The employment laws in many Asian countries make it very difficult to lay people off or fire them. This sounds great on paper, but comes its own host of problems.

One knock on effect is that the job market for anyone that isn't a new grad is tough and extremely hostile. Having been laid off or fired carries such a stigma because it is a rare thing that most people don't encounter. If you're past your 30s and laid off? Good luck landing a new gig anywhere near the level you were at before. This can devastate many families in ways unimaginable to many Americans.

Another secondary effect is that workplace politics become dominant. Many incompetent workers that should've been fired long time ago are allowed to linger on, gaining seniority and accumulating more power. This translates into a workplace where your value isn't tied to the work you output, but which "line" you stand behind.

There is no panacea. Pick your poison.