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APAC Edition
15th March 2024
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THE HOT STORY
'First of its kind' benchmark developed to improve workplace wellbeing in Singapore
A new benchmark is being developed by local charity Workwell Leaders (WWL) to improve workplace wellbeing in Singapore and demonstrate its business value. The benchmark will track the impact of changes in workplace behaviours, workload, work design, team collaboration, and a sense of belonging on workers. WWL aims to identify best practices for local organisations to benchmark against, at no charge. The research study parameters are expected to be finalised by October, with the findings released by the end of 2024 or 2025. WWL chairperson Anthea Ong stated that this benchmark will be the first of its kind in the world. The target is to have 25% of employers in Singapore using the benchmark within three years of its launch. The benchmark development work group consists of 12 members, including government, business, and academic representatives. The initiative was announced at the 2024 Workwell Leaders Awards gala dinner, where President Tharman Shanmugaratnam emphasized the importance of addressing poor mental health in the workplace.
BACKGROUND SCREENING
eBook: Is background screening really worth it?

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WORKFORCE
Vietnamese citizens warned about overseas job scams
The Foreign Ministry of Vietnam has issued a warning to Vietnamese citizens about job offers abroad that promise high pay and easy work without qualifications, labour contracts, mediators, or labour agencies. The warning comes in response to cases of Vietnamese nationals being detained for involvement in gambling activities. More than 100 Vietnamese nationals were recently detained in Cambodia for working illegally at an online scam gambling centre. In Thailand, 18 Vietnamese nationals were arrested for organising or participating in games or scams related to gambling. The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand is working to identify and assist those detained. The Foreign Ministry urges Vietnamese citizens to be cautious and properly research job offers before going overseas. The ministry also advises citizens not to travel to conflict areas and to especially monitor the situation in Haiti, where violence has escalated rapidly. The Vietnamese Embassy in Haiti is implementing measures to protect citizens and provide updates on the situation.
LEGAL
Gender pay gap in Singapore narrows to 14.3% in 2023
The median income for women working in Singapore was 14.3% less than that for men in 2023, according to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). This is a narrower gap compared to the 16.3% difference in 2018. Singapore's gender pay gap is slightly worse than the average across OECD countries, which was 12.1% in 2022. However, Singapore performed better than countries like the United States, Britain, and Japan. The key factor influencing the pay gap is the difference in occupation between men and women. From 2018 to 2023, the gender pay gap narrowed as the occupational profile of females improved more than that of men. Other factors contributing to the pay gap include differences in industries and weekly working hours. Singapore's adjusted gender pay gap in 2023, after removing the effects of occupation and other factors, was 6%. The remaining pay gap could reflect the effects of parenthood, caregiving responsibilities, unmeasured employment characteristics, and discrimination. Singapore has made progress in closing the gender pay gap, but more can be done to tackle gender bias at work. Employers can disclose pay structures, provide training on unconscious biases, and create mentorship and allyship programs to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Tabcorp shares drop 7% after CEO resigns over offensive language
Shares in Australia's Tabcorp Holdings fell over 7% after CEO Adam Rytenskild resigned following his use of "offensive" and "inappropriate" language in the workplace. The wagering firm's board said it considered the language inconsistent with Rytenskild's leadership, leading to his immediate resignation. Rytenskild, who served with the company for over two decades, denied making the alleged comments but agreed to step down. Chairman Bruce Akhurst will take on the role of executive chairman, while Maritana Partners will conduct a global search for a new managing director and CEO. Tabcorp Holdings' shares dropped to A$0.71, marking their worst week since March 2020.
Japanese high court rules that denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
A Japanese high court has ruled that denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and has called for urgent government action to address the lack of any law allowing for such unions. The court does not have the power to overturn the current marriage law, but the ruling highlights the violation of same-sex couples' fundamental right to have a family. Government offices may continue to deny marriage status to same-sex couples unless the existing law is revised or a new law is enacted. This ruling is seen as a partial victory for Japan's LGBTQ+ community, which has  been advocating for equal marriage rights.
HIRING
Hong Kong companies expect fewer hires and more job cuts
Only a quarter of companies in Hong Kong expect to add staff this year, compared with 37% last year, while 16% expect to reduce headcount, according to a KPMG survey. The overall hiring sentiment in Hong Kong is low, with the real estate and financial services sectors being the most affected. However, the innovation and technology sector remains buoyant. The proportion of job changes reached a three-year low in 2023, indicating challenges in matching talent with job positions.
