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.
This covers the country’s retail, fast food and warehouse workers, as well as those who work in aviation, arts and recreation, and tourism.
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.
Some 33.4% of non-regular workers received no compensation for forced leave, as compared to 14.8% for regular staff, a survey shows.
The unemployment rate fell unexpectedly and salaries increased, ruling out the probability that the central bank will reduce interest rates.
The supplementary budget is reported to be in the scale of 20 trillion won (US$17.9 billion) to 30 trillion won (US$26.8 billion).
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.
The decision was made after a review from government officials, academics and business representatives showed majority consensus.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has called on the government to provide immediate subsidies for workers struggling financially.
The majority of roles being recruited are not for entry level positions, indicating a longer-term skills shortage for senior talent.
Yayasan Peneraju said the country’s young human capital needs to be retrained and upskilled to keep up with digitalisation trends.
The data could help formulate health, housing, skill, insurance, credit and food schemes for migrant workers, says the finance minister.
The transaction, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, will see the companies providing the ‘most comprehensive’ payroll and human capital management solutions in APJ.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has fined 42 more companies for not following workplace safety regulations.
While the number of regular jobs increased 0.5% in 2020, that of non-regular jobs — including part-time roles — fell 3.9%.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has launched an AI programme to prepare workers for disruption from technological advancement.
This will help the country manage the economy better, and help industry players affected by the pandemic, Malaysia's HR minister says.
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.
India’s lockdown period saw companies adopt a WFH arrangement for their staff, cutting down on staff strength, hiring freelancers and outsourcing tasks.
The Executive Yuan has passed a new Act to address the challenges of an ageing population and potential future labour shortages.
The survey by business lobby Keidanren also found that the number of people commuting to work was reduced by 65%, or around 870,000.
At the end of 2020, resident employment increased by 28,900, rising for the second consecutive quarter after growing 43,200 in 3Q.
The third phase of the country’s wage subsidy programme will receive an additional injection of RM500 million.
A recent government press release showed that the manufacturing and service sectors created the most jobs in the country over the last decade.
Out of those who could retain their jobs, about 83% of women workers in India faced a severe income drop, said Oxfam India.
Multi-ministry COVID-19 taskforce co-chair and education minister Lawrence Wong has said a total work-from-home arrangement is “not doable”.
The Tourism Council of Thailand wants to implement a dedicated support programme for tourism workers to reskill and upskill by March.
The human resources ministry said the country’s employment situation improved quarter by quarter in 2020, exceeding expectations.
Japan’s Business Federation says companies should have more financial leeway and pay hikes are unrealistic amid the economic uncertainty.
A strong, effective and sustainable lending mechanism is important to remove credit barriers facing SMEs.