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APAC Edition
30th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Dutch chip giant launches competition for China talent
ASML, the Dutch lithography system maker, has launched a science competition in China to enhance public understanding of lithography and identify engineering talent. The competition, which runs from late June to early July, features 20 questions aimed at semiconductor professionals and science enthusiasts. The top 16 contestants will have job interview opportunities at ASML, while 75 others will be included in the company's talent pool. ASML said the initiative aims to create a “window for contestants to deeply explore lithography technology” and to “jointly promote the evolution of Moore's Law.” Despite US restrictions on advanced chipmaking technologies, ASML says it remains committed to the Chinese market, which represented a 36.1% share of its total sales in 2024.
TECHNOLOGY
India leads global GenAI revolution
India is at the forefront of global GenAI adoption, with 92% of employees using such tools, significantly surpassing the global average of 72%, according to the Boston Consulting Group's report titled 'AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, But Gaps Remain'. The third edition of BCG's annual survey, which is based on responses from over 10,600 workers across 11 countries, reveals that while AI adoption is strong overall, only half (51%) of frontline employees are regular users. "[India] . . . ranks among the top nations experimenting with AI agents, with 17% of employees reporting integration into their workflows, placing India in the global top three. However, this rapid adoption brings new challenges. Nearly half (48%) of Indian employees fear job displacement over the next decade, highlighting a growing sense of uncertainty," said Nipun Kalra, managing director and senior partner; India Leader - BCG X, BCG.
LEGAL
US judge rules for Meta in dispute with authors
A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled for Meta Platforms against a group of authors who had argued that its use of their books without permission to train its artificial intelligence (AI) system infringed their copyrights. US District Judge Vince Chhabria said the authors had not presented sufficient evidence that Meta's AI would dilute the market for their work to demonstrate that the company's conduct was illegal under US copyright law. Chhabria nevertheless said that the use of copyrighted work without permission to train AI would be unlawful in "many circumstances," observing: "This ruling does not stand for the proposition that Meta's use of copyrighted materials to train its language models is lawful . . . It stands only for the proposition that these plaintiffs made the wrong arguments and failed to develop a record in support of the right one." The ruling follows a decision on Monday that Anthropic, another major player in the AI field, had not infringed authors’ copyright.
WORKFORCE
Helensburgh coal mine lockout extended
Peabody Energy has extended the lockout of workers at its Helensburgh coal mine in New South Wales until July 6, following protests for better wages and job security. The Mining and Energy Union has condemned the lockout, which has left workers without pay since June 18, and is urging the Federal Government to reform workplace laws that allow such "disproportionate" actions by employers.
STRATEGY
Alibaba Cloud to bring AI capabilities to global data centres
Alibaba's cloud computing unit is set to extend its artificial intelligence services to its overseas data centres this year, Alibaba Cloud senior vice president Liu Weiguang has announced. The company currently operates 29 data centres, including two in the US, one in London, one in Dubai and 15 across mainland China and Hong Kong, according to its website. The initiative is part of an ambitious 380bn yuan (US$52.4bn) investment plan announced by Alibaba in February to develop its cloud computing and AI infrastructure over the next three years.
BYD production down amid growing competition issues
BYD has reportedly reduced production and delayed capacity expansion at its factories in China, cutting output by at least a third and cancelling night shifts due to rising inventory and unmet sales targets. This shift comes as the company, which recently overtook Tesla as the world's largest electric vehicle maker, faces intensified price competition in the Chinese auto market, prompting calls for more reasonable production targets from industry associations.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Cafe24 embraces four-day workweek
Cafe24, the Korean e-commerce platform, will implement a four-day workweek starting July 1, expanding its existing policy of granting every other Friday off. Employees on duty on Fridays will receive compensatory leave, and the annual leave policy will remain unchanged. Since 2021, Cafe24 has allowed employees to take every second and fourth Friday off, alongside flexible working hours. While many employees welcomed this change, some expressed concerns about the potential impact on the company, particularly as its main clients are online shopping mall operators.
ECONOMY
Japan's bento shops struggle amid inflation
Bento shops in Japan are facing significant challenges due to inflation and a struggling economy, with 22 establishments going bankrupt from January to May this year, compared to 21 last year. The demand for bento meals has declined since the pandemic, exacerbated by rising ingredient costs, particularly rice, which has more than doubled in price year on year. In fiscal 2024, 45% of bento shops reported higher profits, while 30% were unprofitable. Smaller shops are particularly vulnerable, as they lack the scale to manage rising costs effectively.
INTERNATIONAL
US tax on remittances sparks concerns
A proposed 3.5% US tax on remittances, part of President Donald Trump's tax and spending plan, has raised concerns among experts about its impact on national security and economies in Latin America and the Caribbean. Manuel Orozco, director of the Migration, Remittances and Development Program at the Inter-American Dialogue, said: “We did a conservative estimate of the impact of these flows and it will have an effect of reducing transfers by at least 5% in the next year.” Countries like Haiti, which heavily rely on remittances, could face dire economic consequences, as the tax may push migrants to use unregulated channels for sending money. The legislation has sparked debates about privacy and compliance costs for small businesses, with many fearing it could lead to a decline in remittance flows, further destabilising already fragile economies.
Colombian labour reform delivers significant increase in worker protections
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has enacted a significant labour reform aimed at enhancing worker protections. The law introduces measures such as increased overtime pay and medical coverage for gig workers. However, the reform has faced criticism from business leaders, who claim it could lead to job losses and increased costs for small businesses. Despite these concerns, trade unions and Petro's allies have welcomed the changes, which aim to address inequality in Colombia's workforce. The law's passage follows a challenging legislative process; Petro had to compromise on several provisions to secure approval.
Foreign workers fill record number of jobs in Slovakia
In May, Slovakia's foreign workforce reached a record high of over 125,000, increasing by nearly 1,200 from the previous month and almost 26,000 year-on-year. The growth highlights the country's reliance on foreign labour, particularly from Ukraine, Serbia, and India, to address workforce shortages. However, the number of highly skilled foreign workers is declining, with only 24 Blue Cards issued in 2023, compared to over 500 in the Czech Republic and more than 7,400 in Poland. Experts attribute this to Slovakia's complex bureaucratic processes, which deter skilled migrants. Despite a steady unemployment rate of 4.9%, job vacancies remain high at over 105,000, although new postings are slowing. Observers warn that without reforms to attract skilled migrants, Slovakia risks becoming increasingly dependent on low-wage labour.
OTHER
Thailand set to re-criminalise cannabis
The Thai government is moving to re-criminalise cannabis, other than for medical use. A new health ministry notification requiring medical prescriptions for cannabis was signed earlier this week and should become effective imminently, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said on Tuesday. A failure to formulate cannabis regulations following its 2022 decriminalisation has led to the mushrooming of more than 10,000 dispensaries and widespread recreational use, he said. Re-criminalisation will be a significant move for Thailand, which was the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis. With no cannabis law in place, dispensaries have opened nationwide, flourishing in popular tourist areas and even in Bangkok’s business districts. There has also been a surge in cannabis smuggling across borders.
 


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