The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
Middle East Edition
20th November 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Major global companies boost hiring for professional roles
Global companies have boosted hiring for professional roles towards the end of the year, according to an index from recruiter Robert Walters. The boost was especially evident in retail, technology and healthcare, but demand for financial services recruits was less impressive, the survey showed. Job vacancies for professional roles globally were up nearly 9% month on month in October, compared with a 5% fall in September. "The latest figures . . . [are] a positive hint toward more traditional recruitment cycles returning, whereby October and the final quarter tends to be busy as companies ramp up seasonal hires or look to spend remaining hiring budgets before the close of the year," Robert Walters' CEO Toby Fowlston said.
WORKFORCE
Financial lifeline for Bahraini workers
MPs in Bahrain have unanimously approved financial assistance for private sector employees and small business owners earning less than BD1,500 monthly. The proposal, put forth by MP Hanan Fardan, aims to provide a regular monthly allowance to help low-income citizens cope with the increasing cost of living and economic challenges. Fardan stated that the support is essential for those struggling to make ends meet amid rising expenses.
LEGAL
Saudi Arabia cracks down on illegal entry
Saudi Arabia apprehended over 20,000 individuals earlier this month for various violations of residency, labour, and border laws, according to the Ministry of Interior. The crackdown, which began on November 7, resulted in 1,401 people being caught while attempting to cross into the Kingdom illegally, with 39% being Yemeni nationals and 60% Ethiopian. The ministry emphasized that those facilitating illegal entry could face severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison and fines reaching SR1m.  Currently, 21,267 individuals are undergoing legal proceedings, with 10,458 already deported. Citizens are encouraged to report violations via hotline 911 or 999.
Qatar prepares to host anti-corruption summit
Qatar is set to host the Second Ministerial Meeting of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on November 26-27 in Doha, under the patronage of Prime Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Abdul Wahab Saleh Al Kuwari, the official spokesperson for the meeting, emphasized that "combating corruption is no longer just a procedural task but a shared responsibility." The meeting aims to enhance cooperation among law enforcement authorities, facilitating the prevention and prosecution of corruption-related crimes. Al Kuwari expressed hope that the event would foster the exchange of expertise and practices to advance anti-corruption efforts across Islamic nations.
STRATEGY
Associated Press to cut workforce by 8%
The Associated Press (AP) has announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 8% through buyouts and layoffs, as part of a strategy to transition to a digital-first organization. Daisy Veerasingham, AP's president and CEO, said: “We all know this is a time of transformation in the media sector,” as she emphasized the need to adapt to changing customer demands. Eligible employees will receive buyout offers that include severance pay and partial health coverage for 18 months. The News Media Guild indicated that 121 members would be offered buyouts, although AP expects fewer job cuts among union members. The AP has faced challenges, including the loss of major clients like Gannett and McClatchy, which have ceased purchasing news from the organization. Despite diversifying its revenue streams, the AP continues to navigate the difficulties plaguing the news industry.
Disney Store expands into Kuwaiti mega mall
Disney is making a significant return to the retail scene in the Middle East with the opening of its first standalone Disney Store in Kuwait's The Avenues mall. This store, which opened in November 2022, is part of a broader strategy to expand Disney's presence in the region, where it has historically been underrepresented. Sonal Patel, Disney's director of consumer products for the Middle East, highlighted the importance of these stores, stating: "Our stores represent our entire brand and help guests engage with products and staff". Following the success of the initial store, Disney has opened additional shop-in-shops and plans to launch more locations, including a new store in the Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping centre. The partnership with Alshaya Group has proven fruitful, with 30 shop-in-shops currently operating in the region.
MANAGEMENT
Forbes Middle East unveils the Top 10 Talent Managers
Forbes Middle East has unveiled its list of the Top 10 Talent Managers Making Moves in the Middle East, recognising leaders who manage the public image and brand partnerships of notable Arab and international talent. Hady Hajjar, cofounder and CEO of HuManagement, tops the list, representing stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Naomi Campbell. The ranking features 12 leaders from 10 agencies, with eight based in the UAE, three in Egypt, and one in Lebanon. Forbes evaluated agencies based on their celebrity roster, client fame, campaign success, and social media reach for 2024.
