The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
APAC Edition
21st October 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Quit if you don't want to return to the office, Amazon exec says
Matt Garman, the chief executive of Amazon's AWS unit, has defended the company's new five-day-per-week in-office policy and suggested those who do not wish to adhere to the new rules can quit. "If there are people who just don't work well in that environment and don't want to, that's okay, there are other companies around," said Garman. "By the way, I don't mean that in a bad way," he said, adding "we want to be in an environment where we're working together." Garman said nine out of 10 workers he has spoken with support the new policy, which takes effect in January. "When we want to really, really innovate on interesting products, I have not seen an ability for us to do that when we're not in-person," he said at an all-hands meeting. The company has been enforcing a three-day in-office policy, but CEO Andy Jassy said last month that Amazon would move to five days to "invent, collaborate and be connected."
LEGAL
Japan faces scrutiny over gender laws
The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has convened in Geneva to evaluate Japan's gender policies, marking its first review in eight years. Discussions centered on Japan's proposal for a selective dual surname system for married couples and the need to amend the Imperial Household Law to promote gender equality. A committee member highlighted that the current law "negatively impacted women in the workplace and in their private life." The committee's recommendations are not legally binding, but some of them have prompted changes in Japanese laws, such as a rise in the legal marriageable age for women from 16 to 18 to match that for men, and the abolition of the remarriage prohibition period imposed only on women.
Scheme for Indian gig workers' social security
India is soon to launch a framework for social security of gig workers, including health insurance and pension. The Times of India notes that the decision to roll out the framework is seen as a “soft launch” of the provisions in the labour codes, which is yet to be implemented as several states are still not on board. “We cannot deprive them of their rights till the implementation of the Code. We have to bring a policy before that,” labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.
Malaysia's landmark citizenship vote
Malaysia's parliament has voted to amend the constitution, allowing women to pass their nationality to children born overseas, a significant change after a long-standing legal battle. Previously, only Malaysian men could confer citizenship, leaving many children stateless and women in difficult situations. “It is hoped with the amendment, we can finally give a little justice to the children of mothers who marry non-Malaysian citizens,” Democratic Action Party (DAP) lawmaker Syahredzan Johan told Parliament. In a statement, equal citizenship non-governmental organisations Family Frontiers and the Malaysian Mothers’ Network praised the decision, commenting: “This historic milestone marks a significant stride in the pursuit of gender equality".
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
AI impacts tasks, not job titles, LinkedIn CEO says
In a recent interview, Ryan Roslansky, chief executive of LinkedIn, emphasised the importance of adapting to an evolving job market influenced by artificial intelligence (AI). He advised professionals to view their roles as a collection of tasks rather than fixed titles, saying: “Professionals can have more agency amidst this transition by thinking of their job not as a title, but as a set of tasks. He highlighted that the skills required for jobs have changed by nearly 40% since 2016 and are expected to rise to over 70% by 2030. Roslansky observed that Singaporean professionals are particularly proactive, with a 105% increase in AI-related skills added to their profiles, surpassing the global average of 71%.
HIRING
Midsize firms in Korea can now hire foreigners
Seoul's midsize companies can now hire foreign workers under the revised Employment Permit System (E-9 visa) to address labour shortages. The Korean government announced this change during the 44th meeting of the Committee for Policy on Foreign Human Resources. Previously, hiring foreigners was restricted if a company's headquarters were in a metropolitan area, even if the work was in the suburbs. The new regulations will take effect in December, coinciding with the launch of the fifth edition of the foreign employment permit application. Additionally, the government plans to implement a special training programme for foreign employees to help them adapt quickly to their new roles.
STRATEGY
Nokia cuts 2,000 jobs in China and 350 in Europe
Nokia has cut 2,000 jobs, or about a fifth of its employee base, across Greater China and plans to cut another 350 jobs across Europe as part of efforts to lower costs, according to sources. The company laid out plans last year to cut up to 14,000 jobs to reduce costs and save between €800m ($868m) and €1.2bn by 2026. Sources said that the cuts are part of that plan.
CORPORATE
EY slims workforce for first time in 14 years
EY's global revenue increased by 3.9% to $51.2bn in the year ending June, marking the slowest growth in over a decade. Janet Truncale, global chair and chief executive of EY, stated: "Over the past year, EY teams have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in a challenging economic climate." The consulting sector, traditionally a growth driver, saw fees stagnate at $15.6bn, while audit and tax services grew by 6.3% each, contributing significantly to overall revenue. The firm also reduced its workforce for the first time in 14 years, employing 392,995 people, down from 395,442. The weakest performance was in Asia, where fees remained flat at $7.2bn, while growth was noted in the Americas and Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa.
CYBERSECURITY
China cybersecurity group seeks review of Intel products for possible vulnerabilities
A Chinese cybersecurity group, the Cyber Security Association of China (CSAC), has urged a review of Intel products sold in China, citing concerns over "frequent vulnerabilities and high failure rates." The CSAC claims that Intel's central processing units (CPUs) have previously exhibited multiple vulnerabilities, leading to issues such as video game crashes. It warned that these weaknesses could allow hackers to exploit a potential back-door system in Intel's chips. The group said a cybersecurity review is necessary "to effectively safeguard China's national security and the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese consumers." The call for scrutiny may escalate tensions between Beijing and Washington, especially following U.S.-led restrictions on advanced chip exports to China. Intel is yet to respond to the allegations.
INTERNATIONAL
Germany seeks Indian workers to boost economy
The German Cabinet has introduced 30 measures aimed at attracting skilled workers from India to address labour shortages threatening the country's economic growth. Labour Minister Hubertus Heil said: "Germany needs more economic dynamism and that requires qualified skilled labour." With an ageing population and a lack of skilled workers, Germany is looking to India, where "one million new people enter the labour market each month." The new strategy includes a digital visa by the end of 2024, job fairs in India, and German language classes for prospective migrants. Currently, around 137,000 Indians are employed in skilled positions in Germany, with a low unemployment rate of 3.7% among them.
Britain records biggest jump in male worklessness in G7
New analysis shows that young British men are becoming increasingly likely to shun both employment and education. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the proportion of working age men participating in the labour force has plunged from a record high of 84% in 2009 to 80.9% this year - the steepest fall among G7 nations. Female labour force participation also fell in the UK, but by just 0.4 percentage points, from a peak of 75.2% at the start of 2020 to 74.9% in spring 2024. Alice Martin, head of research at Lancaster University’s Work Foundation, said that the long-term decline of the UK’s industrial sector had fuelled the trend. “The replacements for [traditional factory] jobs, particularly in post-industrial areas, have largely been low paid, insecure jobs in retail and hospitality or growth sectors like social care. They are generally on lower pay than the jobs that were lost before them,” she said. The decline in men’s labour force participation in the UK was in stark contrast to the broader trend across the OECD, where the headline economic activity rate across both genders is at its highest level on record since 2008.
OTHER
Over 4,500 guests expected at China's Expo for International Education
China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education is due to begin on October 31 in Beijing. The theme of this year's conference, which runs through to November 2, is "Education for All, the Unknown and the Future", according to China Education Association of International Exchange, which is organising the event. More than 4,500 education experts and representatives from over 60 countries and regions are expected to attend, with 40 themed forums, discussing topics such as applying artificial intelligence in education, and vocational education overseas. Additionally, 13 reports and studies related to international education will be unveiled during the conference, such as the report on international cooperation in running education programs, aiming to provide innovative pathways for advancing high-quality education. Keynote speakers include Nadia Paredes, president of the American Art Therapy Association, and Japanese documentary filmmaker Ryo Takeuchi.
 


The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on Twitter.
Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe