Australia: NSW state ends WFH, but most staff still staying away from office
Many workers in New South Wales are opting to continue working from home.
Malaysia’s machinery & equipment sector urged to adopt digitisation
The country’s machinery and equipment (M&E) sector, which accounts for 85% of local SMEs, needs to adopt digital solutions to stay competitive.
Digitisation gains pace in Singapore as more jobs available in digital banks
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is expecting digital banks to employ a “sizeable number of people”.
India: Delhi to launch scheme to woo startups
The Delhi government is set to launch a programme designed to attract startups to the capital city, with a 150-arce hi-tech business park to be built.
Laid-off workers insured under Socso re-employed in Malaysia
Out of 100,000 employees insured under Socso who have been laid off, about 31% or 30,977 have found new jobs.
Employers in Singapore upskill foreign workers amid labour shortage
Employers may need to upskill or re-skill their foreign workers, especially in sectors where local staff are hard to employ.
Malaysia maintains WFH order in Putrajaya
Those in the management and supervisory posts in conditional movement control order (MCO) areas have been told to continue working from home.
Cambodia’s plans to buy vaccine lifts business confidence
The decision to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for the kingdom’s citizens is set to boost business confidence and the prospect of economic recovery.
Singapore: Technology will disrupt 90% of HR roles in three to five years
Technology-enabled solutions, especially those using automation, will impact the majority of human resource (HR) roles in the near future.
Australia: Employers can offer part-timers extra working hours, but not on overtime basis
The change in policy aims to create more flexibility for employers and more hours for employees.
Delhi sets new guidelines for government employees
After allowing half of its staff to work from home last week, the Delhi government is now asking them not to leave the city without permission.
Malaysia: New govt portal to provide seamless business registration
Prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has launched MalaysiaBiz – a one-stop government portal that aims to streamline the setting up of businesses.
Malaysia aims to train new generation of tech leaders
PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the country’s technology-based agencies and companies must be headed by leaders who are technical professionals.
Japan: Govt approves 3rd fiscal stimulus amid surge in COVID-19 cases
Japan’s cabinet has approved a third round of fiscal stimulus of about 73.6 trillion yen (US$706 billion) to deal with the economic impact from the pandemic.
Female managers still under-represented in South Korea
Women formed only 20.9% of managers in 2,486 organisations in the country, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labour.
Cambodia: Govt issues stricter COVID-19 measures for factories
The Ministry of Labour has set new risk-management rules to contain the pandemic in factories and businesses after a surge of cases on November 28th.
Foreign investments to create 3 million new jobs in the Philippines
Three million new jobs may be created with US$50 billion of new foreign direct investments (FDI) entering the country.
Resident employment rate and median income dip in Singapore
The employment rate of residents aged 25 to 64, the bulk of whom are in their prime working age, fell to 80.3% from 80.8% in 2019.
Stranded foreign nationals in Japan can now work part time
The Justice Ministry is relaxing work restrictions for foreigners, either as students or on other visa statuses, who are stuck in the country.
Remote working in India enables companies to hire from smaller cities
Companies now have the option to hire contract staff from Tier 2 and 3 cities as working from home becomes more prevalent and accepted.
South Korea: Govt advises SMEs to prep for shorter working week
The Ministry of Labor and Employment will implement the 52-hour cap on the working week for SMEs as scheduled.
Hong Kong govt staff to WFH for the third time this year
Chief executive Carrie Lam has announced sweeping measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, ordering all government employees to work from home (WFH).
Singapore civil servants will not get year-end bonus, some in private sector following suit
The Public Service Division (PSD) has announced that civil servants will not get any year-end bonus.
India: 50% of Delhi public employees to WFH
From next week, except for senior officials, half of the capital city’s government staff will start to work from home (WFH).
Indonesia needs to boost HR and R&D in manufacturing
Manufacturing, the largest contributor to the country’s GDP, will play a big role in economic recovery, and government support will be key.
India sets new rules for staggered office hours, night curfews
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has updated its guidelines to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Malaysia to improve foreign worker recruitment policies
The country’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that the Home Ministry (KDN) and HR Ministry (KSM) jointly set up an integrated system.
Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand expect highest wage rise in APAC for 2021
The top 10 countries expected to see the largest real salary increase are from the Asia-Pacific region.
Singapore: Infocomm media a growth sector
Trade and Industry minister Chan Chun Sing highlighted the infocomm media (ICM) sector as one that has potential to generate good jobs.
Taiwan ends short-term contract extensions for migrant workers
The Ministry of Labor (MOL) has announced that it will end a programme that allowed employers of migrant workers to apply for short-term extensions.