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APAC Edition
12th March 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
South Korea opens hotline for doctors amid healthcare reform walkout
South Korea's government has opened a hotline for doctors amid a mass walkout over healthcare reform plans. The hotline is intended to support physicians who face harassment or peer pressure if they choose not to join the walkout. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong defended the reforms, which include increasing the number of medical school students, as beneficial for intern and resident doctors. Cho accused some young doctors of harassing trainees who decided not to participate in the walkout. As of Monday, 5,556 doctors who left their posts had been served advance notices specifying that authorities would start suspending their medical licenses if they failed to justify their action. The government says its reforms aim to improve pay for doctors in essential fields and ensure proper medical services are available outside large cities. However, critics accuse President Yoon Suk Yeol of using the medical reforms for political gains ahead of parliamentary elections in April. Professors at the Seoul National University medical school have threatened to quit if a compromise is not reached, joining the faculty of another major teaching hospital. Many trainee doctors are considering practicing abroad, sparking concerns about a brain drain.
WORKFORCE
Number of Chinese workers in Africa drops by 64% since 2015
The number of Chinese workers in African countries has decreased by 64% since 2015, mainly due to funding for projects drying up and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the official number of Chinese workers in Africa stood at about 93,000 at the end of 2021, a significant decline from the peak of 263,000 in 2015. The decline in workers is closely linked to the gross revenues of Chinese companies' construction projects in Africa. The decline is expected to continue, although some countries like Egypt have seen small increases in Chinese workers. The presence of Chinese workers is also correlated with available project finance and the hiring of local workers by Chinese companies. However, it is unlikely that the high numbers of Chinese workers seen in the past decade will return.
Low wages are pushing Malaysia's talent away, experts say
Malaysia needs to raise wages and invest more in high-end sectors to attract talent back to its shores, according to experts. A recent report revealed that nearly two million skilled Malaysian workers are residing overseas, with most of them in Singapore. Low wages, resulting from a disproportionate distribution of profits to employees, are a major factor in pushing talent out of Malaysia. Economist Yeah Kim Leng emphasizes the importance of a more equitable share of profits for employees to reduce the brain drain. Malaysia's lack of high-quality investments is also contributing to low wages and the outflow of talent. Experts suggest changing the brain drain narrative to so-called "brain circulation," whereby Malaysians working abroad are expected to return home after a predetermined period and contribute to the nation's development.
Alibaba introduces new employee incentive plan
Alibaba Group is introducing a new employee incentive plan from April 1st that combines equity with cash. The plan aims to attract and retain talent amidst fierce competition. The company will provide "long-term cash" in addition to stock options, with the instruments vesting once a quarter instead of once a year. The move comes as Alibaba's stock value has decreased significantly, diluting the effectiveness of stock options as a motivating tool. CEO Eddie Wu has been implementing various strategies to revive growth, including reshuffling senior leadership and exploring the sale of non-core assets. Alibaba is focused on boosting morale among its workforce, especially in light of Beijing's efforts to curtail private enterprises. Other Chinese tech companies, such as ByteDance and JD.com, have also made changes to employee compensation to improve morale and retention.
LEGAL
Hinduja family challenges flawed indictment over staff mistreatment
Members of the billionaire Hinduja family, charged with human trafficking over the mistreatment of their domestic staff, are disputing the flawed Swiss indictment against them. The family's lawyer argues that the indictment is based on the experiences of people who have never been interviewed by the family's lawyers. The indictment alleges that the staff were made to work long hours, had their passports confiscated, and were paid very low salaries. The family's lawyers have attempted to stop the trial and have filed a criminal complaint against unknown persons for forgery of documents. The defence argues that it lacks access to important evidence, including phone records, and claims that the charges are based on a "fantasized" version of events. The trial is ongoing in Geneva.
China to boost employment with new measures
China will release a series of measures to stimulate employment and meet the rising demand in the job market, according to Chinese Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Wang Xiaoping. The measures aim to stabilise the local job market and improve people's livelihoods, with a focus on sectors such as artificial intelligence, big data, healthcare, and tourism. Wang emphasized that the demand for talent reflects the country's economic growth and the development of new productive forces. The measures include continuing preferential social insurance policies, financial support, and support for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Media Center in Beijing, where ministers from various sectors addressed questions from journalists.
Japanese couples challenge century-old surname law
Six couples in Japan are suing the government over a century-old law that requires married spouses to have the same surname. The lawsuit argues that the law perpetuates inequality and causes personal and practical harm. If the Supreme Court rules the law is unconstitutional, it will be reviewed in parliament. The lobby group Keidanren, otherwise known for its conservative stance, has expressed support for introducing a separate surname system. The single-surname system dates back to 1898 and formalises Japan's patriarchal family system. The law creates difficulties for women in their professional lives and personal relationships. While surveys show broad societal support for changing the law, the conservative ruling party is seen as a key obstacle. However, even the ruling party has adjusted its position over time.
HIRING
Philippines wants to produce 128,000 semiconductor professionals by 2028
The Philippines is set to produce a robust talent pool of 128,000 semiconductor professionals, including engineers and technicians, by 2028, according to President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos. He said the country is ready to meet the expanding needs of high-technology sectors and aims to play a role in research, development, advanced assembly, packaging, and test requirements of the semiconductor industry. The semiconductor and electronics sector is the top performer in the Philippines' merchandise exports, accounting for about 60% of the total.
STRATEGY
India signs trade pact with EFTA bloc to boost employment and growth
India has signed a trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc, including Switzerland and Norway, to boost employment and drive growth. The deal, which is India's fourth free trade agreement (FTA) signed since 2021, signals the country's readiness to take on commitments in areas such as labour, the environment, sustainability, and gender. It also secured an investment commitment of $100bn over 15 years. India aims to secure more trade deals with countries like the UK, Australia, and Oman to boost its manufacturing sector and create jobs for its growing workforce. The textile sector, marine goods, auto and machine parts, chemicals, leather and footwear, and gems and jewelry products are expected to benefit from these deals. India's shift towards embracing trade deals is seen as an opportunity to compete with alternative manufacturing destinations like Vietnam and Bangladesh. The services sector, including IT, health, and accounting, is also expected to receive a boost.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo leads trade mission to Philippines
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is leading a presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines to fortify economic ties in the Indo-Pacific region. Raimondo plans to promote the Philippines as a key hub for regional supply chains and investment, emphasizing the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy. The visit aims to deepen economic and commercial ties in the region. Raimondo stated: "We want the United States to be the economic partner of choice." The U.S. delegation includes executives from 22 companies, and Raimondo hopes for new U.S. investment announcements in the Philippines. Following the visit, Raimondo will travel to Thailand to focus on manufacturing, supply chain resiliency, AI, and clean technology. The trip aims to strengthen economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Study suggests unconscious bias training is ineffective
A study suggests that unconscious bias training in the workplace may not achieve anything, casting doubt on the effectiveness of such interventions to improve diversity. The research found that even intensive courses had no effect on reducing hidden prejudices. Unconscious bias training has gained popularity as people believe that even those who claim to be anti-racist may still be guided by unconscious biases. The study was conducted by Moa Bursell, an associate professor of sociology at Malardalen University in Sweden and the Stockholm-based Institute for Futures Studies, who has previously uncovered evidence of unconscious bias in the Swedish labour market. Bursell's research involved sending identical CVs with different names to companies, revealing that those with western names were more likely to get an interview. The study used the "implicit association test" to measure unconscious bias but found that the scores remained unchanged before and after the training.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
U.N. meeting on gender equality opens with all male speakers
The U.N.'s annual meeting on gender equality began with five male speakers in succession, leaving many women in the audience baffled.  The first woman to speak was Chetna Gala Sinha, who highlighted the importance of investing in women. Sima Bahous, the executive director of U.N. Women, emphasized the rising backlash against gender equality and the need for funding to support women and girls. She said: “It's great to be here. I feel the energy in the room is getting better as we see more women coming to the stage.” The audience applauded loudly. The head of the U.N. Development Program, Achim Steiner, acknowledged the gender imbalance on the podium and expressed his support for gender equality.
INTERNATIONAL
EU ministers agree to regulate gig economy workers' rights
EU ministers have agreed on regulations to determine when gig economy workers on platforms like Uber and Deliveroo should be classified as employees. The Platform Work Directive would categorise workers on gig economy apps as employees in certain cases, such as where the platform supervises workers' performance electronically and controls factors like pay and working hours. The legislation sets minimum protection standards for over 28 million people working in the gig economy across the EU. The draft law still needs to be passed by the European Parliament, but this is considered likely. Move EU, a trade group that represents Bolt and Uber among others, said it regretted the decision, which “fails to achieve a harmonised approach across the EU, creating even more legal uncertainty for ride-hailing drivers,” according to a statement from the group's chair, Aurelien Pozzana. "Better working conditions for those delivering your meal at home!" tweeted the Belgian EU presidency. Belgian labour minister Pierre-Yves Dermagne said: "This is the first-ever piece of EU legislation to regulate algorithmic management in the workplace and to set EU minimum standards to improve working conditions for millions of platform workers across the EU."
Nigeria pauses controversial expatriate employment levy
Nigeria has paused a controversial annual levy that would require businesses employing expatriates to pay $15,000 (£12,000) for a director and $10,000 (£8,000) for other workers. President Bola Tinubu imposed the tax over a week ago, but it was met with widespread condemnation. The Ministry of Interior said on the X social media platform that the levy would be paused for "dialogue among stakeholders." The ministry explained the tax was intended to "discourage abuse" of the expatriate quota. It said it hoped the levy would create "employment opportunities for Nigerians while closing wage gaps between expatriates and local workers." Dele Kelvin Oye, national president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), said he welcomed the pause. Foreign investors would be discouraged from investing in Nigeria, a body for manufacturers in the West African nation had warned. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria stated that the levy was an "unwarranted and unprecedented addition to the cost of doing business" and was perceived as a punishment imposed on foreign investors. Manufacturers argued that the levy would deter multinational companies from investing in Nigeria and setting up regional headquarters in the West African country.
 


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