Singapore doubles down on training semiconductor talents
Singapore will launch a new six-month training programme for integrated circuit design in August 2024, with the aim of training up to 150 people over the next five years. The programme has been developed by the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), Nanyang Technological University and the Economic Development Board (EDB) as part of an effort […]
Employers urged to prioritise mental health of Filipino workers
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is calling on employers in the Philippines to expand their mental health support systems. The Secretary of Labor and Employment, Silvestre Bello III, underscored the importance of extending paid leave benefits and flexible work arrangements to employees. He also highlighted the importance of fostering a supportive workplace environment. […]
Indonesia’s new bill to transform state civil service recruitment
Indonesia’s state civil service bill, which is currently being debated in parliament, is expected to bring major changes to the way civil servants are recruited, trained, and managed. Minister for Administrative and Bureaucratic Reforms Abdullah Azwar Anas said the bill would transform the recruitment process to enable a more agile and collaborative government. He also […]
Singapore banks enhance employee parental leaves
HSBC Singapore and Deutsche Bank announced increasing the parental leave benefits of their employees to advocate for employees’ mental health and work-life balance. HSBC Singapore has increased its parental leave policies, extending maternity leave to 26 weeks and paternity leave to eight weeks, effective 1 September 2023. According to Mukul Anand, Head of HR, HSBC […]
Malaysia’s mid-term plan: Invest on digital, knowledge-based economy
The Malaysian government has announced the three focus areas of the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). These are accelerating digitalisation and innovation, improving human capital, and promoting sustainable development. The government plans to invest RM150 billion in digitalisation over the next five years. This investment will be used to develop a digital […]
Employment discrimination in S’pore decline by almost 24%, report
Government data revealed that incidents of workplace and recruitment discrimination in Singapore declined for the second consecutive year in 2022. The number of job seekers experiencing discrimination during their job search fell to 23.8% in 2022, marking a decrease from 25.8% in 2021 and 42.7% in 2018. The report, based on a survey of 3,600 […]
OECD emphasises urgent upskilling initiatives to enhance Southeast Asian resilience
In a recently published report, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) emphasised the critical importance of enhancing Southeast Asian resilience through strategic upskilling of the regional workforce. The report, titled “Building Resiliency: Empowering Southeast Asia’s Workforce,” identifies the pressing need for concerted efforts to equip individuals with the necessary skills to adapt and […]
SG gov’t initiative, ‘provide remote workers better representation and bargaining power’
In a significant move towards improving the working conditions of platform workers, the government has recently announced measures aimed at providing better representation and enhanced bargaining power for these workers. This initiative comes in response to the growing presence of the remote economy and the unique challenges faced by those working in the digital platform […]
Indonesia struggles to retain pandemic advances in HR tech adoption
Many Indonesian companies are interested in incorporating digitalisation into their business strategies, including in the HR profession. IT development, automation and other technological adaptations are becoming increasingly vital to Indonesian industrialisation as many of the country’s companies struggle to compete in an expanding global market. The challenge of improving digital infrastructure through technological adaptation of […]
Opportunities abroad stir up talent retention in Indonesia
Beyond educating and training the next generation of professionals in Indonesia, HR needs ways to find and retain talent. The existing skilled workforce is now in high demand, and this is aggravated by an increased rate of internationalisation. Indonesian workers with applicable qualifications may be enticed to foreign companies, reducing Indonesia’s human capital even further. […]
