AGP Executive Report

AI Hiring Fairness: Stanford warns that widely used AI screening tools can amplify discrimination because rejections get repeated across employers using the same opaque vendors, citing millions of applications and higher rejection rates for Black and Asian candidates. Workplace AI Governance: Info-Tech Research Group says many firms limit AI impact by automating tasks instead of redesigning workflows and decisions, urging an “AI-first” process approach. Tech Layoffs & AI: Oracle’s AI-driven restructuring is expected to keep cutting jobs, adding to broader tech workforce reductions tied to AI adoption. HR Leadership Moves: TDI appoints Lois Lyons as its first Chief People Officer to strengthen people strategy and culture; Tegna promotes executives including a new HR leader to steer talent, employee relations, and org development. Policy & Compliance: Saudi Arabia issues a new employee behaviour and dress code for workplace conduct; Malaysia moves to ban forced-labour imports via an inter-agency task force. Global Skills & Reskilling: Malaysia’s KESUMA will use TVET and PERKESO support to upskill workers hit by the global supply chain crisis. Employee Representation: Namibia’s NBC recognizes NAPWU as exclusive bargaining agent for staff. People-First Work: Hilton’s workplace trends report finds workers want human-led support, mentorship, and feel anxious about AI.

Saudi Workforce Tech: PeopleStrong launched FutureOfTalent.ai, the GCC’s first AI-powered talent infrastructure, aimed at helping Saudi Arabia advance Vision 2030 and Nitaqat skills localisation. Germany Sustainability Compliance: New EU rules on sustainability labels and employer seals take effect in Germany on 27 Sept 2026, pushing companies to review what they certify and how they market it. HR Leadership Appointments: Syncron named Bianka Hay-Falk as Chief Human Resources Officer to lead global people and culture. GCC HR Standards: NBK became the first GCC bank to earn four ISO certifications covering engagement, recruitment, competence development and human capital reporting. AI in the Enterprise: Shaffra unveiled “Subconscious AI” to power autonomous AI employees across functions including HR, with stronger memory and governance. Workforce Readiness Gap (Asia): Microsoft’s Work Trend Index flags a “transformation paradox” in Singapore—AI use is rising, but leadership alignment and operating models lag. Employment-First Policy (China): China’s 15th Five-Year Plan doubles down on “employment-first,” shifting from job volume to job quality as graduate pressure stays high. Workplace Risk (Kenya): AFP reports allegations that Kenya’s labour minister was involved in recruiting civilians for Russia, raising serious HR and governance questions. Talent Pipeline (Africa): Uganda is launching CONNECT-VAS to strengthen regional vaccine research and reduce reliance on imports.

Malaysia–Bangladesh Labour Talks: Malaysia will keep tightening foreign-worker recruitment governance with Bangladesh, with leaders raising concerns about exploitation and pushing for transparent, ethical hiring and worker welfare. UAE Emiratisation Deadline: MoHRE reiterated that private firms with 50+ workers must meet H1 Emiratisation targets by June 30, with enforcement from July 1 and use of the Nafis platform for Emirati hiring. Kuwait HR Standards: National Bank of Kuwait says its Group HR team earned four ISO certifications covering engagement, human capital reporting, recruitment guidelines and competence management. Ford–Unifor Contract Negotiations: Ford of Canada begins talks with Unifor aimed at stability for workers while protecting long-term competitiveness. AI at Work, Not Just Replacement: Philippines business leaders urged a human-centered AI approach—augment people before automating everything. Talent Leadership Move: BAT Bangladesh appointed Raiyan Ahmed as Head of Talent, Culture & Inclusion to lead the people agenda. Public Sector Innovation Push: Nigeria’s civil service week calls for innovation, digital transformation and better service delivery. Workforce Planning Risk: Nigeria Customs warned of a major retirement wave—1,516 officers due to retire in 2026–2027—linked to a past recruitment gap.

