The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
APAC Edition
5th March 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Gender pay gap persists in Australia
The gender pay gap in Australia has narrowed slightly but women are still paid nearly a fifth less than men, according to the government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency survey, which also showed that 72.2% of employers had a gap favouring men while 21.3% had a gap within the target range of +/-5%. The remainder had a gap that favoured women. The finance, mining and construction industries showing the biggest gender pay gap differences. The median pay gap for the year to March 2024 was 18.6% in favour of men, compared with 19% in the previous year. Some 56% of companies reduced their pay gaps. "Where an employer's gender pay gap is beyond the target range of +/-5%, it indicates one gender is more likely to be over-represented in higher paying roles compared to the other," explained Mary Wooldridge, the government agency's chief executive.
LEGAL
Workplace harassment crisis persists in Hong Kong
A recent survey revealed that one-third of women in Hong Kong have experienced sexual harassment in the past three years. Lawmaker Elizabeth Quat Pei-fan said: “We've been discussing this issue of workplace sexual harassment for more than 20 years already,” as she highlighted the lack of progress on the issue. The survey, conducted by Quat's party and other organisations, found that 60.6% of women who faced harassment did not report it, often due to fear of repercussions or acceptance of the behaviour as normal. Alarmingly, 35% of employers surveyed did not fully understand what constitutes sexual harassment, and 90% had not received relevant training. Quat urged companies to take the issue seriously, emphasising the need for training and clear complaint channels. Ferrick Chu Chung-man from the Equal Opportunities Commission noted that many local firms lack clear policies and training on handling sexual harassment complaints.
HIRING
Alibaba AI hiring spree begins
Alibaba Group Holding has initiated its spring hiring season, offering 3,000 internships for fresh graduates, with a significant focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The recruitment targets students graduating between November 2025 and October 2026, with nearly half of the roles, particularly in cloud computing, centred on AI. Jane Jiang Fang, chief people officer, stated: “As a technology company committed to exploration and innovation, Alibaba is ramping up efforts to attract and cultivate AI talent.” The company plans to invest at least 380bn yuan (US$52.2bn) into AI and cloud computing infrastructure over the next three years, marking a significant commitment to AI development. Alibaba has also launched the AI Clouder Programme to nurture top-tier AI talent.
WORKFORCE
Malaysia's workforce faces AI crisis
Malaysia's workforce is ill-prepared for the digital economy, according to career coach Ameirul Azraie Mustadza, who claims that many young job seekers are “completely clueless” about job hunting basics. Hadi Amzi in the South China Morning Post notes that analysts have warned that up to 50% of jobs may be lost to artificial intelligence by 2040, with the automation era favouring those who can quickly acquire new skills. Amzi adds that the rise of gig work reflects a shift in employment, as many graduates earn below the minimum wage, leading to a reliance on platforms like Grab and Foodpanda. He contends that despite Malaysia's potential for a tech-driven economy, the education system has failed to produce enough skilled workers, resulting in a significant skills gap.
Outsourced workers demand unpaid wages
A group of outsourced workers at Jhansi medical college in Uttar Pradesh have been protesting since Friday over unpaid wages that have accumulated over several months. Led by former Union minister Pradeep Jain Aditya, the delegation attempted to meet Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya but was intercepted by the administration. Jain stated: "They are not beggars... they are asking for their wages, which is long pending." The principal of the medical college, Dr Mayank Singh, mentioned that the outsourcing company had transferred one month's salary out of two months owed and promised to pay the remaining balance within ten days.
RISK
China AI leaders urged to avoid US travel
Chinese authorities are advising leading artificial intelligence (AI) entrepreneurs and researchers to refrain from traveling to the US. The directive stems from fears that these experts might reveal sensitive information about China's AI advancements or be detained abroad as leverage in US-China diplomatic tensions, reminiscent of past incidents like a Huawei executive's detention in Canada during President Donald Trump's first term.
RETENTION
Singaporean workers considering moving jobs
Aon's 2025 Human Capital Employee Sentiment Study has revealed that 67% of Singaporean employees are considering changing jobs within the next year, surpassing the global average of 60%. Key factors include 21% feeling undervalued in their current roles and less than half perceiving their compensation as fair, with over a third doubting their employers' commitment to pay equity. The most valued employee benefits are medical coverage, paid time off, work-life balance programs, flexible benefits, and career development opportunities. Additionally, 29% of employees lack confidence in their employers' investment in future skills training, and 35% are motivated to develop artificial intelligence-related skills to remain competitive.
