AGP Executive Report

Labour & Rights: India’s child labour reality is still stark on World Child Labour Day, with millions kept out of classrooms and into survival work, despite long-running legal safeguards. Workplace Safety: A new push for “thermal and ergonomic mandates” under India’s labour codes flags heat stress as a routine hazard, not just a disaster issue, as workers face long hours and rising heat injuries. Hiring & Skills: India plans a Rs 170 crore technology centre in Gaya, Bihar, to upgrade MSME manufacturing with advanced services, training and advisory support. AI & Work: Amazon says it will expand automation and advanced robotics in Indian fulfilment centres while warning against overly strict AI rules that could slow innovation. Corporate HR Risk: India’s TCS faces scrutiny after a Pune employee’s alleged suicide, with investigators booking colleagues over alleged harassment and humiliation. Jobs Outlook: Hong Kong’s first five-year plan aims to create “quality jobs” and tackle economic gaps, with AI positioned as a jobs lever. Energy Jobs: Japan’s naphtha shortage is starting to disrupt air-conditioner installations, raising fears of “installation refugees.” Cross-border Trade & Work: India’s stricter tea import checks are threatening shutdowns in Nepal’s Ilam factories, risking jobs as shipments get stuck awaiting testing. Labour Dispute: Australia’s tribunal rejected Inpex’s bid to stop an LNG workers’ strike, keeping cargo loading banned until June 23. Startup Economy: India’s startup ecosystem is credited with generating nearly 25 lakh jobs, as policymakers push RISE-style links between research, startups and industry. Work-Life Balance: Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal points to Gen Z’s rising preference for work-life balance over salary, especially for mid-career professionals.

Child Labour: India marks World Child Labour Day with a stark reminder that millions of children still trade classrooms for work, with the country’s persistent labour problem tied to poverty and long-running structural gaps. HR & Hiring Tech: Philippines HR leaders are cautious about AI in hiring, with only 28% trusting it for final decisions without human oversight, while HR teams say AI should support—not replace—recruiters. AI Controls in China: China is tightening overseas travel rules for private AI researchers, requiring passport surrender and approvals, echoing broader workforce control as AI adoption reshapes jobs. Workplace Safety & Justice: India’s Pune/TCS suicide case keeps unfolding as police book staff over alleged harassment/abetment, spotlighting employee safety and accountability. Formal Jobs & Social Security: India’s EPFO adds 19.29 lakh net members in June, showing continued formal employment growth and a surge in young enrolments. Talent & Industry Partnerships: Nasscom launches a UK Technology Advisory Council to deepen India–UK tech ties and talent development, supporting thousands of jobs across the UK. Industrial Growth Push (India): Assam approves a Guwahati Satellite Cities Development Authority and a jobs-focused rollout under Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika. Green Jobs & Investment (Asia): Ras Al Khaimah promotes green energy and smart logistics investment in China, aiming to create high-value employment through new partnerships. Labour Mobility (Japan): Cabinet approval for a new labour mobility agreement with Japan signals more structured cross-border work pathways. Corporate Accountability: India’s pollution regulator alleges Tata iPhone parts factory wastewater contaminated farmland groundwater, warning of shutdown unless Tata explains and fixes the issue.

AI at Work: TCS says it will give 50,000 employees access to Anthropic’s Claude, betting on generative AI to boost productivity and automate workflows. Workplace Safety: Pune police registered an abetment-to-suicide case against three people, including two TCS employees, after a 48-year-old IT worker died at home; allegations point to harassment and humiliation at work. Hiring Signals (Asia): Taiwan’s financial services sector leads Q3 hiring outlook in a ManpowerGroup survey, with employers citing IT talent needs despite global uncertainty. Jobs via Investment (India): Chhattisgarh secured ₹9,580 crore in investment commitments, targeting nearly 7,800 direct jobs across data centres, semiconductors, solar equipment, textiles, pharma and dairy. Skills & Mobility (Japan): All 47 Japanese prefectures plan to spend at least 5.5 billion yen to attract foreign workers amid severe labour shortages. Energy & Industry: Hitachi Energy plans a ₹2,000 crore large power transformer factory in Gujarat, aiming to support grid buildout and create jobs. Labour Policy (Sri Lanka–India): Sri Lanka and India discussed labour law reform and knowledge sharing at the ILC. Workforce Culture: A Bengaluru startup founder went viral calling out “toxic” normalized workplace behaviours like late-night calls and public berating.

