The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
APAC Edition
16th December 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
Mining giants 'pressured women to sign NDAs after sexual harassment complaints'
Class actions have been filed against mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto alleging systemic sexual harassment and discrimination at Australian mine sites. Lead litigator Josh Aylward from JGA Saddler said that "it's common practice" for mining companies to use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence female employees. Despite claims from both companies that they no longer enforce NDAs, many women fear repercussions for speaking out. Angela Green, a former BHP employee, plans to join the class action, alleging she was unfairly dismissed after reporting harassment. The lawsuits, filed in the Federal Court, are expected to proceed with hearings in February, where the court will require both companies to contact all women who have worked for them since November 2003.
LEGAL
Samsung accuses India antitrust body of detaining employees
Samsung is embroiled in an investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) which concluded in August that the company, along with other smartphone manufacturers, violated anti-trust laws by colluding with Amazon and Flipkart for exclusive online product launches. In a legal filing dated October 11, Samsung accused the CCI of unlawfully detaining its employees and seizing confidential data during a raid related to the investigation. The company said: "The entire search exercise undertaken . . . is patently illegal." The company is seeking to quash the investigation's findings. Although Samsung has secured an injunction from the High Court to halt CCI proceedings, the court has yet to decide on the return of the seized data. The CCI has challenged the injunction, asserting that companies are attempting to obstruct the investigation.
US claims North Korea put workers in American companies to extort money
The United States has announced a $5m reward for information relating to a scheme whereby North Korean technology workers infiltrated US companies to steal trade secrets. According to the US State Department, around 130 North Korean workers secured IT jobs in the US from 2017 to 2023, generating at least $88m for Pyongyang's weapons programmes. Deputy US Attorney General Lisa Monaco observed: "To prop up its brutal regime, the North Korean government directs IT workers to gain employment through fraud." The US Department of Justice has indicted 14 North Koreans linked to this operation, which involved stealing sensitive information and extorting employers. The scheme also involved the use of stolen identities of hundreds of Americans to secure jobs.
CULTURE
'Quirky' Chinese company rituals can encourage toxicity
The South China Morning Post reports on "quirky" company rituals in China, such as one that was videoed and went viral on mainland social media, showing employees lying flat on the office floor to welcome a company boss, and declaring: “Qiming branch welcomes Boss Huang! Qiming branch, whether in life or death, we will not fail our work mission.” The video has precipitated concerns about toxic work culture in China, though a company representative claims it is fake. “This video has caused lasting negative effects on the company. The content may have been edited or fabricated,” the person said. Elsewhere, a property management company in Henan province has enforced strict weight and body shape controls for its employees, and in 2020, two women were hospitalised after being punished for poor performance by being forced to consume two bags of spicy “death chilli sticks.” Chinese law stipulates that if an employer enacts unreasonable rituals or rules that infringe personal rights, it may face warnings from authorities and be required to compensate employees for financial losses.
WORKFORCE
Average salary in Thailand to increase 5% next year, survey forecasts
According to Mercer's Total Remuneration Survey 2024, the average employee salary in Thailand is projected to increase by 5% in 2025, matching the growth rate of 2024. The survey, which analysed over 5,000 roles across 700 companies, revealed that all surveyed organisations plan to implement salary increases, a rise from 99.8% in 2024. Key factors influencing these increases include individual and organisational performance, as well as market competitiveness. Thira Laulathaphol, career principal at Mercer, said: "The average salary increase of 5% in 2025 reflects an ongoing commitment by Thai organisations to invest in their workforces." The life sciences sector remains the highest-paying, offering 20% more than the average. Meanwhile, the survey notes that flexible benefits are still limited in Thailand, with fewer than 25% of companies providing them.
CYBERSECURITY
US sanctions Chinese cybersecurity firm
The US Treasury Department has sanctioned the Chinese cybersecurity company Sichuan Silence and its employee Guan Tianfeng for exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in Sophos firewalls. The breach, which occurred in April 2020, compromised around 81,000 firewalls, affecting over 23,000 in the US, including those used by a government agency, and by critical infrastructure firms. The Treasury warned that the attack could have led to “significant loss in human life” if successful. The primary goal of the exploit was data theft, but Guan also attempted to deploy the Ragnarok ransomware variant on the victims' systems.
