AGP Executive Report

AI & Hiring: A Robert Walters survey in the Philippines found only 28% of HR leaders trust AI to make final hiring decisions without human oversight, with executives stressing AI should augment recruiters, not replace them. Workforce Enablement: Gartner warns of an “enablement illusion,” saying leaders often track basic AI adoption instead of real workforce readiness—by 2027, firms without a people-centric AI strategy risk losing top AI talent. HR Governance & Ethics: Ghana’s CIHRM urged HR professionals to uphold accountability and ethics as Act 1020 fully takes effect, requiring certification to legally practice HR functions. Digital Work Rules (Saudi): Saudi Arabia now requires work permits for Premium Residency holders via the Qiwa platform, with process details and fees outlined. Skills & Education: Bangladesh’s ICT minister backed programming and AI training for youth, while Tanzania’s PM highlighted investing in human capital to improve government performance. Gender & Inclusion (Vietnam): DKSH Vietnam received a “Gender Equality Star” award for inclusive recruitment, equitable pay and stronger female leadership. Labor Compliance (Italy): Italy is investigating Caddell Construction over alleged wage theft and forced long hours for foreign workers building a U.S. consulate in Milan. HR Leadership Moves (US): Youngstown Goodwill promoted a new VP of HR and a VP for community and workforce development, signaling a push to modernize HR and integrate mission services.

Workplace Survey Fallout: A Reddit post claims an HR team accidentally emailed unedited engagement survey responses to all 84 employees, including open-text comments, reigniting fears that “anonymous” surveys aren’t really anonymous. AI Governance in GBS: BCG warns that dissolving global business services could cost firms 4–7x annual GBS run costs over a decade, arguing AI needs centralized governance and accountability, not fragmented ownership. U.S. Federal Hiring: The IRS is set to hire 8,000 employees after earlier disruptions tied to federal budget cuts, highlighting ongoing churn in public-sector HR capacity. Labor Relations: A Nexteer worker fired for opposing a UAW “sellout” agreement is being called out for reinstatement with back pay by a rank-and-file committee. Education Workforce Cuts: San Diego County districts are cutting jobs and services amid enrollment declines and deeper budget deficits, with families facing added instability. Benefits Compliance: New CalFresh work rules put 67,000 people at risk of losing food assistance, adding red tape for already vulnerable groups. HR in Action (Volunteering): MTN Ghana employees donated to Street Academy through a staff-led birthday giving program. Higher Ed Admissions: Mumbai University opened applications for online MMS and MCA entrance exams for 2026-27, with HR specializations included.

Religious freedom at work: A U.S. appeals court fight continues for Nick Rolovich, the Washington State University coach fired after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on Catholic grounds, with the DOJ backing his Title VII claim and internal university messages reportedly prioritizing “brand image” over accommodation. Pay transparency compliance: Italy, Lithuania and Slovakia have started transposing the EU Pay Transparency Directive, pushing employers toward recruitment pay disclosure, gender-neutral pay structures, and country-by-country reporting readiness. Overtime confusion: A U.S. Labor Department overtime update is sparking uncertainty over unpaid hours, raising fresh HR and payroll risk around “off-the-clock” work. Workforce equity in healthcare: UK research links overseas-born status plus ethnicity to slower NHS career progression and lower placement in higher pay bands—highlighting gaps in what HR systems record. Extreme weather risk: A new workforce disruption picture shows most workers face weather impacts, but only a small share of employers have assessed threats. AI in HR operations: London Tech Week spotlights large-scale Copilot rollout for NHS staff and broader AI deployment pressure on HR to manage change and compliance.

EEOC Enforcement Shift: The U.S. EEOC approved a new 2025–2029 National Enforcement Plan, signaling tougher focus on intentional discrimination, religious accommodation, and scrutiny of DEI-linked practices—prompting employers to review hiring, visa sponsorship, and workplace policies. Cyber & HR Risk: Norfolk’s biggest hospital network is working to identify people affected after a Qilin-linked breach of Synnovis data, a reminder that third-party vendors can expose patient and workforce-adjacent information. AI in HR Operations: Ajman Transport Authority and e& signed an MoU to trial agentic AI for back-office HR and finance tasks, plus route planning and computer-vision passenger analytics. Workplace Culture Wins: Jurupa Community Services District was named a 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplace based on confidential employee survey feedback. Compliance for Hiring Foreign Workers: South Africa’s proposed Employment Services Amendment Bill would raise penalties and expand inspector powers, pushing employers to tighten document checks for foreign nationals. Skills-to-Jobs Focus: Pakistan’s World Bank roundtable stressed that training only counts if it leads to meaningful jobs. Employee Experience Push: Dubai Customs launched “Tadalal,” an employee experience center aimed at wellbeing and engagement.

Workplace Fraud & Pay Equity: Five Eyes warned of a Chinese espionage campaign using LinkedIn recruitment to target people with access to classified information, with fake profiles and incentives. Labor Exploitation: Italian prosecutors are investigating Montgomery, Alabama-based Caddell Construction over alleged wage theft and forced hours tied to a $350M U.S. consulate build in Milan, where foreign workers reportedly earned under $2/hour after deductions. Healthcare Workforce Policy: Clasp reviewed 19,620 public comments on U.S. graduate borrowing changes and found overwhelming opposition, with healthcare workforce access and patient-care concerns dominating. HR Tech & AI Readiness: A UK survey by Henley Business School found 61% of workers feel overwhelmed by AI at work and many say employers lack AI guidelines—fueling “change fatigue.” Talent & Skills Development: Ghana Water inaugurated the Ghana Water Institute governing council to build West Africa’s water-sector training and professional development. Hiring & Expansion: Rural King will invest $75M in a new Illinois store support center, adding 100 jobs and retaining 719. Digital HR Modernization: The U.S. Army Reserve Europe held an HR forum to streamline processes under IPPS-A.

Workplace Access & Security: Australia’s facilities leaders are moving beyond plastic cards toward mobile-first credentials, cutting help-desk churn while boosting convenience and security. Disability-to-Workforce Push: Bangladesh’s social welfare minister says the government aims to turn people with disabilities into employable “human resources” via education, skills training and job placement. UK Pay Compliance: A new UK pay rule raises the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates, forcing payroll and HR system updates for millions of workers. Migrant Worker Wage Probe (Italy/US): Investigators allege foreign workers on a Milan US consulate project were paid under $2 an hour after wage deductions and excessive hours, spotlighting labor exploitation risks in contracting. AI at Work (HR Impact): BCG finds a “joy paradox” for AI users—higher satisfaction but heavier cognitive load—while many firms struggle to convert saved time into real business value. Skills Visibility Gap: ETHRWorld reports 55% of organisations lack visibility into workforce skills, with only 16% using enterprise-wide skills frameworks. HR Tech & Hiring: Jably pitches its AI recruitment platform to EU ambassadors, aiming to simplify cross-border hiring and visa-related steps for foreign students. Leave Practices (APAC): Deel data shows Singapore workers take the most leave in Asia-Pacific and prefer shorter, more frequent breaks. People Risks (Marsh): A 2026 report flags AI adoption pressure, talent crunch, rising benefits costs and weak cyber literacy as top HR and risk concerns. Global Mobility (H-1B): Deel analysis suggests H-1B workers on its platform earn more than US peers in comparable roles, adding fuel to the wage debate. Budget Focus (Bangladesh): Bangladesh’s upcoming budget is framed around inclusive growth, skills-focused education and universal social security, with employment and investment as key priorities.

Workforce Restructuring: University of Vermont Health will eliminate 76 jobs at Alice Hyde and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, cutting 142 positions system-wide while 66 roles are set to be posted as restructured jobs. HR Leadership & Talent Tech: Phenom Enterprise Cloud named Josh Rothmel to lead North America consulting, aiming to accelerate AI and intelligent automation delivery for enterprise clients. Workplace Policy for Major Events: A GulfTalent study says Middle East workers plan World Cup 2026 viewing around work hours, while managers are preparing flexible rules like late starts or time off. Public Sector Hiring Pressure: Ghana’s Roads Ministry says it has requested 1,000 additional staff to address supervision and quality-control gaps. UAE AI Governance: The UAE held a workshop with 50 federal entities to roll out agentic AI across government services over a 90-day implementation phase. HR Education Partnerships: UWI Global Campus and the Caribbean HR institute CaIHRM signed an MOU to strengthen HR training, credentials, and applied research across the region. Workplace Safety: A new push highlights the growing risk of lone-worker incidents and the need for stronger field safety protocols. Compliance & Accessibility: OHI is backing the ACCESS Act to curb ADA website lawsuit tactics that force small businesses into costly settlements. Talent & Skills Pipelines: ALPLA opened an L&D hub in Iowa City for a paid apprenticeship and certified training, while Wisconsin’s Tech Council secured a grant to recruit frontier-tech talent. AI-Driven Layoffs Watch: Reuters reports “quiet” layoffs in China as firms race to adopt AI while trying to avoid social stability backlash. Employer Branding: Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces 2026 spotlights high-engagement U.S. employers, including Trader Joe’s, U.S. Steel, Hyatt and Grainger.

AI & Jobs in China: Reuters reports “quiet” contractor layoffs in China as firms push rapid AI adoption, including reduced graduate hiring, aiming for productivity gains without triggering social-stability backlash. Workforce Transformation & Skills: Gartner warns Australia’s AI gains depend on workforce confidence and support, with a split between “AI champions” and “resisters.” HR Leadership in the AI Era: Coty’s global talent chief tells HR leaders to build judgment and human oversight, not just deploy tools. Offshoring & Corporate Restructuring: Woolworths begins early consultations that could offshore hundreds of corporate roles in HR, finance and IT to India/Asia. Labor Relations: Inpex seeks urgent orders to stop strike action at its Darwin LNG site, as unions escalate protected industrial action. Global Talent & Hiring Signals: ManpowerGroup finds Singapore employers are selective but still pay premiums for AI literacy and critical thinking. People-Centred Policy: Vietnam backs a people-centred AI approach at the ILO, highlighting risks to rights and data protection. Workplace Health: Diabetes at work needs support, breaks and anti-bullying protections, not just medical management. Regional Growth & Mobility: Turkey and Saudi Arabia sign transport and railway MoUs, including training and human resources cooperation.

Workplace Security & Governance: Philippines prosecutors urged tighter security at Senate premises as the VP impeachment trial nears, citing NBI threat information and tighter coordination with intelligence agencies. Human-Centred Future of Work: Malaysia told the ILO that AI must advance decent work and human dignity, warning technology without values widens inequality. HR Under Pressure From Automation: A new piece highlights HR leaders’ job-security fears as automation spreads, while arguing HR roles still rely on complex problem-solving and people skills. Recruitment & Skills in Action: Ukraine’s Nova Poshta says it has ~2,000 vacancies and expects its Obriy digital labor market ecosystem to cut time-to-hire by improving skills-based matching and onboarding paperwork. Compensation Planning for AEC: PSMJ released a 2026 compensation benchmark tool for architecture and engineering firms to help HR set pay with peer-group and regional adjustments. AI for Workforce Operations: UKG says New York Sports Club is using real-time workforce insights across 30+ locations to streamline recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, and payroll. Employee Wellbeing: Eleversity is set to host a workplace wellness conference focused on burnout and retention strategies. Labour & Staffing Disputes: Ireland’s hospital perfusionists strike over pay parity, warning HSE may pay more via locum agencies if staffing gaps persist.

AI Skills Gap in Manufacturing: A Make UK report says only 2% of UK manufacturers have AI widely embedded, with adoption stuck in back-office roles and skills shortages the top barrier. Workforce Restructuring: Penn GSE laid off staff as part of a university-wide “comprehensive redesign” of its staffing model. Immigration Enforcement Pressure: South Africa’s immigration crisis is still about implementation, not announcements, as deportation costs rise and borders remain porous. Labor Compliance Watch: Canada’s equal pay rules for federally regulated employers take effect Oct. 20, 2026, focusing on substantially similar work. HR Risk & Security: Five Eyes warns CCP-linked actors are using fake job offers and recruiter-style outreach to target people with access to sensitive info. Pay Equity Signals: An Irish survey finds over two-thirds of women feel underpaid or undervalued, pushing pay transparency higher on HR agendas. Apprenticeships & Talent Pipelines: Northern Gas Networks launches a 2026 apprenticeship drive aimed at breaking stereotypes and widening entry into energy careers.

Global Mobility & Skills: Egypt and Albania are discussing a labour cooperation deal to supply skilled Egyptian workers for Albania’s labour market, including training, skills development, and occupational safety and health certificate accreditation. Workplace AI in Healthcare: NHS England will roll out Microsoft 365 Copilot to 505,000 staff after a trial showed average time savings of 43 minutes per person per day, with HR and finance included. Labour Law Watch: Canada’s United Steelworkers back a bill to close an anti-scab loophole that lets employers use outside managers as replacement workers during disputes. Future of Work Tech: Research from the International Workplace Group finds workers and HR leaders expect major workplace tech shifts by 2050, including neurotechnology and AI-driven collaboration planning. HR Leadership & Talent: APL Apollo Tubes announced the resignation of its CHRO, Pankaj Sharma, effective June 17, with no successor named yet. UAE Worker Safety: MoHRE reinstates its Occupational Heat Stress Prevention Policy from June 15 to Sept 15, restricting outdoor work during peak heat hours. Workforce Development: North Kingstown High School opened a new machinist and manufacturing defense facility aimed at fast-tracking industry credentials for students.

Workplace Safety & Accountability: Survivors of Mohamed Al Fayed’s alleged abuse are urging UK police to broaden Operation Cornpoppy into a full trafficking investigation, arguing the “true scale” involves recruitment chains, financial flows and institutional complicity beyond individual victims. Workplace Recognition: Onslow Memorial Hospital in the US was named a “Newsweek” America’s Greatest Midsize Workplace in Health Care 2026, with the ranking based on employee reviews across culture, work-life balance, benefits and career development. HR Tech & AI in People Ops: Omni HR launched Mino, an AI agent built on unified HR and payroll data for multi-country teams in Asia, starting with analytics and recruitment and expanding across the employee lifecycle. Hiring & Labour Market Signals: UK recruitment data shows employers sharply cutting permanent hiring while boosting temporary recruitment, with the fastest permanent decline since mid-2025. AI & Fair Hiring Debate: A survey in India finds more trust in AI-assisted recruitment for fairness, but HR leaders stress human oversight for cultural fit and leadership judgment. Workforce Development: South Africa’s education labour council flagged payroll mismatches tied to “ghost” teacher concerns and also reported large numbers of undocumented pupils, alongside infrastructure backlogs.

Courtroom Staffing Crisis: California’s court reporter shortage is under scrutiny after judges sent millions to child attorneys while reporters disappeared from courtrooms, raising alarms about access to justice and HR capacity in the legal system. Workplace Boundaries: Experts warn that after-hours messaging and “always-on” expectations are worsening burnout and stress, pushing HR to rethink policies that protect wellbeing. Public Sector HR & Corruption: Indonesia’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program faces a major HR and governance test after leadership reshuffles tied to a corruption probe. AI at Work: A growing debate continues as employers push AI use and track adoption, while one US software engineer won a religious exemption to opt out—highlighting accommodation challenges for HR. Labour Mobility Deals: Egypt and Albania signed cooperation steps on employment, workforce mobility, and skills/health-and-safety certification. Youth Hiring Pressure: Young jobseekers describe AI-driven screening and silence from employers, intensifying frustration in an already tough entry-level market. Education-to-Work Pipeline: Bangladesh is moving toward a skills-heavy higher education framework with internships and industry links to cut graduate unemployment. HR in Policing: Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Ministry HR head is among officials questioned in a corruption probe, underscoring risks in HR governance.

Data & Compliance: Nigeria’s INEC trained staff on data protection and compliance after allegations of unauthorized access to voter records using valid credentials. Workforce & Public Services: Indonesia’s Public Works Ministry added 222 kitchens to its Free Nutritious Meals program, aiming to expand nutrition support across 30 provinces. HR & Skills Development: Malaysia’s HR Ministry (KESUMA) will deploy a RM50 million fund to scale TVET 2.0, targeting youth, workers and MSMEs with industry-aligned skills. Talent Pipelines in Education: Bangladesh Open University’s vice-chancellor inspected exams and met transgender students, stressing education as a right and a non-discrimination priority. Global Mobility & Hiring Risk: Experts warn that cross-border hiring and remote work can quickly create leave-management and compliance conflicts across jurisdictions. Business Growth & Jobs: Pakistan’s planning minister said the chemical sector can drive exports, innovation and job creation, urging investment in research and skilled human resources. Workplace Learning & Credentials: Kuwait’s National Bank of Kuwait highlighted continuous learning initiatives tied to professional certification pathways. Corporate HR Expansion: Accuity’s acquisition of Carbonaro CPAs adds 32 employees and expands coverage to Maui and Hawai‘i Island.

Skills Funding & TVET: Malaysia’s HR Ministry will deploy a RM50m Skill Development Fund allocation to scale TVET 2.0, aiming to boost MSME capability and create youth job pathways aligned with industry needs. Labor Rights & ILO Ties: Oman met with the ILO in Geneva, highlighting social protection progress and retaining its 2026 Global Rights Index Tier 3 standing for trade union rights and social dialogue. Public-Sector Attendance: Yemen’s Amran governor inspected government office attendance after Eid al-Adha, pushing stronger discipline to improve public services. Workforce & Education Pipelines: Delaware County Intermediate Unit expanded a substitute teacher Guest Teacher Program to address staffing shortages, offering training plus an emergency permit route. Global Mobility & Education Diplomacy: Bangladesh is pushing “education diplomacy” to expand scholarships, research collaboration, and tech partnerships. Workplace Accessibility: A new interview spotlights how HR can handle disability accommodation disputes, including Long COVID and return-to-office conflicts. HR Risk & Compliance: Minnesota’s oversight report alleges retaliation against whistleblowers, including use of outside investigators and surveillance. Health Sector Staffing: Nigeria’s Borno state says a 400-bed teaching hospital is on track for completion in 60 days, with about 350 health staff already approved and hired.

EEOC Overhaul: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is moving to end EEO-1 and related demographic reporting (EEO-1 through EEO-5), a major shift that could change how employers track and self-check workplace discrimination and diversity. China Graduate Hiring Push: China is urging state-owned enterprises and internet firms to expand jobs for the 2026 graduate class, using centralized platforms and livestream recruitment to absorb new talent. U.S. Federal HR Shake-Up: Agencies are scrambling to implement the Schedule Policy/Career changes ahead of a June 10 deadline, with reclassifications and personnel-file updates still unclear for many employees. EU Pay Transparency: New EU equal pay rules are coming, with a practical 7-step plan for multinational employers to prepare. Workforce Skills Focus: Cambodia is doubling down on technical and vocational training to attract investment, while Vietnam plans regional-standard higher education in the southeast to build future HR talent. Hiring Market Signals: The U.S. labor market added 172,000 jobs in May, but growth remains uneven across sectors. Global HR Tech Jobs: Singapore finance hiring is leaning more on internship experience as roles evolve with AI.