Malaysian businesses urged to comply with COVID-19 SOPs

As some sectors of the economy reopen, The Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia reminds businesses to comply with existing SOPs.
Malaysia mandates fortnightly COVID-19 tests for workers

Employees who need to be present at workplaces must undergo fortnightly RTK Antigen tests approved by the health ministry.
Vietnam’s southern provinces seek to end stay-at-work arrangements

Many companies in the southern part of the country are seeking approval to allow their staff to go back to their own residences.
Employers should not use government relief funds for workers’ pay

Taiwan’s New Power Party (NPP) has raised the issue of employers using pandemic relief funds to pay their staff’s salaries.
Mandatory vaccination for key-sector workers in Hong Kong

Civil servants, teachers and healthcare workers must get inoculated against COVID-19 or pay for regular testing.
Malaysia proposes enhanced SOPs for reopening of small businesses

Under the proposal, business owners and workers will have to be fully vaccinated and undergo a weekly COVID-19 swab test.
Malaysian businesses urged to embrace workplace safety and health

Employers are also advised to set up a dedicated safety department at the workplace and appoint a safety office at the work site.
SOPs should still apply to fully vaccinated workers in Malaysia

The Malaysian Employers Federation also proposed the set up of a platform to record, monitor and report adverse events related to the COVID-19 vaccinations.
Malaysia allocates RM$3.8 billion to extension of wage subsidy scheme

The programme is to be implemented for four months from August 1st, and would be open to all economic sectors in the first two months.
China seeks to protect rights of workers in flexible employment

The government is working out new laws to protect the rights of workers, especially those in flexible employment.
DOLE identifies ‘safe’ establishments in the Philippines

Business owners have been urged to get safety seals for their establishments in the country’s efforts to re-open the economy.
WFH remains default arrangement in Singapore

Despite the easing of social restrictions in Singapore, companies should continue to ensure their employees work from home, whenever possible.
Malaysian employers to be penalised for flouting pandemic measures

The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has called on the government to penalise businesses not following measures for pandemic control.
South Korea unveils $33 trillion won budget for pandemic relief

A large portion of the extra budget will be used to support small businesses, provide cash handouts to households and help struggling job seekers.
Malaysian employees make complaints about WFH neglect

The government’s guidelines stipulate that only 60% of employees in selected sectors can report to the office.
Japan promotes 4-day work-week option

The government is supporting the proposal to let employees choose a four-day work week in its annual economic policy guideline.
Singapore maintains WFH as default arrangement, extends jobs support

Workers cannot be cross-deployed to multiple worksites, and employers need to implement flexible working hours and staggered start times.
South Korea rejects further extension to delay 52-hour work week

Companies employing between five and 49 workers will have to comply with the 52-hour work week by next month.
Taiwan shortens rest times between shifts for workers

The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has temporarily lowered the number of rest hours workers must get between shifts from 11 to eight for four industries.
Companies in Singapore to adopt WFH as default arrangement

Businesses are advised to stagger the start times of employees and implement flexible working hours, and refrain from cross-deploying workers.
Singapore companies advised to test staff regularly for COVID-19

Employers with staff who need to work in high-risk environments should implement testing for them on a regular basis, says Enterprise Singapore.
Vietnam prime minister urges for relaxation of overly strict lockdowns

Local governments have been urged to relax overly strict lockdowns that are affecting production and business activity in some provinces.
Malaysian employers cannot force non-essential service workers to office

Staff are encouraged to report incidents where their workplace exceeds the 60% capacity, or they are asked to work despite the need for quarantine.
Malaysia mulls giving more power to JTKSM to police WFH SOP

The Department of Labour could be given more authority to penalise companies who fail to comply to WFH orders.
Singapore likely to relax COVID-19 restrictions after June 13

Enhanced wage support for select businesses affected by the city-state’s tighter measures has also been announced.
Cambodia government officials call for paid leave days for vaccination

A statement has been issued to all factories and enterprises mandating that workers be given a paid day off in order to get vaccinated.
Malaysian SMEs told to self-enforce MCO SOPs

Businesses have been told to form their own internal audit committees to ensure compliance to the stricter SOPs under the MCO.
Malaysia calls on small businesses to prepare operating under stricter SOPs

These include making sure that premises are equipped with a safe entry QR code, thermometers and hand sanitisers
South Korea’s proposed bill protects workers’ rights when companies split

South Korea’s policymakers have proposed a bill that will guarantee employees’ rights when a company is in a spinoff.
Singapore businesses required to report on-site staff numbers

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has asked business owners to provide the number of staff on-site in their workplaces.