THE HOT STORY

Oman's industrial workforce to reach 277,000 by 2030

Oman's industrial sector is set to employ 248,000 workers by 2025, reflecting a 3% increase from 2024. Projections suggest this number will rise to 277,000 by 2030, driven by the Industrial Strategy 2040, which focuses on technology-driven manufacturing and competitive industries. Oman Industry Day, celebrated on 9 February, will highlight the sector's achievements and its role in boosting exports, with industrial exports valued at OMR1.618bn in the first quarter of 2025. Ghalib bin Said Al Maamari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, said: "The industrial sector's performance in 2025 validates the success of government policies aimed at cultivating a robust industrial ecosystem."

TimesofOman

WORKFORCE

HSBC to cull underperformers

HSBC is set to implement significant bonus cuts for some bankers, aligning with a more aggressive pay strategy similar to Wall Street firms. Chief executive Georges Elhedery aims to encourage underperforming staff in investment banking and wealth management to leave following upcoming bonus payouts. “We are committed to ensuring our employees are rewarded competitively, with a focus on differentiation determined by performance, to attract and retain talent, ” a representative for the bank said.

Business Times SG

REMOTE WORKING

‘They want their pound of flesh’: why bank bosses are pushing strict return-to-office mandates

Companies in sectors from tech to manufacturing are stepping up their return-to-office policies: culture, pay and expensive offices are cited as among the reasons for ending remote work.

Financial Times

STRATEGY

UAE autism centre's digital transformation to boost employee engagement

UAE autism centre New England Center for Children (NECC-UAE) has launched a digital transformation with CorporateStack to enhance its Human Resources and employee engagement systems. The initiative aims to improve operational efficiency and support for staff while fostering a more connected workforce. “We are truly honoured to partner with [this] esteemed institution,” said Mohamed Abdin, MEA Commercial Director at CorporateStack. “Their mission resonates deeply with our values at CorporateStack. Through this partnership, we aim to empower their team with digital tools that enhance productivity, streamline HR processes, and build a more connected and engaged workforce.”

Gulfnews.com

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Partnership aims to advance career development in Qatar

Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC) and Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a three-year strategic collaboration which aims to synchronise training and development initiatives to advance shared national priorities in career development and professional learning. QCDC and QFBA will work to expand their open-calendar program offerings in career development. A cornerstone of this work is the joint delivery of a specialised career development certification programme licensed by the National Career Development Association (NCDA).

Zawya EN

TECHNOLOGY

Qatar prioritises digital tech to strengthen legal work, minister says

Qatar's Minister of Justice, Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa al-Mohannadi, has announced a focus on digital technologies to enhance legal efficiency. Speaking at the Web Summit Qatar 2026, he highlighted the Smart Legislative Advisor initiative, which uses AI to streamline legislative processes. This initiative has reduced review times from 35 days to five, improving accuracy and quality. He also mentioned the recent Law No 19 of 2025, aimed at modernising the legal profession and fostering partnerships with the private sector.

Gulf Times

INTERNATIONAL

Alphabet plans big expansion in India

Alphabet plans to dramatically expand its presence in India, and could take millions of square feet in new office space in Bengaluru, the country's tech hub. The company has leased one office tower and purchased options on two others in Alembic City, a development in the city's Whitefield tech corridor, totaling 2.4m sq ft. If Alphabet takes all of the space, the complex could accommodate as many as 20,000 additional staff - more than doubling the company’s footprint in India. Alphabet currently employs around 14,000 people in India. Bloomberg notes that US President Donald Trump’s visa restrictions have made it harder to bring foreign talent to America; as such, some companies are recruiting more staff overseas

Bloomberg

South Korea fights academic pedigree hiring

South China Morning Post examines hiring practices in South Korea that have traditionally been centred around which school a candidate attended, with higher-paying jobs going to elite alumni. Aside from a small number of elite science institutions such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon, Seoul-based campuses are the most desirable for employers looking to identify talent. Last week, civic group Spring of Education held a rally at the National Assembly Library to promote a bill aimed at preventing hiring discrimination based on academic background. In his opening address at the event, National Education Commission head Cha Jung-in observed that “academic credentialism and the competitive system attached to the university hierarchy turns everyone into losers.”

South China Morning Post

Global consultancies test China boundaries

Reuters reports that top consulting firms including KPMG, EY and Bain & Co are doing business in China in ways that some industry and legal experts say test the boundaries of Western sanctions. Interviews by Reuters with 10 current and former industry figures and a review of engagement agreements and company communications are said to demonstrate how the consultancies have sought to manoeuvre around evolving constraints.

Reuters

Germany has highest share of older workers in EU

Germany has the highest percentage of older workers in the EU, with nearly 24% of its 40.9m workforce aged 55 to 64, according to Destatis. This contrasts with the EU average of about 20%. The average retirement age in 2024 was 64.7 years, up from 63.1 years in 2004. Italy follows with 23% of older workers, while Malta has the lowest at around 11%.

France 24

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