Human Times

Middle East Edition

19th May 2026

THE HOT STORY

Middle East conflict threatens millions of jobs globally, ILO says

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict will significantly impact global job markets. An ILO report predicts millions of job losses and a decline in real wages, particularly affecting migrant workers who rely on remittances. "The conflict is expected to affect labour markets for some time, with the scale and duration of its effects depending on how the situation evolves," the report said. Meanwhile, higher energy costs and supply chain disruptions are contributing to economic strain. "Beyond its human toll, the Middle East crisis is not a short-lived disruption. It is a slow-moving and potentially long-lasting shock that will gradually reshape labour markets," said ILO chief economist Sangheon Lee. who wrote the report. The report highlights that the worst effects will be felt in the Middle East, Gulf states, and Asia-Pacific regions.

Khaleej Times Online

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LEGAL

UAE mandates unified monthly payday for private sector workers

The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has introduced new regulations mandating private sector companies to pay employee salaries on the first day of each month, effective June 1, 2026. The initiative aims to enhance wage protection and labour compliance. Under Ministerial Resolution No. 340 of 2026, salaries must be processed through the approved Wage Protection System (WPS). Companies failing to comply will face escalating penalties, including electronic monitoring, work permit suspensions, and potential legal action for repeated violations. The ministry emphasised the importance of timely payments to avoid severe repercussions.

Emirates24

Gdn Online

Gulfnews.com

STRATEGY

Ikea franchiser cuts 850 jobs amid weaker consumer spending

Inter Ikea has announced plans to cut 850 jobs, representing around 3% of its workforce, as the global Ikea franchiser seeks to reduce costs and lower prices amid falling consumer demand and rising operating pressures. The company said weaker consumer confidence, exacerbated by the Iran conflict and higher fuel costs, has reduced discretionary spending on home furnishings, while tariffs and inflation have also increased costs. Inter Ikea, which franchises the Ikea brand across 63 countries, is also continuing its strategic shift away from large suburban warehouse stores towards smaller city-centre locations. The restructuring follows two consecutive years of declining sales for Ikea and leadership changes at both Inter Ikea and major franchisee Ingka Group.

Reuters

Standard Chartered to reduce more than 7,000 roles by 2030

Standard Chartered plans to cut 15% of back-office jobs by 2030 as it expands AI and automation use, targeting higher efficiency, profitability and productivity under chief executive Bill Winters. The London-headquartered lender, which focuses on Asia-Pacific and Africa, employed around 51,000 staff in support services - equivalent to back-office positions - as of June 2025. "It's not cost-cutting. It's replacing in some cases lower-value human capital with the financial capital and the investment capital we're putting in," Winters said.

Financial Times

Reuters

HIRING

The graduate job coaches offering access to ‘unwritten rules’

The FT reports on graduate coaches who are advising young people on how to hone their job applications and network in a recruitment market that has become swamped by AI.

Financial Times

WORKFORCE

Eid Al Adha holidays announced for UAE private sector employees

The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has declared a four-day paid holiday for private sector employees, from May 26 to May 29, 2026, in celebration of Arafat Day and Eid Al Adha. Normal work hours will resume on June 1. Public sector employees will follow the same holiday schedule. The sighting of the Dhu Al Hijjah crescent moon confirmed that May 18 marks the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah 1447 AH. Eid Al Adha will be observed on May 27, with schools also enjoying an extended break from May 25 to May 29.

Gulfnews.com

Khaleej Times Online

ECONOMY

US considers using Palestinian tax funds for Gaza rebuild plan

The US is considering asking Israel to redirect some of the estimated $5bn in Palestinian tax revenues it is withholding from the Palestinian Authority towards President Donald Trump’s post-war Gaza reconstruction plan, according to sources familiar with discussions. The proposal could see some funds allocated to a US-backed transitional authority in Gaza, while additional money may be released to the Palestinian Authority if reforms are implemented. The discussions come amid growing financial pressure on the Palestinian Authority and ongoing uncertainty over Gaza’s future governance and reconstruction following the conflict.

Reuters

TAX

Middle East conflict shakes corporate tax

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is significantly impacting the economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, leading to a liquidity crisis and recession risks. Tuhin Chaturvedi, a tax partner at RSM in Kuwait, highlights that "almost all GCC countries are facing a revenue deficit ranging from moderate to severe." The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil prices to spike, yet many GCC nations cannot capitalise on this due to export restrictions. As a result, businesses are struggling with cash flow, and the implementation of the global minimum tax is delayed, adding to the uncertainty. Companies are advised to prepare for potential economic contraction and evolving tax compliance obligations as senior management relocates outside the region, creating new tax risks.

Bloomberg Tax

INTERNATIONAL

Meta staff protest against mouse-tracking tech

Meta employees have launched a protest against the recent installation of mouse-tracking technology at US offices. Flyers which have been seen in meeting rooms and elsewhere at the Facebook owner's offices encourage staffers to sign an online petition against the move. "Don't want to work at the Employee Data Extraction Factory?" the flyers ask, according to photographs seen by Reuters, which says it's the most visible sign to date of a nascent labour movement inside the company. A statement previously issued by Meta on the technology said: "If we're building agents to help people complete everyday tasks using computers, our models need real examples of how people actually use them - things like mouse movements, clicking buttons, and navigating dropdown menus." Reuters notes that, in the UK, a group of Meta employees has started organising a unionisation push with United Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW).

Reuters

German 'chemical town' fears impact of shifting focus to China

Germany's industrial decline is being felt especially painfully in places such as Ludwigshafen, a company town of chemical giant BASF, which has shed some 2,500 jobs since 2022 amid a shift in focus to China. "The mood is obviously not good," Sinischa Horvat, chairman of BASF's works council, which represents staff interests, told AFP. "The entire market is currently so weak. When you watch the news, you hardly hear any positive messages." Local disquiet has intensified following a recent decision to sell off thousands of company-owned apartments, many of which are occupied by current and former workers. "The sale of these apartments sends a signal to the city and to the people who live here and, in some cases, work at BASF - BASF is scaling back its operations," said Patrick Thiel, a BASF employee who lives in one of the apartments.

France 24

Singapore to help workers transition to resilient occupations

Singapore plans to introduce "career bridges" to assist workers affected by artificial intelligence (AI) disruption. The Economic Strategy Review (ESR) committee's recommendations aim to provide structured pathways, including training and job-matching services, to help workers transition into more resilient occupations. The move will “proactively develop workforce transition plans before large-scale displacement happens,” the ESR secretariat said. “We could prioritise areas with more acute disruption pressures, and where there are ready industry partners and trade Associations and chambers we can work with to support the effort.” Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said Singaporeans should be prepared for career transitions to become more common. He said: “Some workers will need to move into adjacent occupations. Others may require deeper reskilling. Some PMEs may face longer periods of adjustment . . . We must strengthen support for workers in transition. Our support systems must become more integrated and more anticipatory.”

Straits Times

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