Asia Pacific – Employees face salary and work-life balance difficulties: Hays

As employers across the Asia Pacific region implemented cost-cutting solutions to counter pandemic-related revenue shortfalls, finances have become prominent in the minds of employees. However, according to Hays, employees are not confident that they will see salary packages augmented in 2021, with 28%...

Japan – Policymakers step up calls for higher minimum wage to boost economy (Reuters)

Japanese policymakers are stepping up calls to raise the country’s minimum wage as part of a strategy to ensure households can boost consumption and revitalise the economy when Covid-19 curbs are removed and vaccines are rolled out, reports Reuters. Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Wednesday it was...

India – Most businesses considering a flexible work model through video conferencing solutions (LiveMint)

A majority of Indian businesses, 87%, are considering a flexible work model through video conferencing solutions, reports LiveMint, citing survey data from Boston Consulting Group and video conferencing programme Zoom. The survey focused on industries which were able to pivot their business processes...

Singapore – Adaptive skills increasingly critical in helping businesses work remotely, survey finds

As Singapore’s job market evolves to adapt to the impact of Covid-19 on the workplace, more employers require workers to adaptive skills as well as digital skills that enable them to work remotely in new environments.

The NTUC (National Trades Union Congress) LearningHub's Employer Skills Survey report...

India – Indian Staffing Federation discusses Budget 2021 and its impact on gig economy workers

Staffing Industry Analysts’ reporter Danny Romero interviews Lohit Bhatia, President of the Indian Staffing Federation.

In the interview, Bhatia talks about the recent Budget 2021 announcement in which a measure was proposed to provide social security benefits for gig economy workers. Bhatia also speaks...

South Korea – Most Koreans are pessimistic about the jobs market this year (The Korea Herald)

More than half of South Koreans believe that the nation’s labour market will further deteriorate this year, compared with the conditions before the Covid-19 pandemic, reports The Korea Herald citing data from think tank the Korea Economic Research Institute. The data showed that 77% of Koreans believe...

Singapore – Movement restrictions on migrant workers to be eased progressively (Straits Times)

Plans to relax restrictions on the movements of migrant workers will be implemented progressively, when more of the workers have been vaccinated and infection rates remain under control, reports the Straits Times, citing a statement from multi-ministry task force co-chair Lawrence Wong. He was responding...

Singapore – K2 Partnering Solutions acquires recruitment firm Astbury Marsden APAC

K2 Partnering Solutions, a UK-based consultative technology solutions firm, announced the acquisition of Astbury Marsden APAC PTE LTD.

Astbury Marsden APAC is a Singapore-based international recruitment firm that specialises in technology, transformation, governance and technical services.

The acquisition...

Singapore – Government appoints Adecco Singapore as first SGUnited Jobs and Skills Placement Partner

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) have appointed Adecco Personnel Pte Ltd (Adecco Singapore), as the first SGUnited Jobs and Skills Placement Partner.

The SGUnited Jobs and Skills Placement Partners initiative complements the government’s existing job matching efforts and...

India – Hiring outlook remains strong for next six months, IT roles see highest demand

More than half, or 51%, of recruiters in India indicated both new and replacement hiring in their organisations, according to a report from Naukri.

The report showed that appetite for hiring is up, as 32% of recruiters confirmed they would be hiring for new jobs.

Naukri’s Hiring Outlook is a bi-annual...