The latest business Intelligence for HR professionals and people managers everywhere
Sign UpOnline Version
APAC Edition
23rd July 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
China to gradually raise retirement age to relieve pressure on pension budgets
China will gradually raise its statutory retirement age to relieve pressure on pension budgets. The reform is seen as urgent as life expectancy in China has risen to 78 years and is projected to exceed 80 years by 2050. The retirement age is currently 60 for men - five to six years below that in most developed economies - and 55 for women in white-collar work. The reforms are expected to be completed by 2029. National health authorities predict that the number of people aged 60 and older will rise from 280 million to over 400 million by 2035.  "In line with the principle of voluntary participation with appropriate flexibility, we will advance reform to gradually raise the statutory retirement age in a prudent and orderly manner," Chinese authorities said. Michael Herrmann, a senior adviser at the United Nations Development Population Fund, said that most countries have increased retirement ages in response to demographic pressures in order to safeguard pension funds and decelerate a potential shrinking of the workforce. "It's a standard policy instrument and doing that gradually makes a lot of sense. It's important that we do this in a flexible manner," he said, adding that workers should have the option to work part-time or from home, or to be employed on a project basis.
LEGAL
Men on flexi-work are more likely than women to feel overlooked for promotions, survey says
Men who have taken up flexible-work arrangements are more likely than women to feel they have been overlooked for promotions, according to a new survey by SG Her Empowerment. The survey found that 36% of men on flexi-work reported experiencing this feeling, compared to 27% of women. The survey, conducted in collaboration with market research firm Milieu Insight, polled 1,200 Singapore resident workers, including 510 business leaders. The findings also revealed that 31% of business leaders who offered flexi-work said that one negative effect was unfair allocation of development and advancement opportunities. The survey report also highlights the deeply ingrained gender mindsets that impact norms, behaviours, and choices at work, which can disadvantage women who use flexible work policies. The report also suggested ways for employers to adopt flexi-work arrangements as the norm, such as shifting to outcomes-based performance appraisals and checking in with subordinates more frequently throughout the year.
China's Communist Party eyes cross-border bribery law to fill anti-corruption gaps
Top leadership in China is calling for legislation to help Beijing pursue corrupt officials and economic criminals who have fled overseas. Communist Party Central Committee member Shen Chunyao has stated that enacting the cross-border bribery law is among the "important legislative tasks" outlined in a soon-to-be-released document following the third plenum. Shen emphasized the importance of such legislation in cracking down on corruption and maintaining the integrity of the Chinese government. "We must strengthen international cooperation and establish a mechanism for the repatriation of corrupt officials and economic criminals," he said. 
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Singapore celebrates Racial Harmony Day with migrant workers
Singapore has held its first Racial Harmony Day celebration for migrant workers. The event, organized by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), included an interfaith dialogue where participants discussed beliefs, rituals, and life stages across cultures. Over 1,200 migrant workers attended the event, supported by MOM's Assurance, Care and Engagement (ACE) Group and the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO). Cultural performances, including kabaddi and ethnic outfit displays, showcased the diversity of countries including India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. ACE chief executive Tung Yui Fai said the first of two objectives of the event was to help the migrant workers understand what it is like living in Singapore. “The other objective is to allow our community, including our Singaporeans and other people living in Singapore, to also appreciate our migrant workers – who they are, what their preferences are . . . Through this sharing and through this coming together, we hope that we can build a more harmonious society, a more harmonious place for our migrant workers to work in.”
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
India's education and skill-development schemes must bridge skill gap, Economic Survey says
India's flagship education and skill-development schemes need to ensure that youngsters are equipped with employable skills and prepared to meet industry requirements, according to the Economic Survey for 2023-24. The survey emphasizes the importance of bridging the skill gap between the education and labour markets in order to meet the changing demands of the workplace. The National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Policy on Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (NPSDE) are highlighted as key initiatives in achieving educational outcomes and preparing the youth in India for the knowledge economy. The survey also noted the increased participation of women in skill development schemes over the past eight years. 
