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APAC Edition
17th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Cambodia's worker recall could hit Thai economy
The Thai Chamber of Commerce has voiced its alarm over Cambodia's call for its nationals to return home, warning that the decision could severely affect the construction and fruit sectors in Thailand. There are approximately 500,000 Cambodian workers in Thailand. "The closure of the border checkpoints doesn't just affect trade figures - it directly impacts the Cambodian labour force employed in Chanthaburi's fruit processing facilities,” said Ukris Wongthongsalee, president of the Chanthaburi Chamber of Commerce. Ongoing tensions between the two countries exacerbated by a military clash and unresolved territorial disputes have precipitated calls for swift diplomatic resolutions to prevent major economic fallout.
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HIRING
Japan faces census staffing challenges
Japan is facing a significant shortage of census pollsters due to factors including an aging workforce and increased privacy concerns among residents. The internal affairs ministry is promoting online participation as a more efficient alternative, aiming for 50% of responses to be submitted online for the upcoming census. Traditionally, the census has relied on in-person interactions, but challenges such as self-locking condominium doors and residents' reluctance to engage have complicated recruitment efforts. An official from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government said: "Gaining [people's] understanding can take considerable time due to increased concerns about privacy." The ministry is also trialling mail distribution of questionnaires to ease the burden on pollsters.
WORKFORCE
Thai agencies assist workers in Israel and Iran
In response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, several Thai government agencies, including the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are enhancing support for approximately 40,000 Thai workers in Israel. The Ministry of Labour has urged these workers to report their locations to the Labour Office at the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv or through relatives in Thailand. Workers are advised to stay updated on official announcements and to remain near bomb shelters. The Royal Thai Embassy in Tehran has also encouraged Thai workers in Iran to monitor official communications closely.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Singapore's push for boardroom diversity beyond gender
In Singapore, a new report from the Council for Board Diversity highlights the ongoing efforts to enhance board diversity, noting that while the average age of board members is 56, there is a growing presence of younger directors. Co-chair Goh Swee Chen said: “We recognise that the work there is not completely done yet . . .  but we also want to expand the definition now beyond gender.” Despite some backlash against diversity initiatives globally, Singapore remains committed to fostering a diverse board culture, with an emphasis on merit-based diversity. The report also revealed that 31% of listed companies still have all-male boards, indicating that further progress is needed.
LEGAL
China backs probe into Mekong pollution
Media reports suggest that Chinese companies operating in Myanmar are linked to heavy metal pollution in northern Thai rivers. China's embassy in Thailand said it is "closely monitoring" the situation and acknowledged the Thai government's concerns. The embassy urged collaboration between Thailand and Myanmar to investigate the pollution, emphasising China's commitment to ecological protection. Recent tests by Thailand's Pollution Control Department revealed unsafe levels of heavy metals in sediment samples, particularly in the Sai and Kok rivers, with lead levels peaking near the Thai-Myanmar border. The embassy reiterated that "China has always required Chinese companies overseas to abide by the laws of the host countries."
TECHNOLOGY
Disney's AI lawsuit 'could shift the future of entertainment'
The Washington Post considers the implications of Disney and Universal suing artificial intelligence (AI) generator Midjourney. They claim the firm wrongfully trained its image-generating AI models on the studios' intellectual property. The entertainment giants are the first major Hollywood studios to file copyright infringement lawsuits, in a move the Post says marks "a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight by artists, newspapers and content makers to stop AI firms from using their work as training data - or at least make them pay for it." Chad Hummel, principal at the Los Angeles office of the law firm McKool Smith, observed of Disney and Universal's decision to sue: “It's sort of a ‘finally' moment.” 
CORPORATE
Trump approves $14.9bn U.S. Steel bid
Shares in Nippon Steel, the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, gained on Monday after US President Donald Trump approved its $14.9bn bid for U.S. Steel. On Friday, the companies signed an agreement with the Treasury Department addressing national security concerns after Trump signed an executive order allowing the deal to proceed, contingent on such an agreement. The deal includes $11bn in new investments by 2028, and also commitments on governance, production and trade.
ECONOMY
Malaysians brace for rising costs on goods
The Malaysian government's new taxes, set to begin next month, have precipitated widespread concern among citizens. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration announced a levy of 5% to 10% on premium items and high-end services in a bid to tackle budget deficits. However, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) warned that businesses "may have no choice but to pass these additional burdens on to consumers," leading to increased prices for everything from imported fruits to new homes. Real estate developers also cautioned that homebuyers could face extra costs due to the new tax on commercial land.
INTERNATIONAL
Starbucks rolls out new staffing model across North America
Starbucks chief executive Brian Niccol said last week that the company is accelerating the rollout of its new staffing and service model, with the aim of having it in place across all its North American outlets by the end of the summer. The Green Apron model includes in-store technology to more efficiently sequence orders, as well as a dedicated barista for drive-through orders. “We’ve learned, and now we know what we need to do, so let’s scale it," Niccol said at the company's three-day leadership summit in Las Vegas. In other news, Mr. Niccol revealed that the company has received "a lot of interest" in the sale of a stake in its China business. "People see the value of the Starbucks brand. They see the coffee category is growing. I think they'd love to be partnering up with us in figuring out how we take this from 8,000 to 20,000 (stores)," he said.
Dutch employers 'often assume women want part-time jobs'
A report from government think-tank SCP says employers in the Netherlands often base contract offers on assumptions, including, for example, that women prefer part-time work, or that flexible contracts suit young people and migrant workers. However, the think-tank says such employer expectations are not always an indication of workers’ own preferences and most people favour permanent contracts. SCP researchers also say that Dutch employers are increasingly willing to offer permanent contracts and increase working hours to tackle staff shortages, and this provides an opportunity to improve conditions for those groups which have traditionally had insecure or limited work options. The SCP says employers are still reluctant to talk to workers about increasing their hours and that this should become a standard part of employee evaluations.
Russia air attack damaged Boeing offices in Ukraine
A building used by Boeing in Kyiv was badly damaged in a recent large-scale Russian air attack, in what appeared to be a deliberate strike on the US aerospace company.
OTHER
Mattel teams up with OpenAI to develop new products
Mattel has entered into a partnership with OpenAI to “bring the magic of artificial intelligence to age-appropriate play experiences.” A person familiar with the collaboration said it will be aimed at people at least 13 years old. “AI has the power to . . . broaden the reach of our brands in new and exciting ways,” said Josh Silverman, chief franchise officer at Mattel. “Our work with OpenAI will enable us to leverage new technologies to solidify our leadership in innovation and reimagine new forms of play.” The collaboration is at an early stage, and its first release won’t be announced until later this year, Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s chief operating officer, and Mr Silverman said in a joint interview. 
 


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