Some 33.4% of non-regular workers received no compensation for forced leave, as compared to 14.8% for regular staff, a survey shows.
The supplementary budget is reported to be in the scale of 20 trillion won (US$17.9 billion) to 30 trillion won (US$26.8 billion).
Finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said the government will not impose a strict lockdown as it would impact the country’s 900,000 SMEs severely.
The decision was made after a review from government officials, academics and business representatives showed majority consensus.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has called on the government to provide immediate subsidies for workers struggling financially.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has fined 42 more companies for not following workplace safety regulations.
This will help the country manage the economy better, and help industry players affected by the pandemic, Malaysia's HR minister says.
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) is pushing for the removal of the rule that workers must be employed for six months before getting sick leave.
The Executive Yuan has passed a new Act to address the challenges of an ageing population and potential future labour shortages.
The survey by business lobby Keidanren also found that the number of people commuting to work was reduced by 65%, or around 870,000.
The third phase of the country’s wage subsidy programme will receive an additional injection of RM500 million.
Out of those who could retain their jobs, about 83% of women workers in India faced a severe income drop, said Oxfam India.
Working with Asia-Pacific's top organisations, Top Employers Institute is continuing to identify trends in HR strategies and workplace practices.
Multi-ministry COVID-19 taskforce co-chair and education minister Lawrence Wong has said a total work-from-home arrangement is “not doable”.
Japan’s Business Federation says companies should have more financial leeway and pay hikes are unrealistic amid the economic uncertainty.
A survey by the Ministry of Labour (MOL) found that 71.2% of workers were generally satisfied with their jobs, with 3.7% being dissatisfied.
The government’s strategy to mitigate the effects of the pandemic should be to upskill or reskill workers instead of continuing to pay wage subsidies.
The government has been encouraging men to take paternity leave, but the practice is not common in Japan, which suffers from a declining birth rate.
The Korea Employment Information Service (Keis) said South Korea’s income gap increased by 4% year-on-year in 2020 due to the fallout from COVID-19.
Under current safe management measures, peak-hour travel on public transport in January has risen by 11%, compared to November 2020.
Lawmakers are proposing heavier disciplinary measures on workplaces which violate workplace safety in an effort to enhance risk management.
Member of the Japan House of Councillors Kuniko Inoguchi is backing a bill that would give workers a four-day work week.
The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has committed to the quick implementation of the Permai financial package.
Among new recruits last December, some 407,000 people had experience working at a second job, data shows.
Twenty-nine organisations from the Trade Associations & Chambers (TACs) have pledged their support for fair hiring and employment practices.
The government is considering whether some activity under the manufacturing sector should also have the flexibility to work from home (WFH).
Australia’s Commonwealth Bank intends to keep a hybrid model of staff working from the office and home.
Problems facing workers who work from home and their employers need greater attention, including the rights and risks involved, says the ILO.
In Singapore, as more employees head back to the office, giving them more flexibility over work arrangements can boost their mental well-being.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress had previously proposed emergency employment laws to be enacted to prevent businesses from retrenching workers.