THE HOT STORY

Pakistani workers say their faith cost them their jobs in the UAE

Shia Muslims from Pakistan have said they were deported from the UAE as a consequence of the Iran war. Pakistani legislators told NPR that anywhere between 5,000 to 18,000 Shia Pakistanis had been deported. Neil Quilliam, an associated fellow at the British think tank Chatham House, has said the UAE is angry at Pakistan for expressing sympathy with Iranian victims and because Pakistan is mediating to try and end the conflict, while the Emirates has sided with the U.S. and Israel.

NPR / National Public Radio

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Midday outdoor work ban returns across UAE for 22nd year

The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has reinstated the Midday Work Ban for the 22nd year, effective from 15 June to 15 September 2026. The policy prohibits outdoor work under direct sunlight between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm to protect workers from heat stress. Dalal Al Shehhi, Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Protection, noted that compliance rates have exceeded 99% amid strong collaboration with the private sector. The policy includes exemptions for essential work and mandates shaded rest areas and cooling equipment for workers. The Ministry will monitor compliance through inspections and public reporting.

Emirates24

Gulfnews.com

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Egypt expands digital talent programmes

Egypt is enhancing its digital talent development to increase offshoring services exports to $6bn by 2026, up from $5.2bn in 2025. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), includes expanding the Information Technology Industry Development Agency's (ITIDA) summer training programme. The programme aims to train 10,000 university students in high-demand fields including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Zawya EN

LEGAL

Saudi Arabia in crackdown on violators

Saudi authorities arrested 7,760 individuals for violating residency, labour, and border regulations during a week-long enforcement operation, according to the Ministry of Interior. The inspections, conducted from May 28 to June 3, targeted immigration and employment law breaches. Of those detained, 4,060 faced residency violations, 2,574 were accused of border security breaches, and 1,126 were arrested for labour law offences. The ministry noted that 70% of border detainees were Ethiopians. Legal actions are underway against 21,774 expatriates, with penalties for offenders potentially including prison sentences and fines.

The Times of India

HIRING

List of 10 countries approved by Kuwait for hiring domestic workers

The Ministry of Interior in Kuwait has introduced new regulations for domestic worker recruitment. The updated circular allows recruitment from 10 approved countries, including South Africa and the Philippines, while prohibiting it from 27 others. The decision follows assessments from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health. Authorities said: "Recruitment procedures will be processed through governorate-level service centres to streamline applications."

Zawya EN

TECHNOLOGY

OpenAI plots biggest ChatGPT overhaul since launch

OpenAI is preparing the biggest overhaul of ChatGPT since its launch ahead of a planned listing, intending to transform the chatbot into a “superapp” that combines coding tools and AI agents.

Financial Times

INTERNATIONAL

UK tech firms get fee-free visas to lure global talent

The UK government is to reimburse visa fees for fast-growing tech firms to attract top foreign talent. Finance minister Rachel Reeves announced the initiative as part of a new "concierge service" aimed at supporting companies in the digital, life sciences, and clean energy sectors. Ahead of the announcement at a London Tech Week event, Reeves said: "We are backing the UK's most ambitious firms to start, scale and stay here - with the finance, talent and support they need to succeed." Business secretary Peter Kyle has modelled the initiative on similar projects in France, Singapore and the US. He said: "If we want the next generation of world-changing firms to be built in Britain, we must make Britain the best place in the world not only to start a company but, crucially, to scale one . . . Britain has the ideas, talent, and ambition to lead the world - and this government is backing the businesses that will define our future."

The Times

More white-collar workers in Singapore seek union help

In Singapore, more white-collar workers are seeking assistance from unions following job losses. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) reported a 5% increase in retrenchment cases for professionals, managers, and executives (PMEs) in 2025, totalling over 3,900 cases. Factors include offshoring and the impact of artificial intelligence on job roles. NTUC's assistant secretary-general, Patrick Tay, noted that many PMEs are unaware of their rights to union representation during retrenchments. The organisation is advocating for stronger protections and greater awareness among workers about union membership benefits.

Business Times SG

SoFi Stadium workers vote to authorise strike ahead of World Cup

Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have voted overwhelmingly to authorise a potential strike during the upcoming World Cup. The Unite Here Local 11 union, representing about 2,000 food and beverage workers, reported that 96% of voters supported the strike call. The union is calling for better pay and protections against federal immigration agents entering the venue. Union co-president Kurt Petersen said: "If we're forced to strike, those $100,000 FIFA suites will have nothing but bottled water and Doritos."

France 24

NPR / National Public Radio

World Bank urges Thailand to reform labour laws

The World Bank has urged Thailand to reform its labour and business laws ahead of the 2026 Business Ready (B-READY) assessment. Key areas for improvement include establishing a minimum of 15 working days of annual leave and implementing protections against workplace discrimination and harassment. The World Bank also highlighted the need for laws requiring additional compensation for night work and transparency in business ownership during registration. More than 150 representatives from relevant agencies joined the session to hear explanations and raise questions about the methodology to be used in Thailand's B-READY assessment this year.

The Nation

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