THE HOT STORY

'Urgent action' needed to protect workers from heat stress

The United Nations has urged governments and employers to act swiftly to safeguard workers from extreme heat, which is becoming more of a problem due to climate change. A “much needed” major update of a report and guidance last published in 1969 highlights that worker productivity declines by 2%-3% for each degree above 20°C. Vulnerable groups, including manual workers in agriculture and construction, face significant health risks such as heatstroke and dehydration. World Meteorological Association Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett said: "Protection of workers from extreme heat is not just a health imperative but an economic necessity."

Livemint.com

Straits Times

HIRING

Alvarez & Marsal announces plans to increase global capability centre headcount

Alvarez & Marsal plans to significantly expand its global capability centre in India, aiming to increase its workforce from 700 to 2,000 by the end of 2028. The firm, which is establishing a new centre in Bengaluru, will focus on hiring top talent from prestigious institutions, particularly for areas including transaction and tax advisory, corporate restructuring, and turnaround services. Managing director Manish Goyal noted that the structure of the India operation will be "an inverted pyramid," indicating a preference for experienced professionals over a large base of entry-level staff.

Reuters

Korean universities target international talent

A recent workshop at Sejong University indicates Korean universities are increasingly focused on attracting international students. The event, organised by Sejong University and Stuvisor, brought together recruiters and study abroad consultants from over 10 countries. Nineteen Korean universities participated, aiming to improve the study environment for foreign students. Dang Thi Ngoan from Yeungnam University noted growing student interest in Korea, particularly from Vietnam. The number of international students in Korea reached a record 208,962 last year.

Korea Joongang Daily

WORKPLACE

KKR is 'lead bidder' for Nissan $610m headquarters sale

KJR Management, a real estate unit owned by KKR, is reportedly the leading candidate to buy the Yokohama headquarters of automaker Nissan Motor and has offered around 90 billion yen ($609.80m), according to a source, Reuters reports.

Reuters

STRATEGY

DFI adapts to consumer demands

DFI Retail Group, the operator of Wellcome, Mannings, and 7-Eleven in Hong Kong, plans to lay off staff as it responds to changing consumer demands. Chief executive Scott Price has said that rising support function costs have made operations unsustainable. The company reported a loss of $38m in the first half of the year, contrasting with a profit of $95m the previous year. Retail sales in Hong Kong have been declining for 14 months, with a slight recovery in May and June. Mr Price emphasised the need for simplification, commenting: "That is not sustainable. And it is not aligned with the business we want to be."

South China Morning Post

OpenAI plans to open India office

OpenAI is set to establish its first office in New Delhi later this year, marking a significant step in its expansion within India, which is its second-largest market by user numbers. Chief executive Sam Altman said that the move aims to enhance accessibility to advanced AI technologies in the country, despite facing legal challenges regarding content usage for training ChatGPT. With a recent launch of a budget-friendly subscription plan, OpenAI is competing against rivals including Google's Gemini and AI start-up Perplexity as it seeks to capitalise on the growing user base in India, particularly among students.

Reuters

LEGAL

India's bill targets detained politicians

India's government has proposed a bill to remove politicians if they have been arrested and detained for 30 days. Home Minister Amit Shah said the aim of the bill is to enhance ethical standards. The bill mandates the removal of any minister detained for a month on charges carrying a five-year jail term. Critics, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, labelled the bill a "chilling attempt" to undermine democracy. John Brittas of the Communist Party of India-Marxist warned of potential misuse against opposition leaders. But Shah said: "We cannot be so shameless that we face accusations and still remain in a constitutional position."

The Peninsula

China court issues ruling on social insurance payments

China's Supreme People's Court has ruled that businesses and employees can no longer waive social insurance payments, a decision that raises concerns about job security and the viability of small firms. This ruling, effective from September 1, aims to replenish pension funds and support welfare reforms, but analysts warn it could negatively impact economic growth by reducing disposable income for both workers and businesses. As Jia Kang, president of the China Academy of New Supply-Side Economics, noted, the ruling could be "a matter of life or death for many small firms."

Reuters

ECONOMY

Aussie consumer sentiment rebounds strongly

Australian consumer sentiment rose 5.7% in August to 98.5 - its highest level since early 2022 - following a third interest rate cut this year by the Reserve Bank of Australia. Although still below the neutral 100 mark, Westpac's Matthew Hassan noted the cut “reinforced consumer expectations that mortgage interest rates are headed lower.” Confidence improved across all key categories: near-term economic outlook rose 7.6%, five-year view was up 5.4%, and assessments of family finances gained over 6%. Notably, sentiment around major purchases and home buying also rose, signalling potential support for retail and housing sectors despite ongoing affordability issues.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Worker-led Gaza protests at Microsoft headquarters

Protests led by employees have taken place at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The participants demanded the company sever ties with Israel following allegations that the Israeli military used Microsoft's Azure platform for surveillance in Gaza. The protests are being driven by the No Azure for Apartheid group, which has been active for months against Microsoft's technology support for Israel's military operations. Microsoft has announced an "urgent" review of the claims. Findings from the review by law firm Covington & Burling will be shared once completed.

U.S. News

Most Dutch workers still sit too much

Despite an awareness of the health risks, many Dutch employees continue to sit for long hours at work. According to Statistics Netherlands, the average worker sits for 8.8 hours daily. The typical employee spends 4.5 hours sitting at work, 1 hour in the car or on public transport, and 3.3 hours during leisure time. The National Working Conditions Survey revealed that sitting habits have not significantly changed over the past five years. IT professionals sit the most. The Ministry of Social Affairs has launched campaigns to encourage movement, including the “National Movement Minute.”

NL Times

OTHER

McDonald's Japan halts toy promotion

McDonald's Japan has postponed its One Piece toy promotion following backlash following a recent Pokémon giveaway. The Pokémon promotion led to excessive food waste and bulk-buying, with many customers reselling the cards online. McDonald's said it is reviewing its Happy Set initiatives and will provide toys from previous promotions instead. Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency has urged the company to improve its sales strategy to reduce food wastage.

BBC News

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.

Online

Advertise

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe