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APAC Edition
18th August 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Qantas hit with record fine for illegal pandemic layoffs

Australian carrier Qantas has been fined a record A$90m ($59m) for illegally sacking more than 1,800 ground workers during the pandemic. Australian Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said the outsourcing of 1,820 baggage handler and cleaner jobs at Australian airports in late 2020 was the “largest and most significant contravention” of relevant Australian labour laws in their 120-year history. Lee said that he wanted the fine to act as a "real deterrence" to other employers. "We sincerely apologise to each and every one of the 1,820 ground handling employees and to their families who suffered as a result," Qantas Group chief executive Vanessa Hudson said. "The decision to outsource five years ago, particularly during such an uncertain time, caused genuine hardship for many of our former team and their families."
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TECHNOLOGY

Does HR still need humans?

The Financial Times reports on how many companies are beginning to outsource the duties of human resources staff - including elements of recruitment and staff outreach - to automated screening and chatbots.
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WORKFORCE

National Australia Bank to pay millions to fix staff underpayment issue

National Australia Bank (NAB) has announced an expected increase in full-year expenses by up to A$130m ($84.7m) due to the discovery of underpayment issues affecting some staff. The bank is currently conducting a payroll review that began in 2019, with ongoing investigations into payroll-related benefits, although the exact number of affected employees remains undisclosed. NAB's Chief Executive Andrew Irvine described the situation as "disappointing" and emphasised the importance of ensuring staff are paid correctly. Analysts believe the financial impact will be viewed as a one-off by investors.

Singapore retail workers to see wage boost

The Tripartite Cluster for Retail (TCR) has announced new progressive wage model (PWM) recommendations for Singapore's retail sector, effective September 1. Retail workers will receive a minimum wage increase of S$130. The PWM aims to enhance wages, career progression, and skills training for over 53,000 retail workers. Notable changes include a rise in baseline gross wages for full-time retail assistants from S$2,175 to S$2,305 by 2025. TCR chair Yeo Wan Ling said: “As the retail sector transforms . . . so must our approach to helping our retail workers adapt.”

Warning against importing Sri Lankan workers into Thailand

Lae Dilokvidhyarat, a Thai labour expert, has cautioned against Thailand's plan to import unskilled workers from Sri Lanka to address an exodus of Cambodian labourers. He said that this approach may not resolve the underlying issues, because Sri Lankans lack the necessary skills and cultural familiarity with Thai society. The exodus, driven by fears for safety amid recent border clashes, has seen an estimated 500,000 Cambodians return home. Lae suggested increasing quotas for workers from Myanmar and Laos as a more viable short-term solution. He emphasised the need for Thailand to adopt new technologies and upskill its workforce.
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LEGAL

Beijing E-Town sues Applied Materials

Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technologies has filed a lawsuit in the Beijing Intellectual Property Court against U.S.-based Applied Materials, alleging trade secret infringement involving plasma source and wafer surface treatment technology. The state-backed Chinese firm is seeking 99.99 million yuan ($13.94m) in damages, claiming Applied Materials used confidential know-how to file a Chinese patent, and listing two former Mattson Technology employees - hired from Beijing E-Town’s subsidiary - as inventors. The dispute follows earlier lawsuits between Applied Materials and Mattson over similar allegations. A court hearing date has not yet been set.

Philippines investigates exploitation of cleaning staff in Amsterdam

The Philippines’ ministry of labour migration is investigating the exploitation of cleaners at Saints & Stars gym in Amsterdam. Owner Tom Moos allegedly failed to secure necessary accreditation for employing workers. Reports indicate cleaners worked up to 17 hours daily and surrendered their passports. Dutch caretaker social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum called the conditions “unacceptable.” Eleven cleaners received support at the Philippine embassy, which is coordinating with Dutch authorities.
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RISK

China’s open-source AI spurs US alarm

China’s surge in open-source AI models - including DeepSeek, Qwen, and Moonshot - is challenging US dominance in the global AI race. These models, free to use and modify, are rapidly gaining adoption, prompting responses from US companies like OpenAI, which recently released its own open model, gpt-oss. US officials fear China could set global AI standards, leveraging control for geopolitical advantage. Businesses favor open models for flexibility and data control. While Alibaba’s Qwen outperforms US rivals in some areas, it demands more computing power. The fast-moving race may lead to consolidation, rewarding companies that build large, loyal user bases.
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ECONOMY

Japan wholesale inflation slows again

Japan’s wholesale inflation eased to 2.6% in July, marking a fourth straight month of deceleration and aligning with BOJ’s view that raw material-driven price pressures are easing. However, food and agricultural prices rose 4.2%, indicating broader inflation risks. The yen-based import price index dropped 10.4% year-over-year, continuing a steep decline. Despite ending its decade-long stimulus and raising rates to 0.5% in January, BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda remains cautious, noting inflation is still largely driven by temporary cost factors.
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INTERNATIONAL

Walmart expands grocery discount for staff

Walmart has extended its 10% employee discount to nearly all grocery items, a move designed to support its 1.6m U.S. workers amid rising food costs. Previously limited to produce and general merchandise, the perk now includes staples like milk, pasta, and meat year-round. “This is one of our most requested benefits,” said Chief People Officer Donna Morris. Announced at a manager gathering in Houston, the change drew a standing ovation. It aligns Walmart more closely with rivals like Target and Whole Foods, who offer broader employee discounts. The update reflects efforts to retain workers and support inflation-hit staff.

Israelis reckon with growing global isolation

International backlash over the war in Gaza is stoking fears that Israel is heading for pariah status. Israeli authorities advise those citizens travelling abroad to “minimise” signs of their nationality.
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OTHER

Guess embraces AI models

Guess has introduced an AI-generated supermodel in its latest campaign. This is the first instance of AI models being featured in Vogue magazine. While brands like H&M and Mango have previously experimented with AI, the implications of the technology raise concerns about beauty standards and the future of the modelling industry.
 
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