AGP Executive Report

US Immigration Costs: DHS amended rules to charge covered employers a $4,000 fee for H-1B and $4,500 for L-1 extension-of-status petitions, effective Sept. 9, 2026—raising the price of keeping talent in place. Tech Hiring Pulse: A GlobalData report says AI, GenAI, big data and cybersecurity kept dominating tech hiring in Q2 2026 even as overall job postings fell 2.3% quarter-on-quarter. AI at Work in Japan: NEC is creating an AI-only department where agentic systems handle tasks and other agents act as managers, aiming to sharpen people-vs-AI roles. China Talent Pressure: Taiwan’s justice bureau says 17 Chinese firms illegally poached high-tech talent, using fake dispatch and unauthorized hubs. India Jobs Friction: In Jharkhand, police used tear gas and water cannons as protests erupted over alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams. Robotics Race: A US firm, Robo Inc., launches to integrate humanoid robots amid FCC restrictions on new Chinese-made advanced robots. Workplace Privacy: California lawmakers push new limits on employer use of brain-sensing “bossware,” as neurotech moves toward mainstream work. Regional Investment: Andhra Pradesh holds investor roadshows in Tamil Nadu to court textiles, manufacturing and auto firms.

H-1B Shock for Indian talent: The US may scrap the 60-day grace period for laid-off foreign workers, leaving many with little time to find new roles or switch status. AI hiring politics: OpenAI’s Dean Ball, hired into a senior policy role, is drawing White House backlash over comments about discouraging Chinese AI use—raising reputational risk for the firm. China AI companion crackdown: Chinese platforms shut down “AI boyfriend” style services after new rules tightened limits on emotionally manipulative content, affecting users and jobs tied to the sector. Corporate India cost pressure: Tata AIG survey finds healthcare costs now top employees’ financial worries, with many lacking personal coverage and only limited savings for job loss. India digital jobs pipeline: A report projects India’s digital transformation market at $229.59B by 2029, driven by AI and data centres, with data-centre capacity expected to cross 2 GW by end-2026. Tech hiring themes: GlobalData says AI, big data and cybersecurity dominate Q2 hiring, even as overall postings softened. Energy & offshore work: India approved Samudra Manthan to subsidise deepwater oil exploration, aiming to boost domestic production and investment through 2030-31. Workforce shift in GCCs: India’s GCCs are getting smaller and more specialised, with engineering-led teams focused on AI and product work rather than pure scale.

Aviation Safety & HR Compliance: India’s DGCA has pulled Air India’s Phuket-Delhi pilot from flying duty after a dope screening came back “not negative,” with confirmatory tests and AAIB probe underway after 17 were hospitalised in turbulence. Labor Unrest: Haryana power employees announce a three-day strike from Aug 10 over demands including smart metering, contract-worker regularisation, risk allowances, and parallel DISCOM licences. Cross-border Hiring Policy: The US proposes ending the 60-day H-1B grace period after job loss, a move experts say could hit Indian workers hardest by forcing faster sponsor changes or exits. Skills & Jobs Pipeline: Bangladesh’s NSDA completed first-ever task analysis and occupational mapping for “Chinese Language,” with workshops in mid-Aug and a competency standard aimed at employment-ready training. Regional Security & Mobility: Pacific Islands Forum flags China’s ballistic missile test after it flew over multiple EEZs, while consensus makes a collective statement hard. Tech & Work: Japan and US say they’re ready to intervene again in FX markets; separately, Apple’s RAM sourcing and AI compute build-outs keep reshaping hiring needs across Asia.

Semiconductor Security: A former SK Hynix employee was sentenced to 18 months in South Korea for leaking chip manufacturing trade secrets to a Chinese firm, after courts found he downloaded and photographed protected materials. Youth & Jobs Pressure in India: India’s “Cockroach Janta Party” protests over exam irregularities have broadened into a wider youth anger over unemployment and opportunity, with authorities trying to win back young voters. Retirement Benefits at Work: India’s PFRDA official Randip Singh Jagpal says corporate NPS can strengthen retirement planning as job-hopping rises, highlighting employer contributions and portability. Corporate Work-Life Clash (Australia): An Indian manager is blamed for “toxic” after-hours pressure after an MP quit a Big Four bank job in Australia, reigniting debate on workplace stress and boundaries. Trade & Employment Risk (Germany–China): Germany’s trade deficit with China widened as exports fell and Chinese firms shifted toward domestic value chains, adding pressure on manufacturing jobs. Visa Rules (US): The US is moving to end the 60-day H-1B grace period after job loss, raising uncertainty for foreign workers. Lab Shortages (Vietnam): Vietnam’s overseas work demand is growing, but domestic industries report recruitment and retention problems despite wage hikes. AI Adoption (SE Asia): Microsoft finds Southeast Asian workers are more willing to use AI at work, with higher shares reporting they can produce new kinds of output.

AI and jobs in China: A report says China’s “996” era is being overtaken by AI coding tools, with major internet firms cutting over 130,000 staff in 18 months and one AI agent potentially replacing large teams. Youth employment pressure in India: Rahul Gandhi told students in Prayagraj that certificates “have no meaning” if they can’t get jobs, claiming only 12 of 1,000 land permanent work and pointing to recruitment delays and paper leaks. Med-tech manufacturing push: PM Modi backed India’s growing med-tech ecosystem, citing domestic manufacturing, lower import dependence, and schemes like PLI and Medical Device Parks to strengthen jobs and affordability. Border security and renewables: India’s MHA issued new rules banning solar, wind and hybrid projects within 1 km of international borders, with a 50 km belt needing extra scrutiny. Labour rights via court: Allahabad High Court ordered regularisation for a deceased UP work-charge employee and asked authorities to consider compassionate appointment for his son. Hiring and pay in aviation: Air India named Ethiopian Airlines veteran Tewolde Gebremariam as CEO as it tackles safety, fleet modernization and losses. Overseas job scams: Police in Udupi and Pune flagged alleged job fraud and trafficking linked to fake overseas offers, including a Portugal case.

ASEAN Unity Push: ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn urged deeper cooperation and centrality as the bloc welcomes Timor-Leste and faces cross-border geopolitical and economic shocks. Philippines-China Tensions: A former House quad-committee leader said local officials who favor China over the Philippines should resign, framing loyalty to national interests as non-negotiable. India Med-Tech Jobs: PM Modi highlighted India’s self-reliant medical devices push—domestic manufacturing, lower import dependence, and schemes like PLI and Medical Device Parks—aimed at building a global med-tech hub. Air India Pilot Pay: Air India raised pilot salaries 9–15% and added a ₹10–21 lakh transfer allowance to retain cockpit crew amid airline competition. Youth Protest & Work Pressure: India’s “Cockroach Janta Party” keeps pressure on Modi to address education, jobs and cost of living after exam-linked protests. Hiring Beyond Credentials: A Hyderabad founder’s viral story of hiring a class-9 taxi driver (no English) shows a people-first approach that later led to procurement leadership. Overseas Visa Fraud: Jammu’s Crime Branch registered an FIR over alleged overseas visa and job fraud targeting Doda residents. Rural Enterprise Reality Check: A report says nearly 97% of India’s rural enterprises are nano firms, with hired-worker businesses employing far more people. Typhoon Dolphin Disrupts Work: Typhoon Dolphin hit Okinawa with evacuations and flight cancellations, with port suspensions expected to ripple into regional supply chains.

Workplace Legal Fight (Asia-Pacific): Former UMES employees have filed four separate lawsuits alleging discrimination and retaliation, putting university leadership and HR processes under scrutiny. MedTech Jobs Push (India): India Medical Device 2026 opened in Delhi with a push to deepen domestic manufacturing and create employment across components, diagnostics and imaging. Hiring & Skills (India IT): Nomura reports AI-related hiring is outpacing layoffs in India, while TCS and Infosys signal fresher recruitment recovery with AI-skills pay packages. Campus/Recruitment Protests (India): Jharkhand’s JPSC-JSSC job aspirants protest entered day 14 after talks with the state remained inconclusive, with demands including cancellation and a CBI probe. Gig Work Pressure (India): Instant home-services firms in India are cutting prices and dispatching workers faster to win customers, raising questions about sustainability and worker pay. Labour Market Signals (Global): US payrolls unexpectedly fell, easing rate-hike fears and lifting markets—an indirect reminder that hiring cycles can flip quickly. Regional Unity (Pacific): Pacific Islands Forum ministers reaffirmed solidarity ahead of the Palau leaders’ meeting, focusing on climate, security, digital priorities and fisheries strategy. Trade & Mobility (India): India amended FDI rules to expand e-commerce access for small businesses, artisans, farmers and fishermen—aimed at wider market reach and jobs. Corporate Restructuring (Singapore): Tiger Beer’s Singapore brewing wind-down will eliminate roles as production shifts to Malaysia and Vietnam, with some staff expected to move into redesigned jobs.

AI hiring race: Chinese internet giants (Alibaba, ByteDance, Baidu, DeepSeek) pulled forward fresh-graduate recruitment to summer, with AI roles making up most openings as firms compete for talent. Workforce & visas: US student visas for Indians fell 62% in 2025, while China saw a 34% drop—raising concerns for Asia-to-US career pipelines. Corporate hiring/layoffs: TikTok shut its Nashville office and laid off 250 staff, while Akasa Air plans to hire 500 pilots over three years to support fleet growth. India jobs & HR policy: India’s 8th Pay Commission consultations continue in Delhi, and Jharkhand’s job exam protests turned violent with an ink-throwing incident involving AISA’s Neha Bora. Foreign-worker access: China launched a government job portal for unemployed foreigners, listing roles across the country (in Chinese by default). Investment creating jobs: Karnataka’s Centum Electronics will invest Rs 500 crore in aerospace/defence electronics, targeting about 1,500 jobs. Talent demand shift: A report warns entry-level roles are disappearing first as AI automates tasks and employers redesign jobs rather than fully replacing occupations.

Pacific Diplomacy: Pacific Island foreign ministers in Suva will debate whether to issue a joint statement on China’s July missile launch, with New Zealand pushing for a response but warning divisions may block agreement. AI & Work: Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani argues India can become the world’s “AI use-case capital” by scaling real-world applications in local languages, while a separate debate among AI pioneers spotlights competing views on how fast AI will reshape jobs. US Visa Pressure: USCIS guidance effective Aug 5 allows faster denials for incomplete filings, and reports say US student visas for Indians and Chinese fell sharply in 2025—raising uncertainty for talent pipelines. Hiring Shifts in India: JLL opened a Hyderabad GCC (1.2 lakh sq ft) aiming to scale to ~1,600 employees, while Coles plans to move up to 1,000 jobs to India via an Accenture deal. Japan Pay: Japan’s summer bonuses hit a record average of ¥1.04 million, reflecting strong earnings and wage gains. Labour Market Stress: Migrant workers in a tough job market say isolation and weak support worsen unemployment prospects. Tech Layoffs: TikTok will close its Nashville office in October, laying off 250. Infrastructure Jobs: Visakhapatnam’s data-centre boom is projected to create 51,800+ jobs and spur housing demand.

Air India Leadership: Tata’s airline appoints aviation veteran Tewolde Gebremariam as CEO/MD, betting on his Ethiopian Airlines turnaround experience to drive rapid international expansion. Healthcare M&A: KKR signs to acquire Medicover India for Rs 14,250 crore, adding 24 multi-specialty hospitals and ~4,800 beds to its healthcare portfolio. Tech Hiring & Layoffs: Visa cuts about 1,400 jobs at its Bengaluru tech centre (nearly 40% of India staff) as it shifts work toward AI-driven productivity; meanwhile, India’s top IT firms resume campus hiring for AI-skilled engineers. Workforce Mobility: Sri Lanka expands Japan job pathways for skilled professionals via a new SLFEA partnership with METATECHNO. Regulatory/Jobs Climate: Oxford Economics says Korea’s more flexible digital rules could boost startup formation and add ~21,000 startup jobs by 2035. Employer Branding: Google tops India’s most attractive employer brand rankings, with work-life balance emerging as the biggest talent magnet. Project Risks: Google’s $15b India data centre faces water and wildlife opposition in Andhra Pradesh. Sports-to-Work: Ishan Kishan lands an RBI Assistant Manager role under sports quota, highlighting alternative career routes for athletes.

Hiring & Recruitment: China’s biggest tech firms are shifting 2027 graduate hiring heavily toward AI roles, with Alibaba and Baidu reporting AI-heavy opening mixes as companies move from model breakthroughs to real-world deployment. Workplace Policy: OpenAI and Statsig will pay a $3.2M US settlement after claims they preferred temporary visa holders over US workers in the PERM process, with a back-pay fund set up for affected workers. HR & Skills Programs: India’s iGOT Karmayogi platform has topped 1.7 crore registered users and 5,600+ courses, as Haryana pushes a World Bank-backed AI sandbox for digital governance and skills. Labour Market Signals: India’s services growth slowed to a 4.5-year low in July (PMI), while China’s services PMI also softened, though employment rose in both—suggesting hiring is still cautious. Jobs Outlook (EV): India’s EV sector could create 30–40M jobs by 2030, with demand for engineering, energy systems and battery skills driving hiring. Cross-border Mobility: US F-1 visas for Indians and Chinese fell sharply in 2025, raising concerns for future talent pipelines. ASEAN & Refugees: Malaysia’s plan to repatriate up to 5,000 Rohingya refugees is testing ASEAN’s refugee commitments. Corporate Moves: Air India named former Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam as CEO/MD, signaling a new leadership push.

AI & Jobs: World Bank research flags AI job risk as far higher in high-income economies (14.2% of jobs highly automatable) than in low- and middle-income countries (4.5%), raising pressure on upskilling and workforce planning. Layoffs & Restructuring: Visa is cutting about 2,600 jobs globally (~7% of staff), with reports of India layoffs hitting teams in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad as the firm shifts toward AI. Hiring & Pay Signals: ROK’s employed seniors hit a record high as desired retirement age rises to 73.6 years, with most saying they need extra living expenses. Workplace Costs: India’s group health insurance premiums are climbing as employees fall ill earlier and insurers pay from day one, squeezing employer budgets. Economy Watch (Services): India’s services PMI slid to 53.3 in July, the weakest in 53 months, with slower new orders but still-positive hiring. Geopolitics & Talent: China announced countermeasures on US moves, including drone export controls, while the FBI says it has expanded “working groups” with China and Russia to target cyber fraud and child exploitation. Regional HR Tech: GreatDay HR expands across Southeast Asia, adding Vietnam as SMEs push for HR digital transformation.

AI Governance & Jobs: US Senate Democrats say unclear AI rules are pushing companies to outsource to cheaper Chinese AI, raising economic-security worries as the White House meets AI firms on a voluntary cybersecurity testing framework. US Hiring & Pay Signals: US job openings fell in June, with healthcare vacancies dropping most in nearly a year, while hiring improved and layoffs stayed low. OpenAI Worker Rights: The US Justice Department secured a $3.2m settlement with OpenAI over alleged discrimination against US workers in favor of temporary visa holders, with claims tied to recruitment practices. Immigration Crackdown Hits Trucking: Trump revoked 28,000+ immigrant trucking licences and plans to replace them with US military veterans, potentially affecting thousands of Indian drivers. China Exit Controls: A Japanese-Chinese entrepreneur claims his family was barred from leaving China, triggering an exit ban and business disruption—fueling fears about nationality-based travel restrictions. Qantas Offshoring: Qantas is considering outsourcing up to 1,000 corporate roles to India amid AI overhaul plans, with staff transparency concerns. India Youth & Jobs Politics: India’s labour minister presented figures claiming far higher youth job creation under Modi than under the UPA, as Gen Z protests over exam leaks and job prospects keep pressure on politics. Construction Skills Demand: Construction job openings rose sharply in June, but analysts warn it reflects skilled-labour shortages more than a broad spending rebound. Tesla China Demand Mix: Tesla’s China sales growth is increasingly export-driven, with domestic demand still soft—important for hiring and supply-chain planning. Australia–Japan Quantum Access: Fujitsu, Monash and CSIRO signed an MoU to give Australian researchers direct access to Fujitsu’s superconducting quantum systems in Japan.

Japan Workplace Safety: Two Aeon Mall Kumamoto employees who had evacuated after a 7.1 quake were ordered back inside to move cash to a safe, and later died in an explosion; the operator Habita apologised and admitted the instruction was inappropriate. India Jobs & Skills: India’s youth discontent stays in focus after protests tied to exam leaks and Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, with critics pointing to weak education-to-jobs pathways and a rigid labour market. AI & Hiring Debate: A new report argues the “AI is killing jobs” narrative can’t be proven yet, noting TCS’s recent hiring rebound after earlier cuts and warning that earnings headlines are being used to fit competing stories. India Economy Watch: HSBC PMI shows India’s manufacturing growth slowing to near a five-year low, with softer demand and cautious hiring. Asia Markets: Asia hedge funds posted widespread July losses amid the tech selloff and AI-spending doubts, with major chip names hit hard. Cross-border Social Security: Sri Lankan workers temporarily employed in India can keep contributing to Sri Lanka’s EPF while being exempt from India EPF under a proposed social security agreement. Japan Immigration Rules: Japan proposes tougher permanent residency requirements, including income above the household average and pension-related benchmarks. Pacific Security & Jobs: RIMPAC wrapped after more than a month, with 30 nations training—while the US signals renewed Pacific engagement via a Solomon Islands port plan aimed at thousands of jobs. India Investment Policy: India’s Taxation and Other Laws bill proposes changes to attract global capital, including easing rules for foreign fund managers and extending manufacturing tax benefits for contract electronics suppliers.

Jobs & Skills Shift: Singapore’s hiring market keeps expanding, but entry-level roles are shrinking—Jobstreet says only 16% of AI job ads were for entry-level in Q2, with employers prioritising domain expertise that can work with emerging tech. Offshoring Watch: Qantas is considering outsourcing up to 1,000 roles to India via Accenture as it pushes AI and tech to modernise back-office functions, with a decision expected this year. Workplace Safety: Japan’s Aeon Mall Kumamoto tragedy deepens—two store employees were killed after being told to re-enter the quake-damaged building to secure cash, prompting renewed scrutiny of emergency workplace decisions. Border Trade & Jobs: China-India border trade resumes at Nathu La after years of suspension, with officials linking the reopening to stabilising growth and employment in border areas. Education-to-Work Pressure: India’s NEET-UG protests triggered a ministerial resignation and case withdrawals, underscoring how exam fairness and youth mobilisation are reshaping the path from education to jobs. Data Centres Boom: India’s data centre pipeline could create about 4.33 lakh jobs by 2030 and drive major housing demand, as capacity expansion pulls in power, fibre and construction work. Crypto Compliance: Bitget exits Japan, forcing users to close positions by year-end as new rules tighten crypto licensing and penalties.

AI & Hiring in India: Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu says IT firms are not creating enough new jobs as budgets shift to AI and data-centre costs, with server and memory prices rising; he also warns AI may reduce entry-level roles even if it boosts software output. Manufacturing Jobs Signal Softening: HSBC’s India manufacturing PMI fell to a five-year low in July (53.5), with job creation slowing for a third straight month as new orders growth weakens. Data Centres as Employment Engine: A Square Yards report estimates India’s data-centre pipeline (about 9,030 MW) could generate ~4.33 lakh ecosystem jobs and drive demand for ~195 million sq ft of housing by 2030. Japan Quake Aftermath & Work Safety: In Kumamoto’s quake disaster, two Aeon Mall workers were reportedly told to re-enter to move cash after evacuation; Habita apologised after the deaths. Japan Heat Stress at Work: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited Kumamoto as thousands faced water shortages and crowded shelters without air-conditioning, raising heat-illness risks. ASEAN Labour Demand in Japan: Japan’s housekeeping sector is increasingly hiring Filipino workers, with demand growing since foreign staffing was expanded in special zones. US-China Trade Pressure: China’s commerce ministry and cotton industry group protested the US adding 43 firms to the forced-labour entity list, a move that could ripple into supply-chain hiring. Regional Mobility: Korea’s government-supported programs continue placing young Koreans into Japan jobs, though retention remains a challenge.