Human Times

APAC Edition

30th January 2026

THE HOT STORY

Philippines spends millions to upskill outsourcing workers

Business-process outsourcing companies in the Philippines are investing approximately 1.4bn pesos annually to enhance employee skills amid a talent shortage and rising competition. Jack Madrid, president of the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines, noted that each member company has a dedicated learning and development team. The investment is crucial as the industry aims to maintain its position in the global outsourcing market, which accounts for about 8% of the country's GDP. Madrid expressed his concerns about emerging competitors, including Vietnam, which boasts a strong educational system and technology talent.

Business Times SG

HEALTH & SAFETY

Safety toll borne by migrant workers in Korea

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea reports that migrant workers have a fatality rate 2.3 to 3.6 times higher than Korean nationals. Experts attribute this to hazardous job assignments and language barriers, which hinder communication about safety risks. "Employers are not paying recruitment-related costs," said Cho Hyuk-jin, who highlighted the need for better training and support.

Korea Joongang Daily

WORKFORCE

Workers protest unpaid wages in Hong Kong

A group of about 15 construction workers has staged a protest outside Baguio Villa in Hong Kong's Pok Fu Lam, demanding unpaid wages from Prestige Construction & Engineering Co Limited. The Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union said that the contractor owes several months' salary, amounting to millions of dollars. During the demonstration, two workers climbed scaffolding, prompting police and the Fire Services Department to respond. Officers set up a rescue cushion as a precaution. Prestige was previously involved in a renovation project at Wang Fuk Court, where a tragic fire occurred last November, resulting in 168 fatalities.

South China Morning Post

STRATEGY

Amazon confirms 16,000 job cuts in latest round of layoffs

Amazon has confirmed that it is laying off about 16,000 corporate employees, marking its second round of job cuts in three months. This follows a previous reduction of 14,000 workers in October. Senior vice president Beth Galetti said the company aims to streamline operations by "reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy." US-based staff will have 90 days to find new roles internally, with severance and benefits offered to those who do not. Chief executive Andy Jassy noted that generative AI is expected to further reduce the workforce in the coming years.

The Times of India

Boston Globe

New York Times

Digital Edge to invest $4.5bn in Indonesia data centre campus

Digital Edge, an Asian digital infrastructure company, has announced plans to invest $4.5bn in one of Indonesia's largest data centre campuses, the CGK Campus, located in Bekasi. This facility, designed for artificial intelligence applications, will provide an initial IT capacity of 500 megawatts, with future expansion potential up to 1 gigawatt. The new data centre aims to bolster the region's digital capabilities, situated approximately 40 kilometres from Digital Edge’s existing operations in downtown Jakarta.

Bloomberg

HIRING

The recruitment company training AI to do your job

Tens of thousands of professionals are joining Silicon Valley start-up Mercor to train large language models to do the work in the particular sectors that they are qualified in.

Financial Times

TRADE

EU and India seal trade pact to slash €4bn of tariffs on bloc’s exports

The EU and India have signed a sweeping trade agreement that will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 96.6% of EU exports to India, potentially doubling EU shipments and removing up to €4bn in duties. The deal, described by Brussels as its largest ever, cuts levies on European cars, machinery, alcohol, and food products, while excluding sensitive agricultural goods. Tariffs on EU wine will fall from 150% to 20%, and car duties will drop from 110% to 10% for up to 250,000 vehicles annually. The pact, aimed at strengthening economic ties amid global trade tensions, still requires approval from the EU parliament, member states, and India’s cabinet.

INTERNATIONAL

Court tells Netherlands to help Caribbean island adapt to climate change risks

A court in the Netherlands has ruled that binding greenhouse gas emissions targets to reach net zero by 2050 must be set by the government to protect the Dutch-Caribbean island of Bonaire, and has ordered the state to develop a proper climate adaptation plan for the island. “This is an incredible victory for the people in Bonaire,” said Eefje de Kroon, a climate justice expert at Greenpeace Nederlands. “Not only has the court established that people from Bonaire are being discriminated against because of the climate crisis but also the Dutch government needs to do much more to protect them.” The court ruled that the Dutch government was breaching articles 8 and 14 of the European convention on human rights, which protect the right to respect for private and family life and prohibit discrimination.

Spain to grant legal status to immigrants without permission

Spain is to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, marking a shift from stricter immigration policies seen in the U.S. and Europe. Spanish Minister of Migration Elma Saiz said that eligible immigrants could receive up to one year of legal residency and work permission. The initiative could benefit around 500,000 to 800,000 individuals, primarily from Latin America and Africa. Saiz said the government is "dignifying and recognizing people who are already in our country."

Daily Sabah

Employees say AI is not saving time

Despite bold claims from executives about artificial intelligence's productivity gains, a new survey reveals a stark disconnect with employees, most of whom report little to no time saved using the technology. While over 40% of executives say AI saves them more than eight hours per week, two-thirds of non-management staff say they save less than two hours or none at all, according to a Section survey of 5,000 white-collar workers. Many workers said they feel overwhelmed or anxious about AI integration, using it mainly for basic tasks including draft writing or search, and often spending time correcting AI errors. Chief executives acknowledge limited bottom-line impact so far, with just 12% reporting both cost and revenue benefits from AI, according to PwC. The findings suggest a growing credibility gap between C-suite optimism and employee experience.

Wall Street Journal

UK water regulator will pay employees to stay

UK water regulator Ofwat plans to offer extra money to some staff, including engineers and data experts, as it struggles to fill roles after its workforce shrank by a fifth, partly as a result of government plans to abolish it and establish a new watchdog. The new regulator will take two years to set up, and in the meantime Ofwat must have a workforce that is sufficient to manage projects as well as the transition, chief dxecutive Chris Walters told lawmakers in parliament.

Bloomberg

OTHER

ICC judges find former Philippine President Duterte fit to stand trial

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity. The court dismissed defence claims regarding his frail health, citing a report from independent medical experts. The judges stated that Duterte can effectively exercise his procedural rights. His lead lawyer, Nick Kaufman, expressed disappointment, claiming the defence was not allowed to present its own medical evidence. Duterte faces a confirmation of charges hearing on February 23, where the strength of the prosecution's allegations will be assessed.

Saudi Gazette

AlJazeera

South China Morning Post

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