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APAC Edition
19th August 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Foxconn chairman defends hiring practices amid allegations of discrimination
Foxconn's chairman, Young Liu, has defended the company's hiring practices in the wake of allegations of discrimination against married women. It comes after a Reuters investigation revealed that Foxconn systematically excluded married women from jobs at its main India iPhone assembly plant. Liu emphasized that women, including married women, make up a significant part of Foxconn's workforce and contribute greatly to the company's efforts. Foxconn acknowledged some lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and says it has worked to address the issues. The allegations have sparked debates and inquiries from the Indian government, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordering a detailed report on the matter. Foxconn's main India iPhone factory employs over 41,000 people, including 33,000 women. Foxconn has expanded in India in recent years and has plans to move into AirPods and chipmaking.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Air India to move staff to safer UK hotel
Air India has decided to move its staff to another hotel following an assault on cabin crew at a London hotel. The crew had been complaining of poor security at the Radisson Red Hotel, Heathrow Airport, where the incident occurred. The crew said they felt unsafe due to a lack of CCTV surveillance, no response to emergency calls, and frequent random knocking on doors and windows by strangers. On Sunday, Air India said in a statement: “We are deeply anguished by an unlawful incident of intrusion at a hotel, operated by a major international chain that affected one of our own . . . We constantly review travel and stay arrangements, made at reputed international hotel chains, based on feedback of our employees and internal review to ensure the safety and comfort of employees. In this particular instance, we have taken immediate measures and decided to move our colleagues to another hotel.”
Thai workers warned to delay travel to Israel and Lebanon
Thailand's Ministry of Labour (MoL) is advising Thai workers to postpone their travel plans to Israel and Lebanon due to escalating tensions in the region following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. The warning, issued by the Department of Employment (DoE), is based on the latest evaluation of the security situation conducted by the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv and the Office of Labour Affairs in Tehran. The MoL has asked all Thai workers intending to work in Israel or Lebanon to delay their travel plans until further notice. The ministry plans to send 100,000 Thai workers overseas this year, with 77,918 already having traveled abroad. In other news, Thailand and South Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to reduce the waiting time for Thai workers between work contracts and provide additional benefits in case of natural disasters. So far, 8,688 Thai workers have traveled to work in South Korea under this agreement.
Bangladeshi man seeks compensation for illness acquired at Korean factory
Ajit Roy, a Bangladeshi man, is seeking compensation for a permanent lung problem he acquired while working at an agricultural machinery factory in Korea. Roy was recruited by the Korean government through the Employment Permit System and was exposed to dust and metal particles without proper protection. Despite experiencing health issues, Roy's compensation request was rejected, with the review committee citing his smoking habit and short exposure time as reasons. However, a medical expert disagreed, stating that the exposure to dust and metals was more likely the cause of his lung disease. Roy is now appealing his case and is waiting for the result. In the meantime, he is unable to receive treatment due to his expired visa.
LEGAL
Diageo submits financial documents in Delhi police probe
Diageo's unit in India has submitted financial documents sought by New Delhi anti-corruption police in an investigation related to billing and discount practices involving city agencies, a source familiar with the matter said. Hina Nagarajan, chief executive of Diageo's Indian unit, United Spirits, was summoned to appear before New Delhi police on July 26 in the case that relates to company's supply of liquor to government agencies running alcohol shops and payments received from the city between 2017 and 2020. The documents submitted included certain bank statements, records of financial dealings with the Delhi city agencies to which liquor was supplied, and some agreements signed with them. 
Court in China forced to consider how to handle same-sex parents
A Beijing court has granted a woman visiting rights to her daughter, marking the first instance of the Chinese judiciary legally recognising a child as having two mothers. The ruling is a major victory for LGBTQ+ rights in a country where same-sex marriage is not legal. The woman, known as Didi, was engaged in a custody battle for two children. Didi and her wife married in 2016 in the US and both took IVF treatment using her wife's eggs and a donor's sperm. After their relationship ended, Didi's wife took both children and moved to Beijing, severing contact with her. In March 2020, Didi filed China's first same-sex custody dispute. In May 2024, the Beijing Fengtai People's Court ruled that Didi should be permitted monthly visits with her daughter. The ruling is significant as it is the first time there has been any legal acknowledgement and recognition of the fact that a child can have two mothers.