Child Labour in India: On World Child Labour Day (June 12), coverage spotlights how millions of children still work instead of learning, with the piece tracing the long history of child labour and the gap between legal safeguards and lived reality. Workplace Safety & HR Risk: India’s tech sector faces fresh scrutiny after reports of alleged suicide-linked harassment at TCS in Pimpri-Chinchwad, with police registering abetment cases and TCS saying it is checking facts. Cybercrime & Banking Controls: Hyderabad police rolled out a multilingual cybercrime awareness brochure for bank staff, pushing “zero mule account” and “safe customer” checks after operations flagged weak staff awareness. Hiring & Restructuring Signals: T-Mobile opened a Hyderabad tech center to hire about 1,000 by 2027, while Opendoor’s India exit and Volkswagen’s job cuts underline ongoing workforce reshaping across Asia-linked firms. Infrastructure Jobs Pipeline: Uttar Pradesh is expanding airports and air connectivity across multiple cities, while China breaks ground on a major Yangtze waterway project aimed at boosting freight capacity—both likely to drive construction and logistics hiring. Air India Crash Anniversary: A year after the Ahmedabad crash, families and pilots’ groups renew calls for transparency as investigators still haven’t published final findings. Food Retail Compliance: FSSAI issued a notice to Nestlé India over alleged Maggi insect/larvae contamination, raising compliance and supply-chain documentation pressure for FMCG employers.

AI & Jobs in India: Opendoor is winding down India operations and shifting about 250 roles back to the US, adding to worries that AI is reshaping hiring and outsourcing in tech. Enterprise AI Reality Check: A new look at Asia’s AI push says companies often bolt AI onto old workflows, so real transformation needs redesigning processes, not just deploying tools. Cybersecurity Hiring Signals: Hyderabad is attracting new AI/data security work as Theom launches India operations, pointing to demand for talent that can secure data and AI systems. Workforce Policy & Pay: India’s central government dearness allowance/relief and fitment factor discussions continue ahead of the 8th pay commission’s recommendations, while a Telangana High Court order directs SBI to extend VRS benefits to legal heirs. Talent Mobility: Deel’s visa data ranks India at the top for US H-1B and among the leaders globally, reinforcing that skilled hiring is driven by scarcity. Security & Recruitment Scams: The US DOJ and FBI seized 13 Chinese-linked domains tied to sham consulting sites targeting security-clearance holders, warning employers and jobseekers to treat “easy income” offers cautiously. China Rural Jobs: China’s 15th Five-Year Plan puts farmer livelihoods and rural modernization at the center, aiming to move workers into more technology-driven agriculture.

AI & Jobs: China’s AI adoption is accelerating day-to-day use but also reshaping hiring and cutting roles, raising fears of a new white-collar job squeeze. Tech Talent Mobility: Vienna startup JobMetasearch says it’s helping non-EU tech workers find visa-sponsored roles across Europe by matching candidates to employers likely to sponsor visas and auto-generating tailored resumes. Corporate Restructuring: Microsoft plans layoffs in China (200–400 employees, report). Outsourcing Shift: US proptech Opendoor is shutting India operations and laying off about 250 staff as it refocuses on AI-native US teams. Skilling & Employability: India’s NITI Aayog meeting put skilling, planned urbanisation and jobs at the center of growth planning. Workforce Health: India’s gig economy is adapting to extreme heat with hydration, healthcare access and workplace interventions for frontline workers. Manufacturing Localisation: Isuzu Motors South Africa invested R510m in supplier tooling and local component sourcing for the D-Max. Labour & Recruitment Security: Five Eyes warned of Chinese LinkedIn recruitment scams targeting people with access to classified information. Energy & Jobs: China-Africa energy talks stressed grid building and renewables to reduce oil-shipment disruption risks. HR Milestones: Sands China honoured 4,000+ long-service staff in Macau. ASEAN Investment: ASEAN diplomats visited Bangladesh’s BSEZ, signalling interest in expanding regional investment and industrial cooperation.

AI & Workflows: US proptech Opendoor is winding down its India operations and cutting about 250 jobs as it shifts customer-support work back to the US and leans on smaller “AI-native” teams. Enterprise AI Scaling: Tata Consultancy Services partnered with Anthropic to equip 50,000 associates with Claude and push enterprise AI in regulated sectors, while signaling slower hiring as AI agents grow. Cyber & Hiring Scams: The FBI and DOJ seized 13 Chinese-linked websites that posed as consulting firms offering fake jobs to recruit US security-clearance holders. Education & Testing Security: India will use military aircraft to transport exam papers for a June retest after widespread paper leak scandals. Labour Policy: India told the ILO it consolidated 29 labour laws into four codes, citing higher youth employability and rising women’s workforce participation. Workplace Privacy: India’s IDfy warns that “shadow AI” and unmanaged use of public AI tools could trigger the next major data breach. Public Sector Mobilisation: Japan passed a law allowing national and local public employees to serve concurrently as SDF reserve personnel, keeping full pay during call-ups. Energy Jobs Angle: Sri Lanka received Japan-donated refrigerated trucks to cut post-harvest fish losses, supporting jobs at the Ceylon Fisheries Corporation. Global Rights: China released a 2026-2030 human rights action plan stressing the right to work and employment-first policies. Regional Skills: Thailand and China plan to train 1 million future-ready workers. Crypto Markets: Osaka Exchange plans Bitcoin futures by 2028, aiming to expand institutional hedging access.

Workforce Upskilling: Thailand and China are teaming up under the “210 Majors” vocational project to train 1 million future-ready workers over five years, using a “3+1” model that adds AI skills to Thai/Chinese/English learning. AI & Hiring Pressure: Reuters reports Chinese internet firms are “quietly” cutting contractors and slowing graduate hiring as AI agents roll out, aiming to boost productivity without triggering social-stability backlash. Jobs via Infrastructure: Meta and mikeroweWORKS are launching a $115m workforce initiative offering free training and guaranteed skilled-trade jobs tied to AI data-center and infrastructure buildout. Manufacturing Jobs Boost: India approved 22 new textile PLI applicants (total 96) expected to create 36,217 jobs across the textile value chain. Energy & Rural Reliability: A World Bank-linked discussion highlights a key gap in India’s renewables push: more electrification doesn’t automatically mean energy security for rural livelihoods. Cross-border Mobility: Canada opened its first rail preclearance site at Vancouver Pacific Central Rail Station to speed U.S.-bound travel and support trade. Corporate Restructuring: Teva plans to cut 250 jobs at its Israel API plant as part of global restructuring.

AI Hiring & Workforce Shifts: SAP says India is a future AI frontrunner and is expanding AI-focused roles with university partnerships, while a Reuters report finds some Chinese firms using “quiet” layoffs and cutting graduate hiring as they roll out AI tools. Hiring Outlook Cools: ManpowerGroup’s India survey shows Q3 2026 hiring intent down 20 points to a still-strong 48%, and Singapore employers also signal softer staffing plans, though they’ll pay more for AI and critical thinking skills. Pay & Talent Demand: TeamLease expects India salary hikes of 8.6%–10.2% in FY27, led by EV and FinTech, and the staffing sector reports 8% YoY growth in formal flexi employment. Robotics Funding: Ambani-backed Addverb is seeking $100m+ to scale robotics, including humanoids, as it targets future market leadership. Jobs via Industry Projects: A new cement plant is set to create about 450 jobs in Zimbabwe, and China National Tire & Rubber plans a $550m Alexandria expansion in Egypt with around 1,600 direct jobs. Regional Policy & Mobility: Kuwait bans hiring Kenyan domestic workers, and UNICEF India convenes business leaders to push inclusive early-years support that can shape more disability-inclusive workplaces.

