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APAC Edition
20th August 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Indian port workers threaten strike
Indian port workers' unions have announced a strike starting August 28, seeking immediate resolution of pay revisions and pension benefits. The strike could worsen congestion at Asian and European ports, impacting global trade. Despite the formation of a wage negotiation committee in March 2021, the workers' demands have not been met after seven meetings. The workers' group, which convened in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, stated: "The government and port management should consider demands such as pay scale revisions, payment of arrears and protection of existing benefits to help avoid the strike." Major Indian ports have a combined cargo handling capacity of 1.62 bn metric tonnes, with India exporting goods worth $437bn and importing $677bn in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.
HIRING
Workers told to submit blood samples to get work on Australian mine sites, report claims
Workers applying for jobs in Australia's mining sector are increasingly being required to submit blood samples during the recruitment process, as highlighted in the Australia Institute's report “No Blood-No Job”. The report reveals that applicants who refuse to consent to these tests are often eliminated from consideration. Lisa Heap, a senior researcher at the Centre for Future Work, said: “No worker should have to choose between a blood test and a job.” The think tank is advocating for stronger privacy protections, and is urging the Federal Government to enhance the Privacy Act to prevent employers from routinely demanding sensitive medical information.
STRATEGY
GM to cut more than 1,000 workers from its software business
General Motors is set to lay off over a thousand employees in its software and services division, marking a significant shift from its recent hiring surge. Approximately 600 of these layoffs will affect workers at the company's Detroit-area headquarters. A source familiar with the situation indicated that the decision reflects a partial reversal of GM's aggressive recruitment strategy in technology roles. GM, confirming the layoffs, said in a statement that "as we build GM’s future, we must simplify for speed and excellence, make bold choices, and prioritise the investments that will have the greatest impact." CNBC notes that the cuts come as automakers seek to reduce costs and, in many instances, employee headcount amid fears of an industry downturn — and at a moment when they are spending billions of dollars on emerging markets such as all-electric vehicles and so-called software-defined vehicles. The job cuts represent about 1.3% of the company’s global salaried workforce of 76,000 as of the end of last year.
GoPro to reduce workforce in restructuring push
Camera company GoPro is to cut about 15% of its workforce as part of a previously-announced plan to reduce operating expenses by about $50m from projected fiscal 2024 expenses. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to reduce its employee headcount by 4% to cut costs. The company’s workforce stood at 925 full-time employees at the end of the second quarter. The restructuring plan will begin in the third quarter, and the jobs cuts are expected to be substantially completed by the end of the year. GoPro expects the restructuring plan to result in an estimated aggregate charge in the range of $5m to $7m, and anticipates incurring most restructuring and related charges in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ending December 31.
WORKFORCE
Chinese public sector workers fear losses as new pension scheme approaches
Some Chinese public sector workers are choosing to retire early due to concerns about the new pension scheme that will be implemented in October. The national pension reform plan, announced in 2015, aims to make the retirement schemes for both public and private sector workers more equitable. Under the new system, civil servants and employees of public institutions will have to contribute 8% of their salaries to the pension scheme, while employers will contribute 20%. Previously, public sector workers did not have to make any contributions and received up to 80% of their salary as a pension. The uncertainty surrounding the new scheme and government belt-tightening have led some workers to opt for early retirement. The rush to retire early highlights the need for Beijing to boost confidence in the new system.
LEGAL
China's Shaanxi launches international legal affairs office for BRI
China's northwestern province of Shaanxi has launched the country's first provincial-level office on international legal affairs, with a focus on issues related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The office will oversee the development of a demonstration zone for international business law services catering to the initiative. It will also train legal professionals in overseas-related matters, research legal theory, and offer legal services with an international focus. Shaanxi's justice department has introduced several recent initiatives to improve the province's legal system, including a research centre for legal issues involving China and Central Asia. The launch of the office comes as the BRI faces challenges and scepticism from the West. Beijing has tried to expand its legal toolkit for international matters as the rivalry with the United States and its allies intensifies. China enacted its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law in 2021, giving legal backing for retaliatory measures in response to punitive actions from the West.
