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APAC Edition
25th November 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
India's female gig workers seek change and justice
In India, female gig workers are banding together to form the Gig & Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU) to advocate for their rights and safety. Selvi, a beautician, shared her harrowing experience of harassment, saying: “How can I even tell my husband what I go through daily in my work? Female gig workers have zero safety.” The union, which has over 4,200 members, aims to address issues such as low wages, unsafe working conditions, and lack of support from employers. Aishwarya Thanigavel, GIPSWU's national coordinator, highlighted unfair labour dynamics, saying: “The employing firms wield unfair power.” With India's gig economy projected to grow from 7.7m workers in 2020-21 to 23.5m by 2030, the need for protective legislation is urgent.
WORKFORCE
Amazon workers in 20 countries to protest or strike on Black Friday
Thousands of Amazon workers are expected to protest or strike in more than 20 countries during Black Friday to press for better workers’ rights and climate action from the US retailer. The action, which will be coordinated by the Make Amazon Pay campaign, is planned in major cities across the US, Germany, the UK, Turkey, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil and other countries. Make Amazon Pay is made up of more than 80 trade unions, anti-poverty and garment worker rights groups, among others, and is spearheaded by the Swiss-based UNI Global Union for service industries and the activist umbrella group Progressive International. “Amazon’s relentless pursuit of profit comes at a cost to workers, the environment and democracy,” said Christy Hoffman, the general secretary of UNI Global Union.
LEGAL
China cracks down on delivery algorithms
Chinese authorities have initiated a campaign to inspect and rectify algorithmic controls on online platforms that may exploit delivery workers. The Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission said that the campaign aims to address issues such as the compression of delivery times, which increases pressure on workers and leads to traffic violations. Authorities are mandating platforms to transparently disclose their algorithmic rules including time estimates and route planning, and promptly address appeals from delivery workers regarding delays caused by uncontrollable factors such as traffic accidents and severe weather. The campaign, which will last until February next year, also targets other internet enterprises to tackle concerns like so-called "information cocoons" based on  homogeneous content recommendations, and big data-based price discrimination.
Thai labour minister champions informal workers' rights
Thailand's Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is advocating for a new bill which is aimed at enhancing the protection and welfare of approximately 20m informal workers. According to ministry spokesman Phumiphat Mueanchan, these workers, who include delivery riders, farmers, and digital content creators, currently lack recognition under labour laws, rendering them vulnerable. The proposed legislation seeks to require the registration of informal workers, so enabling the government to formulate targeted policies and allocate necessary budgets for their support. Once approved by the cabinet, the bill will proceed to parliament for further review.
Man in China wins case after nap dismissal
A worker in China was awarded 350,000 yuan (US$48,000) after being wrongfully dismissed for taking a one-hour nap in the workplace following a late shift. The man, identified only as Zhang, a department manager with two decades of service, was fired after surveillance footage showed him sleeping at his desk. The company's HR department cited a serious violation of regulations, but the court ruled in Zhang's favour, saying: “Sleeping on the job was a first-time offence and did not result in serious harm to the company.”
TECHNOLOGY
Workers slam unfair headset targets
Distribution centre workers in Australia have expressed their discontent over headsets that impose unrealistic time targets, claiming they are both unfair and unsafe. The headsets, used by major supermarkets like Woolworths and Foodstuffs, direct workers to complete tasks within specific timeframes, leading to concerns about pressure and safety. A Woolworths spokesman said: “We track product, not our people,” while a Foodstuffs spokesperson acknowledged that headsets provide target times for task completion. Workers reported that these targets often do not account for necessary breaks or individual capabilities, with one worker stating that a headset suggested picking 96 items in just 14 minutes, which was deemed “not achievable.” As concerns grow, New Zealand workers fear similar pressures may soon be introduced.
CORPORATE
Uniqlo CEO argues quick fashion must evolve
Four decades after its founding, Uniqlo has over 2,500 stores globally, and recently surpassed ¥3tn in annual sales for the first time. However, chief executive Tadashi Yanai says the firm must continue to evolve with the times, stating: "Changing daily is the only way we can hope for stable growth. The world is changing every day". He added: "We are just getting started, and we are going to keep growing. There is more potential for growth in Europe and the US, as well as China and India, given the 1.4bn population in each country. Clothing is a necessity, so population size is key".
INTERNATIONAL
UK workplaces are among the most stressed in Europe, report says
A report produced for the Commission for Healthier Working Lives, a body set up by Britain's Health Foundation think tank with trade union representation, to improve working conditions required in new employment legislation says UK workers face some of Europe's greatest job stresses. "Problem areas to prioritise now are long hours, work intensity and a lack of control or work autonomy," wrote one of the report's authors, Jonny Gifford, principal research fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies.  Conditions varied between sectors and were generally worse in construction, transport, warehouses, retail and hospitality, the report said, with nurses and teachers reporting particular strain among professional roles. "On nearly every measure the UK ranks among the worst in Europe for workplace demands, control at work and job strain," the report said, adding that around half of Britons said they were exhausted from work, and stress at work had increased over the past 25 years. "Considering the UK's lower labour productivity compared to peers such as France and Germany, these conditions do not seem justifiable on performance grounds," the report concluded.
More US companies offer health benefits for employees managing menopause
More US companies have started offering their staff access to menopause-related benefits in their health insurance, including paid time off, access to health providers knowledgeable about menopause, coverage of medication for menopause symptoms, and even flexible work schedules and relaxed dress code options. “Right now, there are millions of women trying to simultaneously manage menopause symptoms, stigma and their careers,” said Lorna Sabbia, head of workplace benefits at Bank of America, which offers benefits for eligible employees. Sonja Kellen, general manager, global health and well-being at Microsoft, said her employer began offering menopause benefits in July last year. Microsoft, she said, has had “such a phenomenal response from our employees. . . . In the first week that we launched, we had over 1,000 people sign up and within the first two months, we had over 800 [menopause-related] appointments . . . booked.”
Most Montreal residents 'not bothered' by lack of French in stores
Quebecers are being urged by French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge to report stores that can’t serve them in French after a government survey found a majority of Montrealers and many other Quebecers are not particularly concerned by the issue. The survey's findings suggest Quebecers aged 18 to 34 are more flexible on the matter, showing a greater acceptance of bilingual or English interactions. In a social media post, Roberge wrote (in French) that the results “confirm that we must be proactive on the French language issue, just as our government has been since its election in 2018.” He wrote: “Our government will continue to work to reverse the decline of French, especially in Montreal . . . This is a matter of pride. We are determined to strengthen our official language.” Roberge encouraged “all Quebecers to demand service in French in Quebec businesses and to file complaints with the [Quebec Board of the French Language] when this is not the case.”
 


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