Jakarta revisits staggered work hours to mitigate traffic congestion
The Jakarta administration is once again discussing the prospect of staggered working hours in an attempt to alleviate the city’s chronic traffic congestion. Acting governor Heru Budi Hartono recently suggested private office workers to start their work day at two distinct times, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., potentially reducing morning traffic by 30%. However, this […]
Singapore excels in workforce upskilling through diverse initiatives
Singapore is effectively upskilling its workforce through various government initiatives, including the SkillsFuture programme, which supported over 660,000 people in 2022. Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasised the importance of protecting workers instead of jobs during a Citizens’ Panel on Employment Resilience, discussing plans to enhance the SkillsFuture ecosystem. Career conversion programmes (CCPs) have been […]
Thailand’s labour market improves significantly in Q1 2023
Thailand’s labour market experienced notable improvement in the first quarter of 2023, with 98% of the labour force now employed, according to the National Statistical Office (NSO). Data revealed that of the 58.8 million people aged 15 and over, 40.3 million or 68.5% participated in the labour force, with 39.6 million or 98% employed. NSO […]
Singapore companies grapple with rising rent costs for employees
Singaporean firms are partly covering employees’ housing costs and even relocating staff to more affordable neighbouring cities due to skyrocketing home rents, which surged at their fastest rate in 15 years in 2022. However, the continued rise in rent prices in 2023 means expatriate workers might leave Singapore permanently, potentially hindering the city-state’s ambition to […]
Vietnam reaffirms commitment to productivity strategy in pursuit of high-income status
In a high-level meeting with Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata on 26 April 2023, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh outlined the country’s productivity strategy. The strategy focuses on enhancing institutional quality, upgrading human capital development, advancing governance capacity, and refining resources management, with the ultimate goal of becoming a high-income […]
IT executives urge political parties to prioritise human resource development
IT executives in Thailand are calling on political parties to focus their IT policies on human resource development, equipping people with future skills, and preparing the country for a digital economy to generate more jobs. Thanachart Numnonda, executive director of IMC Institute, stressed the importance of upskilling and reskilling the workforce for the future. Sarun […]
WHO SAYS: Quotes of the week from HR influencers and leaders
Discover valuable insights from respected HR and business leaders across Southeast Asia as they offer their expert perspectives on pressing issues of today. “As AI completely revolutionises industries and the world of work, we expect to see more opportunities and new career prospects develop in this exciting space.” – Karthik Sudhakar, Senior Manager, International […]
Minister for Manpower highlights workforce transformation in May Day Message
In his May Day Message 2023, Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng expressed gratitude for the progress made in the post-COVID-19 recovery and encouraged Singaporeans to face the post-pandemic world with confidence. Dr Tan discussed the goals of the Empower Pillar in the Forward Singapore Exercise, emphasizing the importance of supporting Singaporean workers throughout […]
Malaysia’s Human Resources Ministry to draft new minimum wage implementation method
Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar announced at the 2023 Labour Day celebration in Putrajaya that the Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR) will develop a new method to implement minimum wage in Malaysia. Sivakumar described the current monthly minimum wage of RM1,500 as relatively low and emphasized the need for employers to match wages with employees’ […]
Minister emphasises business and industry role in reducing Indonesian unemployment
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, Muhadjir Effendy, stressed the strategic role of the business and industry sectors in reducing the unemployment rate during an International Workers’ Day commemoration event in Jakarta on May 1, 2023. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data revealed a 5.86 percent open unemployment rate in 2022, down 0.63 percent […]
