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APAC Edition
26th March 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Mintz employees finally released from detention
China has released all Mintz employees who were detained for two years following a raid on the US-based due diligence firm's Beijing office in March 2023. The raid marked the start of a broader crackdown on consultancy firms. Foreign business lobbies said at the time that the crackdown damaged investor confidence in the world's second-largest economy. Mintz had been involved in corporate due diligence related to forced labour in supply chains linked to Xinjiang. A Mintz Group spokesperson said: "We are grateful to the Chinese authorities that our former colleagues can now be home with their families." The firm operates 12 offices globally and employs over 280 investigators.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Calls for empowering working women
Domestic and international organisations in China are advocating for enhanced protections for women's workplace rights, emphasising gender equality, improved social care, and skills training. At a recent meeting in Beijing, Guo Ye, director of the Women's Studies Institute of China, highlighted the significant progress made since the Beijing Declaration in 1995. However, she noted the need for closer collaboration among various sectors to address women's evolving needs. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2023, women comprised 43.3% of the workforce, with 73.5% of companies adhering to regulations protecting female workers. Lee Chang-Hee from the International Labor Organization stressed the ongoing barriers women face, urging improvements in social care and the elimination of workplace violence. Smriti Aryal, UN Women China's representative, said: "Women's right to work and rights at work are fundamental pillars for women's overall wellbeing."
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
AI skills deemed vital for Thai workers and students
Thai workers and students are encouraged to acquire skills in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and cybersecurity to seize emerging job opportunities. David Li, chief executive of Huawei Technologies (Thailand), said: "While AI automates repetitive tasks, it also creates new opportunities for high-value roles that require advanced creativity, critical thinking and technical expertise." A survey has revealed a projected shortage of 500,000 digital professionals in Thailand by 2030. Executives from Microsoft and Facebook have emphasised the importance of critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and lifelong learning to enhance employability. The World Economic Forum's "Future of Jobs Report 2025" indicates a growing demand for talent with AI and data skills. As companies shift towards a performance-driven culture, the focus is on talent optimisation rather than layoffs, with a continued need for skilled tech professionals in various sectors.
WORKPLACE
Side hustles, Zoom waves and the Great Casualisation: how Covid shaped new ways to work
Five years after lockdown, the FT looks at the lasting effects and the forgotten workplace pandemic trends, from how we communicate and manage, to our attitudes to work and health.
STRATEGY
Heineken launches global GenAI lab
Heineken has launched its first global generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) lab in Singapore, aiming to enhance growth, productivity, and customer engagement. Kenneth Choo, Heineken's Asia-Pacific managing director, said: “By harnessing Singapore's exceptional AI ecosystem, skilled talent and supportive government policies, we are excited to drive the development of innovative solutions that will transform the beverage industry for years to come.” The lab will focus on developing scalable GenAI solutions, including automated marketing content creation and financial reporting. Laurence Liew, AI Innovation director at AI Singapore, highlighted the collaboration's potential, saying: “By combining Heineken's industry expertise with our AI capabilities and talent, we are creating a powerful model for how businesses and research institutions can collaborate to create solutions with real-world impact.” Supported by the Economic Development Board, the lab aims to build a core team by the end of 2025.
LEGAL
Petition for celebrity privacy laws gains traction
Following the death of K-drama star Kim Sae-ron, a petition in South Korea advocating for stricter laws against YouTubers invading celebrity privacy has gained significant support, amassing over 57,000 signatures. The petition, initiated on February 24, calls for legislative measures to prevent harassment and bullying of public figures for profit. Jeong, the petition's creator, said: “I ask the Assembly to come up with measures to prevent their activities of bullying celebrities for monetary gains.” Kim, who rose to fame in the 2010 film The Man from Nowhere, was found dead on February 16, with her family blaming cyberbullying for her tragic end. They have since filed a police complaint against Lee Jin-ho, the operator of a YouTube channel that allegedly spread harmful rumours about her.
ECONOMY
Australians spent record A$69bn on online shopping last year
Australians spent a record A$69bn on online shopping last year, an increase of 12% on the year before, according to Australia Post’s newest e-commerce report. Millennials are doing the most online shopping, with A$24.9bn, followed by Gen X at A$19.2bn. Gen Z, which has less disposable income, spent A$11.9bn last year, while Baby Boomers spent A$10.1bn. The average online shopping order delivered by Australia Post has fallen to A$95, a 10-year low. 
INTERNATIONAL
UK workers in the office two days a week
Workers in the UK are spending two days a week on average in the office, according to a survey of 12,000 employees in 44 countries by property firm JLL. While staff are spending half as many days in the office than they were before the pandemic, the poll shows that UK workers only want to go into the office for an average of 1.5 days per week. Sue Asprey Price, JLL’s European head of work dynamics, said that while recent years have seen a "reasonable equilibrium in the workplace - a balance between employer expectations and employee flexibility," stricter return-to-office policies "means this balance is now being re-examined by many employers." Kuwait has led the way on the post-pandemic return to the office, with staff working in offices for 4.2 days a week. 
Bribery investigation in European Parliament sees five charged
Five individuals have been charged by Belgian prosecutors in a bribery probe at the European Parliament, allegedly involving Huawei, with four facing corruption and criminal organisation charges and one charged with money laundering. The investigation, which includes recent searches of Parliament offices, points to corrupt activities since 2021, such as payments for political favours and lavish gifts, though the identities of those involved remain undisclosed. Huawei has emphasised its strict anti-corruption stance, saying it has a "zero tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times."
OTHER
Foreigner purchases boost CU's protein shakes
Convenience store chain CU has said its ready-to-drink protein shakes are popular among foreign customers, and sales are in excess of last year’s best-selling Dubai chocolate. Eighty per cent of customers who purchased Renewphy’s Grabmeal protein shakes at CU’s Myeong-dong Station branch this month were foreigners, according to CU’s operator, BGF Retail, which added that it is almost unprecedented for convenience store items to be more popular with foreigners than with domestic consumers.
 


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