Tomoko Yoshino said that gender inequality is also interwoven into Japan’s tax and pension system, and is part of a wider problem on workers’ rights.
Officials are concerned that small and medium-sized firms in the country will grow to be overly depend on the subsidies.
More than 5 million workers affected by the pandemic have received assistance from the unemployment insurance fund.
Workers in internet service firms saw their pay rising in the first half of 2021, while those in the travel sector experienced a slump.
Workers with gross monthly salaries of up to S$2,000 (US$1,482) should get a 4.5% to 7.5% raise of between S$70 (US$51.9) and S$90 (US$66.7).
The introduction of the regulation will abolish the current A$450 minimum threshold for workers to qualify for superannuation.
The Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) has issued guidelines on the release of the 13th month pay for this year.
The speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives says doing so will improve the welfare of workers affected by the pandemic.
The human resources minister has tabled for the first reading a Bill to amend the Employment Act to insert a new section on paternity leave in Parliament.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had vowed earlier to draw up an economic package worth "tens of trillions of yen" to revive the economy.
Labour productivity also registered a fall of 16% in 2020, following a reduction in workforce numbers, notes the Malaysian Employers Federation.
Due to tighter pandemic-led restrictions, many businesses were forced to temporarily retrench or cut the work days of their staff.
To help SMEs retain employees, the Thai Cabinet has approved a 37-billion-baht (US$1.1 billion) subsidy programme that will help pay for salaries.
Businesses in select sectors significantly affected by tightened COVID-19 measures will receive a 25% wage support under the Jobs Support Scheme.
The Reserve Bank of Australia noted that in sectors where wage growth was observed, it was largely due to earlier implemented wage cuts that were reversed.
Employees who made claims for salary arrears and compensation for wrongful dismissal in the last financial year recovered S$13 million.
A total of RM$84.2 million has also been channelled to 13,884 businesses in the form of grants and loans for subscriptions to digitalisation services.
To help workers, especially women, balance family and employment responsibilities, Labour has urged for a review of the “erosion” of part-time work.
The Financial Management & Resilience Programme (URUS) has been launched for individual borrowers who continue to be affected by the pandemic.
The number of employed people across various sectors showed an increase in August month-on-month, with wages growing marginally.
Although wages levels have been increasing, workers are still making less than they used to as compared to before the pandemic hit.
The current salary increment rate ranges between 100% and 150%, while the cost of living has increased from 400% to 600%, said a senator.
Male workers are also receiving a higher average monthly wage as compared to their female counterparts.
Besides prioritising wage raises, the prime minister also said that he plans on a capital gains taxes discussion sometime in the future.
The most common reasons why SME bank loan applications get rejected are insufficient cash flow, an unviable business, and high levels of debt.
Foreigners who would qualify for this lower tax rate must work in fields in which Thailand faces a skills shortage, and could work anywhere in the country.
Some firms posted revenues that did not fall sufficiently enough to qualify, while others posted increased revenues over the period.
Businesses are looking at cash flow continuity and survival, especially in industries hit hard by the pandemic, said the SME Association of Malaysia.
A new project will help generate new jobs, maintain employment for about 400,000 workers and subsidise the income of over four million workers.
The government has recovered S$361 million (US$266 million) from 4,862 firms to remedy overpayments in the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS).