Malaysia’s hiring incentive programme aids 36,700 jobseekers
Under the programme, jobseekers who successfully found jobs within a distance of less than 100 km would be given mobility assistance of RM500.
Singapore government incentive boosts hiring of locals
Almost half of the 130,000 hires were not employed at the point of hire and over a quarter had been unemployed for over six months.
Malaysia needs comprehensive labour market policies to aid recovery
Malaysia needs to put in continued effort to catalyse economic transformation and create high-skilled jobs, said the central bank governor.
More workers in Malaysia to return to the workplace from April
The level of office attendance for civil servants is subjected to the Public Service Department, while the private sector is allowed to have 100% of staff back.
Displaced workers hired as contact tracers in the Philippines
The Department of Labour and Employment would provide emergency employment to informal workers who lost their jobs.
India considers yoga to boost workplace productivity
The committee set up to study evidence on the matter comprise members from education and yoga institutions, as well as the corporate sector.
Hoteliers in Malaysia must pay out service charges collected to staff
The court judgment read that service charge, being monies collected from third parties, does not belong to the hotel, and should be transferred to employees.
Australian unions call for minimum wage hike as wage support ends
The wage hike to A$26 a week would allow low-wage workers to spend more, and is an effective way of spurring local businesses.
Cambodia extends COVID-19 support for businesses and workers
The eighth tranche of financial support will cover businesses in sectors such as textile, aviation and tourism, as well as those in the lower-income group.
New Zealand approves bereavement leave for miscarriages and stillbirth
The bill will apply to parents, their partners, and parents planning to have a child through surrogacy or adoption, but will exclude abortion.
To boost wages, Australia’s jobless rate needs to fall
Before interest rates are raised, the unemployment rate will likely need to fall to between the “low 4s” and “high 3s”, said RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle.
Singapore to hand out $3 billion in wage subsidies
Employers will receive up to 50% support for the first S$4,600 of gross monthly wages paid from September to December 2020.
Japan sets aside 2.2 trillion yen to support businesses and low-income groups
The government will adopt measures to help medium and larger-sized companies boost capital funds.
Thailand unveils new support measures for pandemic-stricken firms
This includes 250 billion baht worth of soft loans for SMEs that will help them access credit, and 100 billion baht for loan repayments.
More South Korean women in their 30s drop out of the workforce
The labour force participation rate of women peaks between ages 25 and 29, before it plunges in the 30s as women leave work to care for their children.
Seoul scraps mandatory COVID-19 screening for foreign workers
Seoul and the neighbouring province of Gyeonggi were among the local governments ordering all of its foreign workers to be tested for COVID-19.
India sees over 800,000 employed in formal work in January
Official data also showed that the net payroll additions hit 1.11 million in January as employment continues to rise.
Thailand stock exchange partners government to upskill students, boost startups and SMEs
It aims to promote sustainable business operations in all dimensions of the capital market industry.
Singapore to disburse S$940 million in wage credits by end-March
The government will co-fund 15% of qualifying wage increases given in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 to more than 800,000 Singaporean employees.
Philippines senator backs bill to ensure workers’ health insurance
The senator’s call came after Quezon City’s local government confirmed that the rise in COVID-19 cases was also stemming from the workplace.
World Bank urges Malaysia to increase female labour participation
The development model that worked in the past for Malaysia is no longer enough for it to navigate to the next stage of its development, it added.
Private sector workers should receive free vaccinations in the Philippines
Workers who refuse to be vaccinated shall not be discriminated against in terms of tenure, promotion, training, pay, and other benefits.
Malaysia unveils RM20 billion stimulus package
This marks the sixth round of support packages unveiled since the pandemic, bringing the total sum of all packages rolled out to RM340 billion.
Japan’s largest business lobby aims for more women representation
Measures include the implementation of a support programme for women on matters of hiring and promotion to upper management and executive roles.
Malaysia extends WFH accident coverage
Since last year, workers from various sectors have had to work remotely to comply with government measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Malaysian employers group says retirement age should not be raised
A blanket increase of the retirement age to 65 and beyond could adversely impact the labour market, causing unemployment among younger workers.
Thailand to launch new phase of co-payment scheme with SMEs
The government is currently preparing additional measures to help local SMEs, which will cover up to 50 to 80% of SMEs various expenses.
Over 10,000 employers in Singapore received jobs support in 2020
This help included outreach activities, expanding career conversion programmes, and introducing job transformation programmes.
China to prioritise employment policies, says Premier Li
In its 2021 Government Work Report delivered in early March, the government highlighted its plan to create 11 million jobs in 2021.
Australia extends its loan guarantee scheme
The extended scheme will see the government’s guarantee on loans increase to an 80/20 split with the banks, an increase from the current 50/50 split.