HR Leadership Moves: Sodexo named Agnès Park Group Chief Human Resources Officer from July 1, tasking her with talent development and its “Shift & Grow” culture push. Workforce Restructuring: Nigeria Customs Service says 1,516 officers will retire over two years, reshaping staffing across cadres. AI & Benefits: Prudential finds employers are keen on AI for benefits guidance (83%), but workers are cautious (58% would use it), with trust and privacy leading concerns. Pay Transparency: The EU moves to end salary-history questions in hiring, requiring clearer pay ranges earlier in the process. Cybersecurity & HR Data: The Council of Europe is investigating a ShinyHunters breach that made more than 10,000 employees’ records permanently available online. Manager Effectiveness: Singapore leaders rate people managers only “modestly effective” for engagement (3.32/5), despite engagement being a strategic priority. Paternity Leave Policy: UAE expands father-friendly leave rights via public policy and workplace testing. Talent & Hiring Skills: A Europe study says 58% of work hours are technically automatable with today’s AI/robotics, shifting the focus to reskilling.

AI Workforce Shock: A Mercer survey of 825 C-suite leaders says 99% of CEOs expect AI to cut some jobs within two years, while worker “thriving” drops and fear of AI-driven job loss rises—raising urgent questions for HR on skills, redeployment, and job design. Consultant Quotas & Pay Equity: Bangladesh’s Institute of Management Consultants urges raising mandatory local consultant participation to 60% (from 30%) and calls for a management consultant act, citing large pay gaps between foreign and local consultants on similar work. Budget Funding Pressure: Bangladesh’s finance minister says the government must seek alternative funding sources beyond multilateral loans, including bond issuance, as concerns grow over tax burden and loan reliance. Workplace Safety & Inclusion: A Jewish former IT employee at Pomona College sues over feeling unsafe after 2024 pro-Palestinian campus takeovers, alleging harassment and discriminatory conduct. Global HR Policy Signals: Canada’s asylum restrictions via Bill C-12 are framed as threatening safety for migrants and refugees, with civil society groups warning of rights impacts. Skills Demand Signals: Qatar’s labour ministry highlights ongoing demand for accounting, HR management, IT, and engineering, pointing to the Kawader platform’s role in matching Qatari job seekers to private-sector roles.

Labour Market Skills Demand (Qatar): Qatar’s Ministry of Labour says accounting remains the top in-demand discipline, with HR management, IT and engineering also high priority, and it points to the Kawader platform to match Qatari jobseekers and children of Qatari women to private-sector roles. Women’s Work Under Taliban Rules (Afghanistan): Despite a rise in women’s business licences, restrictions still block many professions and limit women’s participation in government, non-profits and even some banking and client interactions, leaving most women out of work. Refugee Hiring Barriers (Malaysia): A proposal to let refugees work legally faces hurdles: lack of formal recognition under Malaysia’s refugee framework, slow registration, and weak policy capacity could deter employers and raise exploitation risks. Public-Sector HR Reform (Jordan): Jordan plans competency frameworks to unify recruitment, promotion, training and performance management across government, aiming for merit-based, equal-opportunity HR decisions. Workforce Skills for Transition (India): Automakers warn that the EV shift is colliding with a shortage of job-ready talent in supplier ecosystems, pushing demand for new technical skills. Workplace Safety & AI Misuse (Australia): A case involving alleged AI “radicalisation” is adding to global concerns about how AI can be used to fuel violence and harm. Leadership Development (Caribbean): TDC runs a three-day “Leading Through People” leadership programme for supervisors, middle managers and executives, focusing on communication, accountability and people-centered culture. HR Compliance & Dual Employment (South Africa): A state entity reports an executive resigned after “double dipping” via a remote-work policy while holding a second public-sector role.

