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Middle East Edition
6th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Unions file complaint over Saudi Arabia's treatment of migrant workers
The International Trade Union Confederation and its African counterpart have lodged a formal complaint with the International Labour Organization, calling for an investigation into Saudi Arabia's labour practices. Concerns have been raised regarding the treatment of migrant construction and domestic workers, particularly as the 2034 World Cup approaches. Reports indicate that workers are subjected to extreme conditions, including working up to 20 hours a day, wage denial, and physical abuse. Human rights organisations have condemned FIFA's decision to host the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the absence of a minimum wage for migrant workers and the oppressive kafala system, which ties workers to specific employers throughout their stay.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
UAE employees are the most skilled in the Arab world, report says
Employees in the UAE are the most skilled in the Arab world, especially in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, according to the Global Skills Report 2025 released by Coursera. “The UAE is positioning itself for a technology-driven future, with 87% of employers emphasising technological literacy, AI, and big data as their top priorities. Notably, 13% of the UAE's labour force actively trains on Coursera - the highest in the region among spotlight countries - showing widespread enthusiasm for digital upskilling,” the report said.
CYBERSECURITY
Google warns that cyber thieves are targeting companies' Salesforce data
Google's Threat Intelligence Group has warned that a hacking group has been impersonating IT personnel to break into companies’ Salesforce tools, using the access for data theft and extortion. The hackers use voice calls to trick employees into visiting a purported Salesforce connected app setup page and unwittingly install a modified version of Salesforce's Data Loader tool. Technical infrastructure linked to the campaign shares characteristics with suspected ties to the loosely organised ecosystem known as “The Com,” known for small, disparate groups engaging in cybercriminal and sometimes violent activity. A Salesforce spokesperson said “there’s no indication the issue described stems from any vulnerability inherent in our platform.” The spokesperson said the voice calls used to trick employees “are targeted social engineering scams designed to exploit gaps in individual users’ cybersecurity awareness and best practices.”
STRATEGY
Procter & Gamble to slash 7,000 jobs
Procter and Gamble is set to reduce its workforce by 7,000 jobs over the next two years, representing 6% of the company's total staff, in response to declining consumer sentiment and tariff uncertainties. The cuts will predominantly affect non-manufacturing roles. The Ohio-based company, which employs 108,000 people globally, is also considering selling off certain brands and exiting specific markets. P&G chief executive Jon Moeller, highlighting the potential for price increases due to tariffs, said: "This is not a new approach, rather an intentional acceleration of the current strategy . . . to win in the increasingly challenging environment in which we compete."
WORKFORCE
Dubai deploys thousands of workers to ensure cleanliness during Eid Al Adha
Comprehensive cleaning campaigns have been conducted across Eid prayer grounds, public facilities, gathering points, green spaces, and main and secondary roads ahead of the long weekend that started on June 5, Dubai Municipality has said. “Waste storage containers have also been strategically placed across vital areas to accommodate increased waste volumes during the holiday. The teams are responsible for overseeing field operations, supported by a fleet of 752 fully equipped vehicles and machinery,” the civic body added.
TECHNOLOGY
Neuralink in $650m fundraising
Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, has successfully raised $650m in its latest funding round as it begins clinical trials for its brain implant device, which allows users to control digital devices with their thoughts. The company said: "This funding helps us bring our technology to more people - restoring independence for those with unmet medical needs."
INTERNATIONAL
US Supreme Court makes 'reverse' discrimination suits easier
The US Supreme Court has made it easier for people from majority backgrounds to pursue claims alleging workplace "reverse" discrimination, reviving an Ohio woman's lawsuit claiming she was illegally denied a promotion and demoted because she is heterosexual. Marlean Ames said that despite working for the Ohio Department of Youth Services for more than 20 years, she was denied a promotion and then demoted. The decision effectively lowers the burden of proof required for people who are members of a majority group - such as white or heterosexual people - to make discrimination claims. US court precedent covering some states, including Ohio, had required that members of majority groups show additional "background circumstances" to prove their case or evidence showing a pattern of discrimination. The court has now ruled that the standard of evidence for a discrimination claim should be the same, regardless of a person's identity.
French dockers block military shipment to Israel
French dock workers at the port of Fos-sur-Mer outside Marseille are blocking the shipment of military materials destined for Israel in response to the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza. The CGT trade union condemned the shipment, asserting its opposition to "participate in the ongoing genocide orchestrated by the Israeli government." CGT secretary general Sophie Binet stressed that the French government needed to halt all arms deliveries to Israel, saying: "It is unacceptable that CGT dockers should be the ones forced to uphold the fundamental principles of international law."
Employers face fines for heat neglect
Japan has introduced stricter regulations to protect workers from extreme heat, following alarming statistics of 30 workplace deaths and around 1,200 injuries last year. The new legislation, effective from June 1, mandates employers to implement safety protocols, including monitoring the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature index and providing emergency assistance for heatstroke symptoms. “We are working on measures such as taking breaks according to the heat index,” said a spokesperson for Shimizu Corp. The World Health Organisation reported nearly 500,000 heat-related deaths annually from 2000 to 2019, highlighting the urgent need for such measures. With global temperatures rising, Japan's proactive approach may serve as a model for other nations facing similar challenges.
British worker's revolt at 'American' corporate jargon
An executive at a UK telecommunications firm was sacked after complaining in robust terms to his bosses about the growing use of American management-speak including such terms as "growth mindset" and "personal development planning." An employment tribunal in south London heard that Darren Anthony sent a "threatening" email to complain about the way he had been treated in his first week at Talk 4 Business. He said that phrases imported from the US were rife, but his bosses deemed his message was "offensive and abusive." After his sacking, Anthony sued to claim that he had suffered age and disability discrimination, which the tribunal dismissed.
OTHER
NATO urges gender balance in peace talks
NATO's Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, Irene Fellin, has highlighted the critical need for increased female participation in conflict resolution processes. Speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum, she emphasised that women's underrepresentation - accounting for only 16% of negotiators in UN-led peace processes in 2022 - leads to significant blind spots in peace negotiations. Fellin said: "The absence of women in negotiation leads to the fact that certain topics are less addressed," as she underscored the importance of diverse perspectives in addressing issues like demining priorities and access to essential services.
 


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