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Middle East Edition
23rd October 2023
 
THE HOT STORY
UN calls for fair wages to combat global poverty
Wages should reflect what a worker contributes to society, the UN has said, calling on governments to intervene. Essential workers in fields like health care and sanitation should earn higher wages and governments should cap pay in destructive industries like finance trading and fossil fuel excavation, the UN said.  "It is time to flip this injustice on its head," UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, said in a press release. According to the latest findings, one in five workers in the world is living in poverty. Many of the workers in jobs that society relies on to function, such as food production, transport, cleaning and sanitation, are earning the minimum wage in their country, the report says. Global monthly wages fell in real terms by 0.9% in the first half of 2022, the UN found. "My call is to governments to remedy this," De Schutter told Deutsche Welle, "and to ensure that teachers, nurses, health care providers are much better paid, and put a cap on the wages paid in the most toxic industries, such as fossil energy trading or advertising."
WORKFORCE
Amazon tells staff to ‘work in the office three days a week or get fired’
Amazon has told managers they can fire staff who refuse to come into the office at least three days a week. According to a report in Business Insider, new internal guidelines have been put in place for supervisors to explain how they can dismiss employees who refuse to turn up to the workplace. Amazon announced its three-day-week policy in February and implemented it from 1 May, although staff protests have rumbled on. Meanwhile, The Observer looks at how Amazon workers around the world are demanding union rights and an overhaul of the company’s working practices. Campaigners, politicians and unions are set to to gather at a summit in Manchester in the UK called Make Amazon Pay to call for international action over workers' rights, market abuse and tax. Protests are also planned around the world on 24 November, Black Friday, while the UK's GMB union has announced four days of strikes in November, including Black Friday, of more than 1,000 workers at Amazon's Coventry warehouse. Rachel Fagan, GMB organiser, said workers were demanding better pay but also considered performance targets were unfair. Amazon is also under pressure from regulators: the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced last month it was suing Amazon for anti-competitive strategies, including overcharging sellers, stifling innovation and suppressing competition.
Qatar University seminar on labour market challenges in Qatar and Mena region
Qatar University's Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (Sesri) and the College of Business and Economics (CBE) organised a seminar on the current labour market challenges in Qatar and the Mena region. The Minister of Labour, Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, highlighted the growth of the labour market in Qatar over the past decade and the need to increase the workforce in both the public and private sectors. The seminar aimed to engage policymakers and labour market experts in discussing the transformation of the labour market and its consequences. The seminar discussed challenges and opportunities in the labour market and explored ways to support skill development and capabilities for the current workforce.
TECHNOLOGY
Cutting-edge AI-powered HR support chatbot to be showcased at expo
Nathan HR is set to showcase its latest innovation, an AI-powered HR support chatbot, at the HR Summit & Expo in Dubai. The chatbot uses advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to provide real-time support to HR teams and employees. Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to experience the future of HR support at Nathan HR's booth. The CEO of Nathan Group, Rohan Nathan, stated that the chatbot represents the future of HR support and empowers HR professionals. The AI support chatbot can assist with onboarding and offboarding processes, offer personalised guidance on HR policies, answer queries, and provide mental health and wellness assistance. Key features include 24/7 availability, instant responses, data security, and access to multiple data sources. Nathan HR's team of experts will be available at the event to provide live demonstrations of the chatbot.
Digital Dubai launches Digital Assistant Initiative for government employees
Digital Dubai has introduced the Digital Assistant initiative, powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI), as part of the ‘Smart Employee’ application, enabling Dubai government employees to access a range of services with accuracy and efficiency. The initiative aims to provide easy and quick access to services, including responding to inquiries related to policies, regulations, and laws of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, and job-related and employee-specific data found in the government human resources systems database. The Digital Assistant system offers accuracy and speed for users, allowing them to search Dubai’s law on the management of human resources and inquire about personal data. It also enables managers and officials to inquire about their team’s data, optimizing team management. The initiative reflects Digital Dubai’s efforts to achieve the emirate’s digital transformation goals and aligns with His Highness Sheikh Hamdan’s directives to implement generative AI tools in government operations.
STRATEGY
Israeli fashion chain Fox Group to furlough staff amid war with Hamas
Israeli retail fashion chain Fox Group has announced that it will furlough between 30% and 50% of its staff across the country due to the negative economic impact of the ongoing war with Hamas. The employees mainly working in the retail chain's shops and stores will be furloughed for a month, while those working in the group's headquarters will receive 80% of their salary. The CEO and owner of Fox Group, Harel Wizel, along with other senior executives, have also decided to cut their salary by 50% for 30 days. The retail chain's business activity has significantly reduced since Israel declared war on Hamas.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Bank Nizwa empowers women in the workforce
Bank Nizwa, the first Islamic bank in Oman, has been a strong supporter of women's empowerment in the workforce, The Times of Oman reports. On Omani Women's Day, the bank says it recognizes the important role its women employees have played in driving innovation and success. With nearly 29% of women employees, Bank Nizwa champions diversity and inclusion, with many accomplished Omani women in leadership positions. Haifa Al Lawati, Assistant General Manager HR - Chief Human Resources Officer, praised the intelligence and dedication of the bank's women employees.
INTERNATIONAL
Thousands of Pacific islanders to be offered path to Australian life
Thousands of Pacific islanders will be given the opportunity to live in Australia as part of a government initiative to address employment shortages. The Pacific visa scheme legislation has been passed in the Senate, with the support of the Greens. The scheme aims to boost cultural, business, and educational exchange within the Pacific region. The migration system is being reviewed to reduce discrimination in visa costs. The opposition has opposed the scheme due to its "lottery" system, but the government argues that it will reduce processing times and costs. The scheme will allocate 3000 visas to Pacific islanders each year through a ballot process. Applicants will still need to meet eligibility criteria, including a job offer and health and character requirements. The visa scheme does not include Pacific Australia Labour Mobility workers already in Australia to avoid undermining existing agreements.
Multinational corporations in India face tax demands on expats' salaries
Multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in India are facing tax demands from goods and services tax (GST) authorities, affecting approximately 1,000 foreign subsidiaries. The tax demands, issued in recent weeks, pertain to an 18% tax on salaries and allowances paid to foreign expats by their overseas parent companies. The issue surfaced during audits of local arms of MNCs in various sectors. Companies have been given a 30-day window to respond to these tax demands. GST authorities consider expat salaries or allowances, reimbursed by Indian companies to foreign entities, as a "supply of manpower," making them taxable under the GST regime.
Zimbabwean immigration to South Africa surges
Zimbabwean immigration to South Africa has seen a significant increase, according to census data released by neighbouring South Africa. The data shows that the number of Zimbabwean immigrants in South Africa rose from 672,308 in 2011 to 1.01 million last year, with an average annual increase of almost 31,000. However, these numbers are likely an undercount due to frequent migration between neighbouring countries and the participation of undocumented foreigners in population surveys. The emigration trend is also evident in the UK, where visas were issued to over 20,000 Zimbabwean health and social care workers in the past year. The brain drain is attributed to the state of Zimbabwe's economy and low remuneration for professionals. Remittances from Zimbabweans working abroad have also increased, accounting for 16% of the country's foreign currency earnings. The prospects for Zimbabwe's economy remain bleak, with limited access to foreign lines of credit and the ongoing use of US dollars for everyday transactions. The loss of professionals, including teachers and healthcare workers, is expected to have a negative impact on education standards and the local economy.
Hong Kong court rejects government's bid to deny same-sex couples housing rights
A Hong Kong court has dismissed the government's attempt to deny same-sex married couples the right to rent and own public housing. The Court of Appeal ruled that the government's treatment of gay married couples was "discriminatory in nature" and violated their rights. The ruling follows two High Court decisions that deemed it unconstitutional and unlawful for the housing authority to exclude same-sex couples who married abroad from public housing. The court's judgment stated that the differential treatment of same-sex couples was a severe form of indirect discrimination. The decision has been welcomed by rights groups and activists, who see it as a breakthrough for gay rights in Hong Kong. The government has been given two years to develop an alternative legal framework for same-sex couples. The ruling could also have implications for similar campaigns for reform in other parts of Asia.
 


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