Amazon deploys visual social distancing aid for workers

The e-commerce giant will also be making the technology open source to help other businesses ensure social distancing for their employees.
COVID-19 pushes businesses to change IT priorities

Businesses in South-east Asia, Australia and Newland are prioritising improving ICT and security resilience for business continuity plans.
AIA Singapore employees get $1000 work-from-home assistance scheme

The payment will enable them to get the equipment they need to enhance their home office setup and cushion any financial impact from the pandemic.
Over half of millennials in Malaysia plan to quit jobs to start businesses

Their top reason for doing so is that being an entrepreneur would give them more opportunities, according to a Randstad survey.
360 employees let go in Grab layoff

In a blog post, Anthony Tan, Grab’s CEO and co-founder, said this will be the last round of layoff across the organisation this year.
Digital upskilling tops training agenda for Singapore companies

In the NTUC LearningHub Employer Skills Survey report, 2 In 3 employers identified upskilling in digital competencies as a business imperative.
Singapore to enter Phase 2 of reopening, WFH still default option

Singapore will enter Phase 2 of its reopening on June 19, although employers should continue to allow workers to work from home.
Thai Airways employees’ jobs safe for now

Despite filing for bankruptcy with outstanding debts of 200 billion baht, Thailand’s national carrier said there will be no layoffs for now.
Singapore’s unemployment rate hits decade high

The latest labour market report released by MOM reveals total employment fell by 25,600 in Q1 2020, the largest quarterly contraction on record.
Importance of learning highlighted as remote work grows

Time spent learning on LinkedIn platform increased 144% in March and April, when Singapore entered into a ‘circuit breaker’ phase.
Singapore to create 100,000 jobs in 2021

That will be three times the annual usual number of jobs created as the government looks to help Singaporeans cope with the pandemic.
HRM Asia Special: How are companies returning to the workplace?

We spoke exclusively to companies in the region to find out how they are ensuring a safe return to the workplace for their employees.
Malaysian workforce calls for WFH to continue

A new KPMG survey indicates that 69% of workers in Malaysia want to continue working from home post MCO.
Grab provides agility for driver-partners to grow career paths

Among a lineup of new training and career support initiatives is a new training programme developed in collaboration with Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Tokyo to lift all business restrictions on June 19

Businesses that are considered high risk such as live music venues and theme parks will also be allowed to reopen.
6 in 10 Singaporeans uncomfortable returning to workplace

Even as businesses and workplaces reopen, 59% of employees in Singapore said they are not comfortable with returning to their offices.
Indian workers staying at home despite easing of lockdown

The majority of employees from India’s top three IT companies are continuing to work from home as India’s Unlock 1 phase kicks into effect.
Zoom CEO: You can hire global talent without an office

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan said he will not have a single office if he starts his company today as he can hire talent from all over the world.
HRM Asia Readers’ Choice Awards: Nominations now open!

Organisations and businesses are welcome to nominate themselves and anyone else worthy of this ultimate prize of dedicated HR service provider.
Most countries set for recession in 2020

The World Bank paints a bleak picture of economic uncertainty as the world economy faces worst recession in 80 years.
Jakarta partly reopens after two-month lockdown

Workplaces, places of worship and grocery stores are allowed to open with strict health guidelines such as having to operate at 50% capacity.
Malaysia’s MCO moves into recovery phase

Under the recovery phase, the majority of business activities and economic sectors will reopen in phases, with SOPs to be adhered to.
Employers face penalties if they disguise retrenchments

Companies in Singapore face getting their work pass privileges and Jobs Support Scheme wage subsidies revoked for not paying retrenchment benefits.
Japan’s unemployment rate could be higher than reported

Japan reported an unemployment rate of 2.6% in April, which is a figure of envy given the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Injured while working at home? You should be compensated

Even as many employees in Singapore continue to work from home, they should be compensated for any work injuries at home.
Over 7.3 million jobs lost in the Philippines due to COVID-19

The shutdown of businesses to help curb the outbreak of the pandemic has led to the country’s highest-ever unemployment rate.
Gojek receives investment boost from Facebook and PayPal

Investment will help grow South-east Asia’s digital economy and accelerate digital payments adoptions among small businesses.
MOM shuts 3 workplaces for asking staff back to office

14 employers in Singapore were also handed composition fines for not implementing adequate safe management measures.
Most Malaysian workers have returned to work

As of May 17, more than 65% of Malaysia’s workforce have returned to work, according to Malaysia’s finance minister.
South Korea unveils US$29 billion stimulus budget

Saving jobs is one of the key objectives of the third supplementary budget released by South Korea this year.