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APAC Edition
11th February 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Meta prepares for layoffs
Meta is to commence company-wide layoffs while expediting the hiring of machine learning engineers, the Facebook parent company told employees in internal memos seen by Reuters. The process started Monday in most countries, including the US. According to one of the posts, authored by Meta’s head of people Janelle Gale, employees in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands would be exempt "due to local regulations." Those in more than a dozen other countries throughout Europe, Asia and Africa will receive their notifications between February 11 and February 18, the company said. Meanwhile, a separate memo posted by VP of Engineering for Monetization Peng Fan asked staff to assist with a fast-tracked hiring process for machine learning engineers and other "business critical" engineering roles.
LEGAL
Protests at Samsung Chennai plant intensify
About 500 workers at Samsung's plant in Sriperumbudur, India, are currently engaged in a sit-in protest against the suspension of three employees. The facility, which makes refrigerators, televisions, and washing machines and accounts for a fifth of Samsung's $12bn in sales in India in 2022–2023, has seen two significant labour disputes in less than six months. A. Soundararajan, leader of the Samsung India Workers' Union, announced: "Discussions with the government are already under way." Samsung has deployed contract workers to maintain operations, saying that "most of our workers remain dedicated in ensuring that normal business operations continue." However, the union claims there has been some disruption, particularly in the refrigerator-making unit. Samsung has indicated that the suspended workers will face disciplinary action following an enquiry. 
Hong Kong alliance demands change at Mcdonald's
Hong Kong labour unions and a green group have formed the Alliance for Our McDonald's to urge the fast food chain to respond to public appeals following the dismissal of artist activist Luke Ching as a part-time janitor. The coalition, which includes labour unions and environmental groups, aims to advocate for workers' rights and improve conditions at the chain. Ching's firing followed his open letter to McDonald's CEO, urging a return to mealtime pay for employees. The alliance plans to organise public talks and other activities to raise awareness and push for better labour welfare, including protective gear for workers and improved salary and healthcare benefits.
Racism allegations shake up South Australia's DCP
Adam Reilly, the former deputy leader of South Australia's Department for Child Protection (DCP), has accused the agency of racism, claiming it told him it "owned" him during his contract. In an interview with ABC News, Reilly, who served for less than a year, stated he "witnessed and experienced instances of racism" and was "taken aback" by the treatment he received in a senior role. Reilly's concerns echo findings from the Holding on to Our Future report, which described the system as "institutionally racist" and warned of a "real risk" of repeating the Stolen Generations.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Accenture scraps diversity goals
Accenture has decided to abandon its global diversity and inclusion goals. Chief executive Julie Sweet has indicated that the consultancy firm will begin "sunsetting" the diversity objectives alongside career development programmes for specific demographic groups. The decision follows an "evaluation of our internal policies and practices and the evolving landscape in the United States." Sweet noted that the changes mean the diversity targets will no longer be used to assess staff performance, and the company will cease submitting data to external diversity benchmarking surveys.
HIRING
Tech firms shift hiring abroad
Software companies are increasingly looking to hire internationally to maintain profitability while investing in artificial intelligence. Salesforce's chief operating officer, Brian Millham, questioned the necessity of hiring solely in San Francisco, suggesting cheaper locations like India and Mexico City for "incredible labour." As of January 2024, U.S.-based employees at Salesforce had decreased to 51% from 58% over four years. Similarly, Workday has said it plans to eliminate around 1,750 jobs and focus on expanding margins through international hiring. Chief executive Carl Eschenbach observed that hiring in countries like Costa Rica would aid this effort. 
New Zealand loosens ‘golden visa’ rules to attract investors
New Zealand wants to attract more investors by loosening so-called "golden visa" rules, dropping an English-language requirement and cutting the number of days that applicants need to spend in the country.
WORKFORCE
Job fears grip Singaporeans ahead of elections
Job security has become a pressing issue for many Singaporeans, particularly ahead of Budget 2025. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong acknowledged that while unemployment rates are low, concerns about job security are prevalent, driven by global disruptions and technological changes. A 2023 report by the Institute of Policy Studies revealed that 35% of workers fear their jobs may not exist in the future. Mid-career workers, especially those aged 35 to 54, report heightened anxiety about job loss, with 80% expressing concerns.
Pension scheme for Indian gig workers
India's Labour Ministry is set to seek the Union Cabinet's approval for a pension scheme aimed at one crore gig workers engaged with online platforms. The initiative follows Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's recent Budget announcement regarding social security for these workers. The scheme will involve social security contributions deducted from their income per transaction, similar to GST. Workers will have options for pension withdrawals upon retirement, either as interest or in instalments.
AirTrunk to reward employees AUD$22m as a holiday bonus
AirTrunk, an Australian data centre firm, will give away a holiday bonus of AUD$22m ($14m) to its 330 employees, celebrating its acquisition by US private equity giant Blackstone, which offered a $16bn valuation for the company.
TECHNOLOGY
Tech giants double down on AI investment
Tech giants plan to significantly increase their investments in artificial intelligence (AI) this year, following record outlays in 2024. Combined capital expenditures for Microsoft, Google, and Meta are projected to reach at least $215bn, marking a 45% annual increase. Amazon did not provide a full-year estimate but plans to boost its capital spending to over $100bn, primarily focusing on AI development. “We think virtually every application that we know of today is going to be reinvented with AI inside of it,” said Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy. Google CEO Sundar Pichai observed: “I think part of the reason we are so excited about the AI opportunity is we know we can drive extraordinary use cases because the cost of actually using it is going to keep coming down.”
 


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