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The paper presents a discrete-time mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model for a generalised flexible job-shop scheduling problem as represented by a state-task network. The problem is characterised by reentrant flow, sequence-dependent changeover time, machine downtime, and skilled labour requirements. Two preprocessing procedures are proposed to reduce the size of the MILP model, and represent a major contribution of the research. The procedures reduce the number of assignment variables by exploiting job precedence and workforce qualifications. Machine availability for each task is determined as a function of possible start and end times, given duration, and maintenance schedule. The overall objective is to maximise the number of scheduled tasks while minimising their total finish time. Computational experiments are conducted with real and randomly generated instances. The results show that optimal solutions can be obtained for medium-size problems within a reasonable amount of time, primarily due to the use of the preprocessing procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a small open economy with three sector and four factors. Agricultural sector produces output with unskilled labour and land. Manufacturing sector and skill formation sector produce output with skilled labour and capital. Skill formation sector transforms the unskilled labour into skilled labour. We also consider an extended version of this model where agricultural sector also uses capital. So capital is mobile between all three sectors. Both change in the price of manufacturing sector and capital stock alter skill formation in a similar direction. But change in the price of manufacturing sector leads to change in skilled–unskilled wage inequality in the same direction whereas due to change in capital stock it changes in opposite direction. In our extended study, where capital is mobile between all three sectors, the results of the basic model are unaltered. JEL Codes: F13, J31 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the current situation in the German labour market and measures aimed at overcoming the existing challenges. It explains the reasons for the emerging crisis in the labour market related to the demographic situation in the country. The shortage of qualified labour force is shown as the main challenge, with regional disproportions in the shortage of personnel being highlighted. It is noted that the main way to ease the labour shortage is to attract foreign specialists due to the low costs of such a strategy. The main mechanisms aimed at both integrating foreigners into the labour market and attracting them to the country are described. The prospects for integrating foreigners already living in the country are assessed and the problems complicating this process is analysed. The difficulties in implementing social policy in the area of pensions and the current government's approaches to addressing the relevant demographic challenges are highlighted. The assessment of the German expert community as well as other economic actors with regard to the government's pension reforms is presented. Special attention is paid to the issue of retaining pensioners in the labour market in order to solve the shortage of personnel in the country.

Curriculum reforms at the secondary-school level in Malaysia began in 1988 and was fully implemented in 1989. Heagly and Evans define curriculum as structured experience provided by the school for the student, so the student can meet all set learning outcomes to the best of their abilities. Prior to the introduction of the Secondary School Integrated Curriculum (KBSM), many issues were identified in the secondary school curriculum that served as the benchmark for curriculum reforms in Malaysia. Based on analysis, the introduction of KBSM was closely related to the turbulent historical issues during the first three decades after independence. These issues include problems with unity, inability to produce skilled labour, and the fragile and still negligible usage of the national language. Therefore, this article analyses the historical issues closely related to the introduction of KBSM, and the individuals responsible for ensuring KBSM comes into reality. The historical method is used as the thrust of this paper. Data collection-wise, this paper uses the qualitative analysis method of archival and library research. This approach aims to gather information and analysis a variety of primary and secondary sources such as the Report of the Education Committee 1956, Report of the Education Review Committee 1960, and the Cabinet Committee Report on Review of Implementation of Education Policies 1979, along with the Curriculum Committee Meeting Minutes in 1972, 1986 and 1987. The findings confirm the three historical issues strongly influenced the thought processes that went into planning and drafting KBSM. Implication-wise, the curriculum underwent reforms, towards a shift in the field of education following these historical issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using primary data from Sierra Leone, this article explores the relationship between gender and occupational aspirations. Descriptive findings suggest largely similar desired occupational roles across gender; however, regression results show that the odds of females aspiring for public sector employment are half that of males. Lower ambition for public sector employment among females is associated with less favourable perceptions of public sector employment in key areas that are deemed important to graduates such as salary, status from employment, the ability to contribute to society, training opportunities and career progression. Such 'opting out' by university‐educated women has implications for women's inclusion in national development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sri Lanka have expanded and succeeded, while others have declined or remained stagnant. What variables impact the failure of entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized businesses? The objective of this study is to identify the characteristics of enterprises that have an impact on the success of SMEs in Sri Lanka. An exploratory case study was conducted to investigate the factors that impact business success. Qualitative comparative analysis with within-case and cross-case analysis was used to analyze the data. Results revealed a positive impact of personal values and attitudes, knowledge management and experience, skilled labor availability, local infrastructure availability, and access to finance on the SME's success. Government policies and support do not play a significant role in the success of the SME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime industry in Malaysia is facing a perilous shortage of local shore-based skilful workers and has become the greatest challenge by means of the industry desires skilled manpower and expertise to boost up the development of this sector. The small number of local participation has urged the industry to employ foreigners to fulfil the positions required. This paper aims at examining the best alternative to cope with this issue. This study used expert's opinions to rank the alternative to shortage of local shore-based skilful workers via Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique. The elements of 'Spread Awareness', 'Manpower Management', 'Government Incentive and Support', and 'Training' are weighted. Additionally, the preferences of more than one decision-maker are internally aggregated into the TOPSIS method. Based on the assessment by the TOPSIS method, this study demonstrates the importance of 'Manpower Management' that appears to be a very important influence as a dominant alternative to overcome