HIRING
Experts call for more support for high-end talent in Hong Kong
Experts have called on local authorities in Hong Kong to provide more support for incoming high-end talent, including assistance with setting up businesses and settling families. The city has implemented various policies to attract international talent, such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme, which has received over 85,000 applications since its launch in 2022. However, experts argue that the criteria for the scheme should be reviewed to attract truly high-end talent. They also suggest tightening requirements for younger talent and diversifying the talent profile. Lawmakers and experts recommend encouraging a wider variety of companies to set up or expand their operations in Hong Kong to create more high-paying jobs. They also emphasize the need for better support measures for business starters and the establishment of a one-stop service for businesses of all sizes. The government says it is reviewing its talent admission schemes and vows to address the city's staffing demands.
REMUNERATION
MUFG cuts executives' pay after 'firewall' breaches
Japan's largest banking group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), will be reducing the pay of six executives due to a breach of "firewall" regulations at its banking and securities arms. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) ordered MUFG's banking and securities units to submit business improvement plans in June following the breach. Group CEO Hironori Kamezawa and five other executives will have their monthly salaries cut by 30% for a period of two to five months. Additionally, four former directors at the banking unit and one at the securities arm will be required to return between 10% and 30% of three months' worth of salary. The breach involved the sharing of confidential client information between MUFG Bank and one of the group's securities tie-ups with Morgan Stanley.
INTERNATIONAL
The critical importance of civility in the workplace
Writing for U.S. News & World Report, Johnny C. Taylor Jr., the president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), says being polite and civil in the workplace is a strategic business imperative. A May 2024 poll by SHRM found that 58% of Americans believe US society to be uncivil, and US workers collectively face 171 million uncivil acts in the workplace every day. After the June 27 debate between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, a new SHRM survey found that the figure had increased to 201 million such acts. “Employers should foster an atmosphere of open communication and respectful discourse, but should avoid taking sides on issues. This isn't about being a Republican, a Democrat or something else. This is about being open to discussion and discourse. Civility can – and must – exist even when we disagree,”  Taylor writes.
UK council worker loses unfair dismissal claim over pronoun policy
A council worker in the UK has lost his claim for unfair dismissal after suing his employer, East Riding of Yorkshire council, over its pronoun policy. James Orwin refused to add pronouns to his email signature, instead changing it to "XYchromosomeGuy/AdultHumanMale" in protest. He argued that the policy was a "political position" which the council had no mandate to adopt. Orwin was suspended and subsequently sacked for refusing to remove the addition to his email signature. The employment tribunal rejected Orwin's claim of discrimination but acknowledged that gender-critical opinions were a protected "philosophical belief." The judge stated that the council's implementation of the policy was poorly executed but necessary to comply with equality duties.
Ukraine confronts labour shortage as need for soldiers drains workforce
Ukraine faces a critical labour shortage amid the ongoing war with Russia. Many Ukrainians have left the country to escape the conflict, while hundreds of thousands of men have joined the military, leaving behind many job vacancies. This shortage of workers is putting a strain on Ukraine's economy and means businesses are raising wages to compete for talent. Some industries are hiring women for roles that were previously reserved for men. The labour shortage is expected to worsen as Kyiv ramps up its mobilisation efforts, and the impact on economic growth could be significant, with projections suggesting a reduction of about 0.5%.
OTHER
Dogs can sniff out human stress levels, study finds
Dogs have the ability to detect whether a human is stressed or relaxed, according to new research from the University of Bristol in the UK. The study found that even the odour of a stressed, unfamiliar human can affect a dog's emotional state, perception of rewards, and ability to learn. The researchers trained dogs to associate the presence of food with a specific location, and found that when the dogs were exposed to sweat and breath samples from stressed humans, they were less eager to approach an ambiguous bowl, indicating a more pessimistic attitude. However, this effect was not seen when the dogs were exposed to samples from relaxed humans. The findings could have implications for the well-being of dogs in kennels and in training roles. "Understanding how human stress affects dogs' well-being is an important consideration," observed study author Dr. Nicola Rooney. The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
 


The Human Times is designed to help you stay ahead, spark ideas and support innovation, learning and development in your organisation.

The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in the Human Times, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on Twitter.
Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe