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APAC Edition
13th November 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Singapore introduces legislation to entrench anti-discrimination in the workplace
Singapore is set to implement the Workplace Fairness Bill, introduced in Parliament on November 12, which aims to strengthen protections against discrimination in the workplace. The legislation, part of the broader Workplace Fairness Legislation (WFL), is expected to take effect by 2026 or 2027. The bill prohibits adverse employment decisions based on characteristics such as age, nationality, and disability, covering all employment stages. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) stated that the new laws aim to “preserve and entrench” existing workplace fairness norms. Additionally, the WFL mandates grievance handling processes within companies and protects employees from retaliation when reporting discrimination. MOM has emphasised an education-first approach to maintaining workplace harmony, while also establishing penalties for non-compliance. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) have expressed support for the legislation, highlighting its potential to foster a more inclusive workplace culture.
WORKFORCE
Japanese firms tackle customer abuse crisis
Japanese companies are working to address a rise in customer abuse, which has led to severe consequences for employees, including mental health issues and even suicide. The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly has approved a customer harassment ordinance, effective April 2025, which outlines shopper responsibilities but lacks penalties for violations. Companies like Ito-Yokado and Takashimaya are taking proactive measures, with Ito-Yokado implementing training for staff on handling difficult customers. Kaname Murasaki, head of the Japan Harassment Counsellor Association, emphasised the need for companies to shift away from a subservient attitude towards customers, saying that they "will be socially unacceptable if they have a don't-rock-the-boat attitude.” As Japan's service industry grapples with a labour shortage, addressing customer abuse is seen as crucial for employee retention and workplace morale.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Indian state implements menstruation leave policy
The government of the eastern Indian state of Odisha, led by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, has introduced a menstruation leave policy for female government employees under 55 years of age, allowing them 12 days of leave annually. According to the finance department's notification, employees can take one day of leave per month, which cannot be carried over. "The leave of a month has to be availed the same month," the notification states. The initiative aims to acknowledge the physical discomfort women experience during their menstrual cycles, and supplement the existing casual leave provisions. Women's rights activist Namrata Chadha urged the private sector to adopt similar policies to ensure parity in the workforce. Odisha follows the states of Bihar and Kerala in implementing such leave policies.
Study will test if pairing wearable devices with health coaches can change lifestyle habits
The Activation programme, initiated in August 2024 by Alexandra Hospital in Singapore, aims to recruit 1,700 participants aged 21 to 75 to assess the effectiveness of wearable fitness devices in promoting healthier lifestyles. Led by gastroenterologist Alexander Yip, the study will explore whether a human health coach enhances the impact of these devices. Participants will be divided into three groups: one receiving only a smartwatch, another with a smartwatch and a nudging system, and the last with a smartwatch and a human health coach. The initiative is part of Singapore's broader Healthier SG strategy, which encourages connections with primary care physicians for comprehensive health development plans. Recruitment is ongoing, with 387 participants signed up as of November 9, 2024.
LEGAL
Australia's parliament seeks to address sexual harassment
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that staff at Australia's parliament made 30 complaints of serious workplace offences such as sexual assault and intimidation in the initial nine months of operation of the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, a confidential service for federal parliament workers. The legislature is seeking to address issues of sexual harassment as it struggles amid a wave of scandals.
STRATEGY
Panasonic ramps up China expansion
Panasonic is significantly enhancing its presence in China, focusing on localisation in research and development to tap into the country's dynamic consumer market. Tetsuro Homma, executive vice-president of Panasonic, said: "China is not only a manufacturing giant and a major consumer country, but also an innovator with exceptional engineering talent." The company has established 18 new facilities since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a recent investment of 500m yuan ($69.8m) for a factory in Suzhou aimed at supporting China's semiconductor industry. Panasonic's operations in China account for approximately 23% of its global business, employing around 50,000 people, including nearly 10,000 in R&D. Homma expressed optimism about the Chinese market, noting that over half of Japanese companies surveyed remain positive about their investment plans in the region.
