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Middle East Edition
7th November 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Oman sets up labour dispute committee
In a move to enhance workplace justice, Oman's Ministry of Labour has established the Collective Labour Disputes Arbitration Committee through Ministerial Decision No. 320/2024. Chaired by Supreme Court Judge Dr. Nasser Rashid Al Mushaifri, the committee aims to resolve collective labour disputes fairly and efficiently. Munir bin Salem Al Rawas, Secretary of the Committee, said: “The Ministry of Labour is committed to exerting all efforts to resolve labour disputes and address challenges between the parties in production.” The committee is structured to include representatives from various stakeholders and operates under a strict timeline, ensuring hearings occur within fifteen days and decisions are made within one month. Its rulings are final, with appeals only permitted before the Supreme Court, marking a pivotal step in strengthening Oman's labour dispute resolution framework.
WORKFORCE
Thai workers at risk in Middle East
The recent deaths of four Thai workers due to rocket fire near Israel's border with Lebanon have led to urgent calls for the evacuation of all Thai nationals in the area. Thai authorities have expressed their discontent with Tel Aviv, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by migrant workers in conflict zones. Since October last year, the death toll of Thais in the region has reached 50, with 46 killed during the initial Hamas attacks on Israeli towns. Additionally, 30 Thai nationals were taken hostage, with six still unaccounted for.
Istanbul sanitation workers strike disrupts services
Sanitation workers in Istanbul's Kartal, Ataşehir, Maltepe, and Kadıköy districts who are affiliated with the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Türkiye (DISK) and Genel-Iş Union have initiated an indefinite strike after rejecting a collective bargaining agreement. Thd action has led to significant disruptions in sanitation services, with overflowing trash bins reported across the affected areas. Additionally, members of the Hizmet-Iş Union in Beykoz Municipality are set to join the strike on November 8, following unsuccessful negotiations.
Bahrain's Golden Residency boom
Bahrain's Nationality, Passports, and Residence Affairs (NPRA) has granted over 10,000 Golden Residency permits to individuals from 99 countries. The initiative is part of Bahrain's strategy to enhance its residency system and attract skilled talent, aligning with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior, is overseeing the implementation of the initiative, which aims to drive economic and investment growth in the kingdom.
STRATEGY
Lattice Semiconductor will cut 14% of its jobs
Lattice Semiconductor has announced a 14% reduction in its global workforce, translating to approximately 160 job losses, as the company grapples with declining sales and profits. Lattice CEO Ford Tamer said: “We do not expect any additional reductions will be needed,” despite ongoing industry challenges. The company's third-quarter sales plummeted to $127m, a 33% decrease from the previous year, while profits fell to $7.2m from $53.8m. Lattice, which employs around 1,156 workers globally, has seen a significant drop in demand for its programmable chips following a post-pandemic surge. Headquartered in the Silicon Forest area of Hillsboro, Oregon, the company also has operations in San Jose, Calif., Shanghai, Manila, Penang, and Singapore.
CORPORATE
Lulu raises $1.72bn in UAE's largest IPO this year
Lulu Retail Holdings announced Wednesday morning that it raised 6.32bn dirhams ($1.72bn) in its Abu Dhabi IPO, selling 3.1bn shares at 2.04 dirhams apiece, at the top of its marketed range. The company will have a market capitalisation of 2.1bn dirhams when it lists on November 14th. Sovereign entities including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Qatar Investment Authority and Kuwait Investment Authority joined Vanguard Group and Singapore wealth fund GIC Pte in the offer.
INTERNATIONAL
Amazon CEO denies full in-office mandate is 'backdoor layoff'
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says the company's controversial plan mandating workers to come to Amazon offices every day starting next year, up from three days now, is not designed to facilitate attrition, as many employees have suggested.  The plan to require staff to be in-office five days per week is said by employees to be stricter than other tech companies' and will hinder efficiency because of commute times. Amazon employees who are found to be consistently not in compliance with the mandate have been told they will be "voluntarily resigning" and locked out of company computers. "A number of people I've seen theorised that the reason we were doing this is, it's a backdoor layoff, or we made some sort of deal with city or cities," Jassy said at an all-hands meeting on Tuesday. "I can tell you both of those are not true. You know, this was not a cost play for us. This is very much about our culture and strengthening our culture," he said.
Western brands are paying less for clothes manufactured in Bangladesh
NPR reports on how garment workers in Bangladesh are being affected by Western buyers paying less for clothes. The report profiles Ayesha Begum, who is one of four million garment workers making clothes for American and European markets - brands including Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Zara and others. She works at Beximco, one of the largest garment factories in Bangladesh, employing 23,000 workers. It's noted that Western buyers are paying less for the clothes, and food prices are up by around 10% since last year, making it hard for Ayesha and others to make ends meet.
Fostering inclusive workplaces in Hong Kong for staff with ADHD
For ADHD awareness month in October, advocates in Hong Kong are highlighting the workplace challenges faced by people with the condition, and are urging employers to improve their awareness and foster more inclusive work environments. Amanda Fok Choi-ling, the founder of the Let's Talk ADHD patient group, said workers with ADHD tend to hide the condition for fear of being stigmatised. "Some of our members disclosed their condition, especially after being given a poor appraisal, but employers mostly reacted with fear and avoided further interaction, afraid of being accused of discrimination if they said something wrong," she said. "Others thought they were using ADHD as an excuse for their poor performance."
Sick man of Europe? Germany’s bosses sound alarm on staff illness
German business executives say high levels of sick leave are damaging the competitiveness of Europe’s largest economy. Workers are said to have missed an average of 19.4 days because of illness in 2023.
 


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