News Recap
News Recap - 28 Nov to 04 Dec
04 Dec 2020
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News relevant to the Process Industry
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Ref No: 041220 (3)
UEN: S97SS0046G
Dear Valued ASPRI Member,
News Recap - 28 Nov to 04 Dec
Key highlights from last week's news on Sustainability, Business, Human Resources and Workplace Safety below.
SUSTAINABILITY
1/1: Foreigners still needed in clean energy manual roles
Even with a change in the energy sector's skill needs and job scopes, the reliance on foreign workers to fill low-wage, manual roles is unlikely to change in the near term.
Mr Charles Quek, President of ASPRI's 13th Executive Council told The Business Times the use of such foreign labour will likely stay high. Among ASPRI's 543 member companies, Mr Quek estimates 15% of workers are S Pass Holders and 50% - 60% are Work Permit Holders.
>> Read more
BUSINESS
1/2: Singapore an ideal hub to steer growth in Asia
The "open mindset" and dynamism of Asia are key draws for specialty chemical company Evonik, and Singapore, with its robust intellectual property regime, is the perfect gateway to the region.
Asked about future plans, Ms Qi says: "At this point, we cannot say when we are going to open our next facility here in Singapore. However, our large footprint in Singapore shows our commitment that Evonik is here to stay. We have strategic and long-term growth plans in Asia. Singapore is definitely a very important part of that strategy, as its position as a hub steers this growth."
>> Read more
2/2: Reminder to e-File Corporate Income Tax Returns for YA 2020 by 15 Dec 2020
The deadline for e-Filing your company’s Corporate Income Tax Return (Form C-S/ C) for Year of Assessment (YA) 2020 is 15 Dec and it is fast approaching. This submission applies to all companies, including those that did not carry on business or have incurred a loss. Paper submissions of Form C-S/ C will not be accepted
Log in to mytax.iras.gov.sg using CorpPass to e-File your company’s Corporate Income Tax Return today.
>> Read more
HUMAN RESOURCE
1/3: Non-PMETs hit harder by unemployment than PMETs during COVID-19 pandemic
Resident unemployment rate among non-PMETs increased by 1.7% points from 4.7% in June 2019 to 6.4% in June 2020.
The country would have to work with economic agencies to make sure economic activities are brought into Singapore, said Mrs Josephine Teo. She added that the authorities would focus on training and plugging skills gaps, with COVID-19 having displaced many workers whose jobs may never return.
>> Read more
2/3: Reading beyond the written resumes
Research has shown that hiring managers spend only 7 seconds to review a candidate’s CV. Experts from Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Practices (TAFEP) shared some useful tips on what to look out for in a resume and how to improve your selection process:
Use a set of agreed objective criteria to assess candidates
Uncover hidden gems by re-visiting CVs that don’t meet your requirements at first glance
Employers should not ignore candidates who may not fully meet the requirements for the current position; consider them for other openings available and keep the CVs for future vacancies.
Clarify when in doubt by conducting a simple phone interview to obtain important and pertinent information
Look beyond keywords on the resumes
Be accommodating and focus on the skills, experience and ability of the candidate.
Ensure diversity when finalising the list
>> Read more
3/3: The hidden causes of employee turnover: Mental health and burnout
Employers need to talk about employee care. No, not the trendy new perks or menu of benefits that you introduced last year, but the fact that today’s workplace is an always-on environment that extends beyond the physical office. In such an environment, when you ask more of them or push them harder, they’ll need additional support to maintain their personal wellbeing and levels of performance you are asking them to achieve.
A survey, titled 2020 Employee Care Report, cited academic studies which reflect that top causes of unwanted turnover include a low-quality supervisor relationship, poor team morale, lack of tangible rewards, lack of growth opportunities, and lack of autonomy - all of which link back to poor emotional wellbeing.
>> Read more
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH (WSH)
1/1: Accident Advisories
With the increase in accidents, ASPRI would like to gently remind members to periodically review risk controls put in place to protect workers.
Worker struck by fallen steel beam
On 11 October 2020, a worker was adjusting the lashings used to secure steel beams on the bed of a lorry loader when the lashings loosened and one of the beams fell onto him. The worker was pronounced dead at the scene by attending paramedics.
>> Read more
Worker fell from height in a warehouse
On 1 December 2020, two workers were packing goods in a warehouse when one worker heard a loud thud and found the other lying on the ground facing up. The injured worker was conveyed to the hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
>> Read more
Fatal accident during machine repair
On 2 December 2020, two workers were repairing a machine when its platen suddenly descended on one of the workers. The worker was pronounced dead at the scene by attending paramedics.
>> Read more
© All Rights Reserved
Our Warmest Regards,
ASPRI Secretariat
admin@aspri.com.sg
Copyright © 2020 ASPRI, All rights reserved.
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News Recap - 21 Nov to 27 Nov
27 Nov 2020
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Ref No: 271120 (3)
UEN: S97SS0046G
Dear Valued ASPRI Member,
News Recap - 21 Nov to 27 Nov
Key highlights from last week's news on COVID-19, Human Resources and Digitalisation below.
COVID-19
1/4: Work passes of four revoked for breaching SHN rules
Four more foreigners have had their work passes revoked for breaching stay-home notice (SHN) requirements in the past three months, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said yesterday.
They left their places of residence without valid reasons and without seeking MOM's permission during their SHN period. Among the four, three are work permit holders and one is an S-Pass holder, the ministry said. Two of the four, who left their SHN residences, were detected by the MOM-issued smartwatch. The device alerts MOM if its wearer leaves his place of residence.
Once a worker clears immigration, officers tag him with it and make sure it is functional, after which the device is locked and cannot be removed until the SHN period ends. It uses GPS and 4G technology, and can technically track the wearer's specific location. Any attempt to tamper with the smartwatch or remove it will trigger an alert to the authorities.
>> Read more
2/4: Last COVID-19 cluster closes; no active cluster in Singapore for the first time since pandemic began
The last COVID-19 cluster in a migrant worker dormitory has closed, meaning there are no active clusters in Singapore since the pandemic began. The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced the closure of the cluster at Cassia @ Penjuru dormitory on Tuesday (Nov 24), after 28 consecutive days with no new infection linked to it.
"With the closure of this cluster, there are no active COVID-19 clusters for the first time since Feb 3, 2020," said MOH on Tuesday.
Since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Singapore on Jan 23, the tally of cases has grown to more than 58,000 cases, with 28 fatalities from the disease. The first cluster was reported on Feb 4, at the Yong Thai Hang Medical Hall, a Chinese medicine shop that primarily served tourists from China.
>> Read more
3/4: Singapore to look at boosting manufacture of pharmaceutical products
Plans are afoot to expand Singapore's capacity in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products as the world gets closer to finding a vaccine for Covid-19.
Global life-science company Thermo Fisher Scientific, for instance, last month announced plans to set up a sterile fill-and-finish facility for therapeutics and vaccines here.
"This facility will have the capability and capacity to address the demand in the region, and also enhance Singapore's ability to respond to future pandemics," said Ms Goh Wan Yee, senior vice-president and head for healthcare at the Economic Development Board (EDB).
>> Read more
4/4: Singapore's Oct chems output slip by 0.8%, overall production down 0.9%
Singapore's chemicals output fell by 0.8% year on year in October on the back of plant maintenance shutdowns and lower export orders amid the coronavirus pandemic, official data showed on Thursday.
Within the chemicals cluster, the petrochemicals and specialties segments recorded output growth of 3.3% and 11.8%, respectively, with the latter recording higher production in industrial gases and additives, the Economic Development Board (EDB) said in a statement.
In the first 10 months of this year, output of the chemicals cluster fell by 3.3% compared to the same period in 2019.
Singapore's overall manufacturing output fell by 0.9% year on year in October. On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, manufacturing output decreased by 19%.
>> Read more
HUMAN RESOURCES
1/2: HR professionals vital in steering workforce: Minister Zaqy
Human resource (HR) professionals will be vital in steering the workforce to emerging areas in a post-coronavirus world, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad yesterday.
He told a virtual audience at a masterclass organised by Human Capital Singapore (HCS): "HR has a major role to play. For example, HR would need to take the lead in strategic workforce planning to plan ahead for the workforce composition and skill sets required to support businesses as they pivot and identify any skills gap in the current workforce."
He said they will also need to put in place plans to help workers acquire emerging skills so they can fill these gaps.
"Where new talent is required, HR would have to drive fair and objective hiring that will allow businesses to access a wide and diverse pool of talent."
>> Read more
2/2: How to drive recruitment in the post-pandemic world
A well-managed employer brand can reap significant benefits for your overall talent strategy, said Callam Pickering, APAC economist at Indeed.
A strong brand that showcases what the organisation stands for can also be impactful in the post-pandemic world – it won’t just help you attract new talent, it’ll improve engagement and ensure you retain your best workers.
The Indeed team will be presenting a webinar next week on how to successfully manage employer branding. In line with the session, Pickering shared why branding makes financial sense:
Reduces the time needed to fill roles
Reduces the cost per hire
>> Read more
DIGITALISATION
1/1: How HUAWEI CLOUD will Accelerate Digitalisation for Singapore SMEs with AI
Digital transformation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is accelerating worldwide. At the moment, there are about 220,000 small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore. Of these, only 2/3 of businesses have survived for more than two years and less than half have made it beyond the five-year mark.
SMEs are constantly challenged with liquidity constraints, operational efficiency, minimising cost and are competing with the technological prowess of larger corporations. Given the technological disruptions in the advent of 5G and AI, SMEs need to be more efficient and technologically savvy to adapt and grow.
Below are the points that SMEs can benefit from cloud computing:
O&M cost savings
Application consolidation
Efficient development
Maximise resource utilisation
Access to latest AI technologies
>> Read more
© All Rights Reserved
Our Warmest Regards,
ASPRI Secretariat
admin@aspri.com.sg
News Recap - 14 Nov to 20 Nov
20 Nov 2020
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Ref No: 201120 (3)
UEN: S97SS0046G
Dear Valued ASPRI Member,
News Recap - 14 Nov to 20 Nov
Key highlights from last week's news on Manpower and Workplace Safety & Health (WSH) below.
MANPOWER
1/4: MOM to engage firms to lower disease, accident risk
To better protect workers from infectious diseases and workplace accidents, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will work closely with employers and building owners on managing risks and staying vigilant.
Workers will also get better mental health support, with a free online assessment tool called iWorkHealth to be launched early next year to help employers identify sources of work stress, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence Zaqy Mohamad.
>> Read more
2/4: More Singapore employers investigated for possible discriminatory hiring practices
The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep), the national watchdog on fair employment, investigated about 260 cases of such practices in the first half of this year, 60 per cent more than the 160 cases in the same period last year.
Some 90 employers eventually had their work pass privileges suspended due to discriminatory hiring practices as at August this year, up from 35 for the full year of 2019.
>> Read more
3/4: 62% of workers worldwide consider mental health ‘a top challenge’
While 96% of companies globally have made changes to their HR policies and increased employee resources, only 1 in 6 employees report feeling supported and 62% of employees globally “consider mental health issues a top challenge.”
Other common challenges expressed by workers included feeling disconnected, a lack of opportunity for growth and coordinating child care.
>> Read more
4/4: Your 5-min guide: What HR must do in case errors are detected in your HR and payroll systems
Approximately 3,000 former and current civil servants in Singapore will be compensated by the Public Service Division (PSD) in the coming months, following recent errors that were discovered in the Division’s HR records.
In a statement on 18 November (Wednesday), the PSD said it had discovered these errors while upgrading the Civil Service’s HR and payroll IT systems. “The errors arose primarily because of human errors in data entry and coding of the HR and payroll IT systems. The IT systems also had inadequate error detection capabilities,” it noted.
Human Resources Online has interviewed Aileen Ng, Regional Lead, HR & Payroll at TMF Group. She has shared four steps that HR can take if they face a similar situation in their organisation, as well as how to avoid such issues:
HR should focus on an initial assessment of the extent of the errors and a best-estimate of the time frame it needs to take corrective actions.
Take the initiative to communicate with your employees and affected parties which may include CPF Board, IRAS, etc., with a plan of action.
Provide a Statement of Payroll Re-computation showing what was paid, what it should be with the actions to be taken and advise how the employee will be impacted (if any), such as recovery of salary, income tax re-assessment, etc.
Governing agencies, organisation leaders and employees would expect to hear how such errors will be prevented in future.
>> Read more
WORKPLACE SAFETY & HEALTH
1/1: Third Quarter 2020 National WSH Statistics
There were six fatal injuries between July and September 2020 (3Q 2020), one fatality more than 2Q 2020 and one fatality less than 3Q 2019. The 12-month rolling fatal injury rate per 100,000 workers in 3Q 2020 remained the same as 2Q 2020 at 1.1.
The Ministry of Manpower and WSH Council urge all stakeholders to stay vigilant and take time to take care of safety and health at work. Companies are encouraged to do more to ensure a safe restart of work activities, such as:
Review safety protocols and risk controls;
Ensure equipment are in good working condition;
Implement Safe Management Measures to minimise risks of COVID-19 outbreaks;
of inactivity'
Provide refresher training to help workers to adjust back to work after a period
Make sure that workers are fit and healthy to return to work.
>> Read more
© All Rights Reserved
Our Warmest Regards,
ASPRI Secretariat
admin@aspri.com.sg
News Recap - 7 Nov to 13 Nov
13 Nov 2020
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Dear Valued ASPRI Member,
News Recap - 7 Nov to 13 Nov
Key highlights from last week's news on COVID-19, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workplace Safety & Health (WSH) below.
COVID-19
1/2: Enhanced safety management measures at Changi Airport after 2 workers test positive for COVID-19
Safety management measures at Changi Airport have been enhanced to protect frontline workers, after two people who worked at Terminal 3 tested positive for COVID-19 last month, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
The two COVID-19 positive cases involving airport workers were detected on Oct 24, said CAAS in a press release on Friday (Nov 6).
After the positive cases were detected, about 5,000 airport workers who had worked at Terminal 3 from early October were sent for COVID-19 tests, said CAAS. All of them have tested negative.
>> Read more
2/2: COVID-19 Warrior Award for six staff from National Healthcare Group Polyclinics
When COVID-19 hit Singapore, staff in the healthcare profession swung into action, many of them volunteering to serve on the front lines of the crisis.
Among them was Dr Rufus Daniel, 52, a family physician and associate consultant at Yishun Polyclinic. He set up and ran a medical centre at a migrant worker purpose-built dormitory at Kranji Lodge 1, and moved on subsequently to work at one of the first hotels converted to swab isolation facilities (SIFs) in Singapore.
Dr Daniel was among six polyclinic healthcare front-line staff who received the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) COVID-19 Warrior Award from President Halimah Yacob on Saturday (Nov 7).
In recognition of their courage and dedication in the fight against the coronavirus, the awards were presented at a virtual ceremony on the occasion of the organisation's 20th Anniversary.
>> Read more
MINISTRY OF MANPOWER
1/4: 6,370 jobs available in Singapore's manufacturing sector; 1 in 10 in hard-hit marine and offshore industry
About 6,370 jobs are on offer in the manufacturing sector, with one in 10 from the hard-hit marine and offshore sub-sector.
These make up over 60 per cent of the more than 10,400 job, traineeship and training opportunities available as at the middle of last month, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in its weekly jobs situation report on Monday (Nov 9).
At 6,370, the number of jobs available is almost double the 3,200 openings in the sector at the end of August. Within the sector, electronics, precision engineering and food manufacturing had the greatest number of available openings.
Of the jobs available now, seven in 10 are for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
>> Read more
2/4: Three new features on national job portal to weed out discriminatory hiring
Three new features have been rolled out on the national jobs portal MyCareersFuture to strengthen progressive hiring practices among employers.
A key thrust of the portal is to "provide as many job seekers as possible a fair chance at the roles advertised", said Workforce Singapore (WSG), the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep), and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in a joint statement on Tuesday (Nov 10).
The features aim to set a new standard for other job portals to follow, they said. They are:
Prompting employers to adhere to TGFEP when placing job advertisement
Better guidance for employers in crafting neutral job ads
Making it easier to report possible discrimination
>> Read more
3/4: New task force to tackle mental health issues among migrant workers
A new task force has been set up to boost mental health care and support for migrant workers in Singapore.
Called Project Dawn, it will comprise representatives from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) and HealthServe, as well as government psychologists.
Second Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, who provided details of the initiative at an event on Friday (Nov 6), said the task force was named Dawn, which is an acronym for depression - a common mental health issue - awareness, wellness and normalisation.
>> Read more
4/4: Discounted flu vaccination for migrant workers
A discounted flu vaccination will be made available to all migrant workers staying in dormitories and all those working in the construction, marine or process sectors, a spokesman for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said yesterday.
The spokesman did not elaborate on the discount but said that each vaccination will cost $25 and will be administered by private healthcare providers at 13 regional medical centres.
Five of the centres are located in the dormitories. All 13 centres were set up this year to cater to the health needs of migrant workers and they have been operating since Aug 28.
The vaccination exercise will be conducted between Dec 1 and Dec 31, and employers can register their workers for an appointment from now till Nov 30 at www.mom.gov.sg/register-flu-vaccine
>> Read more
WORKPLACE SAFETY & HEALTH
1/2: Entangled rope led to Novena worksite fatal accident
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has called for changes in the way a component of tower cranes used at construction sites should be handled, after an incident last year led to the death of one worker and an injury to another.
Erection ropes used at tower cranes should be removed or disconnected and stowed securely, said MOM, even as some crane manufacturers allow these ropes to remain on cranes during operations.
This was among the key recommendations made in a report released by the ministry yesterday, meant to encourage the construction industry to adopt lessons learnt from the accident and operate cranes more safely.
>> Read more
2/2: 190 companies and individuals recognised at annual Workplace Safety and Health Awards
As part of Tuas Terminal's construction, workers from Hyundai Engineering and Construction had to spray a coating agent on the exposed surfaces of a submerged concrete unit while they were suspended in the air.
That ended when a team from the company designed and built an unmanned sprayer, controlled by workers on the ground, to apply the coating instead, eliminating the risk of working at a height for the workers.
For their efforts, Hyundai Engineering and Construction received an innovation award at the annual Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Awards, organised by the WSH Council.
A total of 190 companies and individuals, including WSH officers and workplace supervisors, received awards this year in various categories.
>> Read more
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News Recap – 26 Sep to 02 Oct
02 Oct 2020
1. Targeted quarantine cuts number isolated in dorms
A new approach to quarantine has been adopted for migrant worker dormitories aimed at reducing the number of residents that need to be isolated - minimising disruption to work and improving worker welfare.
Previously, the entire block had to be quarantined for 14 days when a dorm resident tested positive for Covid-19, minus those who had recovered recently.
Now, only smaller groups, such as those living on the same floor or in the same section, will need to do so, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said yesterday.
>> Read More
2. Workplace injuries down 25% amid dip in economic activity
Workplace injuries fell by 25 per cent in the first half of this year, likely due to the suspension of selected workplace activities from April to June amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Workplace fatalities, however, saw just a slight improvement over the same period, with falls from height and vehicular-related incidents accounting for the most deaths.
The number of injuries at work between January and June this year was 4,996, compared with 6,630 in the same period last year.
>> Read More
3. Petrochemical makers must rethink strategy in a world upturned by pandemic
Petrochemical producers must seriously rethink strategies to capture limited opportunities opening up as recovery gingerly takes hold in a world upturned by the coronavirus pandemic.
A careful study of each end-use application of petrochemicals and polymers must be undertaken to identify growth opportunities, ICIS senior Asia consultant John Richardson said.
After more than a month-long spike from March, demand for petrochemicals that go into rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizers, plastic barriers and face masks - which became rare commodities at the start of the fight against the pandemic - have normalised as supply has largely caught up with increased consumption.
>> Read More
4. New possibilities for well-being at work
Mental health is a complex challenge, even more so during a global pandemic, and complex problems require adaptive leadership. Beyond HR policies and programmes, how can we, as leaders, imagine new possibilities for well-being at work, especially in the face of Covid-19?
First, what is the personal change that we would commit to make as leaders in supporting the mental health of our employees? Our reflex response is often to look at solutions outside of ourselves, but what if we are the solution?
Countless leadership models focus on a leader's role as setting visions and priorities, driving strategies, influencing others and making things happen. But research across 10,000 employees worldwide found that what followers need from their leaders are quite different from what leaders think they should be.
These needs are: trust, compassion, stability and hope. Meeting these four needs, especially in the face of Covid-19, is a critical upstream, primary intervention.
>> Read More
5. Is Your Company Embracing These Employee Well-Being Trends?
As the competition among employers for top tier talent grows ever fiercer, so does the importance placed on employee benefits. After all, why go with Company A when Company B offers an equal salary but a few extra bells and whistles?
Among these benefits is a focus on employee health and well-being. A healthy workforce can mean lower stress and fewer employees calling out sick, which means increased wins for the business overall.
>> Read More
6. More support for HR professionals through upskilling, strengthening of firms’ capabilities
Human resource professionals will get more support for upskilling as part of efforts to ensure that they are equipped to harness the benefits of technology transformation.
To do so, the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) will develop more and different learning avenues for HR professionals, with a greater focus on emerging skills, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad on Wednesday (Sept 30).
This was one of the recommendations by the HR Industry Transformation Advisory Panel (HRTAP) to help build a stronger HR sector in Singapore to enable business and workforce transformation.
>> Read More
7. Does your profession suit remote working?
In the work-from-home revolution, no two styles of working are the same: flexibility in work hours and location gives employees some degree of freedom and autonomy that in-office work might not.
Behind this facet of telecommuting, however, not all workers are able to enjoy the same privilege. In the US alone, more than 100 million people hold jobs that cannot be performed at home.
The era of social distancing is thus creating a new kind of digital divide: between those who have the option to work from home and those who don’t.
On the surface, the distinction appears to be a matter of role differentiation: a call-centre agent, for example, will have more flexibility to work from home on some days than an in-store sales associate.
As economists point out, there are nuances to this divide – and the growing separation between workers will likely lead to greater social and economic inequality, especially amid the pandemic.
>> Read More
News Recap – 19 Sep to 25 Sep
25 Sep 2020
1. Seminars, Retreats and AGMs at Workplaces Get Green Light
Work-related events that take place in the office - such as seminars, corporate retreats and annual general meetings - have been given the green light to go ahead as long as safe management measures are in place.
However, large-scale social gatherings, including team bonding and dinner and dance events, remain prohibited both in and outside the workplace, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong yesterday, during a press conference by the multi-ministry task force tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The only things that will resume are work-related events," emphasised Mr Wong, who co-chairs the task force with Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
>> Read More
2. Business Travel Pass Being Piloted for Senior Execs in S'pore
A new business travel pass is being piloted for senior executives in Singapore with regional or international responsibilities who need to travel regularly for official and business purposes.
Travellers on this pass, which is not country-specific, will be required to abide by a strict, controlled itinerary when they travel abroad for work, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a statement yesterday.
Upon return, the traveller will be given the option to take a Covid-19 test in lieu of serving a stay-home notice, and to self-isolate until the test results are out, it added.
>> Read More
3. Singapore Must Act Now to Digitalise or Risk Losing Edge, says Chan Chun Sing
Singapore must act now to transform its economy, or risk losing its hub status and see its businesses' and workers' competitive edge erode, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said yesterday.
Companies here should not be preparing to return to business as usual, he said. Instead, digital transformation is the key to helping the country thrive and transcend "the tyranny of geography", said Mr Chan, referring to Singapore's small size.
Now is the time to re-engineer processes, build a new economy, and transform to create the right opportunities for businesses and people, said Mr Chan, who was speaking at the opening of the Future Economy Conference and Exhibition.
>> Read More
4. Singapore to Allow More WFH Employees to Return to Office Under Specific Conditions (checklist included)
More employees working from home (WFH) may return to the workplace in Singapore, as the Ministry of Health (MOH) has just updated its Requirements for Safe Management Measures (SMM) at the Workplace. Employees who are presently working from home may return to the workplaces, provided that employers fulfil both the following criteria:
Such employees continue to work from home for at least half their working time, and
No more than half of such employees are at the workplace at any point in time.
The full document of the SMM requirements updated by MOH and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is available here. These requirements are effective 28 September 2020 and are meant for general workplace settings. Specific workplaces like construction worksites and shipyards may have to fulfil additional requirements and should refer to sector-specific requirements.
>> Read More
5. Expatriates Now Allowed to Enter and Exit Malaysia Upon Approval by Immigration Department
Malaysia has eased its entry restrictions on expatriates and their dependants, retrospective 21 September, as announced by the Immigration Department.
This will apply to pass holders in the following categories:
Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T), and their dependant(s)
Employment Pass (Category EP I, II and III)
Professional Visit Pass (PVP)
Dependant Pass to expatriates for all categories
Long Term Social Visit Pass (LT-SVP) to expatriates for all categories
Foreign Maid to expatriates for all categories
These pass holders are now required to apply for the Entry Permission or Approval to Exit and Return to Malaysia, via the Immigration Department's MYEntry system; while any expatriate who wishes to exit Malaysia and not be returning during the RMCO may proceed without applying for approval.
>> Read More
6. The Impact of COVID-19 on New Ways of Working: A Pan-Asia Deep Dive
Nearly all employers surveyed in May 2020 (98%) across Asia have acknowledged that their business operations have been impacted by COVID-19, with most expecting the effects to continue for some time.
In fact, one-third (35%) predict the impact from the pandemic will last for six months; 27% believe it will be for up to one year, and 16% are preparing for this to last more than one year. Among one of the biggest changes to working models, 94% of companies surveyed in Asia have adopted flexible work arrangements (FWAs), as a result of which two-thirds of employees (68%) say flexible working hours are now the most important aspect of work-life balance.
>> Read More
7. Ready to Get Back to Business Travel?
You might want to rebook your flight after new studies published in the scientific journal Emerging Infectious Diseases showed the potential for COVID-19 transmission during air travel. The first study found that the strain of novel coronavirus, detected in two passengers and two cabin crew members who were on the same long-haul flight, had the same genetic sequence.
A second study presented how – even when only one person shows symptoms of COVID-19 – the virus can easily be spread to a cluster of passengers when seated close to the infected person.
And while passengers can wear a mask to reduce the risk of aerosol transmission, there is still a possibility of infection from coming into contact with contaminated surfaces.
>> Read More
News Recap – 12 Sep to 18 Sep
18 Sep 2020
1. Guidelines on Rental Contracts for Singapore Dorm Operators and Employers
As migrant workers are rehoused according to new rules to prevent Covid-19 transmission, guidelines have been set to help dormitory operators and employers come to mutual agreement on existing rental contracts.
The Ministry of Manpower, the Building and Construction Authority and the Economic Development Board said on Monday that they have asked that employers resolve outstanding rental arrears with dormitory operators even if contracts have expired, or if they want to terminate or modify existing contracts.
During the pandemic, many workers were moved from their dormitories to other temporary accommodation as the authorities fought to stem the outbreak.
>> Read More
2. Covid-19 has Made Firms Agile, Hastened Digitalisation: Panel
In the past, events like this week's Singapore Summit would have gathered participants in a large venue. But due to Covid-19, the discussions continue virtually.
Citing this yesterday, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing said the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated digitalisation, and Singapore is pioneering different ways to carry on running amid disruptions. "We are not planning on waiting out for the Covid situation to pass. Our priority now is really to learn to live in a Covid world while preparing for a post-Covid world."
He was part of a panel on the topic of digital connectivity and cross-border flows in a post-Covid world on the summit's last day.
>> Read More
3. Global Connections, Digital Readiness More Crucial Now: Iswaran
The pandemic has made it even more important for Singapore to maintain its global connections while continuing to innovate and digitalise, said Communications and Information Minister S. Iswaran yesterday.
Mr Iswaran noted: "With lockdowns and safe distancing measures in many countries, the ways in which we live, work and play have also been altered permanently.
"Covid-19 has reinforced the imperative for businesses and individuals to be digitally ready. Businesses must... lay the digital foundation for future growth and competitiveness. Countries must do likewise."
>> Read More
4. Singapore Businesses Most Digitally-Ready in Asia-Pacific: Poll
Businesses in Singapore took the top spot in a DBS survey of the digital readiness of corporates in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with 45% of local businesses indicating they have a well-defined digital strategy.
Hong Kong came in second at 44%, while Japan - which came in first last year - was third this year at 41%. Businesses in the Philippines and Vietnam came in fourth and fifth, at 10% and 8% respectively.
>> Read More
5. 7 Myths CHROs Must Debunk about Leadership Development in Asia
The past few months have brought about unprecedented disruption and, in the process, has challenged all of our assumptions on business models, workflows, technology, and people.
As a result, HR and leadership functions are under extreme pressure not only to develop leaders to deal with the here-and-now challenges, but also to proactively prepare organisations for the long road to recovery. And with it, comes the opportunity to reset the leadership development function, and view it with an objective lens, without biases and prejudices.
Through it all, it isn't uncommon to come across myths about developing leaders - be it about leaders in Asia, or that leadership development should primarily focus on top-level executives.
This article summarises seven common myths uncovered in a recent report by the Center for Creative Leadership, titled Developing future-fluent Asian leaders – Myths we must debunk, based on a survey of 248 senior HR leaders across Asia.
The seven common myths are as follows:
Asian leaders are harder to develop to take on senior global leadership roles
Leadership development efforts should focus primarily on top-level executives
Organisations can have one uniform approach to developing leaders across different regions, countries, and contexts
Attending (only) leadership development courses will make you a better leader
HR can lead and execute the leadership development agenda without top leadership team/board buy-in
Effective leadership development can happen irrespective of the organisation's culture
Online/digital learning is less effective than classroom learning
>> Read More
6. HRUnplugged: 4 Ways for HR Leaders to Remain Adaptable and Agile
For Subhankar Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director & Head HR, Asia Pacific & Japan, Lenovo, being adaptable is not a choice but a way of life.
The 4 ways for HR leaders to remain adaptable and agile are:
Having a change mindset and understanding that ‘nothing is cast in stone’,
Embracing ambiguity, and having the patience to adopt a positive mindset to find solutions to tackle any challenges,
Thinking creatively and creating alternate options to address a situation,
Having the ability to quickly shift focus, based on changing business needs.
In the interview, Subhankar has also answered to the following series of questions:
What is your take on the most-needed and least-needed skills currently? What are some jobs that will thrive, and jobs that will disappear post the pandemic, both in Lenovo and in HR?
What are some of the things on your job description that are brand-new and fresh?
How has the HR function at Lenovo helped to enable the company to navigate an increasingly digital future?
>> Read More
7. Singapore Must Remain Open to Benefit from Asia's Growth: DPM Heng Swee Keat
Singapore can contribute to and benefit from Asia's growth only if it remains open and connected to the world, while forging new partnerships and evolving its approaches, DPM Heng Swee Keat said.
In a keynote speech at the FutureChina Global Forum on Tuesday, Mr Heng noted that many workers are anxious about their jobs and the benefits of economic openness.
"But we must not undermine what has made us successful, by closing ourselves off from the world," said Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister.
In Singapore, the government is adjusting its employment policies, upskilling workers and strengthening its social safety nets to ensure they continue to serve the interests of Singaporeans, he added.
>> Read More
8. Singapore and Japan to Launch Reciprocal Green Lane for Business Travel on 18 September
On 18 September, Singapore and Japan will be launching the Business Track (a.k.a. Reciprocal Green Lane), a framework to facilitate essential business and official travel for residents from both countries.
This comes after negotiations between Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Motegi Toshimitsu and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore Dr Vivian Balakrishnan concluded on Friday (11 September).
According to a joint statement by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is the first such framework that Japan will implement with another country, and will help restore connectivity and support economic recovery for Japan and Singapore.
>> Read More
9. “I Truly Believe HR’s Moment is Now”
Boasting over 25,000 global employees, Rogers Communications is a giant in the media industry. Based out of Toronto, Canada, Rogers Communications was founded in 1960 by their eponymous leader Ted Rogers.
At the HR helm sits Jim Reid, Chief Human Resources Officer, dedicated employee champion, and overall strategic genius. HRD caught up with Reid to talk through his personal career path, discover how he’s navigating the COVID-19 crisis, and reveal why now is the time to be in HR.
Key takeaways from this exclusive with HRD:
HR leaders are able to wear a lot of hats, from negotiator to teacher to counsellor
HR can move so adeptly from crisis to crisis is because good leaders learn from their mistakes.
HR leaders understand what it’s like to have to transform as a result of disruption
HR has never been under such immense pressure as they are right now. Managing CEO’ expectations, maintaining a healthy culture, and dealing with anxiety-ridden employees
>> Read More
News Recap – 05 Sep to 11 Sep
11 Sep 2020
1. TraceTogether Tokens to be Distributed from Monday
TraceTogether tokens will be distributed nationwide starting next Monday, as Singapore strengthens its contact tracing network in preparation for allowing larger gatherings while it opens up further.
A pilot scheme requiring people to use either the free tokens or the mobile app to check in at certain venues will also start next month, said Minister-in-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday at a press conference by the multi-ministry task force tackling the pandemic.
Noting that the app has been downloaded 2.4 million times so far, he added: "But we actually still want to push participation in this programme because this is one of those things where the more people we have on board, the more effective the level of protection afforded to all of us."
>> Read More
2. Five Key Areas the Singapore Government will Focus on Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
To round up five days of debate on the President’s Address, in his closing speech, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay summed up speeches made by the various Members of Parliament along five key unifying themes, as outlined in President Halimah Yacob’s address.
He also highlighted suggestions put forth by members in these respective areas, and reiterated how unity will be key for Singapore to move forward.
The five key areas the Singapore government will focus on amid the COVID-19 crisis are:
Sustainability – imperatives for change
Securing jobs for Singaporeans
Social compact – building a fair and just society
Strengthening our Singapore identity
Evolving politics
>> Read More
3. Eligible Singapore Firms to Receive Jobs Growth Incentive from March 2021 in Support of Hiring Locals
From March 2021, eligible firms in Singapore can look forward to receiving support payouts as part of the government's Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI).
The scheme, which aims to support businesses in the hiring of locals, will cost the government a total of S$1bn, the Ministry of Manpower announced on Friday (4 September). Eligible firms need not apply for the payouts, which will be computed each month based on their CPF contributions.
"Notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19, there remain areas of strength in our economy and there are firms that continue to do well. The JGI provides substantial salary support to enable these firms to bring forward their hiring plans and grow their local workforce over the next six months, from September 2020 to February 2021.
"Together with the extension of the Jobs Support Scheme, this is a major boost for job creation for locals," the Ministry stated.
>> Read More
4. Foreigners from India Must Take Virus Test Before Entering Singapore
All travellers from India who are not Singaporeans or permanent residents will have to take a Covid-19 test before departing for Singapore.
From next Thursday, they will have to present a valid negative test result from a polymerase chain reaction test, which must be taken within 72 hours before their flight here.
This new and more stringent border restriction, which covers travellers who were in India within 14 days of their arrival in Singapore, will apply on top of existing requirements - a two-week stay-home notice (SHN) at dedicated SHN facilities and a further negative Covid-19 test before the end of the SHN.
>> Read More
5. Location-Based Data Technology More Crucial than Before Amid Covid-19 Pandemic
Geospatial, or location-based data, technology is more crucial now amid the pandemic as it can be used to help contain the spread of Covid-19 through solutions such as crowd management applications.
This sentiment was shared by several speakers at the virtual launch of Singapore Geospatial Week+ on Wednesday (Sept 9) morning, an event promoting the importance and growth of geospatial technology in Singapore and beyond.
Mr Simon Ong, acting chief executive of the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), said: "The importance of geospatial (technology) cannot be emphasised more, especially in today's environment."
>> Read More
6. Return to the Office Soon? MOH Advises Employers to Enable Off-Peak Commuting Post 0930 hours for Employees
In the daily briefing of Singapore's Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MMF) on COVID-19 guidelines, the authorities have provided a possible path to enable more workers to return to workplaces safely.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is working with tripartite partners on the next phase of Safe Management Measures (SMMs) for workplaces, given that many employers have sought guidance on ways to enable more employees to return to the workplace safely.
As such, the MMF has urged employers "to implement flexible workplace hours, so that a good part of workers are able to travel off-peak, i.e. after 0930 hours".
"This would help to mitigate the risk of crowding in public places as well as office buildings with more individuals commuting to and from work especially during peak hours. It is in the interest of the employers to protect your workers against the risk of COVID-19. Otherwise, if a cluster is formed at the workplace, it would disrupt business severely."
Since Singapore entered Phase Two post the Circuit Breaker, telecommuting or working from home has remained the default.
>> Read More
7. Minister Josephine Teo Responds to PQs on Fair Employment Practices, Cost-Saving Measures, and Retrenchment
In Parliament on Friday (4 September), Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo tackled a series of questions by Members of Parliament (MP), on the topics of fair employment practices, fair cost-saving measures, and retrenchments. The questions include:
How employers' employment practices are monitored and how they are held accountable
Publicly naming the firms who have been placed on the FCF Watchlist, and for their access to government grants and tax incentive schemes to be withdrawn.
How tripartite consultations have focused on ensuring fairness in cost-saving measures and retrenchments.
>> Read More
8. More firms setting up Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) desks in Singapore: Chan Chun Sing
More companies have set-up LNG desks in Singapore to capitalise on rising demand for gas in Asia, its trade minister told a virtual conference on Monday (07 Sept).
Singapore currently has over 50 companies with an LNG trading or business development presence in Singapore, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing told the Gastech virtual summit. This compares with more than 45 firms with dedicated LNG desks as of September 2018. Asia's appetite for the fuel, led by China, is expected to grow over the long term, attracting investment and triggering new LNG trading desks opening globally.
>> Read More
9. Going contactless in the Light of COVID-19
The current COVID-19 pandemic situation across the globe is known to many by the back of their hands. There is no doubt that major cities at this stage, some at lockdown and while others are slowly reopening up their economies, are introducing digital initiatives and driving contactless transactions.
According to Forbes, the usage of traffic across mobile and fixed networks has seen a steep increase from 30% to 50%. This data shows that people will have to leverage on telecommunications to adapt to the new normal of living, working, and shopping online.
>> Read More
10. A Culture of Innovation Strengthens Business Resilience and Fuels Economic Recovery in Singapore
As Singapore and Asia Pacific continue to tackle with the disruptions resulting from the pandemic, 80% of business decision-makers in Singapore today versus 67% pre-COVID say that innovation is now a ‘must’ for them to respond swiftly to market challenges and opportunities, and ensure success. This is reverberated by almost all (98%) leading organisations in Asia Pacific with the most mature Culture of Innovation (Leaders) who agree that innovation is a necessity to staying resilient during a crisis.
>> Read More
11. 12 Things to Consider as you Reset your People Strategies for the 'New Normal'
As companies look to reset for the new world of work that emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential for them to make several shifts in mindsets. In particular, the shift towards an approach that values talent as a key asset that contributes to an organisation's sustained value creation will be crucial, revealed a joint report by Willis Towers Watson and the World Economic Forum.
The report outlined a human accounting framework that can help organisations measure and quantify the contribution of their people in the same way it measures returns on financial and intellectual capital, as well as provided five workforce principles that can help guide employers to plan and implement an ethical and sustainable reset of their people strategies as they emerge into the 'new normal'.
