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10th May 2024
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THE HOT STORY
Baidu media relations chief resigns over endorsement of 24-7 work culture
Internet company Baidu's media relations chief, Qu Jing, has resigned after posting videos endorsing a 24-7 work culture and making light of staff wellbeing. The videos sparked outrage in China, where the tech industry's demanding "996" culture has been a subject of debate. The "996" practice, which requires employees to work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week, has faced scrutiny following the deaths of several tech workers. Despite Beijing's crackdown on excessive working practices, the culture has persisted. Qu drew particular criticism for comments in which she said: “If you work in public relations, don't expect weekends off,” and advised: “Keep your phone on 24 hours a day, always ready to respond.” The comments came in social media posts where she also said she had no responsibility for employees' well-being "as I'm not your mother." Qu also threatened to retaliate against staff who complained about her management, saying: "I can make it impossible for you to find a job in this industry with just a short essay.” Qu later apologised for her statements, saying that her views were personal and not representative of Baidu. Some social media commentators defended Qu's remarks, claiming she was speaking the truth about the struggling industry.
PREVENTING WORKPLACE HARASSMENT
Beyond Borders: Global Anti-Harassment Laws Explained

To shape employee behavior and reduce the risk of claims and regulatory penalties, employers with workers outside the US must understand the anti-harassment laws and requirements in the countries where they operate. That’s where we can help.

Join attorney Elissa Rossi, Vice President of Compliance Services at Traliant, for a webinar “Beyond Borders: Global Anti-Harassment Laws Explained” on May 22 at 2-3 pm ET. We will examine international anti-harassment laws and discuss where prevention training is required of employers to build a respectful and compliant work environment worldwide.

The webinar will address:
  • Canada’s anti-harassment and workplace violence laws
  • Australia’s federal, state and territory anti-harassment laws
  • The UK’s Equality Act, 2010
  • India’s Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act
  • International sexual harassment protections for women and men
  • Legal protections against workplace bullying

REGISTER FOR WEBINAR


 
WORKFORCE
Foreign doctors to work in South Korean hospitals after vetting process
South Korea's prime minister has announced that foreign doctors will be allowed to work in the country's hospitals following a thorough vetting process. The decision comes as junior medics continue their strike, which has been ongoing for several months. The move aims to address the shortage of medical professionals caused by the strike. The prime minister's statement indicates that the government is taking steps to resolve the situation and ensure the provision of healthcare services. However, the vetting process will likely be stringent to ensure the qualifications and competence of foreign doctors. The announcement offers a potential solution to the ongoing strike, which has disrupted healthcare services in South Korea.
Japan's real wages fall for second consecutive year
Japan's inflation-adjusted real wages in March fell 2.5% from a year earlier, marking declines for two straight years, according to labour ministry data. The pace of declines accelerated as rising costs outpaced nominal wages. Some economists predict real wages to turn positive in the 2024/25 fiscal year. Nominal wages grew 0.6% to 301,193 yen ($1,940.30), while consumer prices rose 3.1% from a year earlier. Major Japanese firms have offered significant pay increases, but small firms and low-paid non-regular workers are lagging. The decline in real wages poses challenges for policymakers aiming to boost salaries and achieve economic growth.
Chinese migrants face a struggle in retirement
Many of the 100 million rural migrants reaching retirement age in China face an uncertain fate. The government's focus on economic growth and innovation has left the elderly population with an inadequate safety net. China's pension system has an urban-rural divide, with rural pensions being particularly low, and the country's ageing population and lack of social services are exacerbating the problem, leaving many elderly migrants in poverty. The situation is further complicated by the low retirement age and concerns about raising it. "The elderly in China will live a long and miserable life," said Fuxian Yi, a demographer and a senior scientist at University of Wisconsin-Madison. "More and more migrant workers are returning to the countryside, and some are taking low-paid jobs, which is a desperate way for them to save themselves."
Air India's budget subsidiary ends cabin crew strike
Air India's budget subsidiary, Air India Express, has ended a cabin crew strike that caused severe disruptions to its flight schedule and stranded passengers across the country. The strike was reportedly linked to discontent among staff over new policies on hiring and promotion imposed by the airline's new ownership, Tata Group. Dozens of cabin crew members called in sick, resulting in the delay or cancellation of at least 175 flights. The airline has apologised for the disruptions and has withdrawn termination letters issued to striking staff. New Delhi airport experienced chaotic scenes during the strike.
TECHNOLOGY
WhatsApp defies Chinese ban
WhatsApp has defied the Chinese government ban on the messaging service, allowing users in Beijing and Shanghai to send and receive messages without the need for workarounds like virtual private networks. This is an unusual phenomenon in a country with strict internet restrictions. Other social media services such as Signal and Instagram remain blocked. It is unclear how many people in China have been able to access WhatsApp during this period. WhatsApp messages are encrypted and difficult to police, making it challenging for the Chinese government to control content. Users in China have previously reported brief periods of access to blocked services, but this two-week span is unusually long. The access to WhatsApp coincided with Apple removing the app from its Chinese app store, following orders from Beijing to close loopholes in the internet firewall.
LEGAL
Senior Vietnamese official arrested for allegedly disclosing classified information
Police in Vietnam have arrested Nguyen Van Binh, a senior official involved in talks with international organisations on labour reforms, for allegedly disclosing classified information. Binh, the director general of the labour ministry's legal affairs department, was charged with intentionally revealing state secrets. His arrest is seen as part of a wider crackdown on civil society in Vietnam. Binh's efforts with the International Labour Organization aimed at ratifying Convention 87 on labour and trade union rights, which would guarantee workers the right to form independent trade unions without prior authorisation. Vietnam's approval process for the convention has been long delayed.
REMUNERATION
TCS chief earned $3m in first year at top job
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's top IT services firm, has revealed that its CEO, K Krithivasan, earned 253.59 million rupees ($3.04m) in the financial year 2024. This makes him the lowest-paid CEO among the top four Indian IT firms. The majority of Krithivasan's compensation comes from commissions tied to TCS' annual profit. TCS' profit rose 9% in the year, despite the IT sector's struggles with weak client demand. TCS is the first Indian IT firm to release its annual report for the previous financial year.
STRATEGY
Tesla job cuts escalate in China
Tesla's job cuts in China are escalating as Elon Musk faces pressure to regain market share in the country. The latest round of layoffs affects various departments, including customer service, engineers, production line workers, and the logistics team at Tesla's Shanghai plant. The layoffs come as Tesla's market share in China has dropped to about 7.5% in Q1 2024. Despite the cuts, Tesla has received in-principle approval to deploy its driver-assistance system in China, which will provide an immediate revenue boost. The laid-off employees will receive a payout equivalent to one month's pay for every year worked, plus an additional three months' salary. Globally, Tesla has seen a growing number of executives leaving the company and has rescinded internship offers.

 
MSN
CORPORATE
Most US biotech companies have contracts with Chinese manufacturers
A recent survey conducted by a Washington-based trade association representing biotechnology companies found that 79% of respondents have contracts or product agreements with Chinese manufacturers. The survey, conducted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), revealed that the majority of respondents are small, emerging biotechs. The survey was conducted in response to proposed legislation that could restrict business with Chinese biotech companies. BIO stated that 74% of respondents have contracts with Chinese companies for pre-clinical and clinical services, while 30% have contracts for manufacturing approved medicines. The trade group warned that decoupling from China-based or China-owned biomanufacturing could harm millions of US patients. The survey also found that it would take up to eight years to switch manufacturing partners.
TAX
Australian Tax Office to crack down on working from home expenses at tax time
Australians are being warned to pay close attention to their tax returns, as the Australian Tax Office (ATO) cracks down on work from home expenses and landlords. More than 8 million people claimed work-related deductions in their 2023 tax returns, with more than half related to working from home expenses. Aussies are being warned they must have “comprehensive records” to substantiate all work-from-home claims. The ATO will also be focusing on landlords and rental properties. Data has revealed nine out of 10 rental property owners are getting their income tax returns wrong.
INTERNATIONAL
NYC faces lawsuit over allegation of discrimination against gay male employees
New York City is facing a lawsuit that accuses it of discriminating against gay male employees by only providing coverage for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures to women and heterosexual couples. The proposed class action was filed by a former assistant district attorney and his husband, who claim they were denied coverage for IVF treatments. The lawsuit argues that the city's employee health insurance plan discriminates against gay men by narrowly defining infertility and excluding them from coverage. The case, if successful, could set a national precedent. The plaintiffs argue that the city's policy violates federal, state, and city laws against workplace discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation, as well as their rights to equal protection and due process under the US Constitution. The proposed class could potentially include thousands of people. New York City is currently considering a bill that would require IVF coverage for all employees, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation.
OTHER
Ghost malls on the rise in India as consumer demand weakens
The number of so-called ghost malls - shopping centres with a vacancy rate of more than 40% - in prime markets in India rose to 64 in 2023, from 57 in 2022, reflecting weak consumer demand. According to Gulam Zia, director of Knight Frank, which reported the figures,, many small shopping malls are on the verge of closure. The "Think India Think Retail 2024" report revealed that 13.3m sqm ft of shopping space remained vacant, resulting in a loss of 67bn rupees ($802.5m) of revenue for developers in 2023. Small mall owners are struggling to compete with larger shopping centres, causing declining revenue. The report also highlighted that 132 small shopping centres are at risk of becoming ghost malls. In the top eight cities, the total number of shopping malls declined to 263 in 2023, with eight new retail centres added but 16 shut down.
 


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