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APAC Edition
2nd April 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Employers in Taiwan struggle to fill key roles
Taiwan is grappling with a significant talent shortage, with the National Development Council predicting a workforce gap of 480,000 by 2030. A recent survey by Robert Walters reveals that 52% of companies plan to increase hiring in 2025, yet 71% face challenges in filling critical roles. John Winter, Country Manager of Robert Walters Taiwan, said: "The competition for top talent is intensifying." The Robert Walters Talent Trends 2025 Report highlights that 40% of employers are influenced by competitors' practices in shaping their workplace strategies. Additionally, 94% of employees are more likely to stay with companies that invest in career development, indicating a shift towards dynamic career lattices over traditional ladders. As AI tools become more prevalent in recruitment, businesses are advised to balance automation with ethical hiring practices to ensure effective talent acquisition.
WORKFORCE
Retail giants in Korea face workforce cuts
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea's major brick-and-mortar retailers have significantly reduced their workforce, with Lotte Shopping, Emart, and Homeplus laying off approximately 12,700 employees, equating to 17% of their combined workforce from 2019 to 2024. Homeplus has faced criticism from its labour union for drastic layoffs, which it argues have led to increased workloads for remaining staff. The company contends that layoffs were necessary due to declining customer visits and frequent voluntary resignations. The retail sector is also grappling with regulatory challenges, including restrictions on operating hours and proximity to traditional markets, which critics say hinder growth.
LEGAL
Former judge fights Japan's 'unopenable door' retrial system
Japan's retrial process, which has been dubbed the "Unopenable Door," has seen only 1% of around 1,150 applications approved from 2017 to 2021. The Justice Minister is set to consult legal experts for potential revisions, but changes may take years. Factors contributing to the slow process include the prosecution's ability to appeal retrial orders and judges' reluctance to seek new evidence. Ex-judge Hiroaki Murayama observed that many judges "prioritise efficiently solving ongoing criminal cases," adding "I was once part of that system . . . it's my responsibility to fix it." 
TECHNOLOGY
AI 'can create job opportunities'
Jang Young-jae, an engineering professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, discussed the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment at the office of the presidential Economic, Social and Labor Council in Seoul recently. He noted that while AI adoption in manufacturing is leading to job losses — 51% of employees in Korea are in roles vulnerable to AI replacement — there are also opportunities for job creation in new AI-driven sectors. Jang said: “Korea's competitiveness is lagging behind in the AI race, and the gap is widening. But I think it still has an opportunity to lead in areas like physical AI.” A discussion highlighted the need for Korea to embrace AI technology aggressively to offset job losses and create new industries, such as AI-adopted plants, which could generate numerous job opportunities.
US-China relations committee head calls for cooperation between countries
Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, emphasised the need for cooperation between the two countries on artificial intelligence (AI) during the China Development Forum in Beijing on March 24, suggesting that joint efforts could prevent redundant work in the field. His comments, reported by Reuters, come amid ongoing tensions, with the US imposing sanctions on China’s AI and chip sectors to curb military advancements, highlighting AI as a contentious point in bilateral relations.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Alcoa fined after caustic spill
Alcoa has been fined $400,000 following an incident at its Kwinana alumina refinery near Perth where a hot caustic solution burned students on work experience and workers. The incident occurred when a faulty pump emitted smoke, prompting a supervisor to open a discharge drain valve. Unbeknownst to him, another worker activated a pump, leading to an uncontrolled discharge of the caustic solution. WorkSafe Commissioner Sally North said: "Companies must ensure all people at a workplace, including work experience students, are kept safe." Alcoa pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safety of workers during the September 2022 incident and has since initiated a project to eliminate chemical contact incidents at its refineries.
STRATEGY
JBS to build two new plants in Vietnam
Brazilian meatpacker JBS has announced a $100m investment in two new plants in Vietnam, focusing on beef, pork, and poultry. The plants will be JBS's first food processing units in the country, using imported raw materials and targeting the Vietnamese market and Southeast Asian countries. The investment aims to create 500 new jobs and establish a logistics centre in a northern industrial park.
Ikea doubles down on China growth ambitions
Ikea is reaffirming its commitment to the Chinese market through strategic investments in retail and sustainable development. Speaking during the China Development Forum 2025 Jon Abrahamsson Ring, chief executive of Inter IKEA Group, commented: "We are very confident, we believe in China and are planning now for the next 60 years". The company is adapting its retail strategy by introducing smaller store formats and enhancing e-commerce, which now accounts for 26% of sales, up from less than 5% five years ago.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Tech bans don't prepare children for digital world, warn experts
A study published in the British Medical Journal by a group of academics from the Universities of Birmingham and Cambridge in the UK, Harvard in the US, the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, and the University of São Paolo, warns that banning children from having smartphones or from accessing social media represent "stop-gap solutions" that "do little to support children's longer-term healthy engagement with digital spaces across school, home, and other contexts, and their successful transition into adolescence and adulthood in a technology-filled world." The study calls for more work to be done on age-appropriate design for devices and on education around the use of technology to ensure children are ready to participate in a digital world.
INTERNATIONAL
UK workers 'shun apps and video calls'
Research from the UK conciliation service Acas suggests that many employees are unhappy with video calls and messaging apps. A survey of 1,000 workers found that one in three disliked video calls, while one in four found platforms like Teams and Zoom irritating. Ahead of World Autism Day on April 2, Acas has highlighted the need for training line managers to better support neurodiverse staff. Acas interim chief executive Dan Ellis said: "The way we communicate at work can impact us all. Some staff, such as neurodivergent workers, may prefer to communicate in a specific way. We know good communications are really important to business success. Clear communications are not just good for neurodivergent people but for everyone who wants clarity. The key for bosses is talking to staff to find out what works for them as well as the business, and finding solutions that encourage people to talk to each other most effectively."
Trump's firings of federal workers with DEI jobs were illegal, complaint claims
A group of federal employees has filed a class action complaint against the Trump administration, alleging unlawful targeting for dismissal due to their involvement in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities. The complaint, submitted to the Merit Systems Protection Board by the American Civil Liberties Union and other legal representatives, claims that the mass firings violate First Amendment rights and disproportionately affect non-white male workers. The complaint argues that the firings are politically motivated, saying: “the Trump administration's orders betray their partisan political goals by targeting employees, not positions.” The legal team plans to amend the complaint to include additional employees as their dismissals take effect.
EU calls for households to stockpile 72 hours of food amid war risks
The European Commission is advising people in the European Union to stockpile enough food, water and essentials for 72 hours, as part of a strategy that aims to increase readiness for catastrophic floods and fires, pandemics and military attacks. Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner in charge of preparedness and crisis management, said that concerns differed across the bloc but that all citizens should make an effort to be prepared for emergencies. In a video posted on social media, Lahbib listed items important to have to survive 72 hours in a crisis, from food and water to a flashlight, power bank, radio, cash and medication. "Ready for anything - this must be our new European way of life," she said in a post on X.
 


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