Less firms in Singapore tap into pandemic support
S$8.6 billion in loans was provided to 12,600 companies in 2021, compared to S$18 billion to 21,000 companies in 2020.
Malaysia’s SME body calls for labour law reform and productivity
The HR Ministry has been urged to focus on reforming labour laws to keep up with the gig economy and the reality of a post-pandemic age.
New Zealand to raise minimum wage to NZ$21.20 from April
The move is designed to strike the right balance between retaining the standard of living for low-wage workers and meeting the needs of businesses.
Rising workforce numbers and Industry 4.0 challenge Indonesia’s HR
The huge demographic “bonus” and Industrial Revolution 4.0 (4IR) will drive manpower challenges, said Manpower Ministry official.
Men in Australia twice as likely to be paid more than women
Some 22% of company boards also do not have a single woman on them, while less than one in five CEOs are female, a report has found.
First flat rate for minimum wage decided in Thailand
The Labour Ministry is expected to approve the country’s daily minimum wage from 336 baht (US$10.2) to a flat rate of 492 baht (US$15.0).
Malaysian worker unions push for minimum wage hike
Employees have suffered as much as employers during the pandemic, said the Labour Law Reform Coalition.
Green economy increases employment in Indonesia
Indonesia is increasing its investment in the green economy, which is said to be able to generate ten times more jobs than other industries.
Hong Kong to dole out cash subsidy for the unemployed
The handouts will exclude workers who lost their jobs before the current wave of outbreaks began last December.
Malaysia’s labour market improves with lower unemployment
The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in December from 4.3% in the previous month, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported.
Japan rolling out digital training programmes to foster tech skills
The educational programmes are slated to start in fiscal 2022, and are designed to improve the employability of Japanese workers.
Australia’s companies narrow gender super gap
About 49% of employers in the database of Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) pay super on their parental leave scheme.
Number of furloughed workers in Taiwan falls
In recent weeks, the number of furloughed workers in Taiwan has hovered around 10,000, which indicates a stable trend, said an official.
Japan’s corporations are spending less on wages
Corporations have been spending less of their profits on wages since the end of the bubble economy about 30 years ago, a government study finds.
Malaysia encourages businesses to WFH where possible
Employers have been told to avoid face-to-face meetings for now, and are encouraged to help their workers undergo regular COVID-19 tests.
The Philippine government urged to help repatriated migrant workers
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said the unprecedented return of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is creating growing challenges.
India resumes full office attendance for central government employees
Heads of departments are also called on to ensure that employees wear face masks at all times, and abide by the appropriate social distancing measures.
Recovery memo not needed to return to work in Singapore
Workers will not be required to present memos from general practitioners (GPs) to prove that they have recovered from COVID-19 infections.
Average wage of foreign employees in South Korea to exceed 30 million won
This prediction is based on year-end tax adjustments of foreign employees’ official tax data, with the majority of these workers coming from China.
Minimum wage increase opposed by Malaysian business group
The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) said the proposed increase in the national minimum wage to RM1,500 (US$359) will shutter struggling businesses.
Hong Kong considers short-term subsidy for jobless residents
Prior to this, the authorities had said that those who were unemployed could get help from existing social welfare schemes.
Singapore companies urged to have business continuity plans in place
Businesses should have procedures for staff to work longer hours to cover the work of their colleagues as Omicron cases rise, said a tripartite advisory.
WFH blurs boundaries between work and play, says WHO
WHO also highlighted some positives from teleworking, which was found to have a positive effect on self-reported health.
Malaysia forms government body for job creation and placement
The Government Industry TVET Coordination Body, or GITC, is a collaboration hub to place graduates into relevant jobs.
South Korea’s working age population expected to fall by 3.2 million in 2030
The number of people aged 15 and above who are able and willing to hold a job is forecast to start a downward turn after reaching its peak in 2025.
Bill for “right to disconnect” filed in the Philippines
If House Bill 10717 is enacted, it could be against the law for employers to contact their staff outside working hours.
Job availability in Japan falls for third straight year
The ratio of job availability stood at 1.13 in 2021, indicating that there were 113 openings for every 100 jobseekers, down 0.05 points from 2020.
Unemployment rate in India drops to 11-month low
The unemployment rate fell to 6.57% in January – the lowest since March last year, contributed by a decrease in rural unemployment.
Firms in New Zealand ask for cheaper unemployment insurance scheme
The government has proposed a compulsory national income insurance scheme which would replace 80% of a workers’ income, up to a cap of NZ$130,911.
Most South Korean mothers want to remain in workforce
Out of the female workers who worked until giving birth, 77.5% either went back to work or plan to return to work after childbirth.