TECHNOLOGY
AI ads leave consumers cold
Recent research by YouGov reveals that approximately 50% of consumers are uncomfortable with brands using artificial intelligence (AI) to create marketing content, as it undermines brand authenticity. The survey, which spanned 17 global markets, highlighted that shoppers are increasingly wary of AI-generated images and text, with many able to identify AI content over half the time. Experts suggest that while AI can be a useful tool, it is the personal, creative input from humans that truly resonates with consumers. The findings indicate a growing need for brands to balance AI capabilities with genuine human engagement to avoid a competitive disadvantage.
CORPORATE
China-listed TV maker halts work at Russian factory over payment issues
TPV Technology, a China-listed manufacturer of Philips, Sharp and Sony televisions, has halted work at its Russian factory near St Petersburg due to payment problems with foreign suppliers for spare parts. Russia currently faces payment issues due to Western sanctions over its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine that blocked it from dollar markets and the SWIFT global payments system. "We have temporarily suspended the production of TVs until problems with payments to foreign suppliers of spare parts on an industrial scale are solved at the intergovernmental level", said Irina Limanskaya, the factory's head of production. "We hope that all these problems will be solved by our government very soon, which will allow us to resume production".
CYBERSECURITY
Amazon confirms employee data breach
Amazon has confirmed a data breach involving employee contact details through a third-party vendor, but assured that no sensitive data was compromised and its systems remain secure. The breach includes the employees’ names, work contact information, and what location they work at. “Amazon and AWS systems remain secure, and we have not experienced a security event. We were notified about a security event at one of our property management vendors that impacted several of its customers including Amazon. The only Amazon information involved was employee work contact information, for example work email addresses, desk phone numbers, and building locations,” Amazon spokesperson Adam Montgomery said.
INTERNATIONAL
FIFA faces pressure over Saudi bid for World Cup
Amnesty International and the Sport & Rights Alliance (SRA) have called on FIFA to halt the selection of Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup unless significant human rights reforms are announced before the upcoming vote. In a recent report, they concluded that Saudi Arabia's bid does not meet the necessary human rights standards, saying: "There will be a real and predictable human cost to awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without obtaining credible guarantees of reform." Concerns have been raised regarding the treatment of LGBTQ individuals and migrant workers, with Amnesty highlighting the lack of protections against exploitation and discrimination. Despite Saudi Arabia's assurances of a discrimination-free environment, the report warns of "severe and widespread" human rights violations if the tournament proceeds without proper safeguards. FIFA is expected to publish bid evaluation reports ahead of its extraordinary Congress on December 11.
Factory closures in France expected to affect 'thousands of jobs'
French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci has told France Inter radio that factory closures in France are expected to affect "thousands of jobs" in the weeks and months ahead. "Several sectors are in a worrying situation," he said in the interview, identifying the chemical, automotive, and metallurgy sectors. Ferracci said such difficulties are largely due to "very strong international competition . . . not always very fair because it is very subsidised in China and the United States". Michelin has just announced it is to cut around 1,250 jobs with the closure of two French factories. French retailer Auchan is planning to cut 2,389 jobs in various departments, the company said last week.
OTHER
Food companies 'sell products that are less healthy in poorer countries'
Food and beverage giants including Nestlé, Pepsico and Unilever on average sell products in low-income countries that are less healthy than what they sell in high-income countries, according to an index from the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI), which for the first time split the assessment into low- and high-income countries. “It’s a very clear picture that what these companies are selling in the poorest countries in the world, where they are more and more active, are not their healthier products,” said Mark Wijne, research director at ATNI, adding “It’s a wake-up call for governments in these countries to be vigilant.”  Isabelle Esser, chief research, quality and food safety officer at Danone, which was the best performer in the index, observed: "We acknowledge that there is always more to do, both at a business and industry level."
 


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