Workforce & Pay Policy: Oklahoma’s minimum wage hike to $15 by 2029 (SQ 832) was rejected by voters, keeping the state at $7.25 and reigniting the debate over affordability and business costs. HR Leadership & Equity: Columbia Public Schools named Shonda Ambers-Phillips as chief equity officer, bringing 25 years of education HR, DEI, and leadership experience. Training & Skills Development: The First Arab Gulf Conference for Training and Development wrapped in Cairo, with recommendations aimed at civil service and HR departments across Arab countries, including digital transformation and AI-focused capability building. Future of Work: A new report argues job security is shifting from long-term stability to continuous adaptation, with workers increasingly planning to future-proof skills amid AI-driven change. Workplace Planning: Sedona’s police department approved a three-year strategic plan focused on transparency, leadership development, workforce stabilization, and better internal processes after staff frustration and turnover concerns. Public Sector HR Systems: India’s NEET-UG re-exam (June 21) adds heavy security staffing, biometric checks, and AI monitoring to prevent malpractice.

AI in HR: At SHRM’s Annual Conference, Carnival’s Global CHRO Bettina Deynes urged HR leaders to embrace AI without replacing people, framing HR’s role as uniquely flexible for managing AI-enabled work. Workplace wellbeing & benefits: UK data show 4 million people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in England and Wales, with experts warning the system must be honest about cost, fraud risk, and long-term affordability. Corporate travel: The CTM Travel Programme Maturity Index finds European corporate travel programmes are more mature than the global average, with the UK most focused on strategy and planning. Regulation & enforcement: The EEOC issued a new national enforcement plan, while a UK regulator resignation after an HR investigation highlights governance pressure. Labour market strain: A report flags that summer jobs for teens are vanishing, leaving many young people stuck in a hiring gap. Public sector AI: UAE officials say 50% of federal operations will move to agentic AI within two years, aiming to redesign how government delivers services. Health & inclusion: Malaysia’s Perkeso opened a major neuro-robotic rehab centre for injured workers, targeting large-scale capacity for recovery.

AI in Government: UAE plans to convert 50% of federal operations to agentic AI within two years, with a workshop bringing 600 staff into the next phase of public-service redesign. Workplace Accountability: USW condemns Canada’s move to abolish the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, arguing workers and communities need an independent remedy process. Regulatory HR Fallout: UK information commissioner John Edwards resigns after an HR investigation, raising questions about how the data and AI watchdog is led. Prison Oversight: Michigan officials defend conditions at the state’s women’s prison after three deaths, as lawmakers demand detailed reporting on grievances, mold checks, and investigations. Hiring & Workforce Continuity: Integrity Staffing Solutions frames staffing as a continuity tool for HR and operations, not just filling roles. Health & Safety Labels: HHS seeks testosterone therapy label updates based on newer safety data, including changes to longstanding use limitations. Employment Discrimination Case: A federal jury awards $23M to a former Walmart employee in a retaliation case tied to reported sexual harassment. Skills Pipeline: Papua’s Indigenous farmers push for better access to national agricultural programs, centering local participation in development.

Workforce & Skills: A new report argues the talent shortage is reshaping recruitment across healthcare, tech, engineering and more, with 72% of employers worldwide saying they struggle to find skilled talent. AI Upskilling Gap: South Africa’s C-suite is pushing AI ROI, but HR teams lag—Mercer finds 65% of workers would trade pay for AI and digital skills training. Policy & Compliance: UAE private healthcare firms must ensure at least 50% of new Emirati recruits are in specialised roles (doctors, nurses and other clinical posts). HR Systems & Pay: Kenya’s Murang’a County says intern stipend delays stem from a new national HRIS rollout and missing payroll numbers. Labour Law Debate: Australia’s Pauline Hanson claims businesses “can’t sack” lazy workers; small business advocates say dismissals are possible if employers follow process. Jobs Market Watch: UK active job vacancies rose to 1.62m in May, but new postings fell, suggesting cautious hiring. Global Mobility: Bangladesh’s TMSS job fair targets youth pathways to Japan and South Korea for study, work and residency. Workplace Safety & Youth: Philippines lawmakers file probes into the Mindanao earthquake response and into deaths of Ateneo men’s basketball players, pushing stronger student-athlete safety rules.

Workplace Safety & HR Accountability: Sarasota County Schools is restructuring its HR after a third-party investigation found Riverview High leadership mishandled cheating, sexual harassment, and misuse complaints—raising concerns about retaliation and a culture of fear. Hiring & Background Checks: Wisconsin Watch reports on Wisconsin employers’ ability to run credit checks during hiring, clarifying what data shows up (not credit scores) and when permission is required. AI at Work (Skills & Risk): A UK event brought Sage, Google and Multiverse hands-on AI support for SMEs, while separate commentary warns that “soft skills” messaging may mislead engineers as AI changes how work is done. HR Tech & Compliance: NobleAI says it completed a SOC 2 Type II audit, and SplashBI won HR.com’s 2026 Best People Analytics Platform award—both signaling continued enterprise demand for trusted HR data and security. Global Workforce Finance: Apis Partners invested $50m in Singapore-based BIPO, an Asia-focused payroll and embedded workforce finance platform expanding with AI-native workflows. Employee Inclusion: A report highlights how LGBTQ employees at Kodak built a safer, more inclusive workplace through internal organizing. Policy & Equity: California’s gay-certification program is being used to tap $633m for “LGBT” businesses, spotlighting how supplier diversity rules shape contracting. Child Safety: An Alabama toddler died after being found in a hot car; HR leaders may want to treat this as a reminder that safety policies must be enforced, not just written.

AI Jobs Shift in China: In Wuhan, a new “humanoid robot trainer” role is emerging as young workers pivot into AI-driven work, with centers using VR-guided practice to move trainees from entry tasks to skilled roles. Public-Sector Payroll Strain: Plumas County officials say the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office closure is being handled while HR pushes staff to focus on finally implementing a long-delayed electronic payroll system. Aviation Skills & Hiring: Clark airport operator LIPAD backed Lufthansa Technik’s Clark expansion, targeting up to 1,200 skilled jobs and a new maintenance hub opening in 2028. HR Compliance in Academia: Nepal’s Tribhuvan University orders professors and staff who took study leave but didn’t return to report within 15 days or face action, citing repayment of study-leave funds. Hiring Geography in India: Tier-2 cities are outpacing metros, with 24% year-on-year hiring growth in May as GCCs and large firms broaden talent sourcing. Workplace Tech & Field Ops: Deel launched Deel Field Services for on-site, high-complexity workforces, aiming to bring payroll and HR infrastructure to industries like oil & gas, mining, construction, and heavy logistics. Insurance Leadership: India named Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi as GIC Re CMD, with HR and IT among his prior leadership remit. Job Market Signals (New Zealand): SEEK’s May report shows job ads rising and AI-skill references growing, with industrial and construction sectors driving demand.

Cybersecurity & HR Data Risk: Nintendo says it wasn’t compromised after ShadowByt3$ threatened to leak up to 10 years of internal data tied to TinyPulse employee surveys, while the hacker group demanded a $2M ransom and claimed access to HR-related records. Workplace Skills & Hiring: A new High Point University study finds C-suites and HR leaders agree life skills still beat AI-only experience in hiring, with emotional intelligence and work ethic leading preferences. AI Governance & Employment Law: The IBA’s global employment report flags rising AI use in recruitment and monitoring, with fragmented rules and growing pressure for transparency and data protection. HR Tech Automation: Pebl’s Alfie upgrade moves from answering questions to completing HR tasks inside the platform, cutting support tickets for global hiring and compliance. Global Hiring Strategy: Europe’s hiring slowdown is colliding with fast-growing AI job demand, pushing companies to rethink talent pipelines and “future-proof” recruitment. Labor Market Snapshot: Bulgaria’s unemployment rate fell to 5.18% in May, with thousands starting jobs and employers posting thousands of vacancies. Compliance & Fraud Controls: Louisiana’s auditor reports falsified football recruiting expenses at UL Lafayette, underscoring HR and finance controls risks. Workforce Mobility & Pay Rules: Qatar’s HR ministry ran a workshop for attaches and secondees on rights, duties, and allowance disbursement procedures abroad.

Higher Education HR Compliance: Nepal’s Tribhuvan University ordered professors and staff who took study leave but didn’t return to contact its committee within 15 days, warning of legal action; the university says repayments already total over Rs 118.4 million. Workplace Trust & Pay Transparency: An HR leader profile argues total rewards only works when reward decisions are clearly explained, consistently applied, and seen as fair—linking trust to engagement. Talent & Leadership: Sodexo appointed Soorya Themudu as Senior VP, Global Talent & Development, expanding global talent, culture, learning and succession across 11 countries. AI’s Impact on HR Jobs: A PwC barometer frames AI roles as either professionalized (more expert work, higher pay) or democratized (routine tasks absorbed), and urges HR to apply the same lens to itself. Legal & Employment Risk: Amazon agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging it asked workers for family medical histories during pre-employment physicals; a Honeywell executive’s wrongful termination case must proceed in China under agreed dispute forums. HR Governance & Systems: Canada’s CAMH is expanding Oracle Fusion Cloud to modernize finance, HR and supply chain operations; Wipro launched an Applied AI Center of Excellence for Claude models to scale enterprise AI adoption. Public Sector HR Grievances: Namibia environmental health practitioners petition for a grading structure review, saying qualifications and duties aren’t reflected in the public service framework.

AI and HR’s self-audit: PwC’s Global AI Jobs Barometer frames roles as either “professionalized” or “democratized,” and one analysis argues HR must apply the same lens to itself—spotting which HR tasks will be automated and which will become higher-skill. UAE Emiratisation rules: MoHRE amends private healthcare Emiratisation so UAE citizen job targets must be split 50/50 between specialised healthcare roles and other skilled roles, with compliance checks starting 2027. Workforce planning via partnerships: Philippines shared-services firm Asticom joins Workday’s partner program to help clients modernize HR and finance systems. Talent pipeline pressure in Oman: A report criticizes Oman’s “certificate culture,” saying GPA-based screening can block capable candidates while rewarding paper credentials. Skills crunch in manufacturing: Hungary’s manufacturing faces a potential 40% skilled labor shortage by 2030 as experienced workers retire. HR tech for assessment: Central Test rebrands as Key Predict, pitching predictive talent decisions from assessment data. Vendor lock-in risk: IBM finds EMEA executives lack visibility into AI dependencies and fear severe disruption from AI provider outages.

Religious Freedom at Work: U.S. DOJ backed Nick Rolovich’s appeal against Washington State University after he was fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on Catholic grounds, spotlighting how employers handle faith-based exemptions and internal communications. Public Sector Hiring & Pay: Sri Lanka resumed recruitment for technical officers after a nine-year gap, while Texas’ Webb County moved toward a merit-based pay plan with July 2 adjustments tied to job classifications. HR Digital Transformation: NLCS (Singapore) won Bronze for its HR digital transformation strategy, underscoring how schools are modernizing HR to improve staff experience. AI Governance & Compliance: Verizon flagged a rise in “shadow AI” use, with many employees using unsanctioned tools despite believing it’s against policy—raising new governance pressure for HR and IT. Workforce Skills & Inclusion: Singapore’s AI upskilling push is expanding beyond office staff to frontline teams, and Milwaukee opened an accessible theater that hires disabled performers, aiming to broaden opportunity in the arts. Talent & Hiring Tech: VeriKlick announced a GCC-focused partnership in India to speed large-scale hiring using AI assessments and credential verification.