Singapore cuts back number of staff allowed in the office

In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, employers need to reduce the number of staff in the office from the current 75% back to 50%.
Australia may allow employers to require staff to be vaccinated

In a first of its kind, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has upheld the termination of a childcare worker who had refused to get a flu jab.
Indian government advises staff to WFH

Various departments have asked their employees to report at staggered timings, while those living in COVID-19 containment zones are told to stay home.
Thailand advises those in high-risk areas to work from home for 2 weeks

The Ministry of Public Health’s advisory comes as the number of COVID-19 cases are expected to spike after the Songkran festival.
Hong Kong to relax social distancing measures for vaccinated groups

The government also plans to provide F&B businesses an additional tranche of subsidies under the Anti-Epidemic Fund.
Indonesia union group urges for full payment for Eid allowances

Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) president Said Iqbal has called for companies to make mandatory full payment for Eid allowances.
Cambodia’s public servants risk losing jobs if they refuse vaccinations

While many civil servants and armed forces personnel had come forward for their jabs, there are some who do not want to receive inoculations.
Beijing colour codes city buildings to show worker vaccination levels

The move taps on a system the government introduced last year that requires people to show a green code before they can enter most public venues.
South Korea’s revised labour law allows more flexibile work week

The Ministry of Employment and Labour has increased the period which employers can have more flexibility in implementing the 52-hour work week.
Philippines extends lockdown in Manila as COVID-19 cases spike

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended a strict lockdown in Manila and adjacent provinces by at least a week.
Mumbai orders WFH amid COVIF-19 case surge

All non-essential services like malls, beauty salons and places of worship were ordered to shut operations from Monday.
Thailand sets up pension fund to support ageing population

The Cabinet has approved the setting up of the National Pension Fund (NPF), a new mandatory retirement savings scheme for formal sector workers.
Hoteliers in Malaysia must pay out service charges collected to staff

The court judgment read that service charge, being monies collected from third parties, does not belong to the hotel, and should be transferred to employees.
Tokyo continues with earlier closing times for F&B businesses

Tokyo and neighbouring prefectures are mandating food-and-beverage businesses to close earlier to reduce the risk of a rebound of pandemic cases.
Singapore adopts flexible and hybrid work model

Remote working will be scaled down in the South-East Asian country as more employees are allowed to return to the workplace.
New wage code in India to change salary structures

Employees, especially those with high allowances, are likely to see a major change in their salary structures if the new wage code kicks in from April 1.
China plans to raise retirement age in phases

Under the country’s five-year plan, the retirement age will be raised in a “phased manner”, said China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
Cambodia trials work-from-home for one week

Prime Minister Hun Sen has issued a directive for all government institutions and the legislative body to adopt work-from-home practices for one week.
WFH to remain as default as Malaysia loosens movement control restrictions

The government has replaced the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang to a conditional MCO (CMCO).
Staggered working hours and remote working encouraged in Singapore

Spreading out commuter crowds on buses and trains during peak hours would help ensure the financial sustainability and efficiency of public transport.
Foreigners on a dependant’s pass will need a work pass to work in Singapore

Businesses hiring DP holders will have to comply with the requirements for hiring, which includes the relevant quotas, levies and qualifying salaries.
New Zealand unions urge workplaces to adopt safe practices

The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) and Business New Zealand (BNZ) have called on workplaces to help the country get through the pandemic safely.
Japan adopts new bill for more flexible paternity leave

With the revision, fathers can take leave in two batches, and will receive employment insurance benefits equivalent to 67% of their pre-leave wages.
Singapore MP proposes formalising labour laws to protect locals

Labour MP Patrick Tay has said the country needs more formal labour laws instead of mere advisories and guidelines to protect local workers.
Australian employers cannot force staff to get COVID-19 jab

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and Safe Work Australia (SWA) have advised employers to assume employee vaccinations are not required.
Malaysia imposes requirements for improved workers’ lodging

Failure to comply with government orders to improve living quarters will result in RM200,000 in fines or a three-year jail term, or both.
Hong Kong testing centres fully booked as businesses reopen

As the restrictions on businesses ease in Hong Kong, testing centres for COVID-19 are stretched to the max due to mandatory testing.
New SOPs for workplace safety in India to contain spread of virus

The government has issued new SOPs that allow work to resume in offices after disinfection has been done in accordance with new protocols.
France relaxes rule to allow workers to eat within work premises

The government has relaxed its labour code that explicitly forbids workers “to have their meals inside work premises”.
India proposes launch of portal to collect gig worker data

The data could help formulate health, housing, skill, insurance, credit and food schemes for migrant workers, says the finance minister.