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Middle East Edition
3rd May 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Employees in UAE brave inclement weather to report to work
Despite inclement weather, some employees in the UAE physically reported to work on Thursday, while the majority worked remotely, according to a poll conducted by Khaleej Times. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation advised private sector companies to implement flexible and remote work patterns. Some employees faced challenges in commuting to work, but prioritised safety while remaining productive. Others took precautions and started their journeys earlier to avoid delays. The roads were drenched but not flooded, allowing employees to reach their workplaces.
LEGAL
Saudi activist sentenced to 11 years in prison for supporting women's rights
Saudi Arabia has sentenced women's rights activist Manahel al-Otaibi to 11 years in prison for criticising laws in the kingdom. The 29-year-old fitness instructor was arrested in November 2022 and sentenced by a counterterrorism court in January. Her charges were related to her choice of clothing and expression of her views online, including calling for an end to Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system. Otaibi had been a supporter of reforms brought in by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, the country still has laws that discriminate against women in marriage and divorce. The reforms have drawn criticism from human rights groups, and the government continues to crack down on critics and female activists. This is not the first time a Saudi court has handed down harsh sentences to those who criticise the government. Despite Prince Mohammed's acknowledgment of bad laws, it remains unclear why he has not taken action to end such sentences.
Illegal workers arrested for changing expiry dates on products
Illegal workers at a farm in the Riyadh region were arrested after they were caught changing the expiry dates on products. The seized products included chicken stock cubes, potato chips, soy sauces, and pasta sauces. A laser device used to print new production dates was also seized. The Saudi Ministry of Commerce warned that violators of the anti-commercial fraud law could face up to three years in prison and a fine of up to SR 1 million. The ministry carried out a raid in cooperation with the police after expired products were traced back to the farm. The seized products were later destroyed. The ministry said it aims to crack down on commercial fraud and protect consumers from expired or tampered products.
Qatar prosecutor refers employees to court over wage fraud
Qatar's Public Prosecution has referred nine government employees to the Criminal Court over allegations of wage fraud and tampering with attendance records. The accused are said to have manipulated attendance records to falsely document their presence in the office, enabling them to unlawfully obtain wages for hours not worked. One defendant even exploited the entry and exit times of their co-defendants. The charges include misappropriation of public funds, forgery, and the use of counterfeit official documents.
Kuwait signs MoUs to protect workers' rights
Kuwait's government has signed 21 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various countries and 19 agreements with international organisations to fight for workers' rights in different fields. Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs, Sheikha Jawaher Al-Sabah, emphasized Kuwait's commitment to protecting workers' rights and providing them with opportunities. She highlighted Kuwait's efforts in fighting for human rights and the regulations in place to safeguard workers' rights.
REMOTE WORKING
Is remote work good for women?
Writing in the FT, Soumaya Keynes crunches the numbers on the impact of remote work on women and men's productivity, and whether it could help to close the gender wage gap.
HIRING
Stellantis cuts costs by hiring engineers in lower-cost countries
Stellantis is recruiting a majority of its engineering workforce in lower-cost countries such as Morocco, India, and Brazil to contend with cheaper Chinese electric vehicles and slower demand. The carmaker is cutting costs to make more affordable vehicles and is seeking savings by hiring engineers in countries where the cost per employee is significantly lower than in hubs like Paris and Detroit, and it aims to have roughly two-thirds of its engineers in lower-cost countries in the long term. Western carmakers, including premium automakers like BMW, are also adding white-collar jobs in countries like India to tap local talent. The strategy is expected to add expertise in areas such as software, artificial intelligence, and battery-cell chemistries. However, the push to hire engineers in lower-cost countries has caused some development problems, requiring engineers from France and Italy to fix local issues.
MANAGEMENT
Tesla's top HR executive departs
Tesla's top human resources executive, Allie Arebalo, has left the company, joining a handful of other senior leaders that have recently departed. It is unclear whether Arebalo was let go as part of broader job cuts or if she stepped down. Tesla has been slashing jobs across the organisation, targeting a staff reduction of about 20%. Arebalo, one of the most senior women at the company, had been in her role since February 2023 and worked for Tesla for about six years. Musk and Arebalo didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
INTERNATIONAL
Biden says xenophobia hinders Asian economies
US President Joe Biden has claimed that "xenophobia" is hindering the economic growth of China, Japan, and India, while he emphasized the positive impact of immigration on the US economy. Speaking at a fundraising event in Washington, Biden stated that countries like China and Japan are struggling economically because they do not welcome immigrants. The International Monetary Fund has forecasted a deceleration in growth for these countries, while the US is expected to grow at a slightly brisker rate due to migrants expanding the local labour force. Biden's remarks come as concerns about irregular migration become a prominent issue ahead of the US presidential election. He has been working to strengthen economic and political relations with countries like Japan and India to counter global powers such as China and Russia.
Exxon oil traders in Belgium protest mandatory move to London
Unions say that around 37 trading-related jobs are at stake as Exxon Mobil plans to move its trading floor from Brussels to London. Protesters gathered outside Exxon's Brussels office to voice their concerns over the job cuts. The move is part of the company's expansion in trading, but employees are dissatisfied with the terms being offered. The new contracts would tie half of a trader's pay to undisclosed performance criteria. The majority of affected traders do not want to relocate to London due to family concerns and unsatisfactory moving conditions. Exxon is trying to avoid triggering official negotiations with employees by favouring informal bilateral conversations. Over the past three years, more than 300 employees have left their jobs in Brussels, with trading-floor departures accounting for a further 6%.
Dutch shipping companies escape prosecution for exploiting North Korean workers
Dutch shipping companies accused of profiting from the exploitation of North Korean workers will not face prosecution, according to the Court of Appeal in the Netherlands. La Strada International, a human rights NGO, had filed a complaint against several Dutch companies that had ships built at a Polish shipyard where North Koreans were exploited. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the violations and the accused companies. The ruling has been described as a "huge disappointment" by La Strada International. Lawyer Barbara van Straaten stated that the outcome shows that current legislation does not provide sufficient protection for victims of these crimes.
Inviting a woman to a work meeting because she's ‘pretty' is sex discrimination, UK tribunal rules
An employment tribunal in the UK has ruled that calling a female colleague a "pretty woman" at work constitutes sex discrimination. The case involved an accounts manager, Emma Nunn, who sued her employers after her boss invited her to a meeting because a male client liked "pretty women." The judge said that the comments reduced Nunn's value to the business and would not have been made to a male colleague. Nunn, who felt humiliated and undermined, resigned from her job and is now set to receive compensation. The tribunal heard that Nunn and her boss had a longstanding friendship, which led to a blurring of their working relationship. While the tribunal found that this dynamic was encouraged by both parties, it upheld Nunn's complaint about the "pretty woman" comment. The judge concluded that the comment was sexual in nature and made because of Nunn's gender. A further hearing will determine the compensation to be awarded.
OTHER
Millions of students impacted by heatwaves as schools close
As heatwaves become more frequent and intense due to climate change, millions of students around the world are being affected by school closures. The decision to either keep students in hot classrooms or encourage them to stay home and keep cool has consequences for their education. High temperatures can impair cognitive functions and lower students' ability to retain and process information. This is particularly concerning in developing countries, where a large proportion of children are already out of school and test scores lag. The impact of heat on education is expected to widen the learning gaps between hot and cool countries. The closure of schools due to heatwaves also exposes children to risks such as child labour and child marriage. As heatwaves continue to disrupt education, governments and authorities face the challenge of finding solutions to protect students' learning and well-being in a warming world.
 


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