CORPORATE
UK regulator checks compliance at Shein ahead of IPO
Concerns are mounting around Shein's initial public offering (IPO) in the UK as Britain's financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), conducts a thorough review of the company's supply chain oversight and legal risks. Advocacy group Stop Uyghur Genocide (SUG) has challenged the listing, alleging that Shein uses cotton sourced from China's Xinjiang region, where human rights abuses have been reported. Eleanor Lyons, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said that allowing Shein to float on the UK market could imply an endorsement of poor labour practices. The FCA is under pressure to approve listings, but it must ensure compliance with regulations, particularly in light of potential judicial reviews. Shein, valued at $66bn, is expected to see revenues of $50bn this year, but its IPO success will depend on how the FCA addresses the concerns in its prospectus.
ECONOMY
Thai consumer confidence rose last month
Thai consumer confidence rose for a second consecutive month in November, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, whose consumer index increased to 56.9, from from 56 in October. In late September, the government rolled out the first phase of its flagship $14bn stimulus scheme, which aims to deliver 10,000 baht ($296) each to about 45m people. The government has said the second phase of the handout for 4m people will be implemented by January. On Thursday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the third phase of the handout scheme would be implemented next year but gave no details.
INTERNATIONAL
US federal employees brace for Trump purge
US federal employees are scrubbing their social media accounts of any negative posts about President-elect Donald Trump as they move to secure their jobs before his inauguration. Thousands of civil servants are taking steps to protect themselves from Trump's plans to slash the number of federal employees. Some federal employees are removing posts from X and Facebook, while one official who testified in Trump’s first impeachment inquiry is said to be considering filing retirement papers, and others are taking steps to move to possibly safer agencies. "There is shock and there is actual fear, and there is self censure in the sense that people are scared about retaliation," said Jesus Soriano, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, which represents more than 1,000 scientists and administrators at the National Science Foundation.
Canada is turning against immigrants
Canada, once a welcoming nation for immigrants, is undergoing a significant shift in public sentiment and policy, the Los Angeles Times reports. For the first time in 25 years, a majority of Canadians believe there is too much immigration, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government recently cut the annual total allowed into the country. “The reality is that not everyone is welcome here,” said Canada's immigration minister last month. Rising costs and a housing crisis have fuelled anti-immigrant rhetoric, with some blaming newcomers for economic struggles. As Trudeau battles to regain voter support, he plans to cut permanent residency grants by nearly 20% next year. Critics, meanwhile, argue that immigrants are being scapegoated for government failures. Syed Hussan of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change said: “It's an intent to distract working people from holding the government and big business responsible.”
Workers vow fierce resistance to Thyssenkrupp restructuring plan
Deutsche Welle reports on how Thyssenkrupp workers are responding to news that Germany's largest steel company plans to cut thousands of jobs and close one plant. Last month, the steelmaker revealed plans to reduce its workforce from 27,000 to 16,000 by the end of the decade. The company said it aims to eliminate around 5,000 jobs in its European steel operations by 2030 through "adjustments in production and administration." Additionally, 6,000 jobs will be outsourced or removed through spin-offs or divestitures. Gerhard Bosch, a former member of Thyssenkrupp's supervisory board, observes that the steelmaker's plan is likely to impact many jobs beyond its own workforce because every steelmaking job in Germany "typically supports at least one other job" along the supply chain. German labour unions, especially the IG Metall metalworkers' union, are preparing for a lengthy battle to save threatened jobs.
Fifa confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup hosts amid human rights concerns
Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by Fifa as host of the 2034 World Cup in men's football. The Saudi bid was the sole candidate. Meanwhile, it was also announced that Spain, Portugal and Morocco will be joint hosts for the 2030 tournament, with Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay also hosting matches. On Tuesday, the Swiss FA had said it would approve the Saudi bid, but demanded human rights must be monitored by both Fifa and the International Labour Organization. The Danish Football Union (DBU) said it supported the overall package of the two World Cup bids but wants Fifa to oversee human rights improvements. Jesper Moller, DBU chairman, said: "We would have liked to see more bids for both the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, and we are critical of the overall process."
OTHER
‘Unprecedented risk’ to life on Earth
Experts warn that lab-made “mirror bacteria,” constructed from mirror images of molecules found in nature, could put humans, animals and plants at risk of lethal infections. An international group of almost 40 researchers warned on Thursday that such synthetic organisms might “pose unprecedented and largely overlooked risks to much of existing life.” Prof Vaughn Cooper, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Pittsburgh, said: “The threat we’re talking about is unprecedented . . . Mirror bacteria would likely evade many human, animal and plant immune system responses and in each case would cause lethal infections that would spread without check.” Although a viable mirror microbe would probably take at least a decade to build, the group has urged scientists to halt work on creating “mirror life” microbes and asked funders to make clear they will no longer support such research.
 


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