Japan PM promises stimulus package for pandemic relief

Cash payouts worth 100,000 yen (US$884) each will be delivered to students, temporary workers and low-income households hit hardest by COVID-19.
Taiwan’s workforce grew by 24,000 in September

The total number of workers in the industrial and service sectors grew by 0.3% to nearly 8.12 million in September, as businesses continued to recover.
Fully vaccinated job applicants in the Philippines given advantage

A proposed new policy will grant employers the discretion to hire application based on their vaccination status.
Vietnam disburses cash assistance to over 10.3 million workers

More than VND24.6 trillion (US$1.6 billion) in cash assistance has been disbursed from the unemployment insurance fund.
Malaysia looks into law to protect gig workers

So far, gig workers only receive social protection under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme under the Social Security Organisation.
Trade unions in India say minimum wage hike “not enough”

Trade unions in the capital city say higher wages are required to offset the impact of rising inflation in prices of essential commodities.
Japan business lobby wants commuting target to be revised

The government had earlier urged businesses to help achieve its target of cutting commuters by 70% and to support telework as an alternative.
The CHRO of the future: Looking at HR through a new lens

HRM Asia’s CHRO Online Series 2022 continues November 19 with CHRO Malaysia examining the role of the future CHRO.
Employers can decline unvaccinated candidates in the Philippines

President Rodrigo Duterte has said there is a legal basis for employers to refuse to hire potential staff who are still unvaccinated against COVID-19.
Malaysia’s minimum wage review slated for completion by year-end

The minimum wage rate was raised to RM$1,200 from RM$1,100 previously, and took effect in February 2020 across 57 cities and towns.
Japan proposes stimulus package for companies raising wages

A governmental economic-policy panel has proposed a fresh stimulus package, including shoring up support for companies increasing employee salaries.
South Korea registers job growth for eighth consecutive month

The unemployment rate for young adults, aged between 15 and 29, fell by 2.7 percentage points year-to-year to 5.6%.
New Zealand rejects claim that vaccine mandate breaches human rights

Claims by five government workers who said that their human rights have been violated due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate have been dismissed.
Malaysia’s minimum wage subsidy excludes gig economy workers

The government does, however, provide social security protection to the self-employed, which covers gig workers.
Number of furloughed workers in Taiwan continues to drop

As domestic demand recovers due to the government’s stimulus measures, the number of furloughed workers fell by 5,635 in one week.
Wage gap by work sector widens in South Korea

The sector that saw the largest wage jump include tech firms, while the salaries of workers in the tourism and aviation sectors took a plunge.
Embracing human-centric leadership in shaping the future of work

HRM Asia’s CHRO Online Series 2021 continues November 18 with CHRO Malaysia discussing how HR is taking the lead in shaping the future of work.
Hong Kong pushes for weekly COVID-19 test for public workers

Unvaccinated government staff may need to get tested for COVID-19 every week instead of once every two weeks.
All work, with play: Maximising employee engagement

Vaibhav Jain, CEO and Founder of Hubilo, explains why businesses must rethink employees’ experience and leverage technology to overcome challenges.
Largest business lobby in Japan calls for more female worker support

Keidanren aims to reduce the number of women who are forced to quit their jobs to care for their children or nursing care for their parents.
Socso supports employment initiatives under new Malaysia Budget

The Social Security Organization (Socso) will give its full support to the government’s plan to strengthen the labour market and expand social safety nets.
Taiwan to disburse wage subsidies to help businesses

Businesses that have seen their revenue decline by at least 20% in September and October from the same period last year will be eligible for the wage subsidies.
Redefining the role of the CHRO in building the future organisation

HR leaders will have to adapt to digitalisation, balance empathy at work, and promote smart risk-taking in the workplace.
Unpaid leave await unvaccinated public officers in Singapore

Medically eligible public officers who opt to remain unvaccinated against COVID-19 may be asked to take unpaid leave.
Japan’s top union leader vows for better worker wages and conditions

Tomoko Yoshino said that gender inequality is also interwoven into Japan’s tax and pension system, and is part of a wider problem on workers’ rights.
Number of South Koreans outside labour force drops

The number of people outside the labour force fell 0.6% in August compared to that of 2020, driven by more people wanting to be employed again.
Malaysia’s bolstered policies key to speed up industry transformation

The Malaysia Productivity Corporation says that a conducive business environment is crucial to boosting productivity and competitiveness.
ISCA advances the digital transformation journey in Singapore

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants highlights what it takes for organisations to advance their digital transformation journey.
Singapore sees net gain of 30,000 newly registered companies

Between March last year and September 2021, more than 73,000 business entities ceased operations, while nearly 103,600 were formed.
Japan to review COVID-19 subsidies for businesses

Officials are concerned that small and medium-sized firms in the country will grow to be overly depend on the subsidies.