STRATEGY
Ola Electric to cut 1,000 jobs
Ola Electric has announced plans to lay off over 1,000 employees to tackle significant financial losses, marking its second round of layoffs in less than five months. This follows a previous reduction of around 500 employees in November 2024. The job cuts will affect various departments, including procurement and customer relations, and will also impact contract workers. The Indian company reported a net loss of Rs 564 crore for the December quarter, a 50% increase from the previous year, with revenue declining by 19.4% to Rs 1,045 crore. An Ola spokesperson stated, "We have restructured and automated our front-end operations, delivering improved margins, reduced cost, and enhanced customer experience while eliminating redundant roles for better productivity." Despite selling over 25,000 units in February, Ola Electric has faced criticism and a stock decline of over 60% since its IPO in August 2024.
Microchip cuts 2,000 jobs amid sales slump
Microchip Technology has announced plans to lay off 2,000 workers globally in response to a significant decline in sales, which plummeted 45% to $3.4bn over the first nine months of its fiscal year. Chief executive Steve Sanghi said: “Our manufacturing footprint is too large for the size of our business,” as he highlighted the need for the cuts. The layoffs will save the company between $80m and $90m annually and will affect factories in Oregon, Colorado, and the Philippines. The decision follows the closure of a factory in Arizona, which will now happen four months earlier than planned. Microchip's stock has dropped about 40% since last spring, reflecting the ongoing challenges in the market.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Can businesses ever run a true meritocracy?
Corporate leaders are ditching diversity for performance-based promotion - but the pursuit of a meritocracy requires transparency and effort from employers, and can risk returning to old biases, the FT reports.
CORPORATE
Seven & i set for leadership shake-up
Seven & i Holdings is poised to appoint Stephen Dacus as its first foreign president and chief executive, replacing Ryuichi Isaka. Sources close to the matter have told the FT that the lead independent director is likely to assume the role within a matter of weeks. The news came as the Japanese company issued a denial that it has rebuffed a $47bn takeover approach by Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard due to US antitrust concerns. In a statement, a Seven & i spokesperson said it "remains committed to exploring all opportunities to unlock value for shareholders and continues to assess a full range of strategic alternatives, including the proposal" from Couche-Tard.
ECONOMY
Trump tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China now in effect
The US has announced that 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico are now in effect, as is a 10-point increase to 20% on imports from China, raising concerns about a potential trade war. Beijing responded by slapping additional tariffs of 10%-15% on a variety of US agricultural imports, including chicken, pork, soy and beef, starting next week, China's finance ministry announced. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, said Ottawa would impose immediate 25% tariffs on more than $20bn-worth of US imports. Tariffs on an additional $86bn worth of products will take effect in 21 days. Economists, including Eswar Prasad from Cornell University, have cautioned that these tariffs could disrupt supply chains and lead to significant inflationary impacts, with families potentially facing price increases exceeding $1,000.
INTERNATIONAL
UK's lowest earners to be eligible for sick pay from day one
Britain's 1.3m lowest-paid workers will soon be eligible for statutory sick pay (SSP) from their employers, receiving 80% of their usual earnings from day one of sickness. The change is part of the Employment Rights Bill and is expected to cost businesses up to £5bn ($6bn) annually. Currently, to qualify for statutory sick pay, an individual must have been ill for more than three days in a row and earn an average of at least £123 a week. Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said: "For too long, sick workers have had to decide between staying at home and losing a day's pay." While the reforms aim to support low earners, concerns have been raised by business groups regarding the potential impact on absenteeism and employment costs. Jane Gratton, deputy director of public policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said businesses were concerned the day-one entitlement "could lead to an increase in staff absenteeism that will be difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to accommodate."
PwC seeks to repair Saudi ties
PwC is currently navigating a challenging situation with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has suspended activities with the consulting firm until February 2026. According to sources, this decision is related to a "client" matter rather than a regulatory issue. PwC has a significant presence in Saudi Arabia, with over 2,600 employees dedicated to projects in the Kingdom, generating £1.97bn in revenue in the last financial year. Reuters notes that the Kingdom's reliance on foreign consultants is crucial for executing Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 plan, especially as it seeks to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels. As oil prices decline, managing costs has become essential for Saudi Arabia's mega projects, including the ambitious city of Neom.
 


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