TAX
UAE unveils new tax relief measures
The UAE Ministry of Finance has introduced new tax relief measures for domestic businesses, family foundations, and foreign partnerships. Notably, unincorporated partnerships are no longer required to notify the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) within 20 business days of changes in partnership composition. This change aims to ease compliance burdens and enhance the UAE's appeal as a business hub. Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Finance, said: "The amendment to this decision reflects the UAE's corporate tax regime flexibility to provide certainty to taxable persons and sustain confidence in the UAE's competitive business environment." Additionally, foreign partnerships can now be recognized as 'tax transparent' if they hold that status in their home jurisdiction, simplifying tax verification processes.
INTERNATIONAL
Foxconn orders India recruiters to drop marital criteria in job ads
HR executives at Apple supplier Foxconn ordered third-party India recruiters to drop age, gender and marital criteria in job ads, sources say. The directive followed a Reuters report which found that Foxconn rejected married women for iPhone assembly jobs - though it relaxed the practice during high-production periods. The resulting changes are evident in a Reuters review of recent India job ads for smartphone assembly roles. Foxconn employs thousands of women at the iPhone factory at Sriperumbudur, near Chennai. The company outsources recruitment of assembly-line workers to third-party vendors, who scout for and screen candidates who ultimately are interviewed and selected by Foxconn.
Gen Z workers 'would only report concerns about workplace violence anonymously'
Gen Z workers are more likely to witness workplace violence but not speak up, according to a new report by compliance training company Traliant which found that nearly half of Gen Z workers would only report concerns about workplace violence anonymously. Based on a survey of over 500 full-time U.S. retail employees, the report looks at how retail workers feel about their safety at work and how their employers are approaching workplace violence prevention. “The retail industry is a challenging space as employees are at higher risk for workplace violence and employers have a growing list of requirements to contend with when it comes to keeping their workers safe,” said Michael Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer at Traliant. “Our study identifies critical areas where retailers need to understand generational differences in the workforce so they can enhance workplace violence prevention programs and create safer work environments.”
Insurer slammed for ‘clinically dumb' policies in autism cases
A Hong Kong-based executive at insurance firm Manulife has hit out at his employer for what he described as its “clinically dumb” underwriting policies for people with autism, such as his son. Damien Green, the chairman of Manulife Financial Asia, wrote in a social media post, which tagged Roy Gori, president of Manulife, and Phil Witherington, president of the company's Asia branch: “Desperately sad and frustrated at the treatment of functioning and healthy autistic people, like my own amazing son, by insurance companies including my own employer Manulife Hong Kong and Macau . . . I have tried but the clinically dumb underwriting policies of such companies and their reinsurers are about as relevant as the horse and cart.”  Macy Chong Po-king, the chairwoman of the To Dream Charity Foundation, a support group for people with autism, said it was common for insurers to reject applications at the underwriting stage when risks were evaluated by looking at the applicants' medical history.
Hong Kong launches first cybersecurity drill after surge in hacking cases
Hong Kong is conducting its first 60-hour cybersecurity drill to test the effectiveness of current measures, and aims to make it an annual event amid a rise in hacking incidents. Innovation minister Sun Dong emphasized that “maintaining cybersecurity is an important part of promoting high-quality economic development and building a smart city.” The drill, which has been organised by the Digital Policy Office, involves a “red” hacker team simulating attacks on government systems, while a “blue” defence team from various public organisations responds. With 16,182 technology crime cases reported in the first half of the year, the city is also pushing for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure (Computer System) Bill, which could impose fines on operators failing to secure their systems. The results of the drill will be shared at a cybersecurity forum in December.
 


The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on Twitter.
Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe