Human Times
The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
Human Times Logo
APAC Edition
18th May 2026
 
Industry Slice Icon Logo

THE HOT STORY

Heatwave deaths spark urgent action

Extreme heat poses a significant risk to outdoor workers in South Korea, as evidenced by recent fatalities linked to high temperatures. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported a tenfold increase in heat-related illnesses since 2011, with 4,460 cases last year. This summer is expected to be equally severe, prompting the introduction of an "Extreme Heat Severe Warning." The Ministry of Employment and Labor has recommended suspending outdoor work during such warnings. Professor Kim Tae-lim advised that symptoms like cramps and dizziness should prompt immediate cooling and hydration.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

EBOOK

Improve Employee Onboarding with AI

Starting a new role sets the tone for the entire employee journey, and puts pressure on both HR and IT teams to get every detail right.

This free Atlassian eBook shows how HR teams can create smoother, more consistent onboarding experiences using Jira Service Management, AI and Assets.  

Learn how to automate manual tasks, reduce errors, improve visibility and give hiring managers the insights they need to support new starters from day one. The guide also includes how FanDuel connected Assets with its HRIS to streamline employee onboarding.

Download the eBook

 
Industry Slice Icon Logo

WORKFORCE

Air India warns on ethics

Outgoing Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson urged employees to uphold ethical standards during a recent town hall meeting. Over the past three years, the airline has terminated more than 1,000 employees for ethical breaches, including theft and misuse of travel schemes. Wilson warned that 2026 will be "a very, very difficult year" due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. Air India, which employs around 24,000 people, reported a loss exceeding Rs220 bn for the financial year ending March 31, 2026. The airline faces significant challenges, including rising fuel costs and airspace restrictions, impacting operations and profitability.

Cisco to cut about 4,000 jobs in AI-focused restructuring

San Jose, California-based networking equipment maker Cisco has said it would cut nearly 4,000 jobs as part of restructuring aimed at ‌shifting investment toward artificial intelligence and related growth areas. "The companies that will win ​in the AI era will be those with focus, urgency, and the discipline to continuously shift ​investment toward the areas where demand and long-term value creation are strongest," chief executive Chuck ⁠Robbins wrote in a post on Cisco's website. 

Skilled trades set to thrive during AI boom

Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, highlighted the growing demand for skilled trades during his speech at Carnegie Mellon University. He stated that the AI boom is creating significant opportunities for electricians, plumbers, and technicians, who are essential for building the infrastructure needed for AI technology. Huang noted: "AI gives America the opportunity to build again." With major tech firms expected to spend around $700bn on AI-related infrastructure this year, the demand for skilled workers has surged.

Tasmania's smelter workers get pay boost

Workers at Tasmania's Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter will receive wages for an additional two weeks due to a deal between state and federal governments. EY Parthenon partner Morgan Kelly stated: "The announcement of further funding will support the immediate retention of employees." The funding package aims to maintain operations while a new buyer is sought, as the smelter's voluntary administration period has been extended until July 29. The Australian Workers Union is advocating for longer-term support, emphasising the need for stability for the workforce during this uncertain period.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

WORKPLACE

China's birth-friendly campaign launched

China has initiated a campaign to certify 40 cities and 200 workplaces as “birth-friendly” every three years. The effort aims to combat the country's declining birth rate. The National Health Commission has urged local governments to alleviate the financial burdens associated with childbirth and child-rearing. Employers are also encouraged to support their employees in balancing work and family life. Ma Jiantang, a senior economist, highlighted the urgency of these reforms, stating: "We must seize the period where the number of women at childbearing age is still over 200m." United Nations data indicates that the fertility rate in China has dropped to 1.0 in 2024.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

PRODUCTIVITY

Embrace AI: Workers must adapt

Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health Koh Poh Koon emphasised the need for workers to adopt a lifelong learning mindset as artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the economy. Speaking at the Singapore Business Federation Future Economy Conference, he noted that healthcare professionals continuously upskill and adapt to new technologies. Koh stated: "Workers across industries need to approach AI in the same way." He also highlighted the importance of integrating work and study to enhance AI literacy, urging companies to provide training and internships to prepare employees for future challenges.

Singapore's hospitality dilemma

Singapore's hospitality sector is struggling to integrate new technology while preserving the essential human touch that defines premium service. Matt Spriegel, chief executive of Atiom, noted that tools like QR codes, initially adopted for efficiency, have led to a culture of reduced interaction, resulting in "service failure" and revenue loss. He emphasised that technology should support staff by automating tasks, allowing them to focus on empathy and connection. As the industry faces challenges from tight labour supply and higher customer expectations, a balance between operational efficiency and personal service is crucial for maintaining trust and quality.

AI productivity paradox revealed

Sridhar Vembu, founder of Zoho, expressed concerns about AI-generated code in software development. He highlighted a post by François Chollet, founder of NDEA, who noted that while developers are producing significantly more code, the actual productivity gains are minimal. Chollet stated: "The quantity of code that devs ship has roughly 10xed," but the value created has not increased proportionately. Vembu referred to this as the "developer productivity paradox," emphasising that despite heavy investments in AI tools, real productivity improvements remain elusive.

Hyundai unveils robot-friendly headquarters

Hyundai Motor Group is transforming its headquarters into a robot-friendly environment, introducing advanced service robots as part of a recent renovation. The initiative aligns with the company's vision to become a leader in physical AI. The new robots include the DAL-e Gardener, which autonomously waters plants, the DAL-e Delivery robot for transporting beverages, and the Spot security robot for patrolling the premises. Executive Chair Chung Euisun emphasised the renovation's goal of fostering communication and collaboration among employees, stating: "We need to be more flexible to better understand customers." The redesigned lobby spans approximately 36,000 square metres.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

SUSTAINABILITY

ESG compliance: The new workspace standard

Managed workspace providers like DevX are integrating ESG compliance into their offerings, enhancing operational efficiency and attracting talent aligned with corporate values. ESG considerations are shifting from mere reporting to essential operational criteria, driven by global parent companies and investor scrutiny. Rushit Shah, Co-founder of DevX, noted: "When a Fortune 500 client asks us about their India office, the first thing their global real estate team now wants to know is: what's the energy certification?" This reflects a growing recognition that workspaces are vital to a company's governance strategy.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

HIRING

Oracle's mass layoffs hit students hard

Oracle has laid off around 20,000 employees globally and rescinded job offers to students from top Indian engineering colleges, including IITs and NITs. This decision has raised concerns among students as the placement season nears its end. Reports indicate that between two and five offers were revoked per campus, with over 50 offers withdrawn overall. Aditya Kumar Barwal, an affected student, stated: "My PPO offer from Oracle was revoked due to internal restructuring and headcount-related challenges." Placement committees are now working to support affected students and engage with Oracle for reconsideration.

Citigroup to boost APAC workforce

Citigroup plans to increase its headcount in the Asia-Pacific prime brokerage unit by about 10% this year, focusing on Singapore and India. Sue Lee, Citigroup's head of markets for Asia South, noted that this expansion aims to capture more business from hedge funds. The bank's global goal is to grow prime brokerage balances to over US$700bn by 2028. Paul Smith, head of markets for Japan, North Asia, and Australia, said the firm is now in a secondary recruitment phase, aiming to fill gaps after hiring key staff last year.
Industry Slice Icon Logo

INTERNATIONAL

Law firm sued for terminating Palestinian lawyer's job offer

Yasmeen Elagha, a Palestinian Muslim lawyer, has filed a lawsuit against law firm DLA Piper in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleging discrimination based on race, religion, and national origin. Elagha claims that her employment offer was unlawfully terminated after the firm saw press reports regarding her involvement in pro-Palestinian protests. Additionally, she asserts that DLA Piper fostered a hostile work environment during her tenure as a summer associate while attending Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law. Elagha previously sued Northwestern for not protecting her from similar issues.

BYD in talks with Stellantis and others about taking over Europe plants

BYD is talking with Stellantis and ​other European car makers to take over ‌underused factories on the continent. The world’s largest seller of ​electric vehicles is discussing potential deals to ⁠take on facilities in countries including ​Italy, BYD's Executive Vice President Stella Li ​said, adding that BYD prefers to operate the plants on its own rather than as joint ventures. “We are talking to not only Stellantis, we’re talking to other companies too,” Li said. “We are looking for any available plant in Europe because we do want to utilise this kind of spare capacity.”
 
Industry SLice Logo

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.
Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe