Japan’s temporary agency workers up 2.6% in May as seasonally adjusted jobless rate remains steady

The number of Japan’s non-regular employees, which includes temporary workers, dispatch workers, contractors, part-time workers and others, totalled 20.64 million in May 2023, down 0.1% when compared to the same period a year ago, according to data from Statistics Japan.

Data from Statistics Japan also...

Millions of Australians set to get pay rise tomorrow as national minimum wage increase kicks in

Australia’s national minimum wage will increase tomorrow, 1 July, as millions of workers are set to see a weekly pay increase.

The minimum wage will increase to AUD 23.23 (USD 15.38) per hour (up from AUD 21.38 (USD 14.16)) or AUD 882.80 (USD 584.63) per week (up AUD 70.20 (USD 46.49) from AUD 812.60...

Majority of Singaporean workers want to work for a company that supports DEI

Over half of Singaporeans (57%) consider it essential to work for an employer that is invested in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), according to research from Randstad Singapore. 

This sentiment is even stronger among the younger generations, with 2 in 3 Gen Z-ers expressing the same viewpoint....

Online recruitment in Malaysia rises 8% in May led by growth in hospitality and retail

Malaysia recorded 8% year-on-year growth in online recruitment activity in May 2023 when compared to the same month a year ago, according to the foundit Insights Tracker (fit), formerly published as Monster Employment Index (MEI).

The tracker’s index climbed from 73 in May 2022 to 79 in May 2023. Additionally,...

Vast majority of Australian employers plan to increase salaries in their next review, Hays finds

More employers across Australia are planning to increase salaries in their next review, according to research from Hays Australia.

The research showed 95% of employers plan to increase salaries in their next review, up from 88% last year and 67% the year before.

The majority, or two-thirds (66%) plan to...

New Zealand GDP slips 0.1% in March with business services driving the decline

Gross domestic product (GDP) in New Zealand fell 0.1% in the March 2023 quarter, following a 0.7% fall in the December 2022 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ.

The December 2022 and March 2023 quarter declines follow growth in the June and September 2022 quarters,” economic and environmental...

Indian companies award double-digit hikes despite tough start in 2023 (Business Standard)

Indian companies have awarded pay increments of more than 10% this year, The Economic Times (ET) has reported, citing research from Naukri.com. The research showed that employees in India received generous hikes despite a tough start in 2023 that saw large-scale layoffs. More than half, or 6 in 10 people,...

Fullcast Holdings acquires restaurant chain Globeat as it aims for expansion

Japan-based staffing firm Fullcast Holdings announced it acquired all shares of Globeat Co., Ltd., a restaurant chain.

The price of the transaction is approximately JPY 8.01 billion (USD 55.6 million). The deal was completed on 23 June 2023.

Globeat has been in business for 29 years and has 199 stores...

Taiwan’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate improves to 3.5% in May, employment growth led by services sector

Taiwan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Taiwan fell to 3.50% in May 2023, down from 3.73% in May 2022, according to data from the Directorate General of Budget Accounting and Statistics.

On a monthly basis, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also declined by 0.06% to 3.50 percent.

When...

Philippine recruitment agencies illegally charging women applicants medical and training fees (The Guardian)

Employment agencies and money-lending companies in the Philippines are cheating women applying for jobs abroad out of thousands of pounds by charging illegal fees paid with high-interest loans, The Guardian reports citing interviews and documents. Recruiters take applicants, usually women searching for...