The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
APAC Edition
17th December 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
'Train-then-hire' is now Wipro's doctrine
Wipro, India's fourth-largest IT firm, is set to recruit between 7,000 and 7,500 employees by the end of December 2025 as part of its strategy to prepare for a market rebound. Chief executive Srinivas Pallia and chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil are implementing a "train-then-hire" model, collaborating with partners including Microsoft and Google to ensure candidates are ready for deployment. Govil said the shift underscores a move away from the previous "hire and then train" approach. Wipro is also forming partnerships with institutions such as IIT-Delhi and IISc-Bangalore to align educational curricula with industry needs. Despite challenges like increased attrition and wage costs, Wipro aims to ensure adequate capacity to meet future demand as market conditions improve.
LEGAL
Dyson faces lawsuit over forced labour claims
Dyson is set to face legal action over alleged working conditions at a third-party manufacturer. Legal claims led by London-headquartered law firm Leigh Day allege that migrant workers from Nepal and Bangladesh were trafficked to Malaysia and subjected to forced labour, alongside exploitative and abusive working and living conditions. They worked at a factory operated by ATA Industrial where many Dyson products were made. The claims are against Dyson’s two UK companies and its Malaysian subsidiary. While High Court proceedings were paused last year when a judge ruled that the claims should be heard in Malaysia, the Court of Appeal has now said that England is the more appropriate location for the case.
Pernod Ricard fires employees over alleged discounting misconduct in India
Pernod Ricard has dismissed at least six mid-level employees following an internal investigation into alleged discounting malpractices in Rajasthan, one of India's largest states. The probe, initiated after a whistleblower complaint in late 2023, revealed misuse of funds meant for trade discounts to retailers, according to company insiders. Global consultancy EY and Pernod's ethics head, Kanika Bhutani, oversaw the investigation. The episode adds to Pernod's compliance challenges in India, which include a $250m tax dispute, antitrust cases, and allegations of money laundering in New Delhi. Despite these hurdles, chief executive Alexandre Ricard recently reaffirmed India's importance as a "growth engine" for the company, where Rajasthan remains a key market with rising per capita alcohol spending. Pernod has not publicly commented on the Rajasthan findings or broader regulatory issues.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Global mental health crisis hits workplaces
About 12bn working days are lost to depression and anxiety each year. Factors driving this global mental health crisis range from the spiralling cost of living to social media dependency.
WORKFORCE
Hong Kong unions sound alarm over domestic workers
Two Hong Kong labour unions have reported that at least eight South Asian domestic helpers have faced significant underpayment over the past two years. One case involved a worker who received no salary or rest days for four months. The Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions (FADW) and the Union of Nepalese Domestic Workers in Hong Kong (UNDW) highlighted that the situation is likely much worse than reported. FADW chairwoman Phobsuk Gasing said: “Many of the employers are from the same countries as [their employees], so they can communicate fine between themselves . . . But the workers struggle to communicate with anyone else because they don't speak English or Cantonese, so their employers can easily mistreat them [without consequence].” Victims like “Sima” revealed they were paid far less than their contracted wages, often facing threats and abuse. The unions are calling for better protections and legal consequences for employers who violate the Employment Ordinance, and is urging the government to ensure both parties understand their rights and responsibilities.
CORPORATE
CEO optimism ‘is as high as we’ve ever seen,' according to Deloitte survey
The latest Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey, based on responses from more than 140 chief executives of the world’s largest and most influential companies following the U.S. elections in November, found 84% expressing optimism about their firm's performance in the next year. Forty-two per cent of CEOs are either “optimistic” or “very optimistic” about the global economy over the next 12 months, up from 29% over the summer, although 73% of those polled described US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed trade and tariff policies as a risk. Deloitte US CEO Jason Girzadas said “optimism indexed is as high as we’ve seen” in the 14 editions of the survey, citing tax policy, deregulation, and technological transformation as key drivers. 
TECHNOLOGY
China-made window cleaning robot is a big hit with customers
A window cleaning robot developed by Shanxi Jiashida Robot Technology Co has gained immense popularity, selling out shortly after its launch on a global e-commerce platform. Feng Fenfen, the company's foreign trade manager, said: "We are expediting deliveries to meet the surging demand abroad." The robot's commercial success is said to be indicative of consumers' aspirations for a better quality of life, particularly in high-rise living situations. The company has exported its robots to over 50 countries, including Germany, France, and Japan. Sun Xiaopu, its deputy general manager, noted that annual sales have surged by over 50% since entering international markets, with expectations to exceed 60,000 units this year.
INTERNATIONAL
Netflix walks back on its parental leave policy
Netflix has spent the past few years walking back on what had been one of corporate America’s most generous parental leave benefits, pledging to give new parents unlimited time off in their child’s first year, according to internal communications reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, as well as interviews with current and former staff. The entertainment giant has issued “vague and sometimes conflicting” guidance internally without explicitly retracting the one-year benefit, and taking more than six months of leave is now widely understood to be an unwise career move, the newspaper reports. Employees worry the retrenchment means the company is losing the identity that precipitated its success. “Netflix always had a different approach than other companies in that they said it’s important for employees to be with their babies,” observed one former production employee. “Now it feels like it’s more about the business needs.” Netflix chief talent officer Sergio Ezama said the company hadn’t pulled back on its parental leave policy. A company spokesperson said the policy “has always been to ‘take care of your child and yourself,’” adding that “employees have the freedom, flexibility and responsibility to determine what is best for them and their family.”
Germany's Syrian workers are in no hurry to leave
Many of Germany's million Syrians have no intention of returning home following the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Employers, trade unions and business associations are now stressing how much they are needed in an economy that is contending with widespread labour shortages. "Telling people who are employed that they should go back to Syria is absolutely incomprehensible to me," said Ulrich Temps, the managing director of a painting and varnishing company who has hired 12 Syrians. "We have taken on the task of training and turning them into skilled workers." Data from the Institute for Employment Research think tank indicates that the longer an individual has been in Germany, the more likely it is that they will have a job. There is an employment rate of more than 60% for those in the country for over six years. Around 500,000 Syrians remain unemployed, among them mothers with children.
UK hedge fund trader sentenced for massive Danish tax fraud
Sanjay Shah, a British hedge fund trader, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for gross fraud against the Danish state, marking the longest sentence for financial crime in Denmark's history. The Glostrup court found Shah guilty of orchestrating a so-called “cum-ex” tax fraud scheme that defrauded the treasury of over 9bn DKK ($1.26bn) through fraudulent dividend tax refunds. The court noted that Shah played a “central and controlling role” in the crime, which was meticulously planned and executed. In addition to his prison term, Shah will be expelled from Denmark and banned from business activities. He is appealing the verdict while remaining in custody due to flight risk concerns. The prosecution has also secured the seizure of 7.2bn DKK linked to the fraud.
OTHER
Accessibility crisis in Hong Kong malls
More than half of the facilities at 26 shopping centres in Hong Kong do not comply with the minimum standards outlined in the Design Manual – Barrier Free Access 2008, according to a survey by the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation. The survey assessed accessibility at various points, including entrances and bathrooms, revealing significant shortcomings. Iris Chan Kwan-ning, the organisation's consultant, said that “the situation reflected in the survey was just the tip of the iceberg”, highlighting that older shopping centres exhibited worse conditions. The survey, conducted between August and October, resulted in a score of 6.19 out of 10 from 33 wheelchair users and individuals with mobility issues. Chan urged for improved facilities and stricter enforcement of building regulations, while lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon suggested that the government should provide economic incentives to developers to enhance accessibility, especially as the population ages.
 


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