Nearly half of workers do not feel their workplace is disability-friendly

Almost half of workers globally (47%) do not feel their workplace is adequately prepared to accommodate persons with disabilities, according to a survey by Hays.

On the other hand 41% from the poll feel as though their workplace is ready to accommodate persons with disabilities.

Hays data also indicates...

Japan's major union reps set to seek minimum 5% pay rise in 2024 (Reuters)

Japan's largest union, Rengo, will ask for a pay increase of at least 5% at next year's spring wage negotiations to help workers overcome rising living costs in the face of inflation, Reuters reports, citing a union representative. Japanese firms are under pressure from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's...

Number of 'spot workers' surges in Japan amid labour shortage (The Japan Times)

The ranks of ‘spot workers’, who engage in work during their free time, balancing it with their primary jobs and household responsibilities, are increasing rapidly in Japan, reports The Japan Times, citing the Japan Spot Work Association. The work style has gained popularity due to the flexibility...

Number of temporary agency workers in Japan up 1.1% in October, unemployment rate improves to 2.5%

The number of Japan's non-regular employees, including temporary workers, dispatch workers, contractors, part-time workers, and others, totalled 21.40 million in October 2023. This is up by 1.1% compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Statistics Japan.

The number of 'dispatched...

Taiwan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate lowers to 3.41% in October

Taiwan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.41% in October 2023, down from 3.64% in October 2022, according to data from the Directorate General of Budget Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, compared with the previous year, the unemployment rate declined...

New Zealand’s filled jobs growth boosted by election

Filled jobs across New Zealand rose by 13,046 when seasonally adjusted in October 2023 compared to September 2023, according to figures released by Statistics New Zealand.

A filled job is defined as a continuing employer-employee relationship. Statistics New Zealand calculates filled jobs by averaging...

Ciel Group appoints HDFC Bank and Ambit Capital as IPO lead managers (Hindu Business Line)

India-based IPO-bound staffing firm Ciel has appointed HDFC Bank and Ambit Capital as the Book Running Lead Managers (BRLM), the Ciel Group’s Executive Chairperson K Pandiarajan, told the Hindu Business Line. BRLMs, or merchant bankers, take a company through the entire IPO process, creating marketing...

Australia’s privatised employment services system ‘has failed’, says parliament

Australia’s employment services system needs large scale reform to fundamentally rebuild, according to a parliamentary review by the government.  

The John Howard government privatised employment services by nearly 25 years ago. 

“It should not be controversial to state that full privatisation...

Singapore’s labour market resilient despite economic headwinds

Singapore’s resident employment rate for residents aged 15 and over declined to 66.2% in 2023 from 2022’s historical high of 67.5% amid an exceptionally tight labour market, according to the latest labour market release by the Ministry of Manpower in Singapore.  

In 2023, the unemployment...

Australian employers don’t plan to offer above-inflation pay rises (news.com.au)

Most Australians have been warned they should not expect an above-inflation pay rises in 2024, reports news.com.au, citing research from Robert Walters Australia. The study shows 58% of bosses said they were not expecting to offer salary increases above 5.4%, the current inflation rate. That means employees...