Japan Legal Hiring Boost: Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer hires M&A partner James Campbell in Tokyo from Nishimura & Asahi, strengthening cross-border deal capability. India Hiring Integrity: Infosys defers online and in-person tests for 20,000+ applicants after impersonation and cheating cases, adding guardrails. AI Skills Push: Salesforce South Asia CEO Arundhati Bhattacharya says AI will create jobs and backs training 1 million Indians by 2030 with partners like Infosys and TCS. Cloud Layoffs in China: Microsoft cuts about 200 Azure jobs in China, with emails notifying affected staff and severance tied to tenure. Visa Policy Shock: A US judge blocks Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee, reshaping costs for employers and applicants. ASEAN Integration: Cambodia PM Hun Manet urges ASEAN to defend economic integration as global instability threatens progress. Labour Market Snapshot (Philippines): Unemployment dips to 4.7% in April, but underemployment rises, signaling weaker job quality. Maritime Worker Protection (India): India blacklists 88 vessels and restricts 278 for abandoning Indian seafarers at foreign ports. Investment & Jobs (India): Himachal clears 42 investment proposals worth Rs 5,877 crore, targeting 13,355 jobs.

AI at Work: TCS chief N Chandrasekaran says the firm plans to have as many AI agents as human employees within three years, with AI revenue growth accelerating. Hiring & Pay Pressure: Indeed finds 73% of Indian employers see rising living costs hitting workers, yet most aren’t changing pay or flexibility fast enough. Fintech Jobs: Paytm plans to hire about 4,000 people over nine months as it expands its merchant network and builds AI-powered financial products, after earlier restructuring. ESG & Talent Signals: Morgan Stanley upgraded Chinese EV maker Seres to AAA on ESG, highlighting renewable energy use and emissions cuts—an indicator of how sustainability is becoming a hiring and financing benchmark. Visa/Work Rules: Japan’s Mie governor is pushing curbs on foreigner hiring for public service roles, with duties potentially restricted even after exams. Workplace Risk: Japan tightens business-manager visa rules; applications fall sharply, threatening small foreign-run restaurants and import shops. Mobility Careers: Green SM (VinFast-backed) launches an all-electric ride-hailing service in India, aiming to create local driver and career opportunities. Aviation Jobs: SpiceJet delays pilot pay while seeking emergency funding, raising pressure on airline workforce stability.

Workplace Safety & HR: India’s Kartik Research employee death is under police inquiry, with the brand saying a planned Paris runway show was postponed and disputing circulating claims about the circumstances. Data Privacy: Japan’s National Hospital Organization says hard drives sold online from two Hokkaido hospitals exposed patient and staff data for up to 510,000 people, with a contractor now facing a criminal complaint. Hiring & Security: The Five Eyes alliance warns China is using LinkedIn, Indeed and Upwork to pose as recruiters and harvest sensitive information from government and security-linked candidates. Skills & Hiring Outlook: ManpowerGroup’s APME survey finds hiring momentum moderating in Q3 2026, but employers still pay premiums for AI literacy and collaboration skills. Policy & Jobs: India’s coal ministry says reforms have created about 5 lakh direct and 25 lakh indirect jobs in coal. Regional Geopolitics: Xi and Kim meet in Pyongyang, pledging to deepen China–DPRK ties, while markets react to renewed West Asia tensions and oil-price swings. Infrastructure & Employment: India’s Zojila tunnel breakthrough nears on a 13.15km project, expected to reshape connectivity in Kashmir and Ladakh.

Diplomacy & Energy Security: Xi Jinping’s first North Korea visit in nearly seven years signals tighter China–Pyongyang coordination, while Russia’s Lavrov says ASEAN–Russia talks in Kazan later this month could draw all ASEAN leaders, including the Philippines. Workplace Policy: Japan’s youngest elected female mayor, Shoko Kawata, plans 16 weeks of maternity leave—highlighting a legal gap for elected officials and adding pressure for gender-equal work norms. Hiring & Skills: India’s Apna is using multilingual AI interview bots and assessments to help first-time workers break into organised jobs, while a Trip.com report finds China’s inbound tourism workforce is getting younger, more educated, and more diverse. Labour Rights: India’s Madras High Court ordered TNSTC to pay an employee’s widow earned-leave surrender salary with 6% interest. Markets & Careers: Japan stocks slid as AI-linked tech cooled on Fed-rate fears and Middle East tensions; India opened weaker as oil spiked and foreign selling resumed. Tech & Jobs: T-Mobile opened a global technology centre in Hyderabad, aiming for up to 1,000 employees by 2027. Infrastructure Investment: The US DFC will back a $1.5b Indo-Pacific energy platform, targeting LNG and other energy assets.

