THE HOT STORY

Saudi Arabia urged to ditch foreign labour system

UN rights experts have called on Saudi Arabia to abolish its kafala sponsorship system ahead of the 2034 World Cup, citing ongoing abuse and exploitation of migrant workers. Despite some easing of restrictions in 2021, many workers remain vulnerable. "Five years after the encouraging announcement of labour reforms, we continue to receive reports of abuse and labour exploitation of the estimated 16m migrant workers in the country," the UN experts said in a joint statement. "Migrant worker deaths have allegedly occurred under unclear circumstances and without accountability. Wage theft, workplace violence, retention of identity documents and the imposition of extortionate recruitment fees are all reported to continue. These practices must stop." They urged Riyadh to ensure migrant workers can change jobs freely and receive full national labour protections, emphasising the need for accountability and safe reporting channels.

France 24

HIRING

LinkedIn AI hiring products set to generate $450m sales

Microsoft-owned LinkedIn says its hiring products using agentic AI ‌are set to generate $450m in sales in the coming year. The social network's systems work by having an AI agent take instructions from a human recruiter and then sifting through LinkedIn profiles to find the best ones for follow-up. "Recruiters told us half their day was low-value work, so we made a bet on understanding ⁠their pain to get our solution right," said LinkedIn chief executive Dan Shapero.

Reuters

LEGAL

Stricter penalties are introduced for evading court rules Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has enacted a new enforcement law that imposes stricter penalties for evading court rulings. The law, approved by the Council of Ministers, replaces the 2012 enforcement law and introduces fines up to SR1m ($266,000) and prison terms of up to three years for offenders. It criminalises actions like concealing assets and obstructing enforcement. Public officials who hinder enforcement may face up to five years in prison, while debtors dissipating large assets could receive up to 15 years. Authorities aim to enhance judicial efficiency and ensure timely enforcement of court decisions.

Gulfnews.com

Israel's AG targets Haredi yeshivas with draft dodgers

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has announced the withdrawal of tax exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshivas whose students evade military service. She said the state cannot finance institutions that support draft dodging. The High Court of Justice has mandated that the government must not provide funds to such institutions. Baharav-Miara requested until May 28 for the Finance Ministry to report on implementation plans. Haredi politicians condemned her action, with MK Yitzhak Goldknopf claiming it is a war against Torah study.

The Times of Israel

STRATEGY

Zuckerberg blames Meta layoffs on capital spending

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has said the Facebook parent firm's planned layoffs are the consequence of increased capital spending for AI, and in comments to staff at a company town hall on Thursday he declined to rule out further job cuts. “We basically have two major cost centers in the company: compute infrastructure and people-oriented things," Zuckerberg said. "If we’re investing more in one area to serve our community, then that means we have less capital to allocate to the other. So that means we ⁠do need to take down the size of the company somewhat." He added: "Getting everyone internally to use AI tools and getting to do the work more efficiently is not the thing that's driving layoffs."

Reuters

RETENTION

Workforce mobility emerges as retention tool in tight labour market

Cross-border workforce mobility is emerging as a vital tool for employee retention, according to the EY 2026 Mobility Reimagined Survey. The survey found that 80% of employees felt more inclined to stay with their employer after an international assignment, a significant increase from 2025. Additionally, 88% of respondents emphasised the importance of flexibility in mobility policies. Claudia Sofianu, partner at EY Romania, observed: "Global mobility is no longer a support function but a business decision with a direct impact on retention, growth, and competitiveness."

Business Review

Romaniapress

ZF English

INTERNATIONAL

Trump administration rejects women picked for soybean board

Reuters reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this year rejected all four women farmers chosen by their peers to represent them in the United Soybean Board, an industry group. Three of the women suspect the rare intervetion by the USDA was linked to gender. “It seems like a small thing," reflects Sara Stelter, a Wisconsin farmer stripped of her role on the soy board, "but in other ways, it’s really a big deal because it’s just another thing of where the current administration views women, I believe, and what their role should be." Reuters notes the Trump administration has pledged to eliminate policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, from every layer of government.

Reuters

India issues nationwide heatwave advisory to protect workers

As temperatures exceed 47°C in parts of India, the Ministry of Labour & Employment has mandated urgent safety measures for workers, especially those in outdoor roles. The advisory includes flexible work hours, cooling breaks, and access to drinking water. Suchita Dutta, executive director of the Indian Staffing Federation, emphasised the importance of these measures for worker safety and industrial productivity. The National Human Rights Commission has also urged states to protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat, highlighting the need for effective implementation of relief measures to prevent heat-related casualties.

Livemint.com

China's ‘lunch-break economy' is booming

More urban professionals in China are spending on services - including power naps, express facials, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts and 30-minute group meditations - during their lunch-break. Associate Professor Gao Wen, who teaches psychology at Liaoning Normal University in Dalian, observed: “Consumers are mostly white-collar workers who have long commutes, high work intensity, and relatively high disposable income. They are quite willing to pay for their personal physical and mental health, as well as for improved work efficiency.” But while some companies support employees' lunch-break activities, others consider any departure from the desk during lunchtime to be a dereliction of duty.

Straits Times

Nigeria's TUC demands 50% tax cut for workers, manufacturers

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the federal government to implement a 50% tax reduction for workers and manufacturers to alleviate economic pressures caused by rising fuel prices. In a communiqué from their National Executive Council meeting, TUC leaders highlighted the need for government intervention to stabilise fuel prices and improve local refining capacity. Comrade Festus Osifo, TUC President-General, said: "Government must take urgent steps to prevent further increases in the pump price of petroleum products." The Congress also expressed concerns over security issues and the impact of casualisation in the private sector.

Zawya EN

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