THE HOT STORY

Australian hiring practices 'deeply concerning'

A survey by the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) has revealed that nearly one-third of Australian employers exclude job candidates with mental or long-term illnesses. The findings indicate that 70% of employers discriminate against certain groups, including those over 55 and individuals with disabilities. AHRI chief executive Sarah McCann-Bartlett said that such discrimination is illegal and also limits the talent pool. Gayle McNaught from SANE, a national mental health organisation, said the survey's findings are "deeply concerning" and indicative of the "entrenched prejudice and discrimination" faced by so many people in Australia.

ABC Online

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WORKFORCE

Samsung workers' strike plan could disrupt chip supply, union says

A strike at South Korea's Samsung Electronics, the world's largest maker of ‌memory chips, could worsen bottlenecks in the global supply of semiconductors, the biggest workers' union at the company has said. "I expect there would be production disruption," Choi Seung-ho, who leads the Samsung Electronics Labour Union (SELU), said last week, as members began voting on a plan to strike in May. If a deal cannot be agreed, the union plans a strike for 18 days from May 21, Choi said. An official for Samsung said production ⁠stoppages caused by "even a single strike" could damage trust with customers and take years to recover.

Business Times SG

Reuters

Indian urban unemployment at three-month low in February

The unemployment rate in India's urban areas decreased to a three-month low of 6.6% in February, down from 7% in January, according to the National Statistics Office. The overall unemployment rate also fell slightly to 4.9%. Notably, women's employment indicators improved, with the female unemployment rate dropping to 5.1% from 5.6%. Urban female unemployment decreased to 8.7%, while rural female joblessness eased to 4%. The labour force participation rate for women rose to 35.3%, suggesting more women are seeking work.

The Times of India

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Indonesian workers are the happiest in the Asia-Pacific region

According to a survey by Jobstreet by SEEK, 82% of Indonesian workers reported feeling happy at work, the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. Such happiness is attributed to cultural factors, strong social ties, and a sense of purpose. Tulus Winarsunu, a professor of industrial and organisational psychology at Malang's Muhammadiyah University, said Indonesia's communal society is a key factor behind the results. “Indonesians are more collective and interdependent, and they need other people to create a sense of happiness. Indonesians have a strong social identity where happiness comes not just from yourself and your independence, but because of colleagues.” However, the survey also highlighted concerns about burnout, with 43% of respondents saying they experience it. Experts noted that while communal culture fosters happiness, job insecurity and heavy workloads contribute to stress.

South China Morning Post

LEGAL

China approves 'ethnic unity' law requiring minorities to learn Mandarin

China has approved a new law which Beijing claims will help promote "ethnic unity" - but critics say it will further erode the rights of minority groups. The law mandates that all children should be taught Mandarin before kindergarten and up until the end of high school. Previously, students could study most of the curriculum in their native language such as Tibetan, Uyghur or Mongolian. "The law is consistent with a dramatic recent policy shift, to suppress the ethnic diversity formally recognised since 1949," Magnus Fiskesjö, an associate professor of anthropology at Cornell University, said. "The children of the next generation are now isolated and brutally forced to forget their own language and culture." The law aims to promote integration across ethnic groups through education, housing, migration, community life, culture, tourism, and development policy.

New York Times

Reuters

BBC News

HIRING

Korea P&G to recruit interns for 2026 conversion programme

Korea P&G, the South Korean branch of Procter & Gamble, is accepting applications for its 2026 conversion internship until April 17. The programme targets graduates and students expected to finish by August 2027, covering areas including sales marketing, finance, supply chain, and IT. Successful interns may secure full-time roles. The internship lasts about two months, from late June to late August, with real business projects and a chance to visit the Singapore hub. Oh Seo-young, Korea P&G's HR head, said: "Korea P&G views talent as the core driver of growth." The starting salary is around 60m won ($45,000).

The Korea Times

ECONOMY

India’s textile recycling market could reach $3.5bn by 2030

India’s textile recycling market is projected to grow to $3.5bn by 2030 and could create around 100,000 green jobs, according to a government-backed report. The study found that India generates about 7.07m tonnes of textile waste annually, with 70% already recovered through recycling, reuse or upcycling processes. Pre-consumer waste from manufacturing accounts for 42% of the total and is largely recovered, while more than half of post-consumer waste is diverted from landfills through an extensive informal collection network that supports millions of livelihoods. The report highlights opportunities to expand recycling infrastructure across textile clusters and strengthen India’s shift towards a more sustainable, circular textile industry.

Economic Times

INTERNATIONAL

UN chief warns of a rising tide of anti-Muslim bigotry

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has highlighted a "rising tide of anti-Muslim bigotry and hate" during the International Day to Combat Islamophobia event in New York. He urged governments, tech companies, and individuals to combat discrimination and protect human rights. Guterres noted that nearly 2bn Muslims face exclusion and violence, both online and offline, saying: “When discriminatory narratives are echoed by those in positions of authority, prejudice becomes normalised . . . When stereotypes are left unchallenged, they harden into policy.” He added: “As Ramadan draws to a close, Muslims around the world reaffirm values that also form the foundation of the UN Charter: empathy for the vulnerable, generosity toward neighbours, and responsibility toward the wider community.”

Arab News

Stellantis pushes white-collar workers back to the office full-time

Stellantis, the carmaker that is the owner of brands ranging from Jeep to Fiat, is pushing tens of thousands of its white-collar workers in Europe back to the office full-time to boost efficiency. Since the pandemic, workers in France, Italy and Germany were allowed to work as little as ⁠1.5 days per week in the office. The return to office full-time will start in these three countries and "progressively extend to other countries," Stellantis said. The CFE-CGC union, the main union representing the company's workers in France, opposes the plan. "This abrupt reversal . . . undermines 10 years of pioneering policy on agility," CFE-CGC union representative Laurent Oechsel told Reuters. "It ⁠creates a climate of major concern."

Reuters

Trump's chief of staff has breast cancer but will keep working through treatment

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer but will continue her duties during treatment. President Donald Trump shared the news on social media, saying that Wiles' prognosis is “excellent” and calling her “one of the strongest people I know.” In a statement to the New York Times, Wiles said she was “encouraged by the strong prognosis” and thanked Trump for his support. “Nearly one in eight women in the United States will face this diagnosis,” Wiles said. “Every day, these women continue to raise their families, go to work and serve their communities with strength and determination. I now join their ranks.”

Chicago Tribune

NJ.com

U.S. News

OTHER

Hong Kong group warns plain packs hinder spotting smuggled cigarettes

Nearly 90% of smokers in Hong Kong cannot differentiate between smuggled and duty-paid cigarettes under proposed plain packaging, according to a survey by the Long-term Tobacco Policy Concern Group. The group has urged the government to enhance the tobacco stamp duty system by allowing consumers to scan QR codes for verification. Joe Lo Kai-lut, the group's convenor, said: "With the current packaging, consumers could tell if a pack is taxed based on the brand labels." The Health Bureau plans to implement plain packaging by the second quarter of 2027, removing brand logos and standardising fonts.

South China Morning Post

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