Aviation & Jobs: IATA cut its 2026 industry profit forecast to about US$23bn (from US$41bn) as West Asia war disruptions and high fuel prices bite, though passenger load factors are still expected to hit record highs. Tech Hiring: T-Mobile opened a Global Technology Centre in Hyderabad and plans to hire nearly 1,000 professionals by 2027, adding to India’s GCC pull. Quick Commerce IPO: Zepto is set to file an updated DRHP and target a July listing for an ~₹11,000 crore IPO, aiming to complete a trio of listed quick-commerce players. Urban Employment via Infrastructure: Telangana said Musi Rejuvenation Project phase 2 works between Nagole and Gaurelli will start soon, framing the river cleanup as a jobs and tourism boost. Labour Market Pressure (Japan): Japan’s blue-collar wages are rising amid labour shortages, but real wage gains lag inflation. Migration & Work Risks: A viral Dubai garbage-collection video reignited debate on migrant work hours, pay and conditions; separately, Bangladeshis repatriated from India warned about the dangers of undocumented migration. Education-to-Work Anxiety (India): India’s “Cockroach Janta Party” protests over exam leaks kept attention on jobs and education accountability. China Education Pipeline: China’s gaokao opened with ~12.9m candidates, underscoring the scale of the talent pipeline feeding future hiring.

Japan-Malaysia Diplomatic Push: Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim heads to Tokyo (June 8-10) for talks with Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi, with focus on green tech, energy resilience, defence, regional security and higher education. China Safety Perception: Foreign visitors in Guiyang say they feel safe in everyday nightlife, a boost to travel demand as visa-free access and services expand. China AI Supply Chain: China’s optical modules and chips remain central to global AI buildout, with exports and orders surging and optical module demand stretching into 2028. India Youth Protest & Exams: India tightens security in Delhi ahead of the “Cockroach Janta Party” protest over exam irregularities, as youth anger over jobs and inflation simmers. India Skills-to-Work Gap: India’s PM internship scheme is cited as missing targets, but some interns say it became a real entry point into corporate roles. Nestlé India Royalties: Nestlé India paid ₹1,024.5 crore royalty to its Swiss parent in FY26 (+13.9%), after shareholders rejected a higher-fee plan. Japan Media Gender Gap: A Japanese media industry poll finds only 26% of women view workplaces as gender equal, with men more likely to report fairness. Agriculture Tech Costs: Drone spraying in India is typically ₹400-800 per acre (service-only), with subsidies under SMAM.

AI & Jobs: PwC’s Bangladesh CEO survey finds 1/3 of local leaders expect AI to cut junior roles in the next three years, while only a small share foresee senior-level cuts—suggesting automation pressure is landing lower in org charts. Hiring & Reskilling: India’s FY27 growth outlook is improving, with SBI Research pointing to formalisation, digitisation and skill training as drivers of labour productivity and reduced informality—an angle that links macro momentum to workforce readiness. Tech Infrastructure Jobs: T-Mobile is opening a Hyderabad tech center and plans to hire nearly 1,000 people by 2027, even as it continues hiring after earlier layoffs tied to its digital shift. Talent Pathways: Japan’s Yamagata Shimbun spotlights Nitte University’s India-Japan pipeline, saying 300+ graduates have secured jobs in Japan since 2020. Local Employment Push: Nagaland’s Don Bosco Job Fair in Kohima drew 500+ seekers and 25+ recruiters, with the governor urging coordinated action across government, schools and industry. Workplace Inclusion: Japan’s NTUT ran a Philippines program on deaf education and inclusive employment practices, focusing on accessibility and workplace dynamics. Education-to-Work Pressure: India’s “Cockroach Janta Party” staged a Delhi protest over exam leaks and marking issues, framing the crisis as a jobs and career threat for youth.