NZ company must pay worker who caused $18k worth of mistakes (MSN)

A company that refused to pay an accountant whose work had cost the business NZD 30,000 (USD 18,347) has been ordered by a tribunal to hand over the man’s unpaid wages, reports MSN. The assistant accountant was hired through a recruitment firm in 2022 in a temporary position spanning approximately...

China's new youth-jobless rate met with scepticism (WSJ)

China has published a revised, lower youth-unemployment rate after having stopped publishing data in June when it stood at 21.3%, reports the Wall Street Journal. Chinese officials said they adjusted the way they calculate the rate to arrive at a more accurate figure, but economists are sceptical it...

Aussie employers ready to pay salary premium for in-demand skills

Employers across Australia are willing to pay a premium to new hires if it means securing the skills and expertise they require, according to research from Robert Half.

The research showed candidates may receive a salary offer of up to 31% more than market rates, depending on the skills, certifications...

Hong Kong’s jobless rate improves to 2.9% in December quarter

Hong Kong's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate improved to 2.9% in the period from October to December 2023, from 3.5% during the same period a year ago, according to the latest labour force statistics published by the Census and Statistics Department.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was...

Most Singapore professionals to consider a job change in 2024 (Yahoo Finance)

More than four in five professionals in Singapore (86%) are considering looking for a new job in 2024, reports Yahoo Finance, citing research from LinkedIn. Findings from the research showed that this figure was up 15% year-on-year compared to 2023, with 95% of Gen Zs and 88% of millennials in Singapore...

Majority of Japanese firms in Malaysia face labour shortage (Free Malaysia Today)

Approximately 64% of Japanese companies in Malaysia are grappling with worker shortages, reports Free Malaysia Today, citing a survey by the Japan External Trade Organization, which covered some 300 Japanese companies in Malaysia. These shortages affected companies in the manufacturing and retail sectors....

New Zealand job ads plummet 25%, steepest fall in ICT

New Zealand job ads fell by 25% in December 2023 when compared to December 2022, according to the latest Seek employment data.

National job ads were down 2% over the month while applications per job ad increased by 9% over the month.

By region, Taranaki saw the steepest annual fall (-41%), followed by...

Workplace watchdog urges compliance with Australia’s Closing Loopholes law

Employers and employees across Australia should educate themselves on the new Closing Loopholes workplace laws and make sure they are compliant, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) said.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said there were important changes to the Fair Work Act that have been made or will be made...

Malaysia to review migrant labour deals to stamp out exploitation (Reuters)

Malaysia will review bilateral agreements with 15 nations from which it sources workers in a bid to address exploitative practices and manpower imbalances that have left thousands of migrant workers stranded without jobs, reports Reuters, citing officials. Since last year, thousands of migrants, mostly...

Taiwan to address talent shortage through 2-year stay for foreign graduates (Bangkok Post)

Taiwan has followed Hong Kong in relaxing visa rules to allow foreign university students to stay longer after graduation to search for a job - a process that could hand the island as many as 200,000 new white-collar employees by 2032, reports The Bangkok Post. On New Year's Day, Taiwan extended the...