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APAC Edition
22nd July 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
IT firms in Karnataka propose 14-hour workday
IT companies in the southwest Indian state of Karnataka are seeking to increase working hours from 12 to 14 hours, including overtime. The IT firms want their proposal incorporated into the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961 revision. The state government is considering amending the act to allow for the extension of work hours. The proposal states that employees in the IT/ITeS/BPO sector may be required or allowed to work more than 12 hours a day, not exceeding 125 hours in three continuous months. The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union is protesting the amendment, saying that it could lead to a transition from the current three-shift system to a two-shift system, potentially causing job losses.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Coupang unit denies forcing employees to work in heavy rain
Coupang's logistics subsidiary, Coupang Logistics Service (CLS), has denied reports of forcing employees to work during heavy rain. The denial comes after a part-time delivery worker from Coupang Flex was found dead while attempting to deliver in a downpour. Seoul-headquartered CLS stated that there are no penalties for delivery workers if they need to delay or are unable to deliver due to bad weather conditions. The company also mentioned that it monitors the weather and sends safety measures to drivers during heavy rain, asking them to pause deliveries. It said that the safety of its delivery workers is a top priority. "We ask our customers to understand that delivery may be delayed during bad weather conditions," said CLS.
WORKFORCE
Ten million young Indonesians struggle to find work, training or study
A national survey has found that 10m young Indonesians are not in work, training or study. The government says it is working to ensure training and education programmes match the needs of employers. The unemployment rate for people aged between 15 and 24 is 22.3% compared to 4.8% for the wider population. Some believe that Gen Z struggles in the job market because the cohort is perceived as "too selective and needy" when it comes to employment. Indonesian Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah said there was a disconnect between the professions that Gen Z were pursuing and the jobs the country needed. As such, the Indonesian government has begun developing vocational education and training programmes tailored to local labour market demands.
HIRING
Infosys to resume campus recruitment drive
After a four-quarter hiatus, Bengaluru-headquartered Infosys is set to resume a campus recruitment drive. The IT company plans to onboard 15,000 to 20,000 fresh graduates through on-campus and off-campus placements during the current fiscal year. Its larger peer, TCS, plans to hire around 40,000 freshers in the current financial year, just as it did in the previous one. Infosys CFO Jayesh Sanghrajka said: “We are looking at hiring 15,000 to 20,000 freshers this year depending on how we see the growth.” The company's utilisation rate, excluding trainees, has risen to 85.3% in the June quarter from 83.5% in the March quarter. Krishna Vij, business head of IT staffing at Teamlease Digital, observed: “By bringing in freshers, companies can invest in training and development to ensure they possess the skills necessary to meet future client demands.”
Japan introduces measures to attract young teachers
A comprehensive package from the special committee of the Central Council for Education in Japan aims to address the decline in interest in teaching jobs among young people. It proposes assigning new graduates as subject teachers in their first year, reducing their class hours, and creating new support positions for young teachers. Some local governments have already implemented measures to reduce burdens on young teachers, such as assigning them as "subject teachers and, concurrently, assistant classroom teachers." The package also includes expanding the subject teacher system and urging a minimum 11-hour interval between workdays. The education ministry plans to draw up a road map for implementation and require boards of education to show improvements in teachers' work status. The committee also calls for improvements in working conditions, including raising the adjustment pay for public school teachers.
LEGAL
North India eateries told to display employee names during Hindu holy month
Police in northern India have asked restaurant owners to list the names of their workers on display boards during a Hindu holy month. The police claim that this is to avoid eating anything that might "corrupt" the efforts of devotees during the month. However, opposition groups fear that the move will create a deeper communal divide and lead to Hindus avoiding eateries employing Muslims. The request has sparked concerns about religious discrimination, especially in a state ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi has been accused of making decisions that fan religious discrimination, although he claims to not discriminate between Hindus and Muslims. 
Thailand extends visa-free trips for Hongkongers
Thailand's decision to extend visa-free visits for Hong Kong residents from 30 to 60 days has been welcomed by industry leaders. The move is expected to strengthen business ties and attract more people from Hong Kong to Thailand. Anthony Lam Sai-ho, the executive deputy chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, stated that the extended visa arrangement would benefit Hong Kong businesses operating in Thailand. Roger Hu Wai-chung, a travel writer, says that a longer stay would mean more tourist dollars for the country. Thailand received almost 15m tourists in the first five months of 2024, generating 700bn baht in revenue.
TECHNOLOGY
HR boss makes rapid retreat on AI worker plan
The Guardian reports on the intense backlash on CEO Sarah Franklin after she introduced three artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital workers to the team at Lattice, the San Francisco-headquartered human resources and performance management platform. Although advanced AI bots have been introduced at other companies, Franklin decided to be the first to give digital workers official employee records, onboard and train them, give them targets, appropriate systems access and even a manager - “Just as any person would be.” The negative response on platforms like LinkedIn led Franklin to suspend the plans just three days after the announcement. She was accused of disrespecting the humanity of her real employees and implying that humans are simply resources to be optimised and measured against machines.
STRATEGY
Deutsche Bank aims for 15% revenue contribution from Asia-Pacific
Deutsche Bank is aiming for Asia-Pacific to contribute at least 15% of its global revenue in the coming years. The German lender plans to hire senior bankers for its investment advisory, wealth management, and private bank in the region. Christian Sewing, CEO of Deutsche Bank, stated that Asia-Pacific will drive a significant part of the bank's growth going forward. The region accounted for 11% of total net revenue before provision for credit losses last year. Deutsche Bank operates in 15 markets in Asia-Pacific, including Hong Kong and mainland China, which offer big growth potential. The bank has been investing heavily in the region, focusing on origination and advisory businesses. Private wealth management is also a key focus for Deutsche Bank as it diversifies its services. Hong Kong and mainland China are particularly promising for the bank's private banking business. Sewing emphasised the importance of Deutsche Bank as an alternative to US banks in an increasingly complex world.
INTERNATIONAL
UK competition watchdog scrutinises Microsoft hires
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an inquiry into Microsoft’s hiring of former employees, including co-founders, from Inflection AI, a start-up which the tech giant invested in. The competition watchdog is considering whether Microsoft’s “hiring of certain former employees of Inflection and its entry into associated arrangements with Inflection has resulted in the creation of a relevant merger situation.” Microsoft's move to hire the Inflection team triggered criticism from rivals because it enabled the company to avoid regulatory scrutiny. The tech giant agreed to pay Inflection $650m to license its AI software. The deal, resembling a so-called "acqui-hire," but without an acquisition, could also raise antitrust concerns with US regulators.
Nigeria agrees on new minimum wage of 70,000 naira per month
Nigeria's main labour unions have agreed on a new minimum wage of 70,000 naira per month, following talks with the government. The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) argued that rising prices and a weakening currency were negatively impacting workers. The new wage, which is more than double the current minimum wage of 30,000 naira per month, will be reviewed again in the next three years. The unions had suspended a strike in June to allow negotiations on the new minimum wage. President Bola Tinubu will send the proposal to parliament for passage into law. The current minimum wage of 30,000 naira per month was agreed upon in 2019.
 


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