Australia disbursed A$27 billion to firms that did not qualify for subsidies
Some firms posted revenues that did not fall sufficiently enough to qualify, while others posted increased revenues over the period.
Employee experience reimagined with data and machine learning
An upcoming webinar by Workday and HRM Asia will examine how organisations are managing employee experience in a hybrid work environment.
Japan business association advocates taking on of secondary jobs
The Japan Federation of Employers’ Associations says taking on secondary employment can result in a more productive workforce.
Measures to ease SME cash flow called for in Malaysia’s Budget 2022
Businesses are looking at cash flow continuity and survival, especially in industries hit hard by the pandemic, said the SME Association of Malaysia.
Singapore’s unemployment rate falls to 2.7% in August
The overall unemployment rate in August fell by 0.1 percentage point to 2.7% month-on-month, due to a temporary easing of labour demand.
Thailand plans to help SMEs retain workers
A new project will help generate new jobs, maintain employment for about 400,000 workers and subsidise the income of over four million workers.
Singapore recovers US$266 million from overpayment of wage subsidies
The government has recovered S$361 million (US$266 million) from 4,862 firms to remedy overpayments in the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS).
Taiwan decides on minimum wage hike of 5.21%
Labour groups had previously called for a wage hike of 6 to 8%, while business groups urged for the minimum wage not to be increased by over 3%.
Cambodia’s minimum wage hike not enough for workers’ basic needs
Western buyers of Cambodian apparel and footwear goods have been urged to prod suppliers towards paying a living wage to factory workers.
Malaysia has disbursed over RM$330 billion of subsidies
As of September 24, the support packages have benefited some 20 million Malaysians, and 2.4 million businesses.
New Zealand employers urge for mandatory vaccine passports
The Employers & Manufacturers Association (EMA) is calling on the government to mandate workers to carry digital vaccine passports to enter workplaces.
WFH has helped the middle class during the pandemic: PM Modi
The majority of businesses have had to resort to remote working as India went into a hard lockdown from March last year, shutting for three months.
Thailand approves subsidies to help SMEs keep staff employed
To help about 480,122 struggling small businesses keep five million employees employed, the government is planning to roll out subsidies.
Japan has wage pressure under control, says BOJ governor
Haruhiko Kuroda emphasised the need to create a virtuous cycle in which higher wages give households more purchasing power.
Business groups in the Philippines call for restrictions on unvaccinated
About 13 business groups have asked the government to restrict the mobility of unvaccinated individuals and to step up mass inoculations.
Employment of older workers in Singapore rose in 2020
The employment rate of workers aged 55 to 64 has held steady at over 67%, despite the pandemic, says Singapore’s Manpower Minister.
Employers in Cambodia urged to test staff for COVID-19 after public holiday
All employers have been told to test staff for COVID-19 after they return to work after the three-day Pchum Ben holiday or Ancestors’ Day.
Australia under pressure to force firms to repay COVID-19 payout
Some 71% of Australians support companies being forced to repay JobKeeper funds if they did not need it, according to a recent opinion survey.
Malaysia’s wage subsidies saved 2.9 million jobs to date
The allocation of RM18 billion (US$4.3 billion) in wage subsidies has helped 2.9 million workers in the country keep their jobs so far, reports HR minister.
India looks to increase senior citizen employment with jobs portal
It will allow for full-time, part-time, freelance and pro-bono work arrangements, and might include retaining and re-skilling options for older workers.
Workers in HCM City to benefit from unemployment insurance allowances
About three million workers in Ho Chi Minh City stand to gain from the unemployment insurance fund with total allowances of about VND6 trillion.
Australia’s casual workers hit hard by COVID-19 lockdowns
From May to August, there was a loss of 175,000 casual jobs, which represented 72% of all the jobs lost across the labour market.
Auckland businesses urge mandate of “no jab, no job” regulation
Businesses in Auckland are calling for government-mandated vaccination at workplaces amid a lockdown that has lasted seven weeks.
Malaysia houses skills training under Human Resource Ministry
Training programmes should also be focused based on the skills needed in a particular area, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Japan sees first drop in job availability in four months
The country’s job availability fell for the first time in four months in August as the government expanded the state of emergency over more regions.
Brunei doles out financial support to retrenched, furloughed workers
The new support measures are aimed at helping struggling individuals and businesses stay afloat amid extended COVID-19 restrictions.
Vietnam steps up urban employment drive
The Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has set a target of bringing a million workers back to being employed by the end of 2021.
Taiwan likely to increase minimum wage next year
The Minister of Economic Affairs has thrown her support behind an increase in the minimum wage, ahead of a final decision on October 8.
Thailand budgets US$1.3 billion job support for small businesses
The country’s planning agency is launching a 45.4-billion-baht (US$1.4-billion) stimulus package to help small businesses keep jobs.
Chinese cities offer longer parental leave to promote better family life
In Jiangxi, parents will be entitled to marital leave for 15 days, in addition to the national holidays, while in Anhui, marital leave is being extended by three days.