THE HOT STORY

Israeli manufacturers struggle to attract skilled foreign workers

Israeli manufacturers are finding it difficult to attract skilled foreign workers to maintain imported machinery amid heightened criticism of the country by some international governments after three years of war, which has strained business links with foreign companies and partners. Companies are increasingly saddled with imported machinery that has stopped functioning or can’t be installed, and they require foreigners to attend to it. Ron Tomer, the owner of Israeli pharmaceutical company Unipharm, which has invested in a €20m ($17m) European-produced machine, observes that unions with certain political affiliations have banned their members from traveling to Israel.

Bloomberg

ON-DEMAND WEBINAR

Build a Better Distributed Employee Experience

Remote, hybrid and AI-enabled working are reshaping how HR teams support employees. In this on-demand webinar, Atlassian leaders share how their HR function uses HR Service Management to deliver consistent, accessible support across a distributed workforce.

Hear practical approaches for maintaining culture and collaboration, helping employees find the information and tools they need, and improving productivity wherever teams are based.

The session also explores how the right service management tools can streamline HR support, strengthen employee experiences and help organisations adapt to changing workforce expectations.

Watch on demand

WORKFORCE

Qatar ranks second globally in labour market index

Qatar has placed second globally in the labour market index, according to the 2026 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook. The ranking reflects the strength of the national economy, the efficiency of the local labour market, and Qatar's ability to attract and retain talent. Qatar Chamber Acting General Manager Ali Bu Sherbak al-Mansori said the achievement demonstrated the success of recent economic policies and legislative and regulatory reforms, which had helped build a competitive labour market that safeguarded the rights of both workers and employers.

Gulf Times

The Peninsula

LEGAL

Oman says fake overseas job offers are increasingly used by human trafficking networks

Oman has said that fake overseas job offers are increasingly being used by human trafficking networks to exploit victims. Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of Oman's Foreign Ministry, highlighted the need for international cooperation to combat these evolving threats. He said that traffickers often use fraudulent recruitment ads to lure individuals into forced labour or cybercrime. Authorities are urging the public to verify job offers and report suspicious activities. The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which is observed each year on July 30, seeks to strengthen global efforts to prevent trafficking, protect victims and reinforce international cooperation against one of the fastest-evolving forms of organised crime.

TimesofOman

TECHNOLOGY

PwC faces backlash over AI reports

PwC Middle East has been accused of publishing four reports with irresponsible AI usage, including fabricated claims and unverifiable information. A probe by GPTZero revealed that one report, 'Transforming Governance', had an 84% chance of being entirely AI-generated. The report claimed to promote a framework called 'Citizen Pulse', allegedly used by several governments, but GPTZero found no evidence of such usage. PwC has acknowledged the findings and is updating citations.

City AM

WORKPLACE

Qatar ministry organises heat stress awareness initiative for workers

The Ministry of Municipality, in collaboration with the Qatar Red Crescent Society, has organised a heat stress awareness initiative for workers at Al Rayyan Municipality Theatre. The initiative aims to promote occupational health and safety, raise awareness of heat stress risks, and support Qatar National Vision 2030. Eng. Abdullah Ahmed Al Karani, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Services Affairs, emphasised the importance of such initiatives in ensuring a safe working environment. The programme included presentations on heat stress dangers and preventive measures, highlighting the ministry's commitment to worker safety and health. Gifts were also distributed to workers to promote community support.

The Peninsula

INTERNATIONAL

The Gen Z workers who eschew 'soft' modern workplace culture

Gen Z workers at Tokyo-based business support and development firm Global Partners (GP) who are disenchanted with “soft” modern workplace culture that they see as hindering growth, are seeking to tap the corporate zeal that fueled Japan’s post-war economic miracle. The Japan Times reports that the company has become a viral sensation for its routine corporate practices - including the chanting of work targets during daily meetings - aimed at boosting productivity. The company's internal motto is “Holding back is evil.” GP founder and chief executive Koji Yamamoto, 54, explained: “If you don’t say anything because you don’t want to rock the boat, you end up ’quietly quitting’.”

Japan Times

Former JPMorgan Chase banker expands harassment and racism lawsuit

Chirayu Rana, the former JPMorgan Chase banker whose lurid ⁠sexual ⁠harassment lawsuit went viral, has added new claims and ⁠defendants. He says the bank's acceptance of racism and sexual coercion destroyed his career, alleging in his 82-page complaint that his South Asian heritage was mocked, and colleagues referred to him as a "monkey" and a "brown boy." Rana also accuses executive director Lorna Hajdini of coercing him into sexual acts, repeatedly saying she "owned" him. The lawsuit adds new defendants, including managing directors Brandon Graffeo and Jon Wolter, who are accused of damaging Rana's reputation in the industry. Rana has been "effectively blackballed," the complaint said. "His reputation has been destroyed, his professional relationships shattered, and the career he spent years building reduced to rubble. This ⁠was not ⁠an unintended consequence of defendants' misconduct. ⁠It was its intended result."

U.S. News

Germany's sick-note crackdown 'isn't treating the underlying illness'

Germany's proposed changes to sick-note regulations may overlook the root causes of rising absenteeism, researchers warn. In 2024, German workers averaged 22 days of sick leave - among the highest levels internationally. Factors such as chronic understaffing and low pay are contributing to mental health issues, leading to increased absences, says researchers who study sickness, mental health and labour markets. They increasingly point to deeper problems in professions where absenteeism is high, including nursing, care work and teaching. Under plans agreed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's coalition, telephone sick notes would be scrapped and employers could require medical certificates from the first day of absence.

U.S. News

New Korean labour rules are under scrutiny

South Korea's new Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act, also known as the Yellow Envelope Act, faces trenchant criticism just four months after its implementation. Critics warn it could lead to increased labour disputes and uncertainty for businesses. The act broadens the scope of labour disputes beyond traditional issues such as wages, working hours, welfare and dismissals to include “business management decisions affecting working conditions.” This has empowered unions to make demands previously deemed outside their bargaining power. For instance, Samsung Electronics' union has argued that a planned 800 trillion won investment should require union approval due to its potential impact on employee conditions.

South China Morning Post

OTHER

Qatar's retailers embrace fintech revolution

Qatar's retailers are increasingly seeking direct partnerships with fintech providers for faster instalment integration, according to Dr Devid Jegerson, chief executive of PayLater. He noted that merchants now view trusted instalment options as essential to modern checkouts, moving from initial hesitance to urgent implementation. Dr Jegerson highlighted that this shift reflects changing consumer habits, particularly among younger shoppers who expect flexibility. He emphasised the importance of transparency and trust in these financial products, saying: "Confidence, once earned, is fragile, and we treat it that way".

Gulf Times

The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on X.

Online

Advertise

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe