Business Briefs – July 11, 2016

Finger-Pointing Over Fingerprinting: Checks Could Be Flawed

WASHINGTON (AP) – According to studies by the federal Government Accountability Office and the Department of Justice, as many as one-half of the criminal records in the FBI’s fingerprint system could have missing or inaccurate information on how criminal cases were resolved.

It worries civil rights and employment rights advocates at a time when job-related requests for fingerprint background checks have soared. And the issue has come into sharper focus as ride-hailing companies battle over fingerprinting of their drivers.

Uber pulled out of Austin, Texas, over the checks, and recently the Chicago City Council left fingerprinting out of its new ride-hailing regulations after Uber and Lyft threatened to leave the city.

Burberry Names Gobbetti as New CEO to Replace Bailey

LONDON (AP) – Burberry PLC replaced Christopher Bailey as its CEO on Monday, ending the project of having him both lead the fashion house and serve as its chief creative officer.

The luxury goods maker named Marco Gobbetti, CEO of French luxury brand Celine, as its new chief executive. He will take over in 2017.

Bailey will stay on as chief creative officer and as president, overseeing all elements of the brand known for its trench coats and checkered print.

Kimberly-Clark Scaling Back Venezuela Operations

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Kimberly-Clark Corp. has closed its Venezuela operations in a move that the government claims is illegal.

The personal care manufacturer announced on Saturday that it was suspending production in the South American country because of lack of primary materials, currency trouble, and soaring inflation. Kimberly-Clark makes a number of items hard-to-find in Venezuela such as diapers and paper tissues.

Labor Minister Leninna Galindo said Kimberly-Clark failed to properly notify the government of its plans. Galindo said she would defend the rights of the 971 Kimberly-Clark workers affected by the pullout, but it was unclear what types of actions could be taken.

Cuba Opens 1st Bulk Goods Store, But Wholesale Still Elusive

HAVANA (AP) – Cuba has quietly opened a first-of-its-kind store specializing in bulk goods in Havana: Zona +, a high-ceiling space with racks stacked with large tins of tomato sauce, toilet paper and cooking oil by the gallon.

It’s not quite Costco, and it falls short of satisfying longstanding calls for a wholesale market to support the growing class of small-restaurant and-cafeteria owners who have set up shop under President Raul Castro’s economic reforms begun six years ago.

But it could help relieve the pressure that those entrepreneurs have been putting on other retail stores by snapping up huge quantities of goods, leaving regular customers in the lurch.

This article appeared in print on page 9 of the July 12th, 2016 edition of Hamodia.