World

Blue-Collar Staffing Trends and Industry Evolution

Published

2 years ago

January 31, 2024

As technology and modern ideals seep into every industry and workplace, it may seem like blue-collar industries have largely been overlooked. It can be easy to imagine that blue-collar jobs stay relatively rooted in tradition and “old ways.” However, tech integration, a move toward specialization, the influence of remote work, a growing interest in the trades from Generation Z, and DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion) initiatives have profoundly impacted the blue-collar sector in recent years.

Jason Lamonica, COO of Spec on the Job — a staffing service specializing in blue-collar industries — has seen the shift first-hand and is optimistic about the near future. “A generic, ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the workforce will result in unhappy employees,” Lamonica says. He sees the trends emerging within blue-collar staffing and the industry as a whole pivoting away from the “one-size-fits-all” approach and moving toward a personalized industry evolution.

Tech integration reshaping the traditional

While modern technology has been a part of blue-collar jobs for decades, there is a sense that blue-collar work is still rooted in traditional, hands-on work that eschews too much tech intervention. Yet automation, digital advancements, and changes in how blue-collar workers are recruited and trained are reshaping the traditional work landscape.

Since the advent of the internet, how we interact with one another, find work, educate ourselves, and apply technology to our jobs has radically changed. Lamonica has not only seen it within the blue-collar industries for which he recruits but also within his role with Spec on the Job.

“The smartphone has truly changed the work we do in recruiting,” explains Lamonica. “Both employers and employees have come to rely on it for making connections. It truly has been amazing to watch it develop.”

The rise of smartphones has not been the only game changer for blue-collar work. E-commerce and AI technology have changed how we sell goods, ship items, and reshape logistics — which has had a massive impact on the trucking industry and supply chain. Automation has also been a significant factor in many blue-collar positions, especially within manufacturing. Robotics and machine learning have allowed companies to be more efficient in not only their processes but also their training.

While technology is certainly disrupting the blue-collar work landscape, fears of technology replacing humans altogether have been unfounded. Automation may have taken over some of the more repetitive tasks within blue-collar jobs, but we have entered a new era of the skilled blue-collar worker by integrating technology knowledge and traditional know-how into this new world of work.

Skilled labor and specialized trades

A recent survey showed that 1 in 6 Gen Z respondents intended to enter a blue-collar industry. Lamonica understands the interest — it was one he had as well. “I started in marketing, but I eventually realized that wasn’t going to be a long-term career choice for me,” he explains. “I had always been interested in the skilled trades, so that’s where I went.”

A past stigma surrounding blue-collar work seems to be lifting as trades workers prove these positions can not only require a significant amount of skill but can also be lucrative. People who choose to enter a specialized trade, such as masonry or electric work, often undergo extensive training and a required apprenticeship. Many also gather industry certifications to bolster their resumes in an increasingly competitive market.

Many of today’s blue-collar workers are demanding a change in how they are trained, shifting to e-learning and quickly adapting to the influx of tech advancements in their respective fields. The new generation of blue-collar workers understands the value of specialization, multifaceted education, and mentorships with other skilled workers.

The impact of remote work

One of the most notable changes in technology and the workplace has been the uptick in remote work, especially since the pandemic. “These days, employees are looking for flexibility in their workplace,” Lamonica notes. “Most understand that blue-collar jobs tend to be less flexible than white-collar jobs, but employees still expect some level of flexibility and autonomy within their careers.”

This flexibility that has come with the remote work revolution has its place in the blue-collar sector. While most blue-collar jobs (particularly those in construction or manufacturing) would not seem to work with the rise of remote work, evidence suggests that remote work does exist for some blue-collar positions — especially within the service industry.

The most significant impact remote work seems to have had on blue-collar workers, however, is giving them insight into how they can gain work with more flexibility, autonomy, and overall job satisfaction. The influx of remote workers has paved the way for these critical conversations in all industries.

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

The impact of a greater focus on DEI in the workplace has been felt within most jobs, whether one’s job is initiating DEI initiatives or not. Working diligently toward the creation of a diverse and inclusive workplace benefits everyone, from leadership down to the workers doing the day-to-day tasks. DEI initiatives create a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and better productivity.

Many blue-collar jobs, especially those in construction and manufacturing, have a way to go before they reach true equity. Currently, women are underrepresented by 80% in blue-collar positions. While blue-collar jobs have historically been the domain of white middle-class men, there is a push to bring more people of color and women into the skilled crafts. When employers recognize disparity and work toward a more diverse and equitable workforce, it elevates the industries as a whole.

Staffing within blue-collar jobs is trending towards better training, a more technology-informed outreach for recruitment and onboarding, and more autonomy and flexibility for skilled and certified workers. It is a new era in work, and leaders and recruiters in the blue-collar sector are recognizing the benefits of change and blazing a pathway toward a more informed and skilled workforce.

World

Criminal probe focussed on Mehtas shipping business

Published

2 weeks ago

August 6, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

From Monitoring Desk

DUBAI: An Asian family linked with the shipping business is facing criminal investigation in several jurisdictions including in Dubai and Far East where the family’s companies are under active investigation now, according to the authorities in three countries.

