THE HOT STORY

Some UAE companies offer up to two-day Christmas break

As Christmas approaches, many companies in the UAE are introducing internal leave policies for all employees on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The shift reflects changing workplace norms and aims to provide employees with more time to rest. A Dubai-based HR consultant observes that granting fixed days off can be easier for companies than managing a high volume of overlapping annual leave requests in December.

Khaleej Times Online

HEALTH & WELLBEING

QIIB organises ‘Health Day' for employees

Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) organised a “Health Day” at its headquarters in collaboration with the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS). The event aimed to raise awareness about common health issues and promote a sustainable lifestyle among employees. Participants underwent various medical screenings, including blood pressure and vision tests. Ali Hamad al-Mesaifri, QIIB's human resources chief, said: "Good health is essential to building a stable and sustainable institution." He emphasised that healthy employees enhance work quality and contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030, which prioritises health as a key development pillar.

Gulf Times

WORKFORCE

Gaza war 'has led to 77% unemployment'

Sami Al Amssi, head of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions in Gaza, says the ongoing conflict has led to the suspension of around 400,000 workers, raising the unemployment rate to 77% in 2025. Al Amssi said that vital sectors have been devastated, with total economic losses estimated at approximately $4bn. He emphasised that the only way to alleviate workers' suffering is through a ceasefire and compensation for their losses.

The Peninsula

Wealthy nations curb labour migration amid surging demand

Anti-immigration policies are reshaping migration flows to high-income countries, despite urgent labour shortages. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported a 21% drop in work-related migration to its member states last year. The decline is attributed to rising political opposition and tighter visa regimes, particularly in the UK and New Zealand. Ana Damas de Matos, a senior policy analyst at the OECD, noted that the UK's reforms could exacerbate labour shortages. Across the European Union, around two‑thirds of jobs created between 2019 and 2023 were filled by non‑EU citizens, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Deutsche Welle (EN)

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

QNA launches specialised staff training on protocol and etiquette

Qatar News Agency (QNA) has launched a specialised training course focused on government protocol and etiquette. Dr Saadon bin Hussein al-Hamdani will lead the five-day course at QNA's headquarters, aimed at enhancing the skills of employees in official dealings and event organisation. Key topics include diplomacy, local and international protocol, and the etiquette of receiving VIPs. Participants will engage in practical applications and present projects for evaluation. The course is part of QNA's initiative to improve professional capabilities in institutional and diplomatic work.

Gulf Times

LEADERSHIP

In drive for growth, consumer goods firms shorten CEO tenures

Consumer goods companies are experiencing a wave of chief executive changes as they struggle with sluggish growth and shifting consumer preferences. On Tuesday, Kraft Heinz appointed Steve Cahillane as its new CEO, joining other firms like Coca-Cola, Unilever, Nestlé, and Lululemon in recent leadership reshuffles."Chief executives have had to react to all the market changes taking place and adapt," said Kim Pomoell, partner in Heidrick & Struggles' consumer markets practice. "And there's been impatience from boards, to some degree, in terms of not hitting the targets fast enough and reacting to those changes." Global CEO turnover remains elevated, according to executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates, which recently reported that, up to the end of the third quarter of 2025, there were 176 incoming CEOs worldwide, a 9% year-on-year rise.

Reuters

INTERNATIONAL

Amazon blocks suspected North Korean hires

Amazon has blocked more than 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents attempting to apply for remote working IT jobs using stolen or fake identities, Amazon's chief security officer Stephen Schmidt has said in a LinkedIn post. "Their objective is typically straightforward: get hired, get paid, and funnel wages back to fund the regime's weapons programs," he said, adding that this trend is likely to be happening at scale across the industry, especially in the US. Amazon has witnessed a nearly one-third increase in job applications from North Koreans in the past year, Schmidt said, adding that the operatives typically work with people managing "laptop farms" - a reference to computers based in the US that are run remotely from outside of the country. Amazon used a combination of artificial intelligence tools and verification by its staff to screen job applications, he said.

BBC News

Tech in Asia

The Register

Louvre Museum boosts security after heist

The Louvre Museum in Paris has installed security bars on the balcony used by burglars who stole jewels worth $102m on October 19. The heist lasted less than seven minutes. The museum also acknowledged inadequate security camera coverage and is now implementing other changes, including a mobile police presence and 100 additional cameras. "The Louvre is learning all the lessons from the theft of October 19," the museum said. Police have identified eight suspects, but the stolen jewels remain missing.

U.S. News

Brazil union set to accept Petrobras labour deal

The Brazilian oil workers' union FUP has signalled it plans to accept a counteroffer from state-run company Petrobras for a labour deal, in a move which would pave the way to end a week-long strike, Reuters reports. Petrobras confirmed it had made "adjustments" to its latest collective labour proposal, "including advances on key union demands."

Reuters

Singapore extends part-time re-employment grant

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced that it will extend the Part-Time Re-employment Grant (PTRG) until Dec 31, 2027, due to ongoing demand. The grant, which was introduced in 2020, aims to support employers in hiring senior workers aged 60 and above. MOM said: "Since its introduction in 2020, the take-up of the PTRG has been encouraging." Over 7,500 employers have used the grant, benefiting more than 65,000 senior workers, with over $92m disbursed since its inception. Companies registered in Singapore can apply for the grant.

Straits Times

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