Indonesia urges regions to boost workers’ digital literacy
The Communication and Informatics Ministry is encouraging regional governments to boost the digital literacy of human resources in their regions.
Trade union calls for raise of New Zealand’s minimum wage
The minimum wage should be increased as annual inflation in the country has hit a 30-year high of 5.9%, says the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.
Thailand considering hike in minimum wages
The Labour Ministry will conduct a feasibility study on increasing the minimum daily wage as the prices of consumer goods, food, and fuel increase.
Indonesian companies should not use minimum wage as effective wage
Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah has said the widespread practice of companies using minimum wage as the effective wage needs to be addressed
Japan continues to debate feasibility of wage hike
Contrary to the Prime Minister’s call, the Japan Business Federation says it is difficult to set a blanket level of salary increases for all companies.
Number of discouraged workers in South Korea hits all-time high in 2021
The number of discouraged workers in South Korea spiked to an all-time high in 2021 amid a weak labour market due to the prolonged pandemic.
Indonesia told to adopt more flexible WFH policy
Amid a spike in Omicron transmission, the WFH policy needs to be implemented with more flexibility, says the Labour Institute Indonesia.
5-day paid pandemic leave proposed in the Philippines
Sen. Leila De Lima has called on Congress to pass a law that mandates paid leave of five days for workers who contract COVID-19.
Indonesia’s female labour force participation remains low
The patriarchal culture in the country has caused the labour force participation (TPAK) of female workers to lag behind that of male ones.
BusinessNZ seeks clarity on SOP for Omicron outbreak
Clarity is being sought on the definitions of a contact, and the triggers for isolation once the Omicron strain starts spreading in the community.
Bill to protect workers’ rest hours proposed in the Philippines
The proposed bill will penalise employers who intrude on workers’ “rest hours” and to prevent tasks and meetings from encroaching on personal time.
Taiwan increases maternity and paternity leave
The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has increased paid parental leave and implemented other family-friendly policies with immediate effect.
Qualified HR will help Indonesia compete in digital economy
Qualified human resources (HR) will support the country to gain a competitive edge in the digital economy, said President Joko Widodo.
South Korea to finalise extra budget to help businesses and self-employed
An extra budget of 14 trillion won (US$11.7 billion) is being planned to support small merchants and the self-employed hard-hit by the pandemic.
Thai PM not in favour of wage increases
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-O-Cha said now is not the time for a hike in salaries and wages as the country cannot bear the additional financial burden.
Employers urged to grant paid quarantine leave in the Philippines
Employers are encouraged to grant paid leave for workers who have contracted COVID-19 and need to be quarantined.
Clarification wanted on South Korea’s new industrial accident law
Foreign companies are calling on the government to provide “clarity” and “predictability” on the tougher law relating to serious industrial accidents.
Malaysia mandates employers to post job vacancies on MYFutureJobs
Employers in the country must advertise job vacancies on the MYFutureJobs portal to ensure that these opportunities are offered to locals first
South Korea’s jobs growth surges to 7-year high in 2021
This was the most number of jobs added in seven years as the labour market bounces back to pre-pandemic levels.
Malaysia budgets RM20.107 billion for wage subsidies
The government has allocated RM20.107 billion (US$4.8 billion) to 357,402 employers under its Wage Subsidy Programme (PSU).
Indonesia’s manpower minister urges for gender equality at work
Women should be given equal employment opportunities in Indonesia, said Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah.
Hong Kong to roll out another round of pandemic subsidies
Chief Executive Carrie Lam has said that the government is preparing another round of subsidies for businesses impacted by the Omicron outbreaks.
Vietnam approves US$15.3 billion stimulus package
The package will help businesses and workers hit by the pandemic, revive an economy impacted by strict lockdowns, and increase infrastructure spending.
Japan’s employers’ body supports wage increase
Companies which are making profits are encouraged to increase workers’ salaries during the upcoming wage negotiations.
More companies implementing 4-day workweek in Japan
Panasonic Corp has joined a small, but growing, number of Japanese companies to offer staff a four-day workweek to encourage better work-life balance.
Malaysia’s unemployment rate continues to drop
The number of unemployed persons fell below 700,000 in November, its lowest level since April 2020, according to the Department of Statistics.
More than 30% of Japanese dads take parental leave
The ratio of eligible male workers who took childcare leave in fiscal 2020 exceeded 30% in 42 of the country’s 100 leading companies.
Most Malaysian MSMEs unable to afford minimum wage
Most businesses are not ready to increase the minimum wage as they still have not recovered from the economic impact of the pandemic.
Singapore’s jobless rate continues to fall
The overall unemployment rate fell to 2.5% in November from 2.6% the month before, statistics from the Manpower Ministry show.
South Korea to provide new fiscal support for pandemic-hit firms
The government is planning to grant 40 trillion won (US$33.2 billion) of fresh funds to small firms and the self-employed before the Lunar New Year.