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APAC Edition
4th December 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Three-quarters of young LGBTQ Australians have experienced sexual harassment at work
A landmark study has examined LGBTQ sexual harassment in the Australian workplace. Most research and policy discussions on workplace sexual harassment focus on cisgender heterosexual women, and little is known about the experiences of LGBTQ young people, ABC Online reports. The SpeakingOut@Work report, which was commissioned by Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS), found that 77% of LGBTQ young people have experienced sexual harassment at work. Dr Cristyn Davies, a senior research fellow specialising in child and adolescent health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney, says the sexual harassment of young LGBTQ people at work is interconnected with experiences of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. "Many LGBTQ young people were targeted for their gender or sexuality diversity in particular, and common forms of harassment included unwanted sexually suggestive or explicit comments, intrusive questions about identities, bodies and sex lives, and unwelcome sexual jokes about being LGBTQ," she said.
LEGAL
Nomura chief takes 30% voluntary pay cut after worker tries to kill customer
The chief executive of Nomura has apologised and taken a voluntary pay cut after one of the Japanese bank’s former wealth management employees was charged with robbery and attempted murder of a customer. Kentaro Okuda, who has led Nomura since 2020, will take a 30% pay cut over the next three months, and nine other senior managers at the bank will take similar reductions, the bank said. “This incident is something that should never have happened for a financial institution that handles important assets and whose customers trust us with their transactions,” Okuda said at a press conference in Tokyo. It is the second time Okuda has voluntarily taken a pay cut in recent weeks. He vowed to return 20% of his pay for two months after the bank was fined for manipulation of government bond futures. 
HIRING
Labour costs cited as top reason to hire foreign workers in Korea
A recent survey by the Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) found that almost half (48.2%) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cited lower labour costs as the primary reason for hiring foreign workers, a significant shift from the previous year when 92.7% pointed to a shortage of Korean job seekers. “The difference can be attributed to extreme financial difficulties facing SMEs, caused by high interest rates, sluggish domestic demand and declining exports,” observed a KEF official. Additionally, 53.2% of respondents expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of the foreign caregiver programme in addressing Korea's low birth rates, with many believing that the high wages of caregivers would limit its impact.
TECHNOLOGY
‘Bossware’ devices harm workers' wellbeing
A report from the Institute for the Future of Work in the UK has raised concerns about the growing use of software and devices designed to track emotions in workplaces, warning that they may harm workers' wellbeing. It found that the tools, particularly those integrated into workplace surveillance management software, often lack adequate safeguards. The report highlights the example of Microsoft’s Copilot software, which includes a “wellbeing” feature for monitoring employees, and Zoom’s artificial intelligence tool that detects emotional states during video calls. A survey of 380 workers found that 45% believed these tools had no positive impact on their health or safety. Additionally, between 29% and 34% of workers reported increased stress stemming from demands such as for faster work or stricter deadlines due to the use of so-called "bossware" technology. The report, commissioned by the Trust for London and the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, concluded that the UK's current regulations are inadequate to protect worker privacy and mental health.
WORKFORCE
Nurses flee Malaysia for better pay
Malaysia is facing a significant exodus of nurses seeking better pay and working conditions abroad, particularly in Saudi Arabia. With only one nurse for every 283 people, the South East Asian country is falling short of the World Health Organization's target of one per 225. Susan Wong, formerly a nurse in Malaysia, expressed her gratitude for her new life, saying: “I am living my dream life, travelling the world and getting paid for it.” The Malaysian Nurses Association highlights that nurses are overwhelmed, often caring for up to six patients each, leading to burnout and mental health issues. The 2023 report by the Institute of Developing Economies revealed that over 80% of overseas Malaysian nurses prefer Saudi Arabia, where salaries can reach 12,000 Saudi riyals (US$3,200) tax-free. The nursing shortage in Malaysia is projected to worsen, with a potential 60% shortfall by 2030, raising concerns for the country's ageing population.
