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APAC Edition
5th August 2024
 
THE HOT STORY
South Korean firms tell managers to work six days a week
Labour laws in South Korea cap working hours to 52 a week - 40 standard hours with up to 12 for overtime - and the weekends are largely considered to be off limits. But over the past few months, some South Korean companies have told executives to work longer hours as a response to a downturn in business, in some cases instructing them to come to the office six days a week. “It's a signal that in South Korea, working six days a week is still acceptable,” observes Kim Seol, a representative of the Youth Community Union, a labour group that represents workers between the ages of 15 and 39 - a demographic which is mindful of work-life balance in a way their parents or grandparents were not. Companies citing a temporary crisis or emergency are taking a position that is mostly for show, labour groups say. “There is a cultural mindset here that the longer someone works, the better the outcome,” said Lee Sang Yoon, a policy deputy director at the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, one of the largest labour groups in the nation. “This is outdated.”
WORKFORCE
Bringing tech workers to Hong Kong is not an option, Vietnamese IT outsourcing firm says
Vietnamese IT outsourcing firm NTQ Apac says it has decided not to import staff from Vietnam for its IT operation in Hong Kong due to high local living costs and language barriers. The company discussed the possibility with its Hong Kong clients but ultimately ruled it out. Vietnamese tech workers can now obtain work visas through Hong Kong's talent schemes, but NTQ Apac has chosen not to take advantage of this. NTQ Apac CEO Johnny Chong cited cultural differences as a bigger problem, saying that Vietnamese workers may not have a good understanding of Hong Kong culture.
Foreign construction workers drive rise in employment claims in Singapore
More salary claims by foreign construction workers drove a rise in employment claims in Singapore last year, according to government figures. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) reported a total of 9,397 employment claims and appeals in 2023, with more than half made by foreign employees. Salary claims accounted for 86.5% of these claims. The incidence of salary claims rose to 3.91 per 1,000 foreign employees in 2023, up from 2.53 in the previous year. Among local employees, the incidence of salary claims rose to 1.32 per 1,000 local employees in 2023. Other employment claims included wrongful dismissal and retirement-related dismissal. The overall incidence of employment claims rose to 2.53 per 1,000 employees in 2023.
LEGAL
Male share of employees in Korea taking child care leave surpasses 30% for the first time
Men accounted for one-third of employees who took child care leave in the first half of this year, marking the first time the male proportion has surpassed 30%, labour data showed Sunday. A total of 69,631 employees received their first child care leave allowance from the national employment insurance program during the January-June period, marking an increase of 3.2% compared to the same period last year. Of them, men accounted for 22,460 employees, representing a 15.7% increase from the same period last year, while women numbered 47,171, marking a 1.8% decline. The change increased the male proportion to 32.3%, or nearly one in three employees on child care leave, marking the first time the male share has surpassed the 30% threshold. In the first half of this year, male workers on child care leave in large companies with 1,000 or more employees made up 43.5%, while the corresponding proportion was 22.7% in small firms with fewer than 100 employees. The increase in child care leave among male workers is widely attributed to this year's expansion of the national allowance for couples taking child care leave at the same time.
HIRING
Gulf employers don't hire Pakistani workers due to 'deplorable standards'
The senate standing committee on overseas Pakistanis, chaired by Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, has been informed that employers in the Gulf region prefer hiring workers from Bangladesh rather than Pakistan due to the allegedly "deplorable standards" of Pakistani labour. Secretary of the ministry of overseas Pakistanis and human resource development, Arshad Mahmood, highlighted issues such as high crime rates and inappropriate behaviour among Pakistani workers in the UAE, and a general lack of skills among the workforce. He also mentioned concerns raised by the governments of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait regarding overseas Pakistanis. The Pakistani diaspora consists of 10.7 million individuals, primarily employed in Saudi Arabia, UAE, the US, UK, and Canada. Mahmood said: "A lack of resources and skill development among Pakistani workers has led to their replacement by workers from other countries." He highlighted the need for major improvements in skill development to ensure that Pakistani workers remain competitive in the global labour market.
CORPORATE
Temu’s supply chain under scrutiny as mainland sellers protest
Hundreds of mainland Chinese exporters staged a protest last week against Temu at its office in Guangzhou, alleging unreasonable policies by the platform. According to multiple merchants on Temu, the terms between the platform and its suppliers have put them at a disadvantage. Many of these merchants complained about Temu’s “opaque” system of slapping fines on sellers, while offering few channels for relief. At Temu’s discretion, the amount of fines can cost a merchant up to five times the price of a product that is subject of a complaint. Each product is given a “quality score” by the platform. The lower the score, the higher the fines for after-sales issues, up to five times the amount, according to a document provided by Temu merchants. One Shenzhen-based smartphone seller said their business incurred losses of about US$80,000, including fines and withheld funds. 
WORKPLACE
‘Gone are the days of taking a phone call in the open’: why office pods are everywhere
Snug and soundproofed private office booths are part of a design shift helping employers make offices more attractive to a broader range of workers. They are "proving an unlikely hit."
INTERNATIONAL
Corporate America prepares for whiplash on diversity in the workplace
Corporate America is preparing for a potential shift in diversity policies: the upcoming election could bring changes to the current supportive environment. While Joe Biden repealed Donald Trump's executive order restricting diversity initiatives, a second Trump administration could reinstate it, putting pressure on companies. Many businesses have already become cautious about promoting their diversity programs publicly due to legal attacks and criticism. A Trump administration could use various levers of power to influence corporate policy, including anti-DEI rules for federal contractors. However, despite the potential backlash, a majority of Americans still support diversity programs. Kamala Harris is expected to continue the Biden administration's agenda on diversity, avoiding being labeled as too liberal. Younger employees, in particular, value diversity in the workplace. Regardless of the election outcome, companies are advised to carefully consider their diversity policies and not simply change them for political reasons.
BP to help staff escape abusive relationships
UK-based staff at oil giant BP are to be offered free accommodation and legal advice to help them escape abusive relationships. The new policy comes amid concerns that those who work from home may lack a safe space to get away from their partner. BP is also offering 10 days extra paid leave for appointments related to court applications or meetings with lawyers. BP has been advised on its new anti-abuse policies by the Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse (EIDA). Susan Bright, who runs EIDA, said: “One in five people in our country experience domestic abuse and, for many, work may be their only safe space. A supportive employer can change and save lives.”
OTHER
Beijing introduces multi-purpose card for international visitors
Beijing has introduced the Beijing Pass, a multi-purpose card for international visitors. The card allows visitors to make payments for transportation, tourist sites, and shopping centres. It supports card payments for the Beijing Subway, suburban railways, and taxis within Beijing, as well as public transportation in over 300 cities across China. Visitors can also use the card to purchase tickets for popular tourist attractions in Beijing. The Beijing Pass can be purchased or refunded at various locations in Beijing, including airports and railway stations. Cardholders can top up their Beijing Pass at subway stations or online. Beijing Municipal Administration & Communication Card Co Ltd, the issuer of the card, plans to expand its functions and usage scenarios in the future. Similar measures have been implemented in other cities across China to ensure a smooth travel experience for international visitors.
 


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