New research into global sustainability employment markets launches
Specialist recruitment and executive search firm Acre has announced the launch of its Sustainability Census, with the aim of creating the largest and most global report ever completed on the global sustainability employment landscape. The survey aims to paint a holistic and global picture of the sustainability profession within business and finance, and will look […]
Five things HR leaders should know about menstrual leave
CHIEF OF STAFF FIVE: Menstrual leave has gained increased attention recently, and more organisations around the world are starting to offer this specific paid time off to female employees. Is this needed in Southeast Asia also? And what are the potential benefits and costs to an organisation looking to offer it as part of their […]
Stricter foreign worker hiring policies to boost local hiring
Singapore Manpower Minister Tan See Leng says implementing stricter rules on hiring lower-skilled foreign workers will lead to increased recruitment of the local workforce. “One key finding of our internal studies on foreign workforce policies is that tightening access to lower-skilled foreign workers is more likely to have a positive impact on local employment outcomes […]
Philippines telco Smart Communications faces office shutdown
Smart Communications, one of the major telecommunications and internet providers in the Philippines, has had its main office shut down on February 27, 2023. The Makati City government, where the main office was located, issued a closure order against the company’s office, for allegedly operating without a business permit since 2019. “We assure the public […]
Five ways employers can empower women at work
CHIEF OF STAFF FIVE: Diversity and inclusion have become a clear business case for modern organisations. They are no longer seen as advocacies, but as imperative strands that every company must have or strive for, especially as formal regulations to promote the rights of disadvantaged groups become more widely used. In line with International Women’s […]
Paternity leave to be doubled from 2024
The Singapore government will extend the length of paternity leave available for working fathers. This will rise from two weeks to four weeks for eligible working fathers of Singaporean children, born from January 1 next year. “We want paternal involvement to be the norm in our society and we will stand behind all our fathers […]
Singapore tightens workplace safety and health measures
A crackdown on unsafe work practices has had little impact on accident statistics in Singapore, the country’s Ministry of Manpower has revealed. The “Heightened Safety Period” that had been in place since September last year, has been extended by a further three months. Under the temporary rules, companies face tighter enforcement measures against incidents and […]
Renewed government incentives for employing seniors
As a part of Singapore’s 2023 Action Plan for Successful Ageing, the Ministry of Manpower will be extending its Senior Employment Credit for a further two years. Those who employ senior Singaporeans (aged 60 and above), and provide them with up to $4,000 monthly wages, will be provided with wage offsets. This scheme was previously […]
Law amended to prevent abuse of SkillsFuture funding
SINGAPORE: Parliament has passed a law to deal with the abuse of SkillsFuture funding, including false or misleading advertisements about Government-funded courses. The amendment to the SkillsFuture Singapore Agency and Skills Development Levy Bills now provides that entering into or facilitating an abusive funding arrangement is now an offense. The definition of an abusive funding […]
New 45-hour work week not being followed by employers
Recent amendments to the Employment Act cut work hours to 45 from 48, however some companies are allegedly not following this new law. According to Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general, Kamarul Baharin Mansor, MTUC has been receiving complaints from workers about this matter. Kamarul said that employers might not have been prepared to follow […]
