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APAC Edition
17th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Baidu will train AI talent 'like pilots'
Chinese search giant Baidu is intensifying its search for artificial intelligence talent with a record recruitment drive, announcing a 60% increase in job openings this year. The company aims to attract candidates across 23 core businesses and 11 research areas, including large language model algorithms and machine learning. “Baidu will train future AI navigators the way pilots are trained,” the firm said, as it highlighted a commitment to securing top-tier professionals in a competitive market. The recruitment push aligns with similar initiatives by rivals including ByteDance and Alibaba, with demand for skilled AI workers continuing to surge amidst a limited talent pool.
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WORKFORCE
Thailand champions decent work for all
During the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to creating decent work opportunities and ensuring social justice for all workers. He said: "Decent work is not just a social aspiration - it is essential for inclusive and sustainable development." The government aims to expand social security benefits and transition informal workers to the formal sector, with 1.49m currently registered, and plans to include an additional 3m migrant workers. This year, 600,000 new jobs have been created, focusing on high-demand sectors. Thailand also aims to provide reskilling for 5m individuals to enhance competitiveness. The country is actively participating in multilateral forums to protect workers' rights and has ratified Convention No. 155 to align with international labour standards.
LEGAL
Indian students in US at risk of deportation
Several Indian students in the US are facing notices from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding proof of their employment status, with many choosing not to respond due to fears of deportation. These students, who admitted to being unemployed, risk losing their visa status if they fail to reply within 15 days. A 26-year-old tech graduate from Texas said: “I panicked - I don't have a job. I've applied everywhere, but I haven't heard back.” The situation is dire, as many students carry significant education loan burdens, making the prospect of returning home financially devastating. Immigration consultant Ravi Lothumalla cautions that not responding could be seen as non-compliance, and advises students to respond honestly and seek reinstatement if possible.
Hong Kong's labour rights group shuts down
China Labor Bulletin, a Hong Kong-based organisation founded in 1994, has announced its abrupt shutdown due to financial difficulties and debt issues. The group, which maintained a database of workers' strikes, protests, and workplace accidents, said: “The company can no longer maintain operations and has decided to dissolve.” This closure comes amid a broader trend of civil society groups disbanding in Hong Kong following the 2020 national security law. Han Dongfang, the organisation's founder and a former railway worker, indicated that the decision was his own.
STRATEGY
Intel to lay off 15% to 20% of its factory workers
Intel is to lay off 15% to 20% of its factory workers, according to a memo. “These are difficult actions but essential to meet our affordability challenges and current financial position of the company. It drives pain to every individual,” Intel manufacturing Vice President Naga Chandrasekaran wrote to employees. The latest move follows a previous reduction of 15,000 jobs in 2024 and is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations amid declining sales and increased competition. Chandrasekaran emphasized that the layoffs will be based on investment priorities and individual performance, without offering voluntary buyouts this time.
WORKPLACE
UN adopts convention on workplace biological hazards
The 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) concluded on 13 June with the adoption of the first-ever international labour standards aimed at preventing exposure to, and protecting workers from, biological hazards in the workplace, a landmark step in global efforts to safeguard occupational health and safety across all sectors. The Convention (C 192) calls on Member States to formulate national policies and adopt measures on occupational safety and health that include the prevention and protection against biological hazards, and the development of preparedness and response measures to deal with accidents and emergencies. It requires employers to adopt preventive and protective measures, in collaboration with workers, who must also be informed and trained on the hazards and risks.
ECONOMY
Thai SMEs struggle with innovation
The World Bank's Thailand Economic Monitor – February 2025 reveals that Thai businesses are significantly lagging their ASEAN counterparts in innovation and research and development (R&D). Only 11.9% of Thai firms incorporate innovation into their production processes, compared to 40.9% in the Philippines and 37.9% in Vietnam. This lack of innovation has led to declining sales and widespread business closures, with nearly 24,000 SMEs deregistering in 2024. Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), emphasised the urgent need for technological adoption to ensure SME survival. The NESDC recommends expanding financing access for SMEs to enhance their competitiveness and adapt to market changes. Strengthening the innovation landscape is seen as crucial for stabilising employment and boosting incomes for over 12.9m workers in Thailand.
Japan weighs higher taxes on foreign visitors
Japan is considering raising the tax burden on foreign visitors by eliminating duty-free shopping and increasing departure levies. The proposal comes as lawmakers look at ways to boost government coffers without alienating voters. Both the ruling and opposition parties are racing to propose measures that would ease the financial burden on households ahead of the upper house election next month, Nikkei Asia has reported.
INTERNATIONAL
U.S. Justice Department sanctions tech recruiter for discriminating in favour of H-1B visa workers
The U.S. Justice Department has reached a settlement with Epik Solutions, a California-based tech recruiting firm, for breaching the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by favouring foreign H-1B visa holders over US workers in its recruitment practices. This marks the first settlement since the relaunch of the "Protecting U.S. Workers Initiative," which seeks to combat illegal discrimination against American workers. As part of the settlement, Epik Solutions will pay $71,916 in civil penalties, undergo training, revise its employment policies, and cease job advertisements that unlawfully exclude US workers. Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said: "Protecting American workers from unlawful discrimination in favour of foreign visa workers is a top priority." She emphasised that companies engaging in such discrimination are now on notice that "the days of the federal government looking the other way on American workforce protection are over."
Louvre closed as workers go on strike
The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, experienced an unprecedented strike by its staff on Monday, who were protesting against overwhelming tourist crowds at the Paris attraction and poor working conditions. The strike, which erupted during a routine internal meeting, saw Louvre workers, including gallery attendants and security personnel, express their frustration over chronic understaffing and deteriorating infrastructure. “What began as a scheduled monthly information session turned into a mass expression of exasperation,” said Sarah Sefian, a front-of-house gallery attendant and visitor services agent. Despite President Emmanuel Macron's ambitious renovation plan, dubbed the “Louvre New Renaissance,” which aims to address these issues, staff feel their needs remain urgent.
Four-day working week for Dubai government staff over summer
The Dubai government has announced a four-day working week with shorter daily hours for many government employees this summer. Staff will be divided into two groups, with one working eight hours from Monday to Thursday with Friday as a full holiday, and the other working seven hours from Monday to Thursday, along with a half-day on Fridays. The initiative, which will run from July 1 to September 12, follows last summer's pilot plan by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department. Abdullah Al Falasi, the department's director general, said: “We aim to improve the quality of life of employees and enhance the sustainability of government resources, which ultimately contributes to consolidating Dubai’s global position as a preferred city for living and working by providing a new model experience that integrates the elements of quality of life.”
OTHER
Study links maths gender divide to 'stereotypes' not biology
A study published in the journal Nature tracking the maths ability of 2.6m schoolchildren in France across four years has found that despite there being no significant difference in ability between boys and girls at the start of formal schooling, around the age of six, a gender gap can be observed within just four months, persisting across regions, school types and socio-economic backgrounds, and widening over time. Lead author Pauline Martinot said that based on the study's findings, gender disparities in maths are "thought to primarily reflect an internalisation of the sociocultural stereotype that 'girls are bad at maths'" rather than any kind of innate difference in ability.
 


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