THE HOT STORY

Oman issues fresh terms for the recruitment of domestic workers

The Ministry of Labour in Oman has introduced Ministerial Resolution No. 574/2025, establishing new regulations for domestic workers. The resolution aims to enhance worker protections and clarify employer responsibilities. Employers must regularise employment status within three months and cannot employ anyone under 21. The regulations prohibit forced labour and require written contracts in Arabic. Workers are entitled to paid sick leave, annual leave, and must be compensated for overtime. The Ministry will oversee compliance, ensuring employers provide necessary accommodations and maintain accurate records.

Oman Observer

Gulfnews.com

LEGAL

UAE launches domestic worker services on new digital platform

Khalil Ibrahim Khoori, Undersecretary of Labour Market and Emiratisation Operations at the UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), has announced the launch of Domestic Worker Services on the Work Bundle platform. The initiative aligns with the UAE's Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, which aims to enhance customer experience and government efficiency. The services include issuing and renewing residency visas and medical examinations for domestic workers, all accessible through the digital platform ‘Work in UAE’.

Emirates24

Zawya EN

Gulfnews.com

HIRING

Flexible work hours attract Emiratis to private sector careers

The Ras Al Khaimah Jobs and Internships Festival (RAKJIF 2025) has highlighted the importance of flexible work models for attracting Emirati graduates to the private sector. Sultan Khalifa Al Ali, interim group chief human resource officer at RAKBANK, observed: "Offering options such as four-hour, six-hour, or eight-hour contracts allows graduates to balance career ambitions with personal commitments." Dr. Natasha Ridge, executive director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation, noted the festival's aim to connect graduates with meaningful employment opportunities. The event also addressed the impact of artificial intelligence on career paths, urging educational institutions to adapt their teaching methods.

Khaleej Times Online

WORKFORCE

Morocco's king urges job reforms

King Mohammed VI of Morocco called for urgent reforms to enhance job creation for young people during his speech at the opening of parliament on Friday. His appeal follows recent youth-led protests demanding improvements in health, education, and anti-corruption measures. The King emphasised the need for faster implementation of local development programmes, particularly in vulnerable regions. With youth unemployment at 35.8% and overall unemployment at 12.8%, he highlighted the importance of addressing regional inequalities. "We must ensure no inconsistencies between national projects and social programmes," he said.

U.S. News

TAX

Egypt's tax facilitation package expands

Egypt's Ministry of Finance will launch the second phase of the country's tax facilitation package by the end of October 2025. The Ministry plans to introduce a centralised electronic platform for reconciling government dues and improve the value-added tax (VAT) refund system. Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk said: "The next phase will prioritise supporting small and new exporters." The first phase resulted in a 36% increase in tax revenues.

Egypt Today

INTERNATIONAL

Hyundai plant was deadly before ICE raid

Three workers have died since Hyundai Motor started construction of its $7.6bn auto plant in Georgia in 2022, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing a review of federal records. The facility, which is operated through a joint venture between Hyundai and South Korea's LG Energy Solution, hit the headlines last month after an immigration raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents led to the detention of hundreds of South Korean workers. Current and former workers, including safety coordinators who helped oversee construction of the plant, said the work environment involved poorly trained workers and managers unwilling to enforce safety standards.

Wall Street Journal

Thailand aims to upskill 100,000 workers

The Thai government says it plans to enhance the skills of 100,000 workers to meet modern technology demands. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said that the Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, with a budget of 10bn baht, will support demand-driven training programmes. The Board of Investment (BOI) will collaborate with businesses to identify necessary skills and work with educational institutions to create standardised training. Additionally, the government aims to assist SMEs with grants and loan guarantees to facilitate their technological transformation, addressing liquidity issues and promoting investment in modern industries.

Bangkok Post

Russia's industrial companies furlough workers

Some of Russia's biggest industrial companies are furloughing employees or cutting staff amid a slowing war economy, stalling domestic demand and evaporating exports. Reuters has identified six companies in Russia's mining and transport sectors that have cut their working week in an attempt to reduce wage bills without raising unemployment.

Reuters

Beedi workers demand overdue wages

Beedi workers in Mangaluru protested in Kaikamba on Thursday, demanding overdue wages from 2018 to 2024 and an increased dearness allowance for 2024. Organised by the Joint Action Committee of Beedi Workers' Organisations, the protest saw participation from women workers across several areas. Workers claimed that manufacturers have failed to implement wage orders. CPM district secretary Muneer Katipalla said that unpaid wages exceed ₹1,000 crore. "This protest is against the inhumanity of the owners," he said.

The Times of India

OTHER

Screen time in early childhood linked to worse grades

A study in Canada has found that greater levels of screen time at a younger age are linked to a significant decrease in attainment in reading and maths once children start school. The study, led by experts at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, followed 5,300 Canadian children aged nine and 12 between 2008 and 2023, tracking screen time use during early childhood and later academic achievement. Each extra hour of daily screen time for younger children, the study found, was associated with a 9% decrease in the likelihood of achieving higher academic grades later in childhood. Lead author Xuedi Li said that while "our findings highlight the importance of considering how much screen time children are exposed to, any interventions should also take into account the type of content kids are watching and whether they are watching it alone or with caregivers and friends."

The Daily Telegraph

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