THE HOT STORY

Korea to tighten language screening for migrant workers

Korea is revising its Employment Permit System to enhance Korean-language screening for incoming migrant workers. The Human Resources Development Service of Korea announced changes to the selection process for E-9 visa workers, following a survey revealing that nearly half of employers were dissatisfied with their workers' language skills. This dissatisfaction is linked to rising industrial accidents involving foreign workers, who accounted for 11.8% of fatal incidents in early 2024. Lim Seung-mook, head of the agency's international workforce division, said: "We expect that the latest improvements will lead to stronger Korean proficiency and greater safety awareness." The new criteria will be implemented this year.

The Korea Times

HIRING

Singapore to create 15,700 jobs over five years, EDB says

Investment commitments in Singapore for 2025 are projected to generate 15,700 jobs over the next five years, with two-thirds of these roles offering monthly wages above $5,000. The Economic Development Board (EDB) reported that 40% of the jobs will be in services, 37% in manufacturing, and 23% in research and development. EDB chairman Png Cheong Boon said these roles will provide meaningful career pathways for both fresh graduates and mid-career hires. Despite the increase in investments to $14.2bn, job creation is down 16% from 2024, reflecting a more conservative outlook from companies amid global uncertainties.

Straits Times

REMOTE WORKING

‘They want their pound of flesh’: why bank bosses are pushing strict return-to-office mandates

Companies in sectors from tech to manufacturing are stepping up their return-to-office policies: culture, pay and expensive offices are cited as among the reasons for ending remote work.

Financial Times

LEGAL

Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years

The media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, who is a British citizen, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of national security offences in Hong Kong. The 78-year-old was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of publishing seditious materials in December last year. He was arrested in August 2020 after China imposed a national security law following massive anti-government protests in Hong Kong. Elaine Pearson, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, commented: "Lai's years of persecution show the Chinese ‌government's determination to crush independent journalism and silence anyone who ‍dares to criticise the Communist Party."

Sky News

Bloomberg

The Guardian

US House panel issues subpoena to Coupang

The House Judiciary Committee has issued a subpoena to Korean e-commerce firm Coupang as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged discrimination against US companies. The panel has also called on the company to testify. “Coupang will fully cooperate with the US House Judiciary Committee investigation, including production of documents and witness testimony as required by the subpoena," Coupang said in a statement.

Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

Tesla runs AI centre in China

Tesla is operating an AI training centre in China aimed at local application development and assisted driving, Chinese outlet Cailianshe has reported, citing Tesla Vice President Tao Lin.

Reuters

ECONOMY

Australian household spending slips in December after year-end surge

Australian household spending fell 0.4% in December to A$78.86bn ($55.2bn) as consumers pulled back after heavy spending during October and November sales events. The Australian Bureau of Statistics noted that annual spending growth slowed to 5%, though sales volumes still rose 0.9% over the quarter, supporting economic growth and reinforcing the central bank’s recent decision to raise interest rates to curb inflation.

The West Australian

Bloomberg

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Spanish train drivers begin nationwide strike

Train drivers in Spain have begun a three-day nationwide strike to protest what they say is a lack of safety guarantees on the country's rail system. The action follows two fatal train crashes in January. Semaf, the train drivers' union, is demanding the hiring of more staff and increased investment and maintenance in what it has described as "the constant deterioration of the rail network."

BBC News

Germany has highest share of older workers in EU

Germany has the highest percentage of older workers in the EU, with nearly 24% of its 40.9m workforce aged 55 to 64, according to Destatis. This contrasts with the EU average of about 20%. The average retirement age in 2024 was 64.7 years, up from 63.1 years in 2004. Italy follows with 23% of older workers, while Malta has the lowest at around 11%.

France 24

Uber to expand its robotaxi services

Uber is to launch its robotaxi services in Hong Kong, Madrid, Houston and Zurich. Hong Kong will be Uber’s first robotaxi market in Asia. The company didn’t disclose specific details on when the services would launch or the technology providers with which it will partner. The company's partners include China’s Baidu, which has a license to run small-scale driverless trials in Hong Kong, and WeRide, which has an autonomous-driving license in parts of Switzerland.

Bloomberg

OTHER

Giant homework sheets go viral in China as parents seek fun ways to motivate children

Some parents in China are turning to giant-sized homework papers to motivate their children, a trend that has gone viral on social media while also dividing public opinion. Supporters say the oversized test sheets make studying more engaging and help children focus, with several parents reporting that their kids enjoyed the novelty and even asked for more. However, others say the approach backfired, with some children treating the huge papers as toys and becoming more resistant to studying once they realized it was homework. The debate comes amid ongoing efforts by the Chinese government to reduce academic pressure and encourage more balanced, “happy education” approaches, highlighting the tension between creativity in parenting and the country’s traditionally intense study culture.

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