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APAC Edition
16th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Jetstar Asia workers blindsided by layoff notice
Jetstar Asia, the budget airline owned by the Qantas Group, will cease operations on July 31, resulting in the layoff of over 500 employees in Singapore. Employees were informed of their retrenchment only hours before the public announcement, leading to feelings of shock and frustration. Affected staff will receive four weeks' salary for each year of service, a performance-based bonus for the financial year 2025, and a “thank-you payment” of approximately S$1,200. The closure is attributed to rising supplier costs, airport fees, and increased competition. The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union is working with Jetstar to ensure fair treatment and compensation for affected workers. “The company has committed to providing a comprehensive retrenchment package,” the union said. Customers will be offered alternative flights or full refunds.
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WORKFORCE
World misses key child labour target
The latest joint report by the International Labour Organization and UNICEF reveals that the global target to eliminate child labour by 2025 has been missed, with nearly 138m children still engaged in work. UNICEF's executive director, Catherine Russell, highlighted that funding cuts from donor countries threaten recent progress, observing: "Progress towards ending child labour is possible by applying legal safeguards, expanded social protection, investment in free, quality education . . . We must recommit to ensuring that children are in classrooms and playgrounds, not at work." Despite a reduction of 22m children in work since 2020, 54m remain in hazardous conditions. The report indicates that two-thirds of child labour occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, where only a slight decrease has been observed. The Times of India reports that the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has launched a week-long campaign against child labour that is being held from June 12-19. The ‘Child labour prohibition week' will feature various programmes to reinforce the need for the complete eradication of child labour in the state.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Almost half of Japanese workforce is 'quiet quitting,' survey suggests
Nearly half (45%) of full-time employees in Japan are engaging in "quiet quitting," a trend whereby workers limit their efforts to only what is required, according to a survey by job-matching company Mynavi. The trend is indicative of a departure from Japan's traditional salaryman model, prioritising personal boundaries over corporate loyalty. Many younger workers expressed dissatisfaction with rigid hierarchies and limited career prospects. A 2024 Gallup report highlighted that only 6% of Japanese workers are actively engaged, the lowest share globally. Experts suggest that employers should adapt by offering flexible schedules and clearer career paths to prevent further disengagement.
LEGAL
Queensland's Griffith University underpaid staff by A$8.3m
The Fair Work Ombudsman has found that Queensland's Griffith University underpaid thousands of employees by A$8.3m. The underpayments occurred between 2015 and 2024, and affected around 5,457 current and former casual, academic and professional staff. The highest individual repayment is more than A$92,000.
HIRING
Capita to launch AI-powered recruitment
UK outsourcer Capita is to launch a service this summer that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to cut recruitment from weeks to just hours, expediting hiring from job specification to shortlisting. "We hire about 10,000 people for multiple operations and multiple contracts every year because of the nature of the transient workforce in some of our markets," Capita chief executive Adolfo Hernandez said. The service has been developed in partnership with Salesforce, which said Capita was the first UK business-to-business company to deploy its Agentforce AI, using it to automate more than 200 tasks.
TECHNOLOGY
Salesforce blocks AI rivals from using Slack data
The Information reports that Salesforce-owned workplace messaging app Slack has blocked other software firms from searching or storing Slack messages. "As AI raises critical considerations around how customer data is handled, we’re committed to delivering AI and data services in a way that’s thoughtful and transparent," a Salesforce spokesperson said.
LEADERSHIP
Air India crash increases pressure on Boeing leadership
Boeing faces a crisis following the crash of an Air India 787-8 Dreamliner, which resulted in the deaths of nearly all 242 people on board, marking the first fatal accident involving this aircraft model. Chief executive Kelly Ortberg has canceled his plans to attend the Paris Air Show to focus on the investigation, emphasizing that "safety is foundational to our industry" and that Boeing's technical experts are ready to assist in understanding the circumstances of the crash. The incident has led to a 4.8% drop in Boeing's shares, raising concerns about public perception and the company's ongoing efforts to rebuild trust after previous safety issues.
INTERNATIONAL
U.S. State Department to use AI to help select staff
The U.S. State Department is set to use an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot called StateChat to help it select the people who will perform annual reviews of promotions and moves. According to a cable reviewed by Reuters, the chatbot, which is powered by technology from Palantir and Microsoft, will help create selection panels based on employees' skill codes and grades. However, a department spokesperson clarified that the evaluations themselves "will not be done by AI." The American Foreign Service Association is seeking clarification on how the department will ensure compliance with legal obligations regarding representation of women and minority groups. Reuters notes that although the deployment of AI by officials preceded Donald Trump's re-election in 2024, his administration has aggressively expanded its use since his return to the White House.
UK civil service staff told to consider quitting if they disagree over Gaza
More than 300 UK Foreign Office staff who raised concerns about potential UK "complicity" in Israel's conduct in Gaza were told that if they profoundly disagreed with government policy they could consider resigning. The staff letter was sent to Foreign Secretary David Lammy last month. In it, officials questioned the UK's continued arms sales and what they called a "stark . . . disregard for international law" by Israel. The Foreign Office said it had systems for staff to raise concerns and added the government had "rigorously applied international law" in relation to the war in Gaza. The reply to the staff letter was sent from Sir Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer, the two most senior civil servants in the Foreign Office, who told the signatories: "[I]f your disagreement with any aspect of government policy or action is profound your ultimate recourse is to resign from the Civil Service. This is an honourable course." The response was met with "outrage," according to one official who signed the letter.
Ivory Coast workers say Unilever is violating their union rights
Workers at Unilever in Ivory Coast claim the company is violating their collective bargaining agreement by refusing to ensure severance pay if layoffs take place after the company sells the struggling business, documents show. The UK-based consumer goods giant is selling all of its shares in the Ivory Coast unit to a local consortium of investors led by wholesale distributor Société de Distribution de Toutes Marchandises Côte d’Ivoire (SDTM). Unilever told Reuters: "the proposed transaction is by way of a sale of shares, which does not result in the termination of employees' contracts."
Why some young MENA employees quit in less than a year
According to the 2025 MENA Salary Survey, 40% of professionals aged 18 to 25 in the MENA region have held three or more jobs early in their careers, indicating a shift from traditional career paths to a focus on growth and purpose. Amina, a 27-year-old Syrian law graduate, shared her experience of changing jobs twice in one year, saying: “Quitting wasn't as scary as staying in a place that didn't work for me.” Recruitment expert Dmitry Zaytsev noted that this trend reflects a desire for meaningful work rather than just higher pay. He emphasised that young professionals are not disloyal but are instead seeking clarity and growth opportunities. Sarah Boukhari, a career coach, echoed this sentiment, saying: “Employers who want to retain [young professionals] need to go beyond perks; they need to offer vision, mentorship, and real ownership in their roles.”
OTHER
Greener diets recommended for a healthier planet
The UN has estimated that approximately one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions stem from food production. Marco Springmann, a professorial research fellow at University College London, highlights that emissions from meat-heavy diets are four times higher than those from vegan diets. Additionally, eco-dietitian Mary Purdy points out that diverse diets promote biodiverse agriculture, which is crucial for resilience against climate change. To further reduce impact, consumers should consider local and organic produce, as well as minimise food waste, which accounts for about one-third of food grown in the US.
 


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