THE HOT STORY

Conflict puts South Asia's Gulf remittances at risk

Millions of South Asian workers in the Gulf send home significant remittances that are crucial for their home economies, but economists warn that ongoing conflict in the region could disrupt these financial flows. "The duration of the conflict has so far been too short to severely impact employment of migrant workers or their remittance transfers," says Rajiv Biswas, chief executive at the Singapore-based macroeconomic and geopolitical risk research firm Asia-Pacific Economics. "However, if the duration of the conflict does become more protracted and extends into months, then it will become increasingly likely that migrant worker jobs will be impacted, as key sectors such as tourism and commercial aviation suffer increasing economic losses."

Deutsche Welle (EN)

WORKFORCE

Hedge fund Millennium explores shifting Dubai staff to Jersey

Hedge fund Millennium Management is exploring ways to settle employees who don't want to return to Dubai in the Channel Island of Jersey, as some seek tax-favourable alternatives amid the Gulf conflict.

Financial Times

LEGAL

Qatar e-services make changing employers easier

The Ministry of Labour in Qatar has launched an integrated e-services platform to simplify the process for workers changing employers. The Employer Change Service allows residents to transfer jobs electronically, ensuring efficiency and compliance with regulations. Workers must verify eligibility, including active employer registration and absence of bans. The application process involves logging in through the National Authentication System Qatar and submitting necessary details. Once approved, the new employment contract is authenticated, and the Ministry of Interior Qatar updates the worker's residency status. The Ministry said it aims to enhance labour mobility while protecting workers' rights.

The Peninsula

WORKPLACE

Egypt mandates workplace nurseries for working mothers

Egyptian Minister of Labor Hassan Radad has announced new regulations for workplace nurseries. The decree mandates that employers with 100 or more female staff must establish a nursery or partner with an existing facility for childcare. This initiative aims to support working mothers and ensure a conducive work environment. Nurseries must cater to children under four and accommodate those with disabilities. Employers must also comply with safety and health standards, obtaining a license from the Ministry of Social Solidarity. Fees will be based on a percentage of the employee's salary, with a tiered structure for multiple children.

Egypt Today

RISK

AWS' Bahrain region 'disrupted' following drone activity

Amazon has said its Amazon Web Services region in Bahrain has been "disrupted" by drone activity amid the Gulf conflict. It is the second such incident within a month that its operations have been affected by the war. "As this situation evolves and, as we have advised before, we request those with workloads in the affected regions continue to migrate to other locations," Amazon said. The company did ⁠not immediately respond to a query on whether its Bahrain facility was directly hit by a drone attack or if the disruption was the result of nearby strikes.

Reuters

TAX

Middle East conflict creates new pressures for tax teams

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has created significant challenges for businesses and tax teams in the region. Tuhin Chaturvedi, a tax partner at RSM in Kuwait, highlights that "tax teams should proactively forecast upcoming corporate tax payments at the earliest possible time." With tax-return deadlines approaching - April 15 in Kuwait and April 30 in Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia - companies are facing liquidity issues and must explore options to mitigate penalties. The conflict has also led to potential new permanent establishments due to employee relocations and project delays. As the situation evolves, tax professionals remain uncertain about whether authorities will extend deadlines, emphasizing the need for vigilance and strategic planning.

Bloomberg Tax

CULTURE

Workers impressed by corporate jargon 'may be worse at their jobs'

A study by Cornell University in the US has found that employees who are impressed by corporate jargon may struggle with effective decision-making. “There's a lot of useful things about the way people in a certain company speak to each other. But it becomes problematic when that turns into nonsense that's used for misleading purposes,” Shane Littrell, a postdoctoral researcher and cognitive psychologist at Cornell University who authored the study, said. “It's the people that can't tell the difference that seem to have the most problems.” The research indicates that those susceptible to corporate jargon often display lower analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. The study highlights the need for awareness of how corporate jargon can mislead even highly educated professionals.

The Guardian

INTERNATIONAL

ABC could use Middle East crisis to order striking staff back

Hugh Marks, the managing director of Australian broadcaster ABC, has said a potential escalation in the Middle East conflict could justify staff being called to return to work during a strike which started at 11am on Wednesday, after he widened the definition of “emergency broadcasting” at the public media corporation. Under the broadcaster's pay agreement with staff, emergency broadcasting is excluded from industrial action, but that had hitherto referred to natural disasters in Australia rather than major news events overseas.

Sydney Morning Herald

Americans' outlook on job market turns increasingly pessimistic

According to a Gallup survey, Americans' perceptions of the US job market have become increasingly negative, with only 28% of workers believing it is a "good time" to find a quality job. This marks a significant decline from mid-2022, when 70% felt optimistic. The survey, conducted in late 2025, highlights a stark divide in sentiment based on education, with just 19% of workers with a college degree thinking that now is a good time to find a quality job, while 35% of workers without a college degree are optimistic. The Gallup results come as government data shows that overall hiring is at its weakest level in more than a decade.

U.S. News

Accor denies involvement in child trafficking following report

French hotel operator Accor - whose brands include Sofitel, Novotel, and Ibis - has launched an investigation following a report by short-seller Grizzly Research that questioned the group’s human rights practices. The short-seller said it is betting against Accor, alleging some of its hotels ignored red flags strongly suggestive of child trafficking when making bookings in “an obvious sexual context.” Accor said it denies “involvement in the alleged systemic exploitation of human or child trafficking,” adding that it will take “all appropriate measures” and could prosecute parties involved if the allegations are confirmed. Employees and partners working under its various brands are trained to detect and combat sexual trafficking and the exploitation of children, Accor said.

Bloomberg

Japanese firms agree to raise wages by more than 5% for a third consecutive year

Japanese companies have agreed to raise wages by more than 5% for a third consecutive year, according to Rengo, Japan's largest labour union umbrella group. The 7m-member union said its preliminary tally early results from annual labour talks showed an average wage hike of 5.26% for this year. "The first round of results shows we have got off to a strong start," Rengo chief Tomoko Yoshino said. Reuters notes that this year's figure compares with last year's initial reading of 5.46%, which was later revised down in stages to a final 5.25%, but which was still the biggest pay rise ⁠in 34 years.

Reuters

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