HIRING
Scammers prey on young Chinese desperate for jobs in bleak economy
Straits Times reports on how a Chinese mother is seeking justice for her intellectually disabled son after scammers tricked him into having breast augmentation surgery. The 19-year-old jobseeker was told that the procedure would help him earn money through livestreaming. The clinic convinced him to borrow 30,000 yuan ($4,180) to pay for the surgery. Scams like false job recruitment, false advertising, and loan traps are on the rise in China, particularly targeting students and fresh graduates. Youth unemployment hit a record high of 21.3% in June last year, and the pressure on employment still exists. The darkening job outlook has even prompted some students to become scammers themselves. The incident has sparked outrage and drawn attention to the job crisis among the young in China.
TECHNOLOGY
Biggest US companies warn of growing AI risk
Fifty-six per cent of Fortune 500 companies cited AI as a “risk factor” in their most recent annual reports, according to research by a platform that tracks public disclosures by large businesses. “If annual reports of the Fortune 500 make one thing clear, it’s that the impact of generative AI is being felt across a wide array of industries — even those not yet embracing the technology,” the report from Arize AI  said. “Given that most mentions of AI are as a risk factor, there is a real opportunity for enterprises to stand out by highlighting their innovation and providing context on how they are using generative AI.” The number of Fortune 500 companies that cited AI as a risk hit 281, according to the report - a 473.5% increase from the prior year, when just 49 companies flagged AI risks.
INTERNATIONAL
UK staff contacted out of hours could get more in compensation
The new UK Labour government's policy of giving workers the “right to switch off” could mean workers are awarded thousands of pounds more in compensation at employment tribunals, The Times reports. A new code of practice will set out expectations of normal working hours when staff should expect to be contacted. According to Acas, an independent public body that deals with workplace relations, employers who repeatedly breach such an agreement could have 25% added to their compensation bill if it is found to have been an aggravating factor in a broader claim. Ben Smith, senior associate at the employment law firm GQ Littler, said he expects any guidance to be fairly broad to “give employers the scope and flexibility to find the right balance for their business - but there will be tricky issues to think through.”
Parent-Friendly Label application deadline extended in Abu Dhabi
The application deadline for the Parent-Friendly Label, awarded to workplaces in Abu Dhabi, has been extended until September 19, according to the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA). Semi-government, private, and third sector institutions now have more time to complete their nomination files and submit them for the opportunity to obtain the mark and the benefits it provides. The Quality Mark Program for a Supportive Work Environment for Parents offers institutions operating in the country within the targeted sectors the chance to obtain the Parent-Friendly Label. Since its launch in 2021, the Parent-Friendly Workplace Quality Mark Program has positively impacted the lives of over 148,000 employees across 25 different sectors, including more than 67,000 parents of over 50,000 children aged 0-8, and 1,492 children with disabilities.
OTHER
Chinese audiences embrace sports and shopping fever after Paris Olympics
Chinese consumers have shown a surge of interest in sports activities and shopping after the Paris Olympics. The popularity of sports such as tennis and badminton has increased, with a significant rise in court bookings and orders for related sports equipment. Emerging events like breakdancing and indoor climbing gyms have also gained popularity among young consumers. The Paris Olympics have also stimulated the cinema and apparel markets, with Chinese audiences watching games in theatres and purchasing "essential" items for the live broadcasts. Celebrity-endorsed apparel, such as Li-Ning panda T-shirts and table tennis garments, have seen a significant increase in sales. Sports consumption is becoming a prominent sector in China, with a large space for growth in the future.
 


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