BUSINESS leaders in Karachi, Pakistan have opposed strict lockdown restrictions in the metropolis and urged the authorities to forcefully vaccinate the public to curb the fourth coronavirus wave, The News reported.
The reaction from businesses comes after the government announced a nine-day lockdown in the Sindh province with a special focus on Karachi in the wake of a sharp rise in the Covid-19 cases.
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) said it was impossible for them to pay salaries to workers due to the closure of industries and businesses.
"Pakistan's economic hub Karachi should not be completely locked down in the larger national interest," president FPCCI Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo was quoted as saying in the news report.
"The only solution out of the current situation, without causing any harm to businesses and employment opportunities, is to allow business and economic activities under strict compliance of SOPs (standard operating procedures) and mandatory vaccination of the workforce."
"If industries and businesses remain under restrictions, we will not be able to pay salaries," he added.
He urged the government to review the strict restrictions that are hurting the businesses.
Chairman Businessmen Group Zubair Motiwala said the only workable solution to minimise the number of Covid cases is to forcefully get people vaccinated and ensure strict implementation of SOPs.
Motiwala stressed that the government should carry out an aggressive vaccination campaign and compel masses to get vaccinated at the earliest.
TikTok is to lay off hundreds of employees from its London office, with the bulk of the cuts affecting content moderation and security teams, according to reports estimating over 400 job losses by the Communication Workers Union. Online safety campaigners, along with TUC and CWU leaders, have urged Chair Chi Onwurah MP to investigate the impact of TikTok’s actions on UK online safety and workers’ rights.
The strategic shift is part of a broader reorganisation of TikTok's global trust and safety operations, aiming to streamline processes and concentrate operations in fewer locations worldwide. The move has prompted significant criticism from safety advocates and politicians, raising concerns about the platform's commitment to child protection and online safety.
Safety roles cut
People working in the trust and safety team are most likely to lose their jobs as part of a global restructuring that prioritises AI- assisted moderation over human oversight. TikTok is moving UK content moderation roles to Europe as it rely on AI, putting hundreds of jobs at risk despite rising regulatory pressure under the Online Safety Act.
The timing is particularly controversial given recent revelations about platform safety failures. Report from Global Witness, a not-for-profit organisation have accused TikTok of "sacrificing online safety" through these AI-driven cuts, with investigations revealing that the algorithm has directed minors toward explicit content a serious breach of child protection standards.
The Communication Workers Union and online safety professionals have urged UK MPs to investigate the restructuring, warning that job losses could expose children to harmful material. The cuts represent a fundamental shift in TikTok's operational philosophy, prioritizing cost efficiency over comprehensive content review.
TikTok's restructuring putting several hundred jobs at risk marks a significant move as it shifts to AI-assisted content moderation. While the platform claims the changes will improve efficiency, the decision has sparked debate about whether algorithmic moderation adequately protects vulnerable users. As regulators scrutinise social media platforms increasingly, TikTok's focus on automation rather than human expertise may face mounting political and regulatory challenges in the UK and beyond.
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