Singapore charges two ex-bankers for aiding $2.2bn money laundering ring
A Singapore court has charged two former bankers, Wang Qiming and Liu Kai, for their involvement in a money laundering case worth $2.2bn. Wang, 26, faces 10 charges, including money laundering and forging loan documents, while Liu, 35, was charged with using a forged Chinese tax document to help one of the convicted money launderers open a bank account. The case, which involved 10 foreigners holding multiple passports, resulted in jail terms of 13 to 17 months for the money launderers. The Singapore government has implemented reforms to make it easier to prosecute money laundering cases and has set up a panel to review the anti-money laundering process. Singapore's banking sector has been identified as posing the highest money laundering risk in the city-state.
INTERNATIONAL
California cuts back on safety enforcement as farmworkers toil in extreme heat
California has significantly reduced its enforcement of heat-protection laws for outdoor workers, according to an investigation by the Los Angeles Times and Capital & Main. The number of field inspections conducted by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) dropped by nearly 30% from 2017 to 2023, and the number of violations issued to employers fell by over 40%. Worker advocates argue that this decline in enforcement fails to adequately protect farmworkers and other workers from extreme heat. With peak temperatures exceeding 105 degrees in California's agricultural heartland, the state has experienced its six warmest years on record since 2014. At least 17 workers have died in heat-related incidents during this period.
Libya central bank halts operations over employee abduction
The Central Bank of Libya has suspended operations after its head of information technology, Musab Msallem, was kidnapped by an unidentified group. The bank stated that other executives were also threatened with abduction. The bank says it will not resume operations until Msallem is released. This incident comes a week after gunmen laid siege to the bank's headquarters in Tripoli, demanding the resignation of the bank's governor. The US ambassador condemned the attempts to remove the governor by force, warning of potential consequences for Libya's access to international financial markets. Libya is currently divided between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a rival administration in eastern Libya.
Crackdown on workplace harassment could spell the end of office parties, UK lawyers warn
A new UK rule to crack down on workplace harassment could have a significant impact on office parties and other work events, lawyers have warned. The Worker Protection Act, set to come into force in October, will require companies to prove they have taken all reasonable steps to prevent sexual abuse of staff. The reinstatement of the word "all" means that companies may need to go even further in mitigating harassment risks, such as warning staff beforehand and restricting alcohol consumption. The new rule could also impact team building events and employers could be liable even if no harassment has occurred, it is claimed. Companies are now preparing for the change by checking procedures and providing sexual harassment training. The new government's crackdown on workplace harassment is part of a larger package of workers' rights reforms.
More Dutch employees starting workday at home to avoid rush hour traffic
An increasing number of workers in the Netherlands are starting their workday at home and are then driving to work a little later to avoid morning rush hour traffic congestion. The Dutch road users' organisation ANWB and employers' organisation AWVN have both noted this trend. According to Jannes van der Velde of the AWVN, the shift saves time lost in traffic jams and boosts productivity. Morning rush hour traffic congestion has decreased by 2% in the past six months, despite an increase in the number of cars and kilometres driven. However, evening rush hour remains as congested as usual, and there is a new traffic jam phenomenon on Friday mornings: recreational traffic starts earlier on this day, contributing to the congestion.
OTHER
Toxic substances found in Shein and Temu products
Authorities in Seoul have warned that women's accessories sold by some of the world's most popular online shopping firms contain toxic substances sometimes hundreds of times above acceptable levels. In the most recent inspection, multiple products from Chinese giants Shein, AliExpress and Temu failed to meet legal standards. Shoes from Shein were found to contain significantly high levels of phthalates - chemicals used to make plastics more flexible - while sandals from Temu contained lead in the insoles at levels more than 11 times permissible limits. South Korean officials asked for all the products to be removed from sale. "Products that exceed the legal limit are products that directly contact the body, such as leather sandals and hats, so citizens should pay special attention", said Kim Tae-hee, a Seoul official.
 


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