Australian government against minimum wage raise
The government is not raising minimum wages after ending its JobKeeper programme on March 28, citing job creation as one of its priorities.
Japan saw real wages grow in February
Inflation-adjusted real wages, a key measure of households’ purchasing power, rose 0.2% year-on-year in February, according to the labour ministry.
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.
South Korea’s revision of law leaves labourers still vulnerable
The latest revision of the Workplace Harassment Prevention Law (WHPL) fails to protect subcontractors and labourers facing harassment.
Malaysia’s unemployment rate expected to ease to 4.3% in 2021
Despite the improved outlook, the labour market is constrained by factors such as
a mismatch between qualifications and job opportunities.
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.
Japan approves law raising retirement age to 70
The Cabinet has approved bills requiring companies to retain their workers until they are 70 years old, effectively raising the retirement age from 65 to 70.
IMF urges governments to sustain wage subsidies until COVID-19 eases
Uncertainties about the pandemic and the situation forward means that the phase-out of such support measures will be complicated, said the IMF.
India postpones implementation of new labour codes
The central government has postponed the implementation of four new labour codes originally scheduled to be rolled out on April 1.
Employee engagement key to retain talent in 2021
A new Achievers Workforce Institute report aims to help HR and business leaders connect the dots on engagement and retention to reduce turnover.
Google prioritises in-person collaboration with office reopening
Google is reopening some of its US offices with employees returning to the office on a voluntary basis from April.
Singapore government incentive boosts hiring of locals
Almost half of the 130,000 hires were not employed at the point of hire and over a quarter had been unemployed for over six months.
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.
More workers in Malaysia to return to the workplace from April
The level of office attendance for civil servants is subjected to the Public Service Department, while the private sector is allowed to have 100% of staff back.
New Zealand raises minimum wage from April 1
Beginning April 1, the minimum hourly wage in the country will increase to NZ$20 (US$14) from the current NZ$18.9 (US$13.2).
Displaced workers hired as contact tracers in the Philippines
The Department of Labour and Employment would provide emergency employment to informal workers who lost their jobs.
48% of wage workers in South Korea willing to be vaccinated
Less than half of salaried workers surveyed are willing to be inoculated against the coronavirus, as uncertainty remains over potential side effects.
India considers yoga to boost workplace productivity
The committee set up to study evidence on the matter comprise members from education and yoga institutions, as well as the corporate sector.
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.
Kellogg fuels their global workforce with frequent recognition
Kellogg picked the Achievers Employee Success Platform to redefine their recognition and rewards programme goals.
Malaysia amending employment law to cater for WFH
The government is proposing a change to the current employment law to support a work-from-home (WFH) culture even in the post-pandemic era.
Australian unions call for minimum wage hike as wage support ends
The wage hike to A$26 a week would allow low-wage workers to spend more, and is an effective way of spurring local businesses.
Taiwan approves bill for workers’ accident insurance in small companies
The bill proposes that companies employing less than five workers must insure their staff for occupational accidents.
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.
New Zealand approves bereavement leave for miscarriages and stillbirth
The bill will apply to parents, their partners, and parents planning to have a child through surrogacy or adoption, but will exclude abortion.
1 million pandemic-displaced persons still jobless in South Korea
In February, out of the 1.35 million persons officially unemployed, 999,000 had lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
To boost wages, Australia’s jobless rate needs to fall
Before interest rates are raised, the unemployment rate will likely need to fall to between the “low 4s” and “high 3s”, said RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle.
Women trade union group in Malaysia calls for 98 days of maternity leave
Wanita Industrial Malaysia (WIM), a trade union coalition representing female workers, has urged the government to mandate 98 days of maternity leave.
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.