THE HOT STORY

AI resistance is the biggest concern for UAE employers

According to the 2026 People Risks report by Marsh, mindset barriers to AI adoption have become the primary concern for UAE employers, surpassing cybersecurity and health costs. The survey, which included 103 HR and risk professionals in the UAE, highlighted inadequate cyber threat literacy and labour shortages as additional risks. Only 40% of firms reported full collaboration between HR and risk teams. Adel Alderi, business development leader at Mercer Marsh Benefits, observed: “People risks in the UAE can no longer be treated as secondary workforce issues. They are now directly linked to business continuity, employee wellbeing, digital transformation and organisational resilience . . . AI adoption is an important part of the findings, but the wider issue for employers is workforce resilience.” He added that employers are simultaneously contending with rising health costs, mental wellbeing pressures and financial insecurity among staff.

Khaleej Times Online

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WORKFORCE

Freelancers are key to Egypt's offshoring push

Egypt is bolstering its position in the global offshoring market by focusing on digital freelancers. Mahmoud Sofrata, Vice President for Market Development at the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), highlighted that freelancing is becoming essential to the nation's digital economy. Egypt ranks 9th globally in freelancing, with around 850,000 freelancers, supported by a strong talent pool of nearly 750,000 university graduates annually. ITIDA is launching new incentives to improve freelancers' global competitiveness and aims to increase digital exports, targeting $6bn in revenues by 2026.

Zawya EN

HEALTH & WELLBEING

UAE parents urged to stop chasing productivity

Optimisation culture, driven by wellness apps and self-improvement trends, is reshaping family dynamics in the UAE. A report by Nord Anglia Education reveals that while 91% of parents value play for well-being, over half feel guilty about unproductive leisure. Elizabeth Lamb, Regional Managing Director – Middle East, Nord Anglia Education, said the balance between work, well-being and rest has become increasingly distorted. “Play is an integral part of a balanced, healthy society. But somewhere along the way, adults have forgotten that . . . Children rarely need permission to play, but many adults feel they need permission to stop. Our research shows that while we understand the value of play, modern life has made it increasingly difficult to prioritise . . . In a culture that celebrates productivity and optimisation, play can often feel like a luxury rather than a necessity. Yet the evidence is clear: play is not time wasted. It is essential to our well-being, relationships, creativity, and resilience.”

Khaleej Times Online

HIRING

Israel targets more foreign workers

Boaz Yosef, chief executive of Israel's Population and Immigration Authority, says he aims to recruit 330,000 foreign workers to address local labour shortages. Following a crisis in the construction and agriculture sectors, the government has raised the foreign worker quota to 336,000. Despite criticism regarding the quality of foreign workers, he insists that the influx is necessary to meet demand.

The Jerusalem Post

LEGAL

Oman to extend compulsory sick leave insurance to expat workers

Oman will implement mandatory sick leave and extraordinary leave insurance for expatriate employees in both public and private sectors starting July 20. The decision, outlined in SPF Decision No. 13/2026, aims to enhance social protection for a broader segment of the workforce. The scheme has been in place for Omani workers since July 2019. The Social Protection Fund said: "The expansion forms part of Oman's broader efforts to strengthen its social protection system." However, the provisions do not cover expatriate workers outside the Labour Law, such as domestic workers.

Gulfnews.com

STRATEGY

Volkswagen aims to cut up to 100,000 jobs in next years

Manager Magazin has reported that Volkswagen chief executive Oliver Blume aims to cut up to 100,000 jobs worldwide and discontinue production at four of the group's German plants, as he seeks to reduce investment by around 15% to just over €130bn ($148bn) over the next five years. "The entire group, including its brands and subsidiaries, must undergo far-reaching change," a Volkswagen spokesperson said.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Japanese firms step up DEI efforts

Japanese employers are starting to take their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives more seriously, The Japan Times reports. Earlier this year, human resources personnel from about 50 Japanese companies gathered at the Tokyo office of law firm Nishimura & Asahi, where they took part in a workshop while wearing items designed to simulate various disabilities. Masanobu Hayashi of Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan in Tokyo was among the participants. “By seeing consideration for people with disabilities . . . I was able to get a real sense of the actual difficulties involved and how to ask for help,” he said. Hayashi added that Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan “regards the promotion of DEI as one of its management strategies, incorporating it into decision-making and management, with the aim of establishing it as part of our culture so that it is practiced naturally.”

The Japan Times Online

Apple closes first unionised US store as union alleges retaliation

Apple has closed its Towson, Maryland store, the first Apple Store in the US to unionise, citing declining conditions at the shopping mall where it was located. However, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers has accused the company of retaliating against employees for unionising, alleging that workers at the unionised store were denied the straightforward transfer opportunities offered to staff at two non-union stores that also closed the same day. More than half of the Towson store's approximately 70 unionised employees are expected to lose their jobs, with Apple saying it is following the terms of the collective bargaining agreement reached in 2024, which provides up to 12 weeks' severance pay but does not guarantee transfers. The company has strongly denied any retaliation, insisting it is complying with the negotiated agreement.

New York Times

Heat stress is increasing in workplaces

Dutch occupational health providers ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare have urged employers to protect workers as temperatures rise. They recommend measures such as scheduling tasks during cooler hours, easing workloads, and providing extra rest breaks. The direct effect of heat on people "increases the risk of mistakes and unsafe situations. Especially in jobs where safety, alertness, and physical exertion play an important role, this is a risk that should not be underestimated," said Redmer van Wijngaarden, occupational physician and director of medical affairs at ArboNed. "High temperatures are something employers need to take into account on a structural basis. They return every year."

NL Times

Korea's chipmaker employees are seen as top marriage material

The global AI boom has elevated the status of employees at South Korean chipmaking giants SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, making them highly sought after in the marriage market. "If SK Hynix and ⁠Samsung Electronics employees used to be classified as B+ or A-grade candidates, today they are closer to A+," observes Son Dong-gyu, the chief executive of matchmaking agency Bien Aller. "Traditionally, A+ candidates would include doctors, lawyers, other highly paid professionals or people from exceptionally wealthy families," Son said. The lucrative bonuses tied to the AI surge have transformed these employees into a new class of affluent individuals, in a shift that is also influencing educational choices, as more students pursue semiconductor engineering degrees.

U.S. News

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