Indonesia pioneers social and health development in ASEAN 2023
Indonesia leads vital social and health development initiatives in ASEAN 2023, striving to enhance the quality of life throughout the region. Focused on improving education and health infrastructure in remote areas, Indonesia proposes programs like the Healthy Indonesia Card and the Smart Indonesia Program. The nation also plans to construct 100 health centres and schools […]
Ministry pledges to boost fair, inclusive, safe workplaces
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in Singapore has committed to “redouble its efforts” in fostering fair, inclusive, and safe workplaces. It says this will help to address labour market uncertainties amid the Covid-19 pandemic recovery. MOM will require employers to advertise job openings on its MyCareersFuture online portal, and fairly consider all local applicants before […]
Southeast Asia governments urged to subsidise digital upskilling
Southeast Asian governments are being called upon to offer generous subsidies for digital upskilling amid rapid economic and technological changes. As digital literacy becomes non-negotiable in the modern workplace, governments and the private sector must work together to build an inclusive ecosystem for workforces across the Southeast Asia region. Countries like Singapore and Malaysia have […]
Vietnam considers new basis for social insurance premiums
The Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs has proposed changes to the social insurance premium payment basis in a draft revision of the national Law on Social Insurance. Employers and employees could pay premiums based on actual monthly salary fluctuations, instead of the fixed salary in labour contracts. The proposal aims to […]
WHO urges commitment to ‘Health for All’ in Southeast Asia
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, has called for sustained action to achieve universal health coverage, as part of its Health for All campaign in the region. She stressed the importance of political and financial commitment from leaders, urging them to accelerate momentum ahead of the UN […]
Vietnam allocates USD 17 billion to education and training sector
Vietnam’s government has budgeted USD 17 billion for the nation’s education and training sector, accounting for 4.0% of the country’s total GDP in 2023, according to a recent Ken Research report. The Health Professions Education and Training for Health Systems Reform Project secured nearly USD 121 million in collaboration with the World Bank and the […]
Singapore eases work visa rules for in-demand sectors
Singapore’s government has unveiled a new visa scheme, set to take effect from September, targeting foreign professionals in high-demand sectors. The Complementarity Assessment Framework system will use point-based assessments for Employment Pass applicants, considering salary, qualifications, company diversity, and local staff ratios. Candidates can earn bonus points for 27 jobs across the agritech, financial services, […]
Indonesia permits contract adjustments in key sectors
Indonesia’s Minister of Manpower has a new level of flexibility to working contracts in some specific export-oriented industries. The new regulation aims to address work and business continuity challenges arising from weakening global demand. Companies must meet a specific set of criteria, and then also reach a mutual agreement with their labor union to qualify. […]
Malaysia tackles youth workforce skills mismatch with various initiatives
Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) has implemented several initiatives to address the increasing skills mismatch among the country’s youth workforce, particularly women. The MYFutureJobs portal has been introduced for better job matching, while Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO) collaborates with multiple ministries and agencies to enhance job opportunities. Furthermore, regular career and job carnivals are […]
How workplace inequality grew more apparent during the pandemic
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: There’s nothing like a crisis to expose weaknesses in an organisation. That’s exactly what happened with the pandemic, which showcased some glaring problems in diversity-focused recruitment, talent management, and leadership in scores of employers around Southeast Asia. Numerous reports show that diverse groups, which include women in the workforce and people with disabilities […]