the shortage of local shore-based skilful workers in Malaysia. Finally, some suggestions for improvement in future research are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to examine the influence of international education career preparation on job acquisition (JA), skilled labour (SL), and job satisfaction (JS) among African student graduates of Chinese universities. Participants were 708 graduates from Ghana who attended Chinese higher education institutions (female = 37.6%; age range = 16 – above 41). The graduates completed the measures of educational training (ET), cultural translation impact (CTI), technology, SL, JA, and JS. A structural equation model analysis shows that career preparation with technology and ET related positively with JA and SL. However, graduates with lower CTI were less successful with their JA and SL in their home country. Additionally, while graduates with SL status had higher JS, JA tended to be associated with lower JS. Based on these findings, we propose that career preparation programs for international students should address both the hard-technical skills of technology education and the soft technical skills of job brokering of the country of origin taking into account the cultural translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of labour migration to South Africa spans centuries. More recently flows of skilled and unskilled, documented and undocumented migration to South Africa have reached significant proportions. While men have predominated in the flows of migration streams to South Africa, the feminisation of migration has increased the visibility and role of women in the migration context. The impact of migration on the lives of skilled married women has been given little attention in the migration literature. Characterised as trailing spouses in the broader migration literature, the article explores, through a life-course framework, how skilled Indian women renegotiate their lives when leaving secure jobs to follow their spouses to a foreign country. Attention is given to how mobility is negotiated between the spouses, the impact of mobility on the family and the influence of transnationalism on the migrants and their families in South Africa. The article is based on exploratory research using qualitative in-depth interviews conducted with married skilled Indian women who migrated as co-dependents to South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the demand for aggregate employment and skilled labour in Vietnam during the period from 2011-15. Thanks to deeper integration into the global economy, Vietnam has attracted a large amount of FDI which is a crucial driver for economic development. Employing panel data of all 63 Vietnamese provinces in the 2011-15 period and the fixed effects technique with robust standard errors, we show the adverse effects of FDI on demand for both aggregate employment and skilled labour in Vietnam. Interestingly, the absolute magnitude of the effect on employment of skilled labour is considerably larger than that of aggregate employment. In addition, the effects are positive in both the services and industry sectors, though in terms of magnitude, the effects in the latter are significantly lower than those in the former. The effects are negative in the agriculture sector. Rises in import-export scale increase the negative effects of FDI on demand for skilled labour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers an overview of Marx's textual legacy on the subject of the multiplied value-positing powers of skilled labour, and undertakes a critical reconstruction of the history of the subsequent controversies over the so-called 'skilled-labour problem'. Critical examination of the different Marxist responses to the objections put forward by critics shows that they have failed to develop a solution that is consistent with the foundations of Marx's value-theory. Thus, the article finally offers an alternative solution grounded in the Marxian analysis of the determinations of value as laid out in Capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skilled labour shortage in construction industry is a major challenge in South Africa. Therefore, the objective of the study is to assess the factors that cause skilled labour shortage, its consequent effects on the construction industries and how the scenario can be improved. The study was conducted by considering construction industry in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and using a survey research method and conceptual System Dynamics (SD) modelling. Findings reveals that investment, wage challenges, talent management, work environment, training, experience, and Government policy are the important challenges for the skilled labour shortage. Inadequacy of skilled labour considerably impacts the quality of work, productivity, and scheduling. The causal loop diagrams show that enhancement in investment in the labour wages will strengthen the availability of skilled labourers leading to higher productivity, and vice versa. Talent management based on appropriate recruitment and retention policy, staff development programmes and investment in these aspects will augment the skilled labour pool. Also, a better work environment through a policy of health and safety, investment in working condition and supported by Government policy will reduce the attrition of the labourer because of job dissatisfaction, which consequently will reduce the skilled labour shortage in the industry.

Skilled labour shortages in the construction industry are a major challenge in South Africa. The objective of this study is to assess the factors that cause skilled labour shortages, their effects on the construction industry and how the scenario can be improved. The study was conducted among industry professionals in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, using a survey method and conceptual System Dynamics (SD) modelling. Findings reveal thatinvestment, wage challenges, talent management, work environment, training, experience, and government policy are the important challenges relevant to skilled labour shortages. Inadequacy of skilled labour considerably impacts on the quality of work, productivity and scheduling. The causal loop diagrams reveal that enhanced investment in labour wages will strengthen the availability of skilled labourers. This will lead to higher productivity and vice versa. Investment in talent management and staff development programmes will improve the skilled labour pool. Moreover, a better work environment with improved health and safety will reduce the attrition of labourers caused by job dissatisfaction, which will in-turn reduce the skilled labour shortage in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To take the benefit of positive externalities and to augment domestic capital, FDI is sought by all countries. Amongst the potential contributions of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows to the developing countries, generation of additional employment is of specific interest to the policy makers. Thus, the purpose of this research paper is to look for evidence regarding the impact of Foreign Direct Investment on employment in Indian Automobile Industry using recent firm level panel data for aperiod of fifteen years (2001-2015).Our analysis broadly concludes that increased FDI flows have led to higher levels of employment in the industry. It is also observed that technology import intensity and size of a firm positively affect the employment while capital intensity and wage share have a negative impact. A significant policy direction that emerges from the study is that in order to increase the employment, FDI should be encouraged in industries in which skilled labour is required [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]