TECHNOLOGY
U.S. Senator calls on Microsoft to pull Bing search engine from China
U.S. Senator Mark Warner has called on Microsoft to consider removing its Bing search engine from China after an investigation revealed that the platform was censoring information on human rights and democracy to comply with China's ruling Communist Party. Warner stated that U.S. companies should not facilitate Chinese censorship and urged Bing to follow the example of other U.S. companies that have pulled out of China due to human rights abuses. Microsoft defended its presence in China, claiming that Bing is the least censored search engine in the country. However, critics argue that Microsoft's compliance with Chinese censorship undermines its commitment to democracy and freedom of speech. Bing is currently the only Western search engine accessible in China, but it restricts access to information on human rights and democracy. Chinese citizens can only access such information using virtual private networks (VPNs).
RISK
Hong Kong traders may get another year of typhoon days off
Traders in Hong Kong may get another year of typhoon days off as the government considers backpedaling on its plans to allow trading to continue normally during storms. The Hong Kong exchange had previously announced that uninterrupted trading would begin in July, but a revised plan is now expected to be announced midyear. The delay in implementing the new rules could push them back until next year. The government's decision to prolong the complex and antiquated rules has raised concerns about Hong Kong's status as Asia's premier financial centre. Many small securities firms argue that they cannot afford to upgrade their computer and phone networks to allow for continuing operations during severe weather.
INTERNATIONAL
UK air traffic control chaos prolonged by remote working, review finds
Air travel chaos last August that caused delays for more than 700,000 passengers was fuelled by a "lack of planning" and engineers working from home, according to an independent report  commissioned by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Engineers working remotely took 90 minutes to arrive and restart a crucial part of UK air traffic control’s IT system during the August bank holiday meltdown, the report said. Flights were disrupted after planes were grounded across UK airports on 28 August, when the computerised flight planning system at National Air Traffic Services (Nats) shut down due to a glitch. An independent panel highlighted a “significant lack of pre-planning” at Nats, without “any multi-agency rehearsal of the management of an incident of this nature and scale.” This, the panel said, is the sort of dry run that is a regular feature of planning in other sectors. Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, which represents UK-registered carriers, said the report contains "damning evidence that Nats' basic resilience planning and procedures were wholly inadequate and fell well below the standard that should be expected for national infrastructure of this importance."
French court finds Adecco guilty of racial profiling and discrimination
A French court has found temporary staffing firm Adecco guilty of racial profiling and discrimination between 1997 and 2001 at its agency in Paris. The court ruled that Adecco and two former agency managers allocated a discriminatory category code to over 500 workers of colour. Adecco has implemented anti-discrimination policies in recent years to prevent such situations. The court fined Adecco €50,000 and the former managers were each fined €10,000. Adecco and the managers must also pay damages to the victims and organisations involved in the lawsuit. The founder of a French anti-discrimination group welcomed the ruling but expressed disappointment with the level of fines. It is uncommon for companies in France to be found guilty of discrimination in criminal court cases. 
Tata Steel scraps plan to cut 800 jobs in the Netherlands
Tata Steel has abandoned its plan to cut 800 jobs in the Netherlands, according to trade union FNV. All employees at risk of layoffs will remain employed by Tata Steel, although some may have to move to different positions within the company. The initial plan to cut jobs in the human resources, finance, and purchasing departments has been revised, and the company says it is now adhering to the collective bargaining agreement and the employment pact. Tata Steel will inform affected employees this week that their jobs are safe, although some may be offered alternative positions within their departments. FNV director Cihan Lacin criticised the company for precipitating unrest and advised Tata Steel to work hard to regain the trust of its employees.
Harassment remains taboo for female workers in Jordan
Last December, Jordan amended its labour laws to offer women greater protection against harassment in the workplace. However, despite the high prevalence of harassment affecting nearly 50% of women, prosecutions remain scarce due to victims' fear of reprisals. This France 24 video explores the issue.
OTHER
Technical issues hit McDonald's restaurants in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and UK
Customers of McDonald's in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and the UK faced technical issues on Friday as the fast-food giant experienced system disruptions. In Japan, many McDonald's shops stopped taking in-person and mobile orders, while in Hong Kong, the computer system failure affected mobile ordering and self-ordering kiosks. A company spokesperson confirmed the outage in Japan and stated that efforts were being made to restore operations. "We are aware of a technology outage, which impacted our restaurants; the issue is now being resolved," McDonald's said in a statement.
India could bring in stricter rules for health supplements
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is working on making regulations for nutraceuticals and health supplements more stringent after it found many non-compliant products in the market. "The popularity of these products has increased manifold as consumers have become more health conscious", said a senior FSSAI official. "We want to make the standards more stringent for the safety of consumers". The authority had received several complaints about many non-compliant health supplements being sold in the market, according to the official, after which it conducted a drive across the country to check nutraceuticals and health supplements for quality and safety throughout their manufacturing and sale process.
 


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