The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
APAC Edition
15th January 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
China will need more than 31m 'smart' manufacturing workers by 2035
According to a report by Renmin University of China, demand for workers in China's intelligent manufacturing sector is expected to exceed 31m by 2035. The report, the first of its kind, highlights the emergence of a new group of skilled personnel who are termed purple-collar workers, and who are seen as essential for the transformation of the manufacturing sector. Individuals who hold roles such as team leaders, technicians, and quality inspectors in smart manufacturing enterprises are becoming a driving force for manufacturing sector transformation, according to the report. Zhao Zhong, head of the School of Labor and Human Resources, said that "the growth of the purple-collar talent pool will support industrial transformation and upgrading."
LEGAL
Workplace Fairness Bill broadly welcomed by Singapore HR groups
The Workplace Fairness Bill is being welcomed by human resources groups in Singapore, even as they call for more action to protect workers’ rights. Adrian Choo, chief executive of artificial intelligence-powered career diagnostic tool developer Career Agility, said: “Companies should also not be allowed to ask these (discriminatory) questions during job interviews, and such information should not be included in companies’ job application forms. The penalties should extend to these (areas) as well.” He praised the protection the bill will provide regarding marital status and mental health issues.
REMOTE & HYBRID WORKING
Toyota issues new guidance on office attendance
Toyota has announced that salaried workers in North America must be in the office from Monday to Thursday. The new guidance will apply from September, according to an internal memo. The Japan Times notes that "Toyota is one of many large employers in the U.S. ordering workers to their desks in recent months, ending policies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. AT&T and Sweetgreen told non-frontline staff earlier this month to get back to corporate locations more often, and Amazon informed corporate employees in a September decree that a shift to five days in the office in 2025 would strengthen collaboration, connections and its overall culture." Security firm Kastle Systems has reported that despite such mandates, offices in major cities in North America were only around 50% full in 2024 compared with levels seen prior to 2020.
WORKFORCE
Chinese civil service jobs age cap raised
The recruitment age cap for civil service jobs in China has risen to 40 from 35, amid growing insecurity among workers in the country due to age discrimination. Dr Jane Du, a research associate at the Soas China Institute in London, remarked: “If the so-called curse of 35 persists amid widespread redundancies across industries (owing) to the economic slowdown and lingering effects of COVID-19, it may be increasingly difficult for experienced or well-educated workers to integrate back into the labour market if they were out of a job for a while." This comes as China faces a possible labour shortage as a result of its shrinking population. Meanwhile a record 12.2m graduates will enter the workforce in 2025, putting even more pressure on older workers.
CORPORATE
Indian IT outsourcers look to Trump bump to revive fortunes
India’s IT outsourcing sector is hoping for a revival of its fortunes under a second Donald Trump presidency, expecting incentives for its customers in the US to increase spending.
SUSTAINABILITY
Barclays' sustainability chief steps down
Laura Barlow, Barclays' group head of sustainability, has retired to pursue other opportunities while remaining a senior advisor. Daniel Hanna, previously head of sustainable finance, has taken on an expanded role overseeing sustainable and transition finance. Barlow's leadership was pivotal in aligning Barclays with global climate goals, including a pledge to facilitate $1tn of sustainable finance by 2030. Despite these efforts, Barclays remains one of the top financiers of the fossil fuel industry, which has drawn criticism from climate campaigners and some US politicians. The change at Barclays follows the recent departure of HSBC's sustainability chief amid growing scrutiny of banks' climate commitments.
TAX
Thailand sets up panel to study Negative Income Tax system
Thailand's Finance Ministry has established a Tax Reform Committee to explore the implementation of a Negative Income Tax (NIT) system. The committee will focus on restructuring the tax base and revising over 20 state welfare programs. A significant part of the reform involves consolidating citizen data into a single database to enhance welfare support for individuals with incomes below the threshold. Under the proposed NIT, all citizens must file income tax returns, with those earning below the threshold receiving government subsidies. The reform will be phased, starting with a review of welfare programs like the State Welfare Card. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat emphasised the need to clarify the definition of "personal wealth" to prevent non-needy individuals from receiving benefits. The revised eligibility criteria will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval before the registration process begins in late March 2025.
INTERNATIONAL
McDonald's faces lawsuit over scholarships
An anti-affirmative action group has filed a lawsuit against McDonald's regarding its HACER scholarship program, which supports Hispanic and Latino students. The American Alliance for Equal Rights, led by Edward Blum, claims the program unlawfully discriminates against students of other races. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Tennessee, argues that the program violates federal law by excluding non-Hispanic or Latino applicants. McDonald's said it is reviewing the complaint and noted that it is evolving its inclusion practices in light of recent legal changes. Blum criticised McDonald's for not addressing the scholarship's potential civil rights violations, saying: “It is astonishing that . . . the Hispanic-only HACER scholarship was not flagged for likely being a violation of our nation's civil rights laws.” The HACER scholarship is one of the oldest and biggest corporate aid awards for high-school seniors, and thousands of students across the country apply each year. Since 1985, McDonald’s says, it has awarded more than $33m in scholarship funds to over 17,000 Hispanic and Latino students. The case reflects a broader trend of companies reassessing their diversity initiatives following recent legal rulings.
AkzoNobel to lay off up to 16% of French workforce
Dulux paint maker AkzoNobel is to lay off up to 211 staff in France, or about 16% of the local workforce, under a reorganisation plan. The Dutch paint and coatings maker, which currently employs 1,300 people in France, said the reorganisation would start from May 2025 and last until the end of 2026. The plan also includes the creation of 29 new roles in France, the company said. AkzoNobel has previously announced plant closures in Ireland, the Netherlands and Zambia, and also plans to shed about 2,000 jobs globally by the end of 2025.
Gazprom braces for layoffs
Russian gas giant Gazprom is weighing cutting about 40% of its headquarters staff, or more than 1,500 jobs, as the company contends with the loss of most of its European sales. Gazprom employs 498,000 people. When contacted by Reuters, a company spokesperson confirmed the report by state news agency TASS, which cited a media outlet called 47news.
OTHER
Japan's snack makers try to keep long-selling products 'fresh'
Japanese snack manufacturers are trying to keep things fresh for loyal fans of their long-selling products, including through related merchandise and events. In March, Meiji released 3,500 units of wireless earbuds that resemble its iconic Kinoko no Yama chocolate snack, which has been around since 1975. Despite the not-so-cheap price tag of ¥29,800, the limited-edition product sold out within about 10 minutes of its release. Elsewhere, Calbee, which launched JagaRico potato sticks in 1995 and Kappa Ebisen shrimp snack in 1964, began holding fan meetings across Japan in June last summer. The company also offers gifts through a lottery to people who mention fan events on X. Despite the risk that drastic revamps of such products will disappoint fans, an official at a major maker said: “We still need to keep providing topics".
 


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