THE HOT STORY

Samsung call on court to block illegal strike activities by unions

Samsung Electronics wants a court to block the company's South Korean labour unions from engaging in illegal activities during strike action. Unionised workers at the world's largest manufacturer of memory chips last month voted to authorise strike plans and threatened to walk out for 18 days from May 21, should a wage deal with management not be agreed upon. The unions accused Samsung of infringing on workers' right to strike, which is protected under the law. A strike at the company could worsen bottlenecks in the global supply of semiconductors.

Straits Times

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Aussies are among the most stressed workers in the world

A Gallup report reveals that Australian workers are among the most stressed globally, with 50% saying they experience daily stress. The State of the Global Workplace 2026 report highlights a significant rise in negative emotions, with 21% of workers reporting sadness and 15% anger. Despite challenges, 55% of Australians say they feel they are thriving overall, indicating a complex emotional landscape influenced by various external factors, including economic pressures and the aftermath of the pandemic.

West Australian

HIRING

Japan halts foreign restaurant worker visas

The Japanese government has stopped issuing visas for foreign specified skilled workers in the restaurant sector as it nears its quota of 50,000. The Immigration Services Agency announced that applications received from April 13 will not be processed, although those submitted before this date will be considered until the limit is reached. An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries noted that the food service industry has been quicker to employ foreign workers than other sectors.

Straits Times

Korea launches online hub to recruit more international students

South Korea's Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the National Institute for International Education, has launched a year-round online promotion hub to enhance access to information for students interested in studying in Korea. The portal, which replaces last year's temporary online fairs, offers comprehensive details on universities, scholarships, visas, and employment opportunities. Minister of Education Choi Kyo-jin said: "The government will continue to expand support across the full cycle of international education." The initiative also includes live admissions webinars featuring 40 universities. Around 70,000 participants are expected.

The Korea Times

WORKFORCE

A fifth of Singapore workers are overqualified for their jobs

According to a 2025 study by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), 19.4% of resident workers in Singapore were overqualified for their jobs, an increase from 16.3% in 2015. Most of these workers, about 90%, chose their roles for better work-life balance or personal interests. Only 1.7% reported being unable to find suitable jobs. The study indicates that overqualification is common in high-income economies, with Singapore's rate lower than the high-income average. MOM noted: "This reflects Singapore's continued creation of high-skilled jobs to support a more educated workforce."

Straits Times

SUSTAINABILITY

Tokyo aquarium recycles fishing nets into employees' uniforms

Sunshine Aquarium in Tokyo has introduced new uniforms for staff that are made entirely from recycled fishing nets. The initiative aims to raise awareness about marine debris: fishing gear constitutes over 40% of man-made waste on Japan's coastlines. The aquarium collaborated with “Team Re:ism” to utilise chemical recycling technology for the production of the uniforms. Shuta Sashida of the Okayama city-based Caitac Group, a textile trading company that participated in the new uniform's production, said: “Compared to items like plastic bottles, the recycling rate for used fishing nets is low, so we want to help spread awareness about this initiative.”

Straits Times

ECONOMY

India inflation risks build

India’s retail inflation rose to 3.40% year over year in March from 3.21% in February, slightly below the 3.48% projected in a Reuters poll. Economists said the increase points to an early but limited impact from the West Asia crisis, with fuel and energy costs starting to add pressure. Aditi Nayar of ICRA said inflation “rose slightly to 3.4%” and could move above 4% in April. Analysts also flagged oil prices, monsoon risk and prolonged conflict as potential threats to inflation and interest-rate stability.

U.S. News

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Novo Nordisk partners with OpenAI to expedite drug development

Novo Nordisk is partnering with OpenAI to deploy artificial intelligence across its business. The partnership will aid the identification of promising drug candidates and improve efficiency in ⁠manufacturing, supply chains, distribution and corporate operations. The Danish firm, the maker of Wegovy and Ozempic, said OpenAI will also help train its global workforce, increase AI literacy and boost productivity across departments. "The aim here is not replacing our scientists. It's about supercharging them," Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar said.

Reuters

Snap cuts 1,000 jobs amid AI shift

Snapchat owner Snap has cut around 1,000 jobs, representing 16% of its workforce, as part of a strategy to reduce annual costs by $500m. Co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel described this as a "crucible moment" for the company, which has faced pressure from activist investor Irenic Capital Management. Spiegel said that remaining staff will leverage AI tools to enhance productivity, saying that the technology will help "reduce repetitive work and increase velocity."

Los Angeles Times

U.S. News

European gas and power markets expand trading hours

European gas and power markets are expanding trading hours to 21 hours from 10 hours amid sharp price swings. The lengthier trading day is expected to reshape how energy traders work and live, and some have voiced concerns about the erosion of work-life balance. Yet many say the change is a logical next step for a market that has been transformed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new extended day is “an advantage for global players,” observed Marco Saalfrank, head of continental Europe merchant trading at Swiss-based Axpo Holding. “If something happens in the market that affects prices, they can react immediately.”

Bloomberg

OTHER

US urges nations to back 'trade over aid' plan

The US wants other nations to back a “trade over aid” initiative at the United Nations as part of the Trump administration’s broader shift away from donor-focused development assistance and toward greater private investment. “The idea that trade and free market capitalism is the surest path to prosperity has been proven by the facts and by history,” said Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesman. “The US remains the most generous country in the history of the world, but those arguing for ‘aid not trade’ are really arguing for lining the pockets of a corrupt NGO industrial complex.” The new US position has drawn criticism from the non-profit sector and others working on economic development goals.

Financial Times

Washington Post

The Guardian

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