the fashion, construction and cleaning sectors
  • review the effectiveness of current labour market enforcement efforts

Over the coming months Sir David will consult business and worker representatives, industry bodies and enforcement action groups ahead of publishing his first full labour market enforcement strategy later this year.

New enforcement statistics also released today revealed the government identified record back pay for workers, with almost £11 million for 98,000 workers in 2016 to 2017.

Sir David said:

Tackling labour market abuses is an important priority for the government and I am encouraged it has committed record funds to cracking down on exploitation.

Over the coming months I will be working with government enforcement agencies and industry bodies to better identify and punish the most serious and repeat offenders taking advantage of vulnerable workers and honest businesses.

The report is published alongside this year’s National Minimum and Living Wage enforcement statistics. The figures show in 2016 to 2017 HMRC’s enforcement teams identified a record £10.9 million in back pay for 98,150 of the UK’s lowest paid workers – a 69% increase on those helped last year.

Businesses who failed to pay workers at least the legal minimum wage were also fined £3.9 million, with employers in hospitality and retail sectors among the most prolific offenders.

Business Minister Margot James said:

This government is firmly on the side of hard-working people and we are determined to stamp out any workplace exploitation, from minimum wage abuses to modern slavery.

While the majority of employers create a fair and safe environment for their workers, there are a small minority of rogue employers who break the law and we will use all enforcement measures at our disposal to crack down on labour market abuses.

Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability Sarah Newton said:

I welcome the director’s introductory report which recognises the importance of a collaborative approach across enforcement agencies.

I am pleased that we have extended the reach and budget of the GLAA as it will enable them to do even more, using new powers to search premises, seize evidence, and arrest those who mistreat workers.

The new powers are working, multiple arrests have already been made, including for modern slavery offences, and I am confident that GLAA officers will continue to disrupt the unscrupulous criminals who exploit the most vulnerable.

The report comes after Matthew Taylor published his independent review into modern employment practices to achieve “good quality work for all”. The government will study this review carefully over the summer and respond in detail later in the year.

Sir David will start consulting with stakeholders ahead of publishing his first full strategy later this year. To contribute please email directorsoffice@lme.gsi.gov.uk.

Jul252017

Press release: UK Government Minister calls for urgent progress to address rural Wales’ mobile ‘not spots’

HM Government

The time has come to put all four corners of Wales on an equal footing when it comes to the standard of its mobile infrastructure, Wales Office Minister Guto Bebb will say when he visits the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show today (25 July 2017).

One year on since the Minister rallied the cries at the Showground for cross Government and industry action to address mobile connectivity issues in rural Wales, Mr Bebb will take the opportunity to amplify the calls for the Welsh Government to use the levers at its disposal to ensure more remote communities in Wales can enjoy a good mobile experience.

UK Government in Wales Minister Guto Bebb said:

The UK Government and businesses have been clear about the importance of good mobile connectivity for the future prosperity of Wales’ rural economy.

Since taking office, the Secretary of State for Wales and I have made it a priority to pull partners together to tackle the very real issue of mobile ‘not spots’ across the country. That is why we hosted an industry summit at the start of this year to address the challenges and to find a solution to the problem. We now need action.

The planning system plays an important role in supporting service providers and communities to ensure that the infrastructure for supporting mobile connectivity is delivered in the right locations in a cost effective manner.

The UK Government has introduced mobile planning reforms in England which came into force in November 2016, which included new rights to build taller masts.

Mr Bebb added:

The UK Government is working to create an environment where the consumer can expect high quality connectivity where they live, work and travel.

And while we will not relent on that ambition for Wales, we cannot achieve this goal in isolation. Although I am pleased to see that the Welsh Government has been undertaking research in respect of telecoms masts and permitted development rights in Wales, it is now time that they bring forward their own mobile planning reforms to support mobile infrastructure roll-out in Wales which are long overdue.

During his visit to the Royal Welsh Show, Mr Bebb will also meet with Young Farmers, the Welsh Language Commissioner and meet with farming unions to discuss the issues and challenges facing the sector as Britain prepares to exit the EU.

ENDS

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY

Wales Office Minister Guto Bebb will visit the Royal Welsh Show on Tuesday 25 July and will be available for interview on request.

Please contact Lynette Bowley at the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales on 029 2092 4204 to arrange.