India to add 12 million people to working population yearly
Based on the country’s present demographics, the working population is projected to increase by 12 million annually.
DOLE proposes wage subsidy for workers in the Philippines
Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is proposing a three-month wage subsidy for workers.
Household incomes in South Korea fell for third straight quarter in 2020
Data from Statistics Korea showed that household incomes from salaries and business operations declined for three consecutive quarters in Q4 2020.
Malaysia’s Yayasan Peneraju has certified over 36,000 bumiputeras
Yayasan Peneraju, an initiative to strengthen the capacity of bumiputeras (local Malays), has trained and certified over 36,000 bumiputeras since 2012.
Temporary jobs for South Koreans in their 20s plunge as pandemic wears on
Statistics Korea said the number of temporary and daily jobs for those in their 20s declined 18% in January due to the pandemic.
Hong Kong testing centres fully booked as businesses reopen
As the restrictions on businesses ease in Hong Kong, testing centres for COVID-19 are stretched to the max due to mandatory testing.
Thailand approves 4,000-baht handouts for salaried workers
Under its social security system, the government has approved a scheme that will give salaried workers 4,000 baht (US$134) each.
Pandemic widens employment gap in South Korea
Smaller businesses saw a steep drop in employment numbers while that of larger conglomerates rose last year.
New SOPs for workplace safety in India to contain spread of virus
The government has issued new SOPs that allow work to resume in offices after disinfection has been done in accordance with new protocols.
France relaxes rule to allow workers to eat within work premises
The government has relaxed its labour code that explicitly forbids workers “to have their meals inside work premises”.
New Zealand mulls vaccinating workers at their workplaces
The government is considering giving employees the COVID-19 vaccine the same way they get their annual flu jab at work.
Philippine MSMEs cannot afford wage increase amid pandemic
Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) believes that raising daily wages by P100 (US$2.1) will likely result in more unemployment.
India’s new paperless portal for MSME registrations crosses 2-million mark
The government’s paperless portal for MSME registration – Udyam Registration – has processed 2.03 million registrations in the last three months.
Malaysian government partners industries to create over 160,000 jobs
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has said that more than 160,000 jobs are expected to be created in 2021 through investments in human capital.
Indian employees can opt for four-day work week soon
Labour and employment secretary Apurva Chandra said the new labour codes would provide the flexibility of four working days in a week.
Malaysia’s jobless rate highest since 1993
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has said the country’s unemployment rate increased 4.5% in 2020 – the highest in 27 years.
Employers in New Zealand get US$252 for self-isolating staff
The government has launched the Short-Term Absence Payment (STAP) – a scheme to help businesses and staff affected by the pandemic.
Philippine House speaker submits US$8.7billon COVID-19 relief bill
Lord Allan Velasco has submitted a pandemic-relief bill of 420 billion peso (US$8.7 billion) to Congress to spur the economy into recovery.
Singapore employers not looking to adjust pay despite new norm of WFH
Most employers are not considering adjusting their staff’s salary even as remote working has become a trend.
Task force set up in the Philippines to create jobs
Key government agencies have signed a joint memorandum circular to set up the National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) Task Force.
70,000 jobs can be created in Malaysia with 1% increase in GDP
The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) said the local economy has the capacity to create 70,000 jobs for every 1% increase in its GDP.
Thailand prepares to launch pandemic relief package
Prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has given the go-ahead for financial aid costing 40 billion baht to help employees left out under previous schemes.
New Zealand’s unexpected jobless-rate drop rules out rate cuts
The unemployment rate fell unexpectedly and salaries increased, ruling out the probability that the central bank will reduce interest rates.
Malaysia eschews strict lockdown to keep jobs
Finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said the government will not impose a strict lockdown as it would impact the country’s 900,000 SMEs severely.
Union calls for wage subsidies in the Philippines
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has called on the government to provide immediate subsidies for workers struggling financially.
Malaysian youths exhorted to keep abreast of digitalisation
Yayasan Peneraju said the country’s young human capital needs to be retrained and upskilled to keep up with digitalisation trends.
Singapore fines companies which breached COVID-19 safety rules
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has fined 42 more companies for not following workplace safety regulations.
Workers in the Philippines to be upskilled in AI
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched an AI programme to prepare workers for disruption from technological advancement.
New Zealand’s union calls for sick leave for new employees
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) is pushing for the removal of the rule that workers must be employed for six months before getting sick leave.
Taiwan protects working rights of middle-aged and senior workers
The Executive Yuan has passed a new Act to address the challenges of an ageing population and potential future labour shortages.