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Middle East Edition
26th July 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
More than nine million labour contracts authenticated online via Saudi government platform
More than nine million labour contracts have been authenticated via a Saudi government online platform as part of efforts to safeguard contractual rights and boost work stability, the kingdom's Ministry of Human Resources has said. The ministry has urged all Saudi and foreign private sector employees to make sure their labour contracts are authenticated via the Qiwa platform, saying the step is important for preserving workers' rights, providing a stable labour environment conducive to an increase in productivity, strengthening trust between contractual parties, and reducing labour rows. Establishments that authenticate at least 80% of their employees' contracts gain full access to the ministry's services. Last year, the Ministry of Human Resources unveiled an authentication plan via Qiwa, obligating private sector institutions to document a certain percentage of their employees' contracts in different quarters. The plan aims to preserve the rights of parties to the contractual relationship, provide a stable labour environment, and bolster the job market in the kingdom. In 2020, Saudi Arabia introduced major labour reforms, improving its sponsorship system and allowing job mobility for expat workers without employers' approval.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
CrowdStrike hit with complaint over 'unlawful' diversity-hiring initiatives
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has been hit with a complaint over its diversity hiring scheme. Conservative legal action group America First Legal (AFL) alleges that CrowdStrike favours women and minorities for jobs and promotions, which it claims prioritises sex and skin colour over talent. AFL has filed complaints with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against various companies, including CrowdStrike, for their diversity schemes. The complaint against CrowdStrike highlights the company's commitment to building a diverse workforce through mentorship and internal development programs for women and minorities, while allegedly neglecting white men. CrowdStrike was responsible for a software update bug that crashed millions of computers worldwide last week. Critics claim that diversity hiring schemes can lead to inefficiency and harm the quality of products and services.
Civil defence celebrates graduation of 152 female recruits in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defense has celebrated the graduation of 152 female recruits from the qualification course for civil defence work, safety, and fire protection. The recruits received training and essential knowledge and skills for the sector's work, qualifying them to work in safety centres, field preventive supervision, and administrative roles at the General Directorate of Civil Defense. "This is a significant milestone for gender equality in civil defence," said Major General Dr. Hamoud bin Suleiman Al-Faraj, Acting Director General of Civil Defense.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Qatar conducts workshop on heat stress risks
Qatar's Ministry of Labour (MoL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), has conducted a workshop for employees and workers of the Security Services Group (SSG) to raise awareness about heat stress risks and ways to preserve mental health. The workshop featured presentations to raise workers' awareness on ways to prevent the risks of heat stress and maintain occupational and mental health and safety in workplaces and residential areas.
CYBERSECURITY
North Korean cyber threat revealed
A North Korea-backed cyber group has been accused of carrying out an online espionage campaign to steal military and nuclear secrets. The UK, US and South Korea issued the high-profile warning about the group - known by the names Andariel and Onyx Sleet – alleging it is targeting defence, aerospace, nuclear and engineering entities to obtain classified information, with the aim of advancing Pyongyang’s military and nuclear programs and ambitions. Paul Chichester, director of operations for the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), an arm of GCHQ, said: "The global cyber espionage operation that we have exposed today shows the lengths that DPRK state-sponsored actors are willing to go to pursue their military and nuclear programmes. It should remind critical infrastructure operators of the importance of protecting the sensitive information and intellectual property they hold on their systems to prevent theft and misuse."
TECHNOLOGY
OpenAI rolls out prototype AI search engine
An artificial intelligence-powered search engine with real time access to information from the internet has been launched by OpenAI. The move by the Microsoft-backed company sent Google shares down 3%. The prototype will initially only be available to a small group of users. The FT notes that the new search tool will be able to access sites even if they have opted out of training OpenAI’s generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT.
LEADERSHIP
Dentons appoints Kate Barton as global CEO
Dentons, the world's largest law firm, has appointed Kate Barton from EY as its next global chief executive. Barton, who has spent 35 years at EY, will join Dentons in September and take over from Elliott Portnoy in November. Portnoy has overseen significant growth at Dentons, which now operates in 167 locations across 82 countries. Barton has held various executive leadership roles at EY, including CEO of tax, law, and people advisory services. She has helped transform EY's global tax practice through strategic investments and M&A activity.
INTERNATIONAL
China to ban officials from going overseas without approval
China has revealed details of a revised state secrets law that bans government officials entrusted with state secrets from going abroad without approval. The law, which takes effect from September, focuses on data security and aims to protect national interests. The revised law gives police broader powers to investigate breaches and requires private companies to protect state secrets. The regulations also require pre-employment background checks and regular confidentiality training for government officials handling state secrets. Criminal offences include failing to report leaks in time or skipping data security procedures. An update to a separate anti-espionage law, as well as laws curbing cross-border transfers of data, have posed challenges for foreign firms operating in China, especially in the due diligence sector. Chinese police raided several foreign management consultancies last year and detained a Japanese pharmaceutical executive on spying charges.
Dancers call off strike at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Hundreds of dancers set to perform at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony have called off a planned strike over pay disparities after reaching a deal with the event's organisers, the SFA-CGT union said. The performers secured a rise in compensation for broadcasting rights during a final round of talks with Paris 2024 organisers. The lowest-paid dancers will receive between €160-€240 ($150-$260) extra for their performance. The threat of a strike was an unwelcome development for organisers and risked deepening France's reputation for labour disputes. A whole host of French public sector workers have threatened strikes or stopped work ahead of the Olympics to demand bonuses. The opening ceremony is set to take place over a six-kilometre stretch of the river Seine, with around 6,000-7,000 athletes expected to sail down the river on 85 boats.
HCL back-to-office proposal condemned as illegal
An Indian tech workers' union is calling for strike action over a proposal by HCL Technologies that makes on-premises attendance by India-based employees a condition of eligibility for leave. Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES) told The Register that the tech firm is mandating employees work at least three days a week, and at least 12 days a month, or miss out on leave eligibility. "Under the Indian labour laws, particularly the Shops and Establishments Act, any modification in leave policy should be made in consultation with the employees and should not lead to undue hardship," NITES argued, adding "In the post-pandemic era, flexible working arrangements have become the norm, and imposing such rigid requirements is a step backward." HCL's fellow IT outsourcers Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, and Wipro have all ordered three-day weeks in the office, The Register notes.
Philippines orders foreign workers in offshore gambling firms to leave
The Philippines has ordered foreigners working for offshore gambling firms to leave the country within two months. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) because of their alleged links to crimes, human trafficking, and financial scams. The order affects around 20,000 people, mostly Chinese citizens. Foreign workers who stay beyond the two-month period will be deported. POGOs emerged in 2016 and quickly grew in the Philippines, targeting customers in China where gambling is banned. The pandemic and stricter tax rules have forced many POGOs to relocate or operate underground. Currently, only 42 mostly Chinese firms have kept their licenses, employing around 63,000 Filipino and foreign workers.
OTHER
Aggressive seagulls attack Amsterdam hospital employees
The Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), a collective of two teaching hospitals in the Dutch capital, has issued a warning to employees about aggressive seagulls at its locations. The seagulls have been attacking hospital employees who unknowingly approach their nests. Most attacks have occurred at the Academic Medical Center (AMC) location. The hospital has advised staff to wave their keycord, attached to their employee pass, to keep the seagulls at bay. Seagulls have become a nuisance in urban areas in the Netherlands, but little can be done as they are a protected species.
 


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