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APAC Edition
24th July 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Australian employer biases against older - and younger - generations

Almost a quarter (24%) of HR professionals in Australia now classify workers aged 51–55 as "older", according to new research from the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) and the Australian Human Rights Commission. This increase, from 10% in 2023, suggests many employers are sidelining experienced professionals in an economy suffering skills shortages. The report, Older and Younger Workers: What Do Employers Think?, is AHRI and the Commission’s fifth national survey of employers and HR professionals. It provides a snapshot of how older and younger workers are perceived, supported and included in Australian workplaces. Despite more than half (55%) of respondents reporting hard-to-fill vacancies, just 56% said they are open to hiring workers aged 50–64 "to a large extent". This drops to 28% for those 65 and over, and almost a fifth (18%) say they won’t hire this age group. At the other end of the spectrum, the findings were also bleak, with just 41% open to recruiting jobseekers aged 15 to 24 ‘to a large extent’. 
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STRATEGY

King Power cuts branches, trims workforce

King Power Corporation is restructuring its operations by closing three branches in Bangkok and Pattaya, and is initiating a voluntary redundancy programme for employees. Chief executive Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said that these closures, including King Power Mahanakhon, King Power Srivaree, and King Power Pattaya, are a necessary response to changing market conditions, particularly the decline in tourism. He noted: "Many businesses nowadays are required to make adjustments, not only King Power". Employees affected by the closures will have the option to relocate to other positions within the company. King Power, established in 1989, is Thailand's largest duty-free shopping operator and is also negotiating contract adjustments with Airports of Thailand for its operations at five airports.

Costco to establish global capability centre in India

Costco is looking to open a Global Capability Centre in India in Hyderabad, a facility to handle technology and research operations and work alongside global teams. It is thought that it will initially employ 1,000 people, before scaling up. Other retail and consumer goods groups to have similar hubs in India include Walmart, Target, McDonald's, and Heineken.

McKinsey bars China practice from generative AI work amid geopolitical tensions

McKinsey has instructed its mainland Chinese operation to refrain from projects related to generative artificial intelligence amid geopolitical tensions, excluding it from a potentially lucrative local market for consultants.

Amazon shuts down Shanghai AI research lab

Amazon is shutting down its Shanghai artificial intelligence lab, becoming the latest US company, following IBM and Microsoft, to retreat from Chinese research efforts amid rising geopolitical tensions.
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CYBERSECURITY

Hong Kong probes Louis Vuitton data breach

Hong Kong's Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data is probing a data leak affecting about 419,000 customers of Louis Vuitton. The luxury giant has suffered a string of cyber attacks across its key markets in recent months. Leaked data of the Hong Kong customers include names, passport numbers, birth dates, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, shopping history and product preferences, but not payment information. The office is looking into the case, including whether there has been any delay in notifying authorities involved.
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TECHNOLOGY

OpenAI unveils agent that can devise spreadsheets and PowerPoints

OpenAI has launched an agent that allows users to create spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. Available to Pro, Plus, and Team users, it is equipped with “deep research” capabilities that allow it to synthesize larger amounts of information it gathers from the web. “We think that this model is actually going to be quite good at low-level, first-, second-year, financial analysis type work that might have taken someone a night to do if they’re getting pinged by their boss late at night,” said Neel Ajjarapu, product manager for ChatGPT agent.
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CORPORATE

Reliance acquires Kelvinator from Electrolux

Reliance Industries' retail arm has acquired the Kelvinator brand in India from Sweden's Electrolux, marking a strategic move to strengthen its position in the country's fast-expanding consumer durables market. The acquisition builds on Reliance Retail's growing presence in home electronics, a segment fuelled by rising incomes, urbanisation, and increasing competition. The company had been selling Kelvinator-branded appliances under a licensing agreement since 2019, and the purchase now gives it full ownership of the once-iconic brand, known in India during the 1970s and 80s as a symbol of middle-class aspiration. Electrolux reported a gain of 180m Swedish crowns ($18.5m) from the sale. The deal comes as India's consumer goods sector shows rapid growth, though Reliance Retail is not expected to pursue an IPO before 2027 or 2028.
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INTERNATIONAL

US Labor Department rule change push to deregulate workplaces

The US Department of Labor wants to rewrite or repeal more than 60 workplace rules, including minimum wage requirements for home health care workers and people with disabilities, protections for migrant farm workers, adequate lighting for construction spaces, safety procedures for mines, and limiting the reach of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The department said its aim is to reduce expensive and burdensome regulations imposed by previous administrations. “The Department of Labor is proud to lead the way by eliminating unnecessary regulations that stifle growth and limit opportunity,” Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said. But Rebecca Reindel, the AFL-CIO union’s occupational safety and health director, responded: “People are at very great risk of dying on the job already . . . This is something that is only going to make the problem worse.”

Filipino workers in UAE frustrated by limited online contract verification slots

The UAE's Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has introduced a new online system for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to submit and verify documents remotely, crucial for obtaining the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) needed for re-entry into the UAE. However, the pilot phase has raised concerns due to limited appointment slots. Currently, the system allows up to 200 applications daily, but many OFWs report difficulties securing slots. Atty John Rio A. Bautista, Labor Attaché of MWO Dubai, explained that the limited slots are due to the pilot phase and the number of available evaluators. The DMW aims to evaluate the system's effectiveness after the pilot ends, with potential improvements based on feedback. Contract verification is essential for safeguarding OFWs' rights and benefits, ensuring fair treatment under labour laws.

London Stock Exchange Group considers launch of 24-hour trading

London Stock Exchange Group is weighing whether to launch 24-hour trading as bourses race to extend access to stocks amid growing demand from small investors active outside normal business hours. One person has told the Financial Times that the group is “absolutely looking at it, whether it means 24-hour trading or extended trading,” adding that it was “having important commercial, policy and regulatory discussions” about the topic. The Guardian reports that some brokers have argued the move could make it more difficult for clearing or guaranteeing trades, and would require significant technology and staff changes.

Finns can't switch off on holiday

More than half (52%) of Finnish workers admit to performing job duties during their holidays, according to a survey by HR firm SD Worx. "The combination of smartphones and email has made it nearly impossible to disconnect from work. Checking work emails once or twice a week may seem moderate, but in practice this means that there is actually no day on vacation when work is not on your mind in one way or another," the company's country director in Finland, Mikko Uotila, said. Only 15% of respondents reported being able to fully disconnect, with nearly half checking emails at least weekly. Entrepreneurs were particularly active, with over half checking emails daily. The survey also revealed that more than half of workers would interrupt their holidays for workplace emergencies, with 14% willing to work over three hours a day if necessary. The data surveyed around 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 75.
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OTHER

San Francisco start-up claims to have cracked alchemy

San Francisco-based Marathon Fusion, a start-up focused on using nuclear fusion to generate power, says the process could be used to produce gold from mercury. It suggests that a future fusion plant could produce up to 5,000kg of gold each year. However, some of the gold may be slightly radioactive, needing up to 18 years in storage before it’s safe for jewellery. 
 
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