THE HOT STORY

Samsung union faces backlash over strike pressure

Samsung Electronics' labour union is facing criticism for allegedly pressuring members to support a strike. The joint union headquarters plans to hold a vote from Monday to March 18. If a majority favours the strike, a rally will occur on April 23, followed by a general strike from May 21 to June 7. Choi Seung-ho, head of the Samsung Group Supercorporate Labour Union's Samsung Electronics branch, said: “The leadership will hold rallies near our Pyeongtaek office during the strike and recruit staff to watch over offices at company sites . . . We will keep a list of names of employees who work during the strike and refer to it when dealing with transfers or layoffs.” Some employees criticised Choi's remarks. “If I join the strike, the company could penalise me,” said one.

Korea Joongang Daily

HIRING

Australian firms duped into hiring remote North Korean workers

Australian companies face warnings about breaching sanctions laws by hiring North Korean IT workers based in China and Russia. These workers are reportedly part of schemes that funnel money to Kim Jong-un's regime, rather than engaging in cyber espionage. Hamish Krebs, executive director of digital forensics at CyberCX, said such operations are automated by AI to generate hard currency for the regime in Pyongyang.

Financial Review

WORKFORCE

Singapore to raise retirement age to 64

Singapore will increase its retirement age to 64 and re-employment age to 69 starting July 1, with plans for the age to reach 65 and 70 respectively by 2030. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said that these changes aim to provide seniors with more flexibility and assurance while allowing employers to retain experienced workers. The government will also enhance the Central Provident Fund (CPF) system, raising contribution rates for senior workers. Additionally, support schemes for employers hiring seniors will be extended, promoting longer careers through structured career planning and guidance programmes.

Straits Times

TECHNOLOGY

Xiaomi tests humanoid robots in EV factory, plans large-scale deployment within five years

Xiaomi has begun testing self-developed humanoid robots in its car manufacturing plant, with plans to deploy a large number of them across its factories over the next five years, according to chief executive Lei Jun. During recent trials, the robots operated autonomously for three consecutive hours, completing vehicle assembly tasks without human intervention. In a demonstration video, the robots were shown picking up and fastening screw nuts onto car floors, achieving a 90.2% success rate while meeting Xiaomi’s rapid production pace of 76 seconds per vehicle. The company said key technical challenges included precise alignment with locating pins, handling variations in nut structures and overcoming magnetic interference affecting grip stability.

South China Morning Post

WORKPLACE

New orders to protect NSW retail workers

Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs) are set to enhance safety for retail workers in New South Wales, Australia. The orders aim to exclude repeat offenders from shops and address the rise in harassment and violence. Since October, 525 individuals have been charged with offences against retail staff. Attorney-General Michael Daley said: "No one deserves to be harassed, intimidated or abused simply for doing their job." The initiative has garnered support from unions and businesses, with evidence suggesting a similar measure in the Australian Central Territory reduced violent incidents by 23%.

Daily Mail

LEADERSHIP

Sun Art replaces CEO after executive becomes ‘uncontactable’

Chinese hypermarket operator Sun Art Retail Group has appointed chair Julian Juul Wolhardt as chief executive after the company's previous CEO, Li Weiping, became “uncontactable” and was unable to perform her duties for an extended period. The Hong Kong-listed company said its board had therefore resolved that Li’s role as executive director be vacated with immediate effect.

Reuters

ECONOMY

Korean retailers wary of consumer slowdown amid Iran crisis

South Korean retailers are warning that escalating tensions in the Middle East could weaken consumer sentiment through higher oil prices, currency volatility and rising import costs. Duty-free stores are seen as the most vulnerable because products priced in US dollars become more expensive as the Korean won weakens, while department stores fear prolonged conflict could curb spending on luxury goods, though discount chains may benefit if consumers shift toward cheaper products.

The Korea Times

INTERNATIONAL

AI is not hitting European jobs for now, ECB says

Economists at the European Central Bank say artificial intelligence has only had minor effects on employment in Europe to date, but they cautioned that the future impact of the technology is uncertain. In a comparison of 3,500 businesses, some of which reported using AI and some of which did not, the economists overall found no difference in terms of creating or cutting jobs, and firms that use AI particularly frequently were in fact 4% more likely to hire new staff than average. "As things stand, based on firms' overall hiring plans, investment in and the intensive use of AI are not yet replacing jobs," the economists said in a blog post, adding "In fact, some firms are hiring additional employees - perhaps because they are looking to develop and implement AI technologies while maintaining their existing production processes, or because AI is a way to help them scale up more quickly."

France 24

Iran warns those who seek to defy internet blackout

The authorities in Iran have issued warnings to people connecting to the internet in defiance of a communications blackout that has left the country largely cut off from the outside world. Connectivity is at "around 1% of ordinary levels," according to monitor group Netblocks. A spokesperson for the Norway-based Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights said its work had been complicated by severe communication problems. "It's a struggle for us right now, but it's not the first time that we are facing a cutoff," Awyar Shekhi said. "We've built our own networks to be prepared [for] such times to be able to get information through our sources when there is no internet."

France 24

Kuehne+Nagel to cut over 2,000 jobs

Kuehne+Nagel, the Swiss logistics group which ⁠operates in more than 100 countries, is cutting more than 2,000 jobs as part of a cost-savings programme that was implemented in the fourth quarter. Chief executive Stefan Paul also said the company may benefit from the conflict in the Middle East, because global trade turmoil typically drives higher demand for its consultancy services. "Complexity normally helps a forwarder to have better results," he said.

Reuters

Nestlé lays off 400 employees in South Africa

Nestlé is issuing retrenchment notices to over 400 employees in South Africa as part of a global restructuring plan focusing on four core divisions. Initial severance discussions have begun for at least 100 workers. The restructuring, led by new chief executive Philipp Navratil, aims to cut about 16,000 jobs globally, accounting for approximately 6% of the company's workforce.

Bloomberg

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