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APAC Edition
20th March 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Qantas flight attendants awarded pay rise
More than 750 domestic flight attendants working for Qantas via labour hire operators will receive a significant pay increase following an agreement with the Flight Attendants' Association of Australia. This change aligns their salaries with those of directly employed colleagues, resulting in base pay rises of up to A$20,000 a year, equating to a 42% increase, effective from April. Union secretary Teri O'Toole remarked: "Some of these crew will no longer need three jobs to make ends meet." This agreement is seen as a triumph for the federal Labor government's "same job, same pay" laws, which address wage disparities between labour hire workers and direct employees. Employment and Workplace Minister Murray Watt said: "They do the same job and they deserve the same pay." Additionally, over 2,400 international flight attendants will also transition to direct employment with Qantas.
HIRING
Age discrimination sparks job market outrage in China
Chinese lawmakers are calling for action against age discrimination in the job market. NPC deputy Zheng Gongcheng highlighted that many institutions impose a hiring age limit of 35 for PhD graduates, which he argues violates fair employment principles. This bias is exacerbated by a competitive job market, where companies favour younger, lower-paid employees, especially in the tech sector. Zheng said: “Employment age discrimination is becoming more visible and has sparked growing discontent.” Proposals to raise civil service age limits and amend labour laws to prohibit age discrimination have been made, but the current civil service exam still restricts applicants to those aged 18 to 35. The situation poses challenges to China's goal of raising retirement ages while addressing public concerns about employment opportunities for older workers.
India's visa woes open door for China
India is facing pressure from Bangladesh to resume normal medical visa issuance, which has dropped from 5,000-7,000 daily to fewer than 1,000. The decline is attributed to staffing shortages and deteriorating relations following the rise of Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. As a result, China is seizing the opportunity to expand its influence, with Chinese companies investing over $230m in Bangladesh since the new government took office. "When there is a vacuum, others will come and fill the space," a Bangladeshi source observed. The growing ties between Bangladesh and China, including potential medical tourism, highlight a strategic shift in South Asia, with India's traditional dominance increasingly under challenge.
WORKFORCE
Thailand's employment outlook negative
Thailand's employment landscape is facing significant challenges, with a shrinking workforce highlighted by a decline in insured workers under Section 33 of the Social Security Act, which covers over 10m individuals. Sangchai Theerakulvanich, president of the Federation of Thai SMEs, noted that business closures and negative financial reports indicate a struggling economy. He said "Thailand's economy was in a poor condition even before the pandemic," also highlighting the need for educational reforms to prepare workers for future industries reliant on AI and digital technology.
WORKPLACE
Migrant workers boost shipbuilding safety
The shipbuilding industry in South Korea is increasingly reliant on migrant workers, prompting local shipyards to enhance their Korean language training initiatives. Following a surge in demand, around 500 foreign nationals at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) recently participated in the HD Test of Korean for Practical Industrial Communication (TOPIC). This test, developed in collaboration with the University of Ulsan, assesses language proficiency essential for shipbuilding. An HHI official said: "With the HD TOPIC, we will improve foreign workers' communication skills and create a safer and more efficient working environment." In addition to regular testing, shipbuilders are employing interpreters and providing multilingual safety warnings. The Ulsan Metropolitan Government is also supporting training centres in migrant workers' home countries, including a new centre in Uzbekistan.
TECHNOLOGY
Overreliance on AI tools at work risks harming mental health
Writing for the FT, Thomas Roulet, a professor at Cambridge Judge Business School, says AI promises productivity gains but too much focus on machines could erode socialisation and friendship.
ECONOMY
China pushes banks to boost spending
China has mandated banks and financial institutions to promote consumer financing and credit card usage to stimulate spending. The directive from the National Financial Regulatory Commission aims to bolster consumer confidence amid economic uncertainties. Despite recent growth of about 5% in the economy, concerns over job security and rising costs have led many consumers to save rather than spend. The government is also investing tens of billions of dollars in trade-in programmes for energy-efficient products to address weak demand. 
INTERNATIONAL
Major law firms warned about their DEI policies
Andrea Lucas, the acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the US agency that enforces laws banning workplace discrimination, has warned 20 major law firms, including including Perkins Coie, Hogan Lovells, Ropes & Gray, and WilmerHale, that their employment policies meant to boost diversity, equity and inclusion may be illegal. Lucas said she was concerned that the firms' policies "may entail unlawful disparate treatment in terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, or unlawful limiting, segregating, and classifying" based on race, gender, and other protected characteristics. She has requested the name, gender and race of every lawyer who has worked at or applied for a job at the firms since 2019, and whether each one participated in diversity programs or "affinity groups." Some of the information should be in a "searchable Excel spreadsheet," Lucas said.
Tragic tales of Gulf workers
Recent reports reveal alarming conditions for Kenyan and Ugandan women working in Saudi Arabia, with at least 274 Kenyan workers dying in the past five years, many under suspicious circumstances. A report in the New York Times highlighted that these women often return home with harrowing stories of "unpaid wages, detention, beatings, starvation and sexual assault." Autopsies of deceased workers frequently show signs of trauma, yet Saudi authorities attribute these deaths to natural causes. Eunice Achieng, a Kenyan housekeeper, was found dead in a water tank after reporting threats to her life. Similarly, Aisha Meeme, a Ugandan worker, died with severe injuries, but her death was also classified as natural. While other nations have secured worker protections in Saudi Arabia, Kenya and Uganda have not, prompting calls for urgent reforms. A spokesperson for Kenya's presidency stated that measures are being taken to protect workers and eliminate unlicensed recruitment agencies.
Audi to cut 7,500 jobs in Germany
Volkswagen-owned Audi plans to reduce its workforce in Germany by up to 7,500 positions by 2029, representing approximately 14% of its German staff. The cuts will not impact factory workers. Chief executive Gernot Döllner said: “Audi must become faster, more agile and more efficient.” The decision is part of a broader strategy by Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume, who is implementing spending cuts across the group to improve competitiveness. Last year, Audi's deliveries fell by 12%, particularly in challenging markets like China. Audi confirmed that the job reductions will occur without any firings, and the company plans to invest around €8bn  in its German operations during this period.
UK workers consider quitting due to poor mental health
The UK's economic inactivity problem is being exacerbated by employees contemplating leaving their jobs due to mental health concerns. A survey by PwC and Focaldata reveals that 10% of workers are "considering leaving work for an extended period," with 25% of those aged 16-24 contemplating quitting. The inactivity rate has risen since the pandemic, peaking at 22.2% last summer, and currently stands at 21.5%, affecting 9.3m people. The Institute for Fiscal Studies reports that over half of the increase in disability benefit claims is linked to mental health issues. Marco Amitrano, senior partner at PwC UK, said: "Much of the current conversation focuses on how to get people outside the workforce back in; equally important is stemming the flow leaving the workforce in the first place."
 


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