Sanjay and Gaurav Mehta, through their companies Best Oasis Ltd in Dubai and Priya Blue Industries in Gujarat, are facing investigations over money-laundering suspicions and suspected links to the Russian oil sector, sanctioned by the western countries, sources shared.

Sanjay and Gaurav Mehta, through their companies Best Oasis Ltd in Dubai and Priya Blue Industries in Gujarat have projected an image of environmental responsibility in ship recycling. They have tout certifications, attend global summits, and positioned themselves as ESG-compliant but their business practices have come under intense probe now. Their operations reportedly involve dismantling high-risk ships, using cash transactions, and leveraging political connections to avoid accountability, a source shared looking into the companies’ affairs. The investigation is being conducted in Dubai and the Far East.

The investigators are looking at the Mehtas operations dating back to 2006 when they came to attention of the law enforcement for the first time. Priya Blue dismantled the “Blue Lady” in 2006, a vessel containing over 1,200 tons of asbestos and radioactive waste, despite protests and objections from Greenpeace. Later, the “Exxon Valdez,” notorious for a major oil spill, was renamed “Oriental Nicety” and dismantled by the Mehtas in Gujarat, drawing international attention. In recent years, their transactions have become less conspicuous but reportedly more hazardous.

In 2025, Best Oasis allegedly acquired and dismantled at least four vessels linked to sanctioned entities, including Iranian and Houthi-controlled networks. These weren’t obscure ships; they were designated under U.S. terrorism sanctions for their involvement in oil smuggling and arms transport. According to investigators, here are the details of the sanctioned ships dismantled by Best Oasis in 2025: IMO: 9155808, Name: NOLAN (SOLAN), Sanction: SDN (SDGT), Beaching: 31 Jan 2025, Plot 16; IMO: 9221657, Name: BLUEFINS, Sanction: SDN (SDGT); Beaching: 26 Feb 2025, Plot 16; IMO: 9105085, Name: CONTRACT II, Sanction: SDN risk, Beaching: Arrived mid-2025, Plot 27; IMO: 9209300, Name: GAMA II, Sanction: SDN (SDGT); and Beaching: Pending/Planned, Plot 34

All four vessels were reportedly dismantled in Alang on plots leased by proxy firms connected to the Mehtas. These short-term leases, approved on a ship-by-ship basis by the Gujarat Maritime Board, reportedly make regulatory oversight nearly impossible. Once dismantling is complete, plot registrations often lapse, leaving no long-term record, according to documents shared by the investigators in Dubai.

Rahul Mistry, a shipping compliance researcher, noted this as a growing pattern: “This is a pattern we’ve seen more frequently in the last two years sanctioned hulls arriving under the radar, processed fast, with no digital trace.”

Payments for these vessels reportedly bypassed normal financial channels. According to sources familiar with the deals, transactions were settled in cash, either on-site or through offshore handlers. One source described entire ship values being paid in foreign currency bundles, avoiding Indian and Dubai banking disclosures, said one of the investigators familiar with the matter.

A retired port official Mr. Akin Yadav, familiar with Alang and Gujarat Maritime Board approvals stated that short-term leases are routinely used to avoid scrutiny, adding, “It was never meant to be a permanent workaround. But it’s become one.”

Political connections also reportedly play a role. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Gujarat State Minister Jitu Vaghani have been linked to approvals granted for Best Oasis and its proxies. While there’s no direct evidence of personal gain, sources allege that both men used their influence to expedite approvals, slow down inquiries, and shield the companies from enforcement.

Despite these activities in India, Best Oasis is expanding under new branding. A recent joint venture in Japan with Hiroshi Abe is being marketed as a clean, regionally responsible recycling partner for Japanese shipowners.

Mariko Fujita, a Tokyo-based maritime consultant, observed, “They’re presenting themselves as a new entity with no reference to past controversies. But none of the underlying ownership or structure has changed.”

In Alang, the situation reportedly remains much the same. Plot numbers are reassigned, cash continues to circulate and the same network of breakers and handlers is reportedly involved. Individuals like Jayant Vanani (also known as Budhabhai Patel) and Ramesh Mendapara are frequently named in connection with specific beachings, including “Contract II” and “GAMA II.” Both have been previously linked to other shadow transactions involving distressed or sanctioned tonnage.

Several yards allegedly connected to Best Oasis, including Shantamani Ship Breakers and Sai Baba Ship Breakers, reportedly operate with minimal inspection, despite numerous reports of irregularities in worker safety, hazardous waste disposal, and compliance with Indian scrapping codes.

This system, according to multiple sources, appears to be intentionally designed to operate in plain sight with just enough paperwork to pass basic scrutiny but not enough to trigger meaningful enforcement. There is no indication that regulatory bodies including customs, port health officers, or environmental oversight panels have conducted full inspections of any of the sanctioned vessels listed. Most were reportedly cleared and dismantled within days of arrival.

Rahul Mistry said: “This isn’t merely a loophole; it’s reportedly a business model. Best Oasis and Priya Blue are allegedly running a high-volume, low-visibility operation that filters sanctioned, end-of-life ships through legal instruments to appear legitimate on paper. This reportedly involves routing untaxed funds and shielded actors through a well-connected political and industrial network. As global scrutiny of ESG practices intensifies, many of these activities are allegedly being whitewashed through new partnerships and branding, but the underlying mechanisms reportedly remain unchanged.”