MSMEs in the Philippines told to ensure payment of 13th month pay
Micro and small businesses are provided with the option to apply for a government loan to pay employees their 13th month salary.
Japanese minister calls for firms with strong earnings to increase salaries
Chairman of the Japan Business Federation also backed the call, encouraging profit-earning firms to increase workers’ wages.
Digital literacy crucial for Cambodia’s workforce
The kingdom needs to upgrade its workforce skills, maximise youth dividend and accelerate digital transformation, said the UNDP.
Indonesia’s minimum wage to increase by at least 1.09% in 2022
The final decision on the increase will be decided by the governor of each province, and based on the data published by Statistics Indonesia.
Vietnam proposes aid package for employees returning to work
To attract people who have gone back to their hometowns to return to work after lockdown, the government is working on a support package.
Vaccination for on-site workers to be mandated in the Philippines
The new measures will take effect on December 1, and those who choose to be unvaccinated will have to shoulder the cost of COVID-19 tests.
Essential employees in NSW to lose COVID-19 compensation protection
The state government plans to repeal the automatic compensation rights for essential workers under section 19B of the Workers Compensation Act 1987.
Amendments to Malaysia’s Employment Act “falls short”
Although maternity leave has been extended from 60 to 90 days, this is less than the International Labour Organisation’s standard of 98 days.
Indonesia prioritises workplace safety and workers’ health
Health minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has called for more attention to be paid to the safety of workers in the workplace, particularly their health.
Japan PM promises stimulus package for pandemic relief
Cash payouts worth 100,000 yen (US$884) each will be delivered to students, temporary workers and low-income households hit hardest by COVID-19.
Taiwan’s workforce grew by 24,000 in September
The total number of workers in the industrial and service sectors grew by 0.3% to nearly 8.12 million in September, as businesses continued to recover.
Fully vaccinated job applicants in the Philippines given advantage
A proposed new policy will grant employers the discretion to hire application based on their vaccination status.
Vietnam disburses cash assistance to over 10.3 million workers
More than VND24.6 trillion (US$1.6 billion) in cash assistance has been disbursed from the unemployment insurance fund.
Malaysia looks into law to protect gig workers
So far, gig workers only receive social protection under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme under the Social Security Organisation.
Trade unions in India say minimum wage hike “not enough”
Trade unions in the capital city say higher wages are required to offset the impact of rising inflation in prices of essential commodities.
Japan business lobby wants commuting target to be revised
The government had earlier urged businesses to help achieve its target of cutting commuters by 70% and to support telework as an alternative.
Employers can decline unvaccinated candidates in the Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte has said there is a legal basis for employers to refuse to hire potential staff who are still unvaccinated against COVID-19.
Malaysia’s minimum wage review slated for completion by year-end
The minimum wage rate was raised to RM$1,200 from RM$1,100 previously, and took effect in February 2020 across 57 cities and towns.
Japan proposes stimulus package for companies raising wages
A governmental economic-policy panel has proposed a fresh stimulus package, including shoring up support for companies increasing employee salaries.
South Korea registers job growth for eighth consecutive month
The unemployment rate for young adults, aged between 15 and 29, fell by 2.7 percentage points year-to-year to 5.6%.
New Zealand rejects claim that vaccine mandate breaches human rights
Claims by five government workers who said that their human rights have been violated due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate have been dismissed.
Malaysia’s minimum wage subsidy excludes gig economy workers
The government does, however, provide social security protection to the self-employed, which covers gig workers.
Number of furloughed workers in Taiwan continues to drop
As domestic demand recovers due to the government’s stimulus measures, the number of furloughed workers fell by 5,635 in one week.
Wage gap by work sector widens in South Korea
The sector that saw the largest wage jump include tech firms, while the salaries of workers in the tourism and aviation sectors took a plunge.
Embracing human-centric leadership in shaping the future of work
HRM Asia’s CHRO Online Series 2021 continues November 18 with CHRO Malaysia discussing how HR is taking the lead in shaping the future of work.
Hong Kong pushes for weekly COVID-19 test for public workers
Unvaccinated government staff may need to get tested for COVID-19 every week instead of once every two weeks.
Largest business lobby in Japan calls for more female worker support
Keidanren aims to reduce the number of women who are forced to quit their jobs to care for their children or nursing care for their parents.
Socso supports employment initiatives under new Malaysia Budget
The Social Security Organization (Socso) will give its full support to the government’s plan to strengthen the labour market and expand social safety nets.
Taiwan to disburse wage subsidies to help businesses
Businesses that have seen their revenue decline by at least 20% in September and October from the same period last year will be eligible for the wage subsidies.
Unpaid leave await unvaccinated public officers in Singapore
Medically eligible public officers who opt to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 may be asked to take unpaid leave.