Singapore – Over 1,200 layoffs reported from tech firms from July to November (The Straits Times)

Technology firms here reported 1,270 layoffs of resident workers from July to mid-November, reports The Straits Times, citing a statement by Manpower Minister Tan See Leng. The 1,270 figure is almost five times the 260 resident workers, comprising Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs,), laid off...

China - Protesting iPhone workers beaten by police

Videos have emerged of police officers in protective hazmat suits and armed with riot gear kicking and hitting staff at the Foxconn plant in Zhengzhou.

The disturbance is the latest development in a history of worker unrest at Foxconn, the biggest contract assembler of smartphones and other electronics...

Australia - Sapia.ai closes $17m Series A Funding

Melbourne-based recruitment platform Sapia.ai has closed a $17 million Series A funding round led by Macquarie Capital and W23.

Sapia.ai’s capital injection comes eight months after it raised $7 million in a funding round backed by global recruitment firm Hudson, Yarra Capital Management chair Dion...

APAC – Singapore leads region in hybrid work arrangements

Singapore has emerged as one of the "strongest champions" of hybrid work arrangements across the Asia Pacific region, according to a new report that sheds light on the uneven implementation of hybrid work arrangements in the region.

The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) published a new report,...

Australia – Food manufacturing workers in Victoria strike over pay and use of labour-hire workers

Around 50 food manufacturing workers have begun an indefinite strike on Monday at the Pampas Pastry Factory in Victoria. The workers have chosen to strike after rejecting a pay increase of 4% per annum.

The UWU (United Workers Union), responsible for negotiating a new deal have called for “about $1.60...

Japan – Influx of tourists leaves hotels and taxis struggling to find staff

In early October, Japan reopened its borders to overseas visitors, lifting some of the strictest pandemic border controls in the world. With the removal of a 50,000 daily cap on arrivals, the reinstatement of waivers for short-term visas and dropping rules requiring tourists to visit as part of group...

Singapore - Platform workers to receive savings and injury insurance in line with employees

Platform workers in Singapore are to receive the same levels of work injury insurance and contributions as employees to the national Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings scheme after the Government accepted all 12 recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Platform Workers. Platform workers will...

Japan – Number of Temporary Agency Workers up 7.2% in September

Japan’s non-regular employees, which includes temporary workers, dispatch workers, contractors, part-time workers and others, totalled 21.33 million in September 2022, up 3.6% when compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Statistics Japan.

The number of ‘dispatched workers from...

India - Monster reinvents Itself as foundit in APAC & Middle East

Monster yesterday announced that it has transformed to a “full-fledged talent management platform” and, with immediate effect will be known as 'foundit'.

In 2018, Quess Corp acquired Monster Worldwide's APAC & ME businesses as a strategic investment to strengthen its HR services portfolio, and...

Australia - Reserve Bank governor calls on government to maintain flexible hiring and firing

Reserve Bank governor Phillip Lowe has urged Australia's labour government to preserve the ability of employers to hire and fire workers flexibly. His comments come at a time when the Australian government is attempting to implement widespread workplace reforms.

In a speech at the Annual Dinner for the...