More than 40,000 small businesses hit hard by the pandemic each received up to S$10,000 (US$7,211) last week as part of a government grant.
A government bill has been passed to allow employers to sack workers who refuse to receive a COVID-19 vaccination without a reasonable excuse.
With digitalisation key to economic recovery, the region will need to upskill its workforce quickly to tackle barriers to digital adoption, said the WEF.
Despite the easing of pandemic measures in the country, large companies are continuing to allow their employees to work from home.
The Cabinet has endorsed the supplementary budget worth 59.4 trillion won (US$46 billion) in its first meeting under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.
The fall in numbers in 2021 was attributed to the increase in parental leave taken in 2020 when schools and kindergartens closed due to COVID-19.
About 160,000 employers are expected to apply for the latest round of pandemic wage subsidies under the employment support scheme (ESS).
New South Wales is removing most of its vaccination mandates next month, although Victoria has not announced an end to its vaccination mandates.
Employees will also be allowed to remove masks when they are not interacting physically with others and when they are not in customer-facing areas.
Employers are reminded to look after their workers and take precautionary measures if they choose to hold gatherings.
Businesses and organisations should adopt a policy of working from home for between 5 and 7 days, said the Department of Disease Control.
Including firms in operation, the total registered capital injected by businesses into the economy in the first quarter was VND1,170 trillion.
Employers should create a more accommodating working environment for women, urged a global social impact enterprise.
The Philippines labour department highlighted that it would be wrong for workplaces to start getting complacent against COVID-19.
Unemployment rates for February were around the quarterly average unemployment rates in 2018/2019 and are expected to hover around these levels.
COVID-infected employees and those leaving their work to take care of infected children under seven years old have received sickness benefits.
Several major business groups and companies are backing the government’s move to get employees to return to their workplaces.
The subsidy package will cover a monthly subsidy of HK$8,000 for each full-time employee, spanning a three-month period between May and July.
The central government will no longer require companies to identify employees who have had close contacts with coronavirus patients.
A proposed amendment to the employment law will ensure that workers undergoing isolation or quarantine can enjoy sick leave.
Workers who are unwell and not able to work after testing positive for COVID-19 should not be required to produce an MC, said the Ministry of Manpower.
Uncertainty over the pandemic’s effects on the economy and the high unemployment rate are likely to keep employees in their current jobs.
The payment of employment insurance fees and electricity and gas bills for April and June will be postponed for three more months.
As of February 18, a total of RM21.72 million has been channelled to 902 MSMEs under the Indian Community Entrepreneur Development Scheme.
The impact of the Omicron variant on economic activity has not been significant, allowing activities within the country to proceed.
The country’s parliament has passed a larger-than-planned first extra budget of this year amid the biggest outbreak of the pandemic to date.
To qualify for the handout, businesses must show a 40% drop in revenue over seven consecutive days during the six weeks prior to February 15.
The health ministry noted that the current infectious rate of COVID-19 in the country is higher, and most likely caused by the Omicron variant.
As Omicron cases increase, the country’s biggest businesses and government departments have been encouraged to let their staff work from home.
Government support ensured the unemployment rate hit 3.5% instead of 7.5% in 2021, said the country's finance ministry.
