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APAC Edition
10th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Indonesia faces brain drain as skilled graduates leave for overseas jobs
Indonesia is experiencing a significant brain drain, with many skilled young adults seek employment abroad due to limited job opportunities at home. Fikri Haikal, a 25-year-old political science graduate, shared his experience of moving to Australia on a working holiday visa, saying: “In Australia, securing a job is easy, because there is a shortage of labour in certain sectors.” The number of Indonesians granted working holiday visas in Australia surged from 2,984 in 2022-2023 to 4,285 in 2023-2024. Experts warn that the trend threatens Indonesia's economic growth. The country struggles with a high youth unemployment rate, which stood at 13.1% in 2024. Mohammad Faisal from the Centre of Reform on Economics cautioned that a prolonged brain drain could hinder job creation and technological progress in Indonesia. However, there is potential for "brain gain" if the government can attract skilled workers back home.
HIRING
Employment campaign launched for new graduates in China
China has launched a 100-day employment campaign aimed at enhancing job opportunities for the graduating class of 2025. The Ministry of Education's circular encourages universities to create market-oriented job openings and implement support measures such as job-seeking allowances. University leaders are tasked with visiting at least 100 companies to secure job placements, while public employment services will be established on campuses. The ministry also aims to expedite recruitment for government-supported roles, including teaching positions and civil service jobs, with a target completion by the end of August. The campaign will bolster grassroots initiatives and enhance vocational training, focusing on high-demand sectors like artificial intelligence.
WORKFORCE
Singapore is among the top global hubs for tech talent
Singapore has been recognised as one of 12 global technology "powerhouses" in the Global Tech Talent Guidebook 2025, thanks to its robust tech ecosystem and skilled workforce. With 45% of its 4.3m working-age population holding at least a university degree, Singapore ranks third in Asia for tech jobs, according to Ravi Nippani, head of regional industries and solutions at Mercer Asia. However, the city-state faces challenges due to high operational costs, particularly in office and apartment rents, which are among the highest globally. Jonathan Lasenby from executive recruitment company Ethos BeathChapman says that these costs could deter talent, especially as remote work becomes more prevalent. To maintain its status, Singapore must focus on high-value jobs in artificial intelligence and innovation, as well as improve its venture capital attraction, which currently stands at just US$2.5bn, less than 2% of the total AI funding.
Warning of graduate unemployment crisis in Thailand
Thailand's National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has raised the alarm about the local job market, highlighting the impact of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) closures on employment opportunities. In its Q1 2025 Social Outlook report, the NESDC noted a slight decrease in the unemployment rate to 0.88% from 1.01% last year, but this masks deeper issues. Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the NESDC, reported that the employed population fell to 39.4m, with significant job losses in non-agricultural sectors. The report revealed that over 24,000 SMEs and 1,234 factories have recently ceased operations, exacerbating job creation challenges. New graduates are particularly vulnerable, with many employers preferring experienced candidates. The NESDC urges the government to promote technology adoption and upskilling initiatives to better prepare the workforce for future market demands.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
UK backs Pacific Women in peacebuilding
A UK-supported colloquium on Peacebuilding and Mediation Capabilities concluded in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on 30 May 2025. Organised by the Pacific Women Mediators Network with support from UK International Development and Australian Aid, the four-day event highlighted the pivotal role of Pacific Island women in peace and security initiatives. British High Commissioner Paul Turner emphasised women's leadership in peace efforts, recalling his experiences in Northern Ireland and Bosnia: “It was women who reached out across communities . . . who refused to let walls of blood divide people and keep them in conflict.” The colloquium aimed to amplify feminist perspectives within the Gender, Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, focusing on issues like climate justice, self-determination, and gender equality.
TECHNOLOGY
Amazon unveils new agentic AI division
Amazon is set to establish a new group within its consumer product division dedicated to agentic artificial intelligence (AI). The initiative will be based at Lab126, Amazon's hardware research and development centre known for innovations like the Echo and Kindle. The focus of this group is to create an agentic AI framework aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the company's warehouse robots. These systems enable robots to “hear, understand and act on natural language commands, turning warehouse robots into flexible, multi-talented assistants”.
INTERNATIONAL
Unions file complaint over Saudi Arabia's treatment of migrant workers
The International Trade Union Confederation and its African counterpart have lodged a formal complaint with the International Labour Organization, calling for an investigation into Saudi Arabia's labour practices. Concerns have been raised regarding the treatment of migrant construction and domestic workers, particularly as the 2034 World Cup approaches. Reports indicate that workers are subjected to extreme conditions, including working up to 20 hours a day, wage denial, and physical abuse. Human rights organisations have condemned FIFA's decision to host the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the absence of a minimum wage for migrant workers and the oppressive kafala system, which ties workers to specific employers throughout their stay.
Italians vote on citizenship reforms
Italians are voting over two days in a referendum aimed at easing citizenship for children born in Italy to foreign parents and enhancing job protections. The national referendum proposes halving the time required to apply for Italian citizenship. Any children under 18 would automatically be naturalized along with their parents. Cutting the wait from 10 years to five would bring Italy in line with most other countries in Europe and, proponents argue, improve integration. The referendum was initiated by a citizens' initiative and is supported by civil society groups. Giorgia Meloni, the country's prime minister, has announced she will boycott the vote, declaring the citizenship law already "excellent" and "very open." For such a referendum to be valid, there has to be a turnout of 50% of all voters in Italy; as such, apparent low public awareness risks rendering the vote invalid.
Law firms that struck deals with Trump are paying the price
The Wall Street Journal reports that some big clients decided to take their business elsewhere after several law firms struck deals to avoid punitive White House executive orders. The capitulating firms, which include some of the industry’s largest and best-known, agreed to provide about $1bn in pro bono work. Some clients, including financial services provider Morgan Stanley, technology corporation Oracle, and others in the airline and pharmaceutical industries, are planning or are already giving more work to those firms that have been targeted by Trump or his administration but did not relent, according to general counsels. The Journal says Microsoft had also expressed scepticism about working with a law firm that came to a deal with the Trump administration. General counsels doubt whether they could trust a firm to negotiate deals and win their own cases in court if they did not resist demands from Trump, the report says.
Man Group orders quants back to office five days a week
Man Group, the world’s largest listed hedge fund manager, has ordered its London-based quants to temporarily return to the office five days a week amid a period of poor performance. 
OTHER
K-beauty brands storm the US
South Korean cosmetic start-ups are making significant strides in the US market, driven by their online success and the appeal of K-beauty products. Brands like Tirtir, d'Alba, Torriden, and Beauty of Joseon are negotiating with major retailers such as Ulta Beauty and Costco to establish a physical presence. Tirtir chief executive An Byung-Jun said that "K-culture . . . paved the way" for the growing interest in Korean cosmetics. Despite challenges posed by tariffs, the demand for K-beauty is expected to remain strong, with Olive Young planning to open its first US store in Los Angeles. The US expansion aims to sustain momentum after a decline in exports to China. The top five Korean cosmetics brands have seen online sales grow by 71% over the past two years, significantly outpacing the overall US market growth of 21%.
 


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