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Recent Editions

Human Times
North America
More than 300 South Koreans who were detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in the U.S. state of Georgia have arrived home. A chartered Korean Air jet carrying the workers and 14 non-Koreans who were also detained in the raid took off from Atlanta at midday local time on Thursday (17:00 BST). One South Korean national has reportedly chosen to stay in the U.S. to seek permanent residency. Korean companies would be "very hesitant" about investing in the U.S. following the raid, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Thursday. "The situation is extremely bewildering," Lee observed, while noting it is common practice for Korean firms to send workers to help set up overseas factories. "If that's no longer allowed, establishing manufacturing facilities in the U.S. will only become more difficult . . . making companies question whether it's worth doing at all," he added. On Friday, the South Korean foreign ministry said it had called for the U.S. Congress to support a new visa for Korean firms.
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Human Times
UK
Hundreds of large UK retailers could face closure under government plans to introduce a higher business rates band for properties valued above £500,000, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned. The group said around 400 supermarkets and department stores are at risk, threatening 100,000 jobs and £100m in lost local revenue. The BRC argued these stores already pay a disproportionate share of rates and face mounting cost pressures. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: "After years of rising costs, far too many stores have disappeared - leaving behind empty shells that once thrived at the heart of our communities. Four hundred more large stores could disappear if the Government forces them into its new higher tax band."
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Human Times
Europe
Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk has said that office employees must return to the workplace five days a week, effectively ending remote work. The Danish company said that this new global standard aims to strengthen collaboration among staff. A company spokesperson confirmed that all employees worldwide have been informed of the updated guidelines. The policy marks a significant shift in the company's approach to workplace flexibility. Kim Jung Olsen, the chair of Danish trade union HK Privat, said he was surprised that Novo had discontinued its remote work policy. "Working from home and a vibrant office culture are not necessarily mutually exclusive," he said. "It is unfortunate for the many employees who have enjoyed being able to work from home from time to time that management has not managed to make this work at Novo Nordisk."
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Human Times
Middle East
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia has proposed amendments to the Labour Law and its Executive Regulations. The changes introduce new categories of violations and penalties, particularly in the maritime and agricultural sectors. The updated table aims to clarify violations, reducing ambiguity for inspectors and establishments. Notably, penalties for non-compliance with maternity leave and recruitment rules have been tightened. The ministry said: "These updates contribute to addressing ongoing changes in the work environment." The amendments will be reviewed based on public feedback before implementation.
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