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APAC Edition
13th January 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Singapore looks to strengthen racial harmony laws
Singapore's Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill aims to enhance the government's ability to address domestic racial issues amid rising global polarisation. Mustafa Izzudin, a senior international affairs analyst, stated: “This new bill provides greater legislative teeth to deal with domestic racial matters.” The legislation allows the Minister for Home Affairs to issue restraining orders against those spreading prejudicial content and mandates designated race-based organisations to disclose foreign affiliations. While the bill seeks to safeguard racial harmony, concerns about potential overreach have been raised by activists.
WORKFORCE
More women join labour force in rural India
Periodic Labour Force Survey analysis reveals there has been a rise in the female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in rural India since 2017-18, with married rural women showing greater participation growth. But the female LFPR in India is notably lower in households with children under 14, particularly affecting women aged 20-35 in urban areas. The study, authored by Shamika Ravi and Mudit Kapoor, highlights that "this major gap between rural and urban areas reflects the pressures of household responsibilities." While female LFPR peaks at ages 30-40, it sharply declines thereafter, contrasting with the consistently high male LFPR. The analysis also points to the impact of government schemes aimed at rural women, such as Mudra loans and the "Drone Didi" initiative, which have contributed to the increase in female LFPR.
Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme in focus
A feature in the South China Morning Post on Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme quotes one worker as saying: “The good thing about this programme is that with the same salary I may earn in Hong Kong, I can have a very good quality of life on the mainland.” Young Hongkongers with at least a bachelor’s degree are given the opportunity under the scheme to work across the border for up to 18 months, earning at least HK$18,000 (US$2,310) a month.
CORPORATE
Muji plans mainland China expansion
Muji owner Ryohin Keikaku is planning to open a number of new stores in top-tier cities on the Chinese mainland. The strategy forms part of its goal to open 60 new outlets every year in Japan and abroad. The firm is also aiming for an average annual growth of over 10% in both revenue and operating profit, with Muji's consolidated net profit in 2024 reaching a record level of ¥41.5bn (HK$2.05bn).
ECONOMY
KPMG and SID release joint Budget 2025 wish list
KPMG in Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) have issued a joint Budget 2025 wish list, with improved transparency on the use of carbon tax revenues for green infrastructure and the introduction of leadership benchmarks among the recommendations they would like to see implemented. KPMG and SID stated: “Our Budget 2025 recommendations are framed against the backdrop of the growing challenges businesses face, driven by critical global trends."
CULTURE
North Korea's luxury tourist city opens soon
North Korea is preparing to launch a luxury beachfront tourist city on the Kalma peninsula, marking a significant step in developing its tourism industry. The resort, featuring around 150 hotels and attractions along a five-kilometre stretch of Myongsasimni beach, was previously a missile testing site. Kim Jong Un stated: "The construction of the Kalma coastal tourist area is the first big step of great significance in putting the national tourist industry on a track of epochal development." Despite delays due to the pandemic, the project is now set to open in June 2025. The resort aims to attract foreign tourists, particularly from Russia and China, as North Korea seeks to boost its economy through tourism, which is not subject to international sanctions.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Training and change in culture 'required to maintain literacy skills'
Singapore's Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing has said the city-state's job-specific SkillsFuture efforts must be combined with a “general culture” of reading in order to maintain literacy proficiency and information processing in adults. This follows a recent study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), which found that adult literacy proficiency in Singapore is below the OECD average. Chan also noted that other important factors which need consideration include the employment rate, and  whether workers command good wages.
AUTOMATION
China leads in automated port development
China has emerged as a global leader in automated port technology, with 52 automated container and dry bulk terminals established, according to the Ministry of Transport. Qingdao Port in Shandong Province exemplifies these advancements, boasting a fully automated container terminal that utilises bridge cranes, automated guided vehicles, and high-speed rail-mounted gantry cranes. Operational since 2015, the terminal has increased efficiency by 6% and throughput by 15%, setting a world record for handling efficiency for the 12th time, achieving 60.9 container units per hour per bridge crane. At Yantai Port, also in Shandong, automation has enhanced bulk cargo operations, improving loading and unloading efficiency by over 20% compared to traditional methods. The Ministry of Transport noted that China has established technical standards for automated container, coal, and ore terminals, with some technologies adopted globally.
INTERNATIONAL
Port strike averted with labour deal days before deadline
Dockworkers on the East and Gulf Coasts o the United States have reached a tentative labour agreement with employers, averting further strikes that could have snarled supply chains and taken a toll on the US economy. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group jointly announced the six-year deal, which still needs to be ratified by the union's membership. “We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement,” the two sides said. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernising East and Gulf coast ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.” The sides did not publicly disclose the details of the agreement, but a source familiar with the negotiations said that a compromise was reached on automated technology. 
OTHER
Actress allegedly abused by talent agency for failing to secure roles
Chinese actress Zhao Lusi, known as Rosy Zhao, has stirred public concern amid allegations of abuse by her agency, Tianjin Galaxy Cool Entertainment Culture Media Co. Ltd. On December 27, Zhao was reportedly hospitalised after falling ill, with images showing her frail and in a wheelchair. Allegations surfaced on December 31, when a close friend claimed Zhao’s boss verbally abused her for failing auditions, criticising her as “not talented” and “fat,” and physically assaulted her while drunk. Zhao reportedly described the incident as “terrifying” but was unable to retaliate due to contractual obligations. On January 1, Zhao addressed the situation via social media, sharing her struggles with depression and past abuse. Li Wei, the former CEO of Zhao’s agency, denied the abuse allegations. The controversy has sparked widespread discussions online, highlighting issues of exploitation and mental health in the entertainment industry.
 


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