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APAC Edition
22nd April 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Indonesia passes long-awaited law to protect domestic workers

Following 20 years of discussions, Indonesia's parliament has passed a law to protect the rights of domestic workers. The legislation, first introduced in 2004, aims to provide legal recognition to the 4.2m domestic workers, predominantly women, who previously operated in an unregulated environment. Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas said: "The enactment aims to provide legal certainty for both domestic workers and employers." The law includes provisions for vocational training and prohibits child labour. Jala PRT coordinator Lita Anggraini called it a "historic" moment but noted that further education for employers is necessary.
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CYBERSECURITY

EU firms warned over cybersecurity plans targeting Chinese companies

China's commerce ministry has issued a warning about potential retaliation against European firms if the EU enforces its proposed cybersecurity regulations targeting Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE. In a detailed 30-page document submitted to the European Commission, the ministry said that "broad retaliation is on the table" if these firms face penalties under the draft law, which was first announced in January. “If the EU designates China as a ‘country posing cybersecurity concerns’ or lists Chinese entities as ‘high risk suppliers’ to phase out equipment manufactured by Chinese businesses in a compulsory manner and exclude Chinese products and services from the EU market, China can launch relevant investigations into the EU or EU businesses, and take reciprocal measures,” said a submission from the ministry in response to the commission’s request for feedback.
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WORKFORCE

Nepal restarts Gulf work permits

Nepal has resumed issuing work permits for its citizens to work in the Middle East following a six-week suspension due to the regional conflict. About 75% of Nepali workers abroad are employed in the Middle East, primarily in construction, and contribute significantly to their country's economy. Remittances from these workers account for over 25% of Nepal's $42bn economy. Pitambar Ghimire, a spokesperson for Nepal's labour ministry, said the decision was made after consulting the foreign ministry and in response to high demand from workers. Nepal's youth unemployment rate stands at 20.6%.

Victorian teachers intensify industrial action amid pay row with government

Public school teachers and staff in the Australian state of Victoria are escalating industrial action as negotiations with the state government stall over pay and conditions, introducing measures including bans on written report comments, refusal to implement new initiatives, and rolling half-day walkouts. The dispute follows the government’s 17% pay offer, which unions rejected in favour of a 35% increase. The Australian Education Union argues staff are overworked, underpaid, and facing chronic underfunding, while the government says it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through ongoing negotiations.
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LEGAL

China reinforces its ‘legal shield' against foreign pressure

China has introduced new regulations to combat the extraterritorial application of foreign laws, effective from April 13. The Regulations on Countering Unjustified Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Legislation aim to block foreign measures deemed improper by Beijing. Analysts see the move as a shift from diplomatic protests to “legal warfare.” The European Chamber of Commerce in China has voiced concern that the “broad scope, vague language and wide discretion” of the rules go far beyond similar statutes in the West. The move added to uncertainty around global supply chains amid the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the chamber said.
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CULTURE

University of Indonesia suspends 16 law students for vulgar chat

The University of Indonesia has suspended 16 law students for two weeks following a viral group chat containing vulgar sexual jokes about female peers and lecturers. The chat sparked outrage and discussions about gender violence in the country. University spokesman Erwin Agustian Panigoro said: "This step was taken as part of the university's commitment to maintaining a conducive academic environment." An investigation is currently underway.
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ECONOMY

Thai retail sector braces for tough times

The Thai retail and wholesale sector faces a challenging outlook as consumer spending power declines, according to Somchai Pornrattanacharoen, honorary adviser to the Thai Wholesale and Retail Trade Association. He noted that high energy costs and rising consumer goods prices, exacerbated by the war in the Middle East, are impacting consumers. He observed that small retailers are maintaining lean inventories due to weakened purchasing power. Additionally, he expressed concerns over the government's "Pum-Puang" initiative, suggesting that promoting smaller brands may be a better approach to stabilise prices and support local markets. "Consumers are left in despair," he said.
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INTERNATIONAL

Meta tracks employee mouse movements for AI training

Meta is implementing new tracking software on US employees' computers to monitor mouse movements, clicks, and keystrokes. The initiative, known as the Model Capability Initiative (MCI), aims to enhance the company's AI models by mimicking human interactions with technology. The tool will operate on work-related applications and websites, capturing occasional screenshots of employees' screens. According to an internal memo, the goal is to improve AI performance in tasks including selecting from dropdown menus and using keyboard shortcuts. "This is where all Meta employees can help our models get better simply by doing their daily work," the memo said.

Novo Nordisk hires 2,000 to reshape workforce

Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has hired about 2,000 people this year, as the company reshapes its workforce after laying off about 10% of employees in 2025.  Chief executive Mike Doustdar pushed through broad layoffs last year in a bid to make Novo faster and more aggressive, Bloomberg reports. About 1,400 of the hires have already started, a company spokeswoman said. Of the new hires, Novo said 398 have been in Denmark.

Chile's long-awaited reform package is unveiled

Chile President Jose Antonio Kast has announced a reform package aimed at stimulating economic growth and promoting job stability. The plan includes 40 measures, notably reducing the corporate tax rate from 27% to 23% over four years. Kast emphasised that the reforms are a response to urgent economic challenges, saying: "This bill is not an ideological agenda. It is a concrete response to . . . real emergencies." The government has said it aims to increase annual growth to 4% from last year's 2.5%. Other tax measures include the creation of a tax credit for wage payments, which is designed to encourage many smaller companies to pay employees on the books. "This injects $1.4bn annually into the productive sector, benefits 235,000 SMEs (representing 86% of the credit's recipients), and protects more than 4 million workers. Formal employment will no longer be a penalty but an ⁠advantage," Kast said.
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OTHER

Indian weight-loss market becomes ‘bloodbath’ as drugmakers pile in

India’s pharmaceutical industry, a world-leading exporter of cheap off-patent medicine, has jumped on the opportunity to produce low-cost weight-loss treatments, sparking a race that one executive called a “bloodbath.”
 
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