Hongkongers flock to Guangdong for retirement
In 2022, approximately 88,000 Hongkongers aged 65 and above resided in southern Guangdong province, marking an 11% increase since 2017. BOC Life has introduced a new insurance plan aimed at retirees from Hong Kong looking to relocate to mainland China, highlighting the growing demand for retirement services. Chief executive Wilson Tang said: “Hong Kong has an ageing population and the demand for retirement services is huge.” The RetireCation programme allows policyholders to use their cash value for stays in partner properties and offers advisory services on various activities. Other companies like Ping An Insurance and HSBC Life are also entering this market, providing tailored retirement products and services. BOC Life aims to cater to active retirees in their 50s to 70s, with plans to expand services to Southeast Asia in the future.
RISK
Uniqlo risks boycott in China
Uniqlo is facing calls for a consumer boycott in China after Tadashi Yanai, chief executive of parent company Fast Retailing, declared that the Japanese fashion giant does not use cotton sourced from China’s Xinjiang region in its products. The Xinjiang region has come under global scrutiny amid allegations of forced labour involving the Uyghur Muslim minority. Previously, Yanai had avoided confirming whether Uniqlo used Xinjiang cotton, citing a desire to “be neutral between the US and China.” Two hashtags on Yanai's comment went viral on Friday on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Some users hit out at the company and vowed to never purchase its products. "With this kind of attitude from Uniqlo, and their founder being so arrogant, they're probably betting that mainland consumers will forget about it in a few days and continue to buy. So, can we stand firm this time?" one user wrote.
INTERNATIONAL
Federal workers in the US are terrified of becoming targets
Several federal employees in the US have told CNN that they are afraid their lives will be forever changed as Elon Musk, who President-elect Donald Trump has announced will co-lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” makes government staff into personal targets. Last week, Musk reposted two X posts that revealed the names and titles of people holding climate-related government positions. “These tactics are aimed at sowing terror and fear at federal employees,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 800,000 of the 2.3m civilian federal employees. “It’s intended to make them fearful that they will become afraid to speak up.” Mary “Missy” Cummings, a former senior adviser at the National Highway Traffic Safety who angered Musk because of her criticisms of Tesla, said she already knows of federal employees who are quitting their jobs. “He intended for them, for people just like this, to be intimidated and just go ahead and quit so he didn’t have to fire them. So his plan, to some extent, is working,” she said.

 
CNN
Belgium's sex workers get maternity leave and pensions under world-first law
Sex workers in Belgium are now able to sign formal employment contracts and gain labour rights on par with those in other occupations. The new legislation also establishes fundamental rights for sex workers including the right to refuse clients, choose their practices and stop an act at any moment. Sex workers will have access to health insurance, paid leave, maternity benefits, unemployment support and pensions, and rules on working hours, pay and safety measures have also been established by the law. "I am a very proud Belgium sex worker right now," Mel Meliciousss, who is part of the Belgian union of sex workers, UTSOPI, said on her Instagram. "People who are already working in the industry will be much more protect[ed], and also people who are going to work in the industry also know what their rights are."
Spain introduces 'climate leave' for workers
Spain's government has approved "paid climate leave" of up to four days for workers during weather emergencies. Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz said that the measure aims to ensure "no worker must run risks" during events such as the flooding last month which killed 230 people. Additionally, employees can opt for a reduced working day beyond the four-day leave. The new measure aims to "regulate in accordance with the climate emergency," Diaz told public broadcaster RTVE. If emergency authorities raise the alarm about a risk, "the worker must refrain from going to work," Diaz said. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo highlighted that the costs of extreme weather could double by 2050.
Fifa faces backlash over migrant worker treatment
Fifa has been heavily criticised by Amnesty International for its inaction regarding the families of migrant workers who suffered exploitation or died during the construction of stadiums for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The report prepared by the Fifa Subcommittee on Human Rights & Social Responsibility looked into a request made at the Fifa Congress by the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), which asked what steps Fifa might take to compensate workers. It highlighted that Fifa has a duty to compensate these workers but has not acted on recommendations to use its $50m legacy fund for this purpose. The report said: “There are workers who have contributed to the resounding success of the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 who have not yet benefited from any, or any adequate, remediation.” NFF president Lise Klaveness urged Fifa to implement the report's recommendations to ensure fair compensation for migrant workers.
 


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