Malaysia registers lowest unemployment rate since last April
The jobless rate in the country dropped to 4.3% in October, falling 0.2 percentage point month-on-month and was the lowest since April 2020.
Concern over 7 million underemployed workers in the Philippines
This is defined by the Department of Labour and Employment as workers in part-time roles looking for longer working hours or higher-paying jobs.
Singapore identifies core skills required for selected sectors
The “priority skills” workers need to have for the next three years are in the key growth areas of the digital, green and care sectors.
Australia funds A$10 million data tool to plug skills gap
The government hopes the tool can help ensure workforce policy and industry-specific workforce plans are data-driven.
Job-creation programme addresses unemployment in the Philippines
To help people displaced by the pandemic, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has launched a job-creation programme.
Cambodia ramps up credit financing for SMEs to US$140 million
As of November 30, 790 SMEs in the country have received financial support, amounting to US$99.8 million in loans.
More Malaysian companies raising employees’ salaries
More employers are increasing the wages of their employees this year compared with 2020, reflecting a positive business recovery in the country.
Increased demand for data and digital skills in Australia
In the next five years, more than nine out of 10 jobs in the country will also require post-school qualifications.
HR playing a key role in building sustainable enterprises
IHRP’s “The People Behind People Forum” recognises the contributions of Singapore’s HR community to wellbeing and business continuity.
Japan incentivises salary hikes with tax deduction
The government is encouraging smaller companies to raise staff salaries with tax deductions of up to 40%, and 30% for bigger companies.
South Korea sees rise in job additions in 2020
Total jobs reached 24.72 million last year, up 710,000, or 2.9% from the previous year, marking the largest jump in job additions since 2016.
Unemployment rate in the Philippines falls month-on-month
The jobless rate fell from 8.9% in September to 7.4% in October as more relaxed pandemic measures allowed people to find work.
Cambodia to extend tax exemptions to COVID-19 hard hit sectors
The government would continue to provide tax preferences and subsidies to industries that were impacted severely by the pandemic.
Malaysia aims to grow jobs and reduce unemployment in 2022
The government has allocated RM4.8 billion (US$1.1 billion) to generate 600,000 job opportunities under Budget 2022.
Japan to raise premium for employment insurance
The government wants greater premium payments from employers and employees as the employment insurance system is running low on funds.
Sri Lanka to provide social security for informal sector workers
The government is planning to make social security benefits available to insurance agents, journalists, carpenters, masons, labourers and domestic workers.
India plans to plug gaps in employment data by 2022
Data on informal workers is scarce and can currently only be collected from an online portal launched in August, called e-Shram.
Malaysia’s new HRD Corp to manage national HR matters
The newly rebranded Human Resources Development Corporation will be the central agency for all human resource development programmes.
Japan’s largest labour organisation calls for 4% pay hike
In wage negotiations held earlier this year, businesses had agreed to an average 1.78% wage hike, in response to expectations of a 4% pay hike.
China’s government bodies to pay SMEs on time
Government entities purchasing goods, projects and services from SMEs should make payments between 30 and 60 days upon completion of the order.
Workers in Vietnam receive US$1.24 billion in support
These include some 1.85 million workers who had their labour contracts temporarily suspended or were told to take unpaid leave.
Malaysia enforces employment under Recalibration Programme
Employers need to hire the 280,088 foreign workers who have been registered under the Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK) within two weeks.
SMEs face biggest challenge in acquiring and retaining talent
SMEs struggle to create appropriate career development opportunities for their workers, making it hard for them to attract and retain talent.
Japan’s unemployment rate falls to 2.7% in October
Government data has shown that the country’s jobless rate fell to 2.7% in October, decreasing by 0.1 percentage point month-on-month.
Vaccine mandates could see West Australians leaving jobs
About 55,000 West Australians were opposed to getting the vaccine, with 39,000 of them being in jobs where COVID-19 vaccination was mandatory.
HRM Asia congratulates Readers’ Choice Awards 2021 winners
Some of Asia’s best HR and HR tech solution providers have been recognised at the HRM Asia Readers’ Choice Awards 2021.
Singapore’s resident employment rate rises to above pre-COVID levels
The employment rate for residents rose to 67.2% in June this year, up from 64.5% last year, and higher than the pre-pandemic level of 65.2% in June 2019.
Most employers in Malaysia still cautious on hiring
The majority of employers are still waiting for January 2022 to start hiring new staff and utilise incentives awarded to them.
Number of irregular workers in South Korea grows by 530,000
The number of irregular workers has increased from 8.5 million to 9.04 million in August, rising 6.35% year-on-year.
Flexible working set to be default arrangement in Australia
Working from home would remain part of the way the public service will operate in the future, said the Public Service Commissioner