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The UK’s chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is set to sit down with the chief executives of Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons on Wednesday. The meeting aims to gauge the scale of possible price hikes and shortages of essential household goods as the nation grapples with a sharp rise in energy, fuel and fertiliser costs triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict. A Treasury source described the gathering as a "fact‑finding, open discussion" intended to identify any supply squeezes and to forecast the impact on the cost of living over the coming months. Allan Leighton, executive chair of Asda, will not attend but has publicly urged the government to "stand up and start doing stuff" to aid farmers and curb fuel prices, warning that food costs will inevitably climb if the conflict persists. Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, cautioned that price increases are "unlikely to rise until the summer" thanks to long‑term contracts on energy and fertiliser that currently keep a lid on costs. Nevertheless, UK growers are sounding the alarm. Producers of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and aubergines say higher input costs could force them to pull plants from the ground, creating potential gaps on supermarket shelves. Lee Stiles, secretary of the Lea Valley Growers’ Association – the region often dubbed London’s "salad bowl" – is lobbying for indoor food producers to be classified as "energy‑intensive users" alongside steel, chemicals, cement and glass, thereby qualifying for additional support with surging energy bills. Stiles also called on retailers to renegotiate contracts with growers to reflect the cost surge since the Middle East conflict began. He warned that the upcoming increase in standing charges on 1 April – a fixed daily fee for accessing the gas and electricity network – will further strain producers’ margins. "Growers have already invested in plants and labour for three to four months," Stiles said. "When you do the maths, the numbers don’t add up. They would lose less money by sending workers home, pulling the plants out and turning off the boiler." If domestic growers cut the season short, European glasshouses, which normally supply the UK’s salad market at this time of year, may struggle to fill the void, risking a repeat of the fresh‑produce shortages experienced in early 2023. The British Poultry Council (BPC) echoed these concerns, highlighting pressures on supplies of oil, gas, fertiliser and essential feed components. "These factors are creating sustained upward pressure on the cost of poultry production," the BPC warned, adding that while some cost increases may be absorbed, others will inevitably be passed on to consumers. Richard Griffiths, BPC chief executive, noted that while many farmers have long‑term energy deals, costs such as diesel are rising rapidly, and there are fears that vital medicines could become unavailable at any price. In response, the government has announced a £117 cut to household energy bills, an increase to the legal minimum wage, and the launch of a £1 billion "crisis and resilience" fund aimed at helping vulnerable households with expenses such as heating oil.

The UK hospitality sector is bracing for significant job cuts and business closures as cost increases from new business rates and higher wage bills come into effect. An industry-wide survey of 20,000 hospitality businesses found that 64% of firms plan to cut jobs, 42% intend to reduce trading hours, and one in seven will be forced to close.The increased costs are attributed to changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the November budget, including increases to the national living wage and national minimum wage, which are expected to result in an extra £1.4bn in costs for the sector. Additionally, changes to business rates will see the average hotel in England facing an increase of £28,900 more this year (up 30%), while the average restaurant can expect a 15% increase worth £1,800.The trade bodies, including UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association, have warned that the conflict in the Middle East will accelerate the impact of rising wage and tax costs, with energy bills expected to rise steeply. The economic shock wave caused by the war in the Middle East has pushed economic confidence to an all-time low, according to new figures from the Institute of Directors (IoD).The IoD's Economic Confidence Index fell to its lowest ever score of -76 in March, with business directors citing labour bills, supply chain inflation, and energy as the biggest drivers of cost increases over the next 12 months. The thinktank estimates that UK companies invest the equivalent of 11.1% of GDP, well behind countries such as Japan at 18.2%, and European nations including France, at 12.7%, and Germany, at 12%.

The UK hospitality sector is facing a crisis in confidence, with one in five businesses fearing collapse in the next 12 months. The impending cost crunch has left the sector warning of multiple business failures unless the burden is 'dramatically reduced'.From Wednesday, many pub, restaurant, and hotel companies will face a higher bill for business rates paid to their local authority, while an increase in minimum wage thresholds takes effect on the same day. The survey respondents, who operate more than 20,000 venues, cited increased employment costs as their top worry, followed by business rates and inflation in the cost of food and drink.UKHospitality estimates that the increase in the national living wage and national minimum wage will result in an extra £1.4bn in costs for the sector. The organisation also expects most of its members to pay more in business rates, with the average hotel in England facing a 30% increase worth £28,900, and the average restaurant facing a 15% increase worth £1,800.The sector is calling for the government to dramatically reduce the cost burden, warning that too many businesses are simply not making any money, and that the only result is lost jobs and business closures. 'Hospitality can be a driving force of growth and jobs, but only if its costs of doing business are dramatically reduced,' said UKHospitality in a joint statement with industry bodies.

