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APAC Edition
31st January 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Most Indian workers plan to prioritise family In 2025
Four-fifths (78%) of employees in India say they aim to prioritise family time over career advancement in 2025, according to a report by job site Indeed, which looks at workers' aspirations for the year ahead in key Asia Pacific markets including India, Singapore, Australia, and Japan. Employees want less stress and a greater focus on mental well-being while enjoying well-paid jobs which offer flexibility for family and personal interests, the report found. “We’re definitely seeing a shift in what matters to Indian workers," observed Rachael Townsley, marketing director (Australia, India and Singapore) at Indeed. "More and more, people are telling us they want to find a better balance between work and home life. While earning more is important, the dream career for most isn’t about moving up the ladder - it’s about feeling secure, being paid fairly, and having benefits that actually make a difference. It’s a reminder that creating workplaces where people feel supported in both their work and personal lives isn’t just nice to have - it’s essential for helping people thrive," Townsley added.
TECHNOLOGY
Workplace tech divides the generations in Australia
A new report from monday.com has highlighted significant generational divides in workplace attitudes and technology adoption. The survey of 3,700 employees across multiple countries, revealed that only 13% of Gen Z plan to stay with their current employer for a decade, compared to 36% of Gen X. Additionally, 49% of millennials are open to artificial intelligence (AI), while Gen Z shows slower adoption rates, with 42% expressing concerns that AI may eliminate enjoyable job aspects. Dean Swan, vice president of monday.com, commented: “AI is undeniably transforming the way we work in Australia, and as our report highlights, there's a generational gap that we need to address.” The report also indicates that 81% of Australian respondents are motivated by company success, trailing behind Brazil's 93%. Only the UK is lower at 79%. 
WORKFORCE
Bangladesh train services back on track
Train services in Bangladesh resumed on Wednesday following the end of an indefinite strike by railway workers that had halted the country's rail network. The strike, which began on Tuesday, disrupted around 400 passenger trains and over 30 freight trains, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Union leader Mujibur Rahman said: “We have been assured by the government that the benefits we received earlier will remain in place.” The workers were protesting about a government decision that removed pension benefits for extra hours worked, raising concerns about their financial security post-retirement.
Workers struggle as Chinese investments transform Thailand's logistics industry
Benar News looks at how delivery workers in Thailand are coming under immense pressure amid surging demand in the country's logistics industry, which has been driven by substantial foreign investment, particularly from China. Workers claim that as Chinese firms sell more wares to Thailand, they are suffering from deteriorating conditions. One delivery driver in Chiang Mai said: “Delivery drivers are being squeezed to the limit. The pressure to deliver more packages faster is constant, but our pay and benefits keep shrinking.” Labour advocacy groups have highlighted exploitative practices. Back in November, a major logistics firm faced allegations of underpaying workers after switching to a GPS-based distance calculation method.
HIRING
Kiwis welcome remote workers with open arms
New Zealand has relaxed its visa requirements for remote workers, allowing foreigners to work for overseas employers while on a visitor visa for up to nine months. The change comes as the country seeks to recover from a recession and attract skilled tech workers, particularly from the United States and East Asia. The government anticipates that these digital nomads will contribute to local economies through increased spending. However, there are caveats, including potential tax implications for those staying longer than 90 days.
REMOTE & HYBRID WORKING
Third of Australians support five-day office return
A survey of 1,870 Australians by news.com has found 35% of respondents support working in the office five days a week. However, this is only slightly higher than the 31% of people who believe one to two days of remote work is ideal. The report also revealed that 45% of the respondents who believe full-time work is ideal are retirees. Only 29% of Millennials and 23% of Gen Z employees prefer the traditional five-day onsite work. Recruitment firm Robert Half revealed that as of June 2024, 39% of employees are already mandated to attend the office five days a week. Separately, a report from the World Economic Forum has found that working from home looks like it is here to stay. Its Future of Jobs Report for 2025 found that more than one third of Australians are working from home on a regular basis, and employers anticipate offering more remote options in the next five years to compensate for labour shortages.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Safety fears halt Snowy 2.0 tunnelling
Work on the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project has been halted due to escalating safety concerns regarding "last resort" refuge chambers designed to protect workers during emergencies. Unions have raised alarms about inadequate training and maintenance of these chambers, which are crucial in the event of a serious incident underground. The Australian Workers Union AWU has expressed ongoing concerns that safety is being compromised for production speed, urging the federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen and the NSW Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis to engage in discussions about these critical issues.
CORPORATE
Sony announces new CEO in leadership overhaul
Sony Group president Hiroki Totoki will add the chief executive role from April 1st, while incumbent chair and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida will remain as chairman, the entertainment and technology conglomerate said on Wednesday. The change at the top of the company is only the eighth in its 78-year history. Mr Totoki assumed the president's post in 2023 and has also served as finance chief of the company. He already helms Sony's earnings briefings and took the role of chairman of the key gaming unit behind the PlayStation 5 console as it took steps to improve margins. Lin Tao will become the first woman to serve as chief financial officer, after serving as an executive at the games business, with Hideaki Nishino to become CEO of that unit after serving as head of the technology side of the business.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
NSW mental health services face collapse
Public hospitals in New South Wales are facing a significant crisis as over half of the state's specialist psychiatrists are expected to resign by February 1. The mass exit, driven by demands for better working conditions and pay, has led to the closure of mental health wards and beds across the region. Graeme Loy, chief executive of Western Sydney Local Health District, confirmed that 25 mental health beds at Westmead Hospital would be unavailable for at least 12 weeks. Robyn Clay-Williams, a professor at Macquarie University, warned that the situation could exacerbate existing issues in emergency care, where patients with mental health conditions already face long wait times.
ECONOMY
Gujarat plans new coastal economic zones
Gujarat is set to develop new Coastal Economic Zones (CEZs) to enhance port-led economic development. The state government aims to tap into the vast potential outside major ports in Kutch, Saurashtra, and South Gujarat, where minimal development currently exists. Plans for CEZs will include plug-and-play facilities to promote port-based industrialisation. The Gujarat Maritime Board is also revising planning to incentivise new industries in these zones, which are designed to reduce logistics costs and facilitate coastal trade under the Sagarmala project.
INTERNATIONAL
Akzo Nobel lifts job cutting target
Akzo Nobel has announced plans to cut approximately 2,200 jobs and close at least five sites by 2025 as part of its restructuring strategy. The paint and coatings company, which employed around 34,600 people at the end of December, aims to achieve over €150m in annualised gross savings by the end of this year, according to chief executive Greg Poux-Guillaume. The job cuts will primarily affect functional roles in finance and HR, with final decisions expected by mid-year. The Dulux paint maker last year announced plant closures in Ireland, the Netherlands and Zambia, and in January, it said it would lay off up to 211 people in France. "We don't want to create the impression that restructuring is a recurring item for Akzo Nobel," Poux-Guillaume said. "Whatever the number ends up being . . .  it will be something that we will finalise this year and then we'll move on."
 


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