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APAC Edition
25th September 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

Super Retail Group settles legal dispute

Australia's Super Retail Group (SRG) has settled a legal dispute with former employees Rebecca Farrell and Amelia Berczelly, avoiding a trial that could have cost the company up to A$50m ($33.05m). The case revolved around allegations of a toxic workplace linked to an alleged affair between former chief executive Anthony Heraghty and ex-HR head Jane Kelly. SRG said the settlement was confidential and made without admitting liability. The board had previously investigated the claims, concluding they were unsubstantiated, but terminated Mr Heraghty's employment after receiving new information about his relationship with Ms Kelly.
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HIRING

Trump administration proposes overhaul of H-1B visa process

The White House has proposed an overhaul of the H-1B visa process for higher-paid workers. The proposal comes after President Donald Trump announced plans for companies to pay a new $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, which employers use to hire foreign workers. According to a proposed rule set to be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, a “weighted selection process” for higher skilled and higher paid foreign workers, for when annual demand for the visas tops the 85,000 limit set by Congress, would replace the current lottery system.
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STRATEGY

Accenture may construct new India campus creating thousands of jobs

Accenture has proposed establishing a new campus in Andhra Pradesh, India, with plans to create approximately 12,000 jobs, following similar initiatives by other IT firms including Tata Consultancy Services and Cognizant. The proposal, which includes a request for 10 acres of land in Visakhapatnam at a low lease rate, aims to leverage the state's new policy designed to attract large employers by offering affordable land. The move is part of a broader trend whereby technology companies are expanding into smaller Indian cities to benefit from lower operational costs and to adapt to changing immigration policies affecting skilled foreign talent.
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LEGAL

Chocolate pie theft case stirs debate over workplace laws in Korea

A legal dispute over a chocolate pie and a custard cake, valued at a combined 1,050 won (about 75 cents), has ignited public debate in South Korea. A subcontracted security worker at the office of a logistics company in Wanju County, North Jeolla, took the items during an overnight shift, claiming it was common practice. The company pursued theft charges, leading to a fine of 50,000 won after a guilty verdict. The worker has appealed.
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WORKPLACE

Most employees would take lower salary to work with close friends

A report from KPMG has found that 57% of workers would be happy to work at a job for a wage 10% below the market rate in exchange for working with close friends. The Big Four firm's survey of more than 1,000 full-time professionals also found that 45% reported feelings of isolation and loneliness in the workplace, nearly doubling from 25% in 2024. Workers said the top professional benefits of close work friendships include increased productivity and motivation to surpass job requirements. Sandy Torchia, KPMG’s US vice chair of talent and culture, said: “This finding underscores that as talent leaders navigate disruptions from AI and economic uncertainty and create competitive compensation and benefits packages, we cannot miss the importance of fostering workplace friendships, which are critical for a healthy, engaged and productive workforce.”
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CORPORATE

Shinsegae-Alibaba JV to launch in October

Korean retailer Shinsegae Group has announced that its joint venture with Alibaba International has been approved by the Korea Fair Trade Commission, and will launch next month. The partnership with Alibaba aims to create synergies through a cooperative ecosystem with the global platform; initial target markets include Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, where demand for K-pop and Korean products is growing.
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TAX

Korea and Australia unite against tax evasion

Top tax officials from Korea and Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to combat offshore tax evasion. Korean NTS Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun and Australian Taxation Office Commissioner Rob Heferen reached the agreement during the 54th Study Group on Asia-Pacific Tax Administration and Research meeting in Brisbane. The MOU allows both countries to assist each other in collecting unpaid taxes from evaders. Lim stated: "This is a major step toward stopping people from using international borders to escape their tax responsibilities." The NTS also plans to use AI to enhance tax detection and support services.
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INTERNATIONAL

Federal employees called back to work

The US General Services Administration (GSA) is recalling hundreds of federal employees who were laid off during a cost-cutting initiative led by Elon Musk. Employees have until the end of the week to accept their reinstatement, with a return date set for October 6. “Ultimately, the outcome was the agency was left broken and understaffed,” said Chad Becker, a former GSA real estate official. “They didn't have the people they needed to carry out basic functions.” The GSA's aggressive downsizing had led to significant operational challenges, precipitating the reversal. “GSA's leadership team has reviewed workforce actions and is making adjustments in the best interest of the customer agencies we serve and the American taxpayers,” an agency spokesman said in an email.

UAE set to attract more top talent after new US H-1B fee hike

US President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration overhaul, including the imposition of new visa fees, has opened a window of opportunity for countries such as the UAE and its Gulf neighbours to attract top talent and high-net-worth individuals, writes Isaac John in Khaleej Times. “The shift in US immigration policy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Gulf,” observes Dr. Narayan Sharma, a Texas-based independent migration policy analyst. “Tech workers and their families who once saw California as their destination of choice are now looking seriously at Dubai Internet City, Abu Dhabi’s Hub71, or Riyadh’s new tech clusters. The Gulf can offer stability, competitive salaries, and increasingly, long-term residency options.”

UK explores plan to drop visa fees for top global talent

Sir Keir Starmer is exploring proposals to abolish some visa fees for top global talent at a time when the US has taken a tougher stance on immigration. The UK prime minister's "global talent task force" is working on ideas to attract the world's best scientists, academics and digital experts to the country with a package of measures to increase economic growth, according to a report in the Financial Times. 

Italy approves comprehensive law regulating AI use

Italy has become the first European Union country to pass a comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence. The legislation, which is aligned with the EU's AI Act, aims to ensure "human-centric, transparent and safe AI use." It introduces prison sentences of one to five years for harmful AI-generated content and imposes stricter rules for workplace transparency. Children under 14 will need parental consent to access AI. Alessio Butti, undersecretary for digital transformation, said the law "brings innovation back within the perimeter of the public interest." The government has meanwhile allocated up to €1bn to support AI initiatives.
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OTHER

Urban Company to concentrate on instant home services

Home-services provider Urban Company, which made its trading debut in Mumbai last week, plans to double down on offering services within an hour. "Given the frequency and relevance to the average Indian middle-class household, instant services are a category that will become very important. It could create a strong strategic moat (sustainable competitive advantage) around our core business and a strong engagement driver", said chief executive Abhiraj Singh Bhal. Urban Company faces competition in the on-demand home services space from emerging start-ups such as General Catalyst-backed Pronto and Lightspeed-backed Snabbit. These rivals promise trained personnel for tasks including dishwashing, laundry and cleaning in as little as 10 minutes.
 
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