Mark Dorsey, a 35-year-old resident of East Oakland, works two jobs to make ends meet, often relying on minimum wage or close to it. The current minimum wage in Oakland is $17.34 an hour, higher than California's $16.90 an hour, but still insufficient for Dorsey.Dorsey is part of a campaign to almost double California's minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030. A similar initiative has been tabled in New York City, backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.The initiatives face opposition from business interests, but have widespread public support. The federal minimum wage has remained at $7.25 an hour since 2009.The Oakland and Alameda Living Wage for All campaign has filed two ballot initiatives for the November 2026 ballot to increase the minimum wage in Oakland and Alameda county to $30 an hour by 2030 for large employers.Zach Norris, co-executive director of the Black Organizing Project, emphasizes that the ballot initiatives are also racial justice issues, as Oakland has seen a 46% decline of Black residents since 2000.In New York City, Councilor Sandy Nurse has introduced a bill to increase the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030 for large employers, with small businesses given more time to adapt.The Economic Policy Institute projects that 1.68 million New York City residents, 36.7% of the city's wage-earning workforce, will earn less than $30 an hour by 2030.Business groups have voiced opposition, but a 2023 study found that minimum wage increases do not result in job losses or small business closures.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – For over a decade, Sanjeet, a business consultant from India, considered Malaysia his home. Having grown comfortable with the country's climate, people, and lifestyle, he had begun planning long-term investments, including property purchases.However, recent government initiatives to reduce Malaysia's reliance on foreign workers have abruptly disrupted these plans for Sanjeet and thousands of other expatriates. Starting June, minimum salary requirements for foreign workers will increase by up to 100%, while their maximum permitted stay will be limited to five or ten years."What was surprising was that this came out of the blue," Sanjeet, who requested to use a pseudonym, told Al Jazeera. "It does leave room for doubt in terms of long-term plans, which include things like buying a house or car here."Malaysia has long been an attractive destination for foreign labor, with approximately 2.1 million documented foreign workers currently in the country. While many take on manual labor at the minimum wage of 1,700 ringgit ($430) monthly, a smaller but significant pool of around 140 highly-paid expatriates contributes substantially to the economy.In 2024, Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution revealed that these high-salaried expatriates injected about 75 billion ringgit ($19 billion) into the domestic economy annually while contributing approximately 100 million ringgit ($25 million) in taxes.The government's latest five-year national strategy, released in 2025, warns that Malaysia's "continuous reliance" on low-skilled foreign workers has hampered technological adoption and created "ripple effects" in the labor market, including wage distortions and slow productivity growth.To address these concerns, authorities aim to reduce the foreign workforce proportion from 14.1% in 2024 to just 5% by 2035. This ambitious target is supported by new minimum salary requirements that will see thresholds increase from 10,000 to 20,000 ringgit ($2,500 to $5,000), 5,000 to 10,000 ringgit ($1,260 to $2,520), and 3,000 to 5,000 ringgit ($760 to $1,260) for different work permit categories.UK native Thomas Mead, a 28-year-old wealth manager who recently purchased property in Kuala Lumpur, expressed shock at the sudden policy changes. "However, the jump from RM10,000 to RM20,000 was quite a shock," he said, noting that some expatriates are already considering relocation options despite their reluctance to leave.The policy changes are also raising concerns among businesses. Douglas Gan, a Singaporean founder of a venture capital fund with Malaysian portfolio companies, warned that the new rules would drive up costs and make it challenging to recruit specialized talent. "If salaries increase to 10,000 ringgit, companies definitely won't bring them here," he said, advocating for a more tailored approach rather than a "blanket solution."Leonardo, an Indonesian professional working in Malaysia's computer games sector, faces downgrading to a lower employment pass category under the new rules, potentially jeopardizing his plans to bring his mother to live in the country. "My mum is alone and living in Indonesia. There was a thought that if I could settle here, I could bring her over," he said.Economic analysts caution that the success of these policies depends on Malaysia's ability to develop its local workforce. "The long-run gain depends less on blocking expats and more on whether Malaysia can actually supply the skills," said Wan Suhaimie, head of economic research at Kenanga Investment Bank. He emphasized that foreign workers on mid-tier employment passes are not extravagant hires but "core managers, engineers and specialists."Anthony Dass, CEO of FSG Advisory, noted that while the measures align with strengthening the local talent pipeline, their effectiveness will depend on complementary reforms in capability building and industry upgrading.As these policies take shape, expatriates like Sanjeet are already considering alternatives. "If Malaysia pursues these policies without a comprehensive rationale, then people like me will look for alternatives such as Vietnam, Thailand and elsewhere, which have favourable policies for expats," he concluded.

The youth unemployment crisis has sparked a call for more comprehensive support for young people seeking jobs. Many argue that the current system fails to adequately address the challenges faced by this demographic, leading to a cycle of rejection, confusion, and anxiety. The need for a revamped support system is underscored by the reality that young people often face significant barriers when entering the job market. The threat of losing benefits for not meeting job search requirements can undermine trust and engagement, making it even more difficult for them to secure employment. To effectively tackle this issue, experts suggest that the government must rebuild trust by removing punitive measures and creating job centers that offer more personalized support. This includes providing young people with the time, resources, and relationships with work coaches who understand their ambitions and can help build their confidence. Young people's voices must be central to shaping the support designed for them. By incorporating their perspectives, the government can create more effective and targeted initiatives that address the specific needs of this demographic. The crisis is also attributed to government policies that have driven employers' decision-making. For instance, national insurance rises and increases in the minimum wage have made young people more expensive to employ, leading companies to opt for older, more experienced workers. Furthermore, the rise in young people out of work due to ill health reflects a deeper erosion of stability. The article argues that secure, humane work is not an optional extra but a public health intervention, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing youth unemployment.