THE HOT STORY

Majority of UAE employees choose to remain despite tensions

Most employees are choosing to remain in the UAE amid the ongoing Iran-Israel-US war. “We do continue to see a selective approach to relocation rather than broad movement,” Shayan Sultan, a partner at Fragomen who oversees the firm's practices in the UAE, said. “The immigration system remains largely operational, but we are not seeing any general shutdown or any form of closures, whether that be application processing, government authorities, state environment, has become a little bit more complex, and in some areas, less predictable as well,” he added.

Khaleej Times Online

WORKFORCE

Israeli tech firms struggle with worker shortages due to Iran war

The ongoing conflict with Iran has severely impacted the Israeli tech sector, with over 25% of employees absent due to reserve duty, school closures, and security concerns. A survey by the Israel Innovation Authority found that 50% of tech firms are struggling to meet development goals and product launch deadlines. “At present, the sector is facing a range of challenges related to human capital, supply chains, product development, and access to capital,” said Israel Innovation Authority chief executive Dror Bin. “Experience from recent years shows that the sector has proven its ability to recover quickly.” Karin Mayer Rubinstein, CEO of Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), an umbrella organisation of high-tech firms operating in Israel, observed: “The main challenge now is the workforce shortage, where damage is caused for production and in the supply chain of companies that are manufacturing as well and have plants.”

The Times of Israel

Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate drops

Saudi Arabia's unemployment rate decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 7.2% by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, nearing the Vision 2030 target. The Financial Analysis Unit at Al Eqtisadiah reported that female unemployment reached a historic low of 10.3%, while male unemployment rose to 5.6%. The private sector added 811,000 jobs, with women accounting for 66% of new positions. Female participation in the labour force increased to 34.5%. The overall unemployment rate, including residents, rose slightly to 3.5%. "The empowerment of women has significantly contributed to job creation," said an analyst.

Arab News

REMOTE WORKING

Sharjah allows remote work for mothers in government sector

Sharjah has implemented a new policy allowing employed mothers in the government sector to work remotely. The initiative aims to enhance work-life balance and support family stability, according to Hesham Suhail Al Qahtani, director of HR Systems at the Sharjah Department of Human Resources. The policy follows approval from higher authorities and is part of a broader move towards flexible working arrangements, excluding essential roles. Officials noted that the change is designed to alleviate daily pressures on working mothers while ensuring productivity and service efficiency.

Gulfnews.com

Khaleej Times Online

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Night shifts worsen diabetes management

According to a study published in Diabetic Medicine, night shift workers, particularly nurses and midwives, face significant challenges in managing type 2 diabetes. Lead researcher Rachel Gibson, a registered dietitian at King's College London, observed: “What struck me is that these are people who work in health care, yet they don't have access [to] a healthy nighttime food environment or tailored dietary advice.” The study tracked 37 UK healthcare workers over 10 days, revealing that those on night shifts consumed more calories, particularly from sweet snacks, due to limited healthy food options. Additionally, night shift workers were found to stay awake for about 22 hours, compared to 17 hours for day shifts, further complicating blood sugar control. Gibson emphasised the need for clinicians to consider work schedules when advising patients on diabetes management.

U.S. News

INTERNATIONAL

Young people in London can’t find a job

Bloomberg reports on how London - once a global hub for entry-level jobs - is now experiencing a growing youth joblessness crisis that is threatening the futures of hundreds of thousands of people. Around one in four 16-24 year-olds in the capital is looking for work, the highest proportion in the UK. The composition of London’s jobs market leaves it vulnerable to AI, which tends to reward seniority and punish those who are just starting out, but Bloomberg says the problem of youth unemployment in London, and also in the UK more widely, is partly self inflicted, amid increases to payroll taxes and the minimum wage making it more expensive for firms to hire workers. “Employers often ask for prior experience, while lower-skilled roles are shrinking and being filled by older workers or graduates,” said Chris Goulden, director of impact and evidence at the Youth Futures Foundation. “In London, this is compounded by high housing costs and reliance on informal routes, for example internships, which exclude more disadvantaged young people.”

Bloomberg

Air Canada CEO to retire after English-only response to tragedy

Air Canada chief executive Michael Rousseau will retire later this year after being criticised for failing to speak French in a condolence video following a fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport in New York that killed two pilots. Rousseau informed the airline that he will be stepping down by the end of the company's third quarter. He had faced calls to resign after delivering his condolences in English only. One of the pilots who died, Antoine Forest, was from French-speaking Quebec. Air Canada is headquartered in Montreal and the company's own policy requires employees to be able to communicate in both of Canada's official languages. In a post on X, Quebec Premier François Legault welcomed Air Canada's announcement, saying the carrier's next CEO should speak French as a "matter of respect for the employees, francophone customers, and all Quebecers."

Expansion of Disneyland Paris to create 1,000 new jobs

Expansion at Disneyland Paris will create 1,000 new jobs, Disney chief executive Josh D'Amaro has said. "I believe we will continue to be the number one tourist destination. I believe that we will continue to add jobs. In fact, we're adding 1,000 jobs, just for ‌this ⁠new land that we have built," D'Amaro said. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Disneyland Paris alongside D'Amaro on Friday to unveil the new areas.

Reuters

Standard Chartered 'balance the scales' for women in the workplace

Business Times Singapore reports on the policies that are part of Standard Chartered's commitment to “balancing the scales” - empowering and supporting its female employees to thrive within the organisation. Standard Chartered was among the first banks in Singapore to offer shared parental leave of at least 21 weeks to all employees regardless of gender or how a child came to join the family. The bank also provides support to staff managing menopause, including medical coverage for related symptoms. Patrick Lee, Standard Chartered's chief executive for Singapore, Asean and South Asia, says an inclusive culture is now “deeply ingrained” throughout the organisation. “We know that having a diversity of perspectives and lived experiences improves our ability to innovate, solve problems and enable better outcomes for our diverse client base, and is key to how we execute and accelerate our strategy,” he explains.

Business Times SG

OTHER

2026 World Cup risks becoming ‘stage for repression’

Amnesty International has raised concerns that the upcoming World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico may become a "stage for repression." In its report, called "Humanity Must Win", the organisation urged FIFA and the host nations to take immediate action to safeguard the rights of fans and players. Amnesty highlighted the US's "human rights emergency" under the Trump administration, citing issues including mass deportations and aggressive ICE operations. Steve Cockburn, Amnesty's head of economic and social justice, said: "While FIFA generates record revenues from the 2026 World Cup, fans, communities, players, journalists and workers cannot be made to pay the price . . . It is these people - not governments, sponsors or FIFA - to whom football belongs, and their rights must be at the centre of the tournament."

France 24

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