THE HOT STORY

GCC countries continue to achieve real GDP growth

The Gulf Cooperation Council Statistical Center has said GCC countries continue to achieve real growth in gross domestic product, driven by economic diversification programmes and ongoing fiscal reforms across member states. It said the GCC recorded steady economic, developmental, and social expansion during 2024, in a year that was characterised by growth led by non-oil sectors, improved quality of life, enhanced digital infrastructure, and stronger regional and international economic presence.

Zawya EN

LEGAL

Kuwait plans freelance visa

Kuwait is set to introduce a regulated freelance visa which will allow expatriates to work independently without traditional sponsorship. First Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahd Al Yousef announced the initiative during a meeting with private sector representatives. The scheme aims to tackle issues related to unregulated labour and inflated wages in low-skilled jobs. Critics highlight a lack of oversight, although supporters believe the new framework will enhance transparency and protect workers.

Gulfnews.com

WORKFORCE

International federation votes against expelling Israeli social workers' union

The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) has voted against expelling the Israeli Union of Social Workers. The decision followed opposition from Jewish organisations, including Hadassah and the Anti-Defamation League, who argued the motion was discriminatory. The vote required 75% approval from the 67 member nations but ultimately did not pass. The National Association of Social Workers in the US said that expulsion would contradict IFSW's mission of promoting unity and cooperation. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington called the outcome a victory for inclusion.

The Jerusalem Post

WORKPLACE

Capturing the nine-to-five: why ‘WorkTok’ films are gripping Gen Z

Corporate “day in the life” clips, where employees film themselves going about their regular working days, are proving a fast-growing hit on TikTok and Instagram, particularly among Gen Z viewers.

Financial Times

TAX

Egyptian cabinet reviews proposed tax facilitation package

Egypt's cabinet has proposed a comprehensive package of tax reforms for fiscal year 2026/2027, aimed at rebuilding taxpayer trust and enhancing services. Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk presented the measures during a cabinet meeting, emphasising the need for new partnerships with the tax community. Key proposals include simplifying the real estate tax system, raising exemption thresholds, and launching a tax filing app. Kouchouk said: "The reforms would also involve applying international best practices related to international taxation." Additional amendments to customs tariffs and an expanded electronic payroll tax system are also planned.

Zawya EN

INTERNATIONAL

Corporate board diversity efforts fade as DEI policies retreat

Corporate America is scaling back diversity efforts on boards, with S&P 500 companies appointing women and minority directors at rates similar to a decade ago. Nearly 80% of new directors last year were white and about three-quarters were men, marking a sharp decline from diversity gains in 2021. Corporate policies supporting board diversity have also declined. Only about a quarter of S&P 500 companies maintained formal policies last year requiring consideration of gender and racial diversity when appointing directors, down from roughly half the year before. So far this year, that share has fallen to 14%. The retreat comes after legal setbacks, including court rulings striking down California’s board diversity mandates and Nasdaq’s disclosure rule on board diversity. Although overall board demographics remain somewhat more diverse than a decade ago, progress has slowed significantly. At the current pace, boards in the broader Russell 3000 index would not reach gender parity until 2044, according to projections.

Wall Street Journal

Eskom's pay increase offer turned down by unions

South Africa's Eskom has faced rejection of its improved 6% pay increase proposal from two major trade unions, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA). The NUM, seeking a 12% rise - down from an initial demand of 15% - argued that workers should be rewarded for their role in ending load-shedding, saying: "It's not Eskom management that ended load-shedding; it's the workers." With further negotiations planned, Eskom aims for a multi-year wage agreement to sustain improvements following a profitable year.

Reuters

Nepal is 'addicted' to the trade in its own people

Migrant worker groups say the government in Nepal has become "addicted" to the remittances sent back by workers overseas to keep the country's economy going. Rather than developing local industry, the government promotes "foreign employment," said Nilambar Badal of the National Network for Safe Migration (NNSM). "They are expecting people to go out and send the money back so that they can run the country. We are a remittance-dependent economy," he added. Former labour minister Sarita Giri goes further, saying the government is at the heart of a "rotten and corrupt" system "exploiting migrant workers and their families."

France 24

Sex workers' earnings hit by World Cup preparations

Preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City are affecting the livelihoods of local sex workers and street vendors. Montserrat Fuentes, a sex worker for 20 years, is among those who say they have seen their earnings slashed amid government projects that are meant to clean up the city before the tournament starts this summer. “What we're seeing in Mexico is something that so much of the world has faced when there's an event of this scale. They always want to fix up their city, make it look nice,” Fuentes said. “But the ones that are hurt are always us at the bottom of the ladder.”

U.S. News

OTHER

US plans online portal to bypass content bans

Reuters reports that the US State Department is planning an online portal be hosted at "freedom.gov" that will allow people in Europe and elsewhere to see content banned by their governments including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda. Officials are said to have discussed including a virtual private network function to make a user's traffic appear to originate in the US. “Digital freedom is a priority for the State Department . . . and that includes the proliferation of privacy and censorship-circumvention technologies like VPNs," the department told Reuters.

Reuters

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