Philippines – Asian Development Bank approves $500 million loan to boost the Philippines’ labour market recovery

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 500 million policy-based loan to help the Philippine government address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on jobs, livelihoods, and the labour market.

The loan will also help create an enabling environment for existing and emerging businesses to flourish...

India – Half of firms are leaning towards contract hiring amid mass layoffs (India Today)

Approximately 50% of Indian firms are leaning towards contract hiring due to the expected downward market slump amidst mass layoffs, reports India Today, citing research from Spectrum Talent Management. Businesses do not have the bandwidth to increase their fixed costs by hiring FTEs (full-time employees),...

Hong Kong – Hong Kong to pay 30% more for ESG jobs as companies fight for talent to meet sustainability targets (South China Morning Post)

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) jobs in Hong Kong could command salary premiums of more than 30% as companies strive to meet their sustainability targets and tackle climate change, reports The South China Morning Post, citing research from recruitment firms. According to Hays, with increasing...

India – TeamLease Services third quarter revenue rises 13.9% driven by General Staffing

TeamLease Services Ltd (TEAMLEASE:NSI) reported revenue from operations of INR 20.08 billion (USD 246.1 million) for the third quarter ended 31 December 2022, an increase of 13.9% compared to the same period last year.

Singapore – Sales, technical engineering and business development among fastest growing jobs: LinkedIn

Jobs in technical engineering, healthcare, and business development were among the top growing and in demand roles in Singapore, according to LinkedIn’s 2023 Jobs on the Rise data.

In its report, LinkedIn put together a list that included millions of jobs started between January 2018 to July 2022 from...

Australia – Super Retail Group taken to court for alleged underpayment of casual workers

Australia’s workplace watchdog the Fair Work Ombudsman is taking action against auto, sports and leisure company the Super Retail Group Limited for alleged underpayments of approximately AUD 1.14 million (USD 809,514).

The Ombudsman said the investigation included underpayments to full time, part-time,...

India – Ciel HR Services plans pre-IPO funding, targets Dec 2023 IPO (Times of India)

India-based staffing and HR solution firm Ciel HR Services said it is in the process of raising funding of approximately INR 2 billion (USD 24.5 million) that includes private placement of INR 240 million (USD 2.9 million) in preparation of its initial public offering planned during December 2023, reports...

New Zealand – Accordant to acquire executive search firm Hobson Leavy

Accordant (AGC:NZC), the New Zealand-based temporary staffing provider, agreed terms to acquire Auckland-based executive search firm Hobson Leavy.

The acquisition was funded from existing debt facilities and is expected to grow annual EBITDA in excess of NZD 2 million (USD 1.3 million). The price of the...

Taiwan – Seasonally adjusted jobless rate improves to 3.61% in December

Taiwan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.61% in December 2022, down from 3.72% in December 2021, according to data from the Directorate General of Budget Accounting and Statistics.

When compared to the previous month, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined by 0.03% to 3.61%...

Philippines – Supreme Court orders Lazada E-Services to reinstate, pay benefits of five riders dismissed in 2017 due to employment status (Manila Bulletin)

The Supreme Court of the Philippines has ordered Lazada E-Services Philippines, Inc., an online shopping firm, to pay the full back wages and other benefits of its five rider-employees who were hired in 2016 and dismissed in 2017, reports Manila Bulletin. The Court’s decision reiterated its 2014 ruling,...