See this crisis as a defining leadership moment
Adopt an agile and continuous learning mindset
Understand the perspectives of all stakeholders and engage them in decision-making
Focus on the intersection of employee and company well-being
Make decisions and take actions that consider medium-term needs and longer term business objectives
It also shared seven guiding principles to shift how organisations value people. These include shifts from:
Profit to purpose
Corporate policy to social responsibility
Stand-alone entities to ecosystems
Employees and jobs to people, work and skills
Workforce as an expense to workforce as an asset
Backward-looking financial metrics to forward-looking value metrics
Quarterly to generational
>> Read More
12. How to Hire During a Global Crisis
Human Resources Director (HRD, Singapore) reveals the most pressing factors to consider when hiring during COVID-19.
Employers in all industries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19. However, the impact has been uneven on businesses, Katie Birch, director of sales at Indeed Singapore told HRD. Thereby, the impact on recruitment has varied across sectors.
Key challenges to hire during this pandemic:
Hiring freeze or priortisation of roles
Budget cuts
Over supply of candidates
Leaders can consider the value of retaining high-performing employees within their organisations for “hard-to-fill” senior roles and shift focus to upskilling or succession planning, as mentioned by Birch.
>> Read More
13. Singapore Remains Open to Global Talent; Aim is to Benefit, not Substitute Singaporeans: Chan Chun Sing
Singapore’s foreign worker policies are shifting towards “quality rather than quantity” but the country still welcomes foreign talent, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (08 Sept).
Mr Chan, who was speaking at a virtual forum organised by Standard Chartered, noted that there has been much talk on the issue of foreigners in Singapore, but said that this scrutiny is not unique to Singapore.
“Every country facing economic slowdown in recession will have elements questioning the balance between locals and foreigners in the job market,” Mr Chan said.
Singapore will also continue to bring in foreign talent “in a calibrated manner” to create opportunities for Singaporeans, he added.
>> Read More
News Recap – 29 Aug to 04 Sep
04 Sep 2020
1. Workers enjoy afternoon out in parks after months in dorms
After months of being cooped up in their dormitories, some 50 foreign workers had the chance to stretch their legs in Labrador Park and HortPark on Wednesday afternoon, as part of a trial run to allow more healthy workers out of their dormitories on rest days.
The workers, who are either recovered COVID-19 patients or have tested negative for the coronavirus in the last 14 days, played games, ate and went for walks in the park, in small groups of five.
They were chosen by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), which had collaborated with non-governmental organisation (NGO) Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO) to organise the outing.
>> Read More
2. Singapore seeks ‘quality rather than quantity’: Chan Chun Sing on changes to foreign work pass policy
Singapore is putting focus on “quality, rather than quantity” with the latest increases to the qualifying salaries of foreigners on Employment Passes and S Passes, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Saturday (Aug 29).
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced that the minimum salaries for new Employment Pass candidates will be raised by S$600 to S$4,500 from September. Holders of the S Passes will have to meet a S$2,500 threshold, instead of S$2,400, from October.
>> Read More
3. MOM to look at beefing up resources to tackle unfair hiring practices
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is looking at beefing up resources to scrutinise unfair hiring practices by companies, said Second Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng on Monday (Aug 31).
He gave the response in an exchange with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Pritam Singh, in Parliament, who had asked about his statement that the ministry was stepping up surveillance and enforcement actions against businesses that blatantly discriminate against local workers.
The Workers' Party chief quizzed the new minister whether "stepping up" entailed increasing the budget for the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP), for instance, particularly as there are a large number of companies in Singapore across many industries.
>> Read More
4. Singapore site to pioneer digital twin technology for Shell
Shell has announced that its manufacturing site in Palau Bukom, Singapore, home of Singapore’s first refinery, will pilot digital twin technology for the company.
David Wagg, Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield, UK, has previously explained that a digital twin is a virtual duplicate of a real structure, or system, combining data and models (of differing fidelity), that evolves over time. They have the potential to aid design and could possibly deliver enhanced operation and management commands.
According to Shell, the power of digital twin lies in its visual, data, and analytical capabilities. Live information about plant operations can be provided to engineers via augmented reality and virtual reality, reducing the need to step into the plant.
>> Read More
5. 4 Tips for Embracing the New Way of Work
With a mixture of work arrangements becoming more common as employees are slowly returning to office, here are some considerations to help you prepare for it, as shared by experts from the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP).
Working from home has become the “new normal” for many organisations these days. However, as restrictions against COVID-19 ease, organisations are likely to take on a hybrid approach to work, encompassing a blend of physical and virtual set-ups, with some employees working from the office and the others working remotely, or a combination of both.
Putting safety first
Rebuilding workplace morale
Adapting to the new norm
Sustaining the new way of work
>> Read More
6. Malaysia Extends Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) to 31 Dec 2020
To control the spread of COVID-19, Malaysia has extended RMCO, which was due to end on 31 Aug to 31 December 2020, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin announced on Friday (28 August) in a televised address.
The implications of the extension include the following:
Borders will remain closed to foreign tourists to prevent the import of cases into the country.
Nightclubs and entertainment centres will remain closed, given the difficulty to practice the new norms in these places.
While sports activities will be allowed, it will be without the involvement of international participants and spectators.
The existing strict quarantine regulations in certain places will continue to be enforced, PM said. He explained that given the rapid spread of the virus abroad, the country cannot take the risk of super spreaders lightly.
>> Read More
7. Malaysia Restricts Entry of Long-Term Residents from Indonesia, Philippines and India Effective 07 Sept 2020
From 07 Sept 2020 onwards, long-term pass holders from India, Indonesia, and the Philippines will no longer be able to enter Malaysia.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced in a press conference on 01 Sept that long-term pass holders from India, Indonesia, and the Philippines will be barred from entering the country, with effect from 07 Sept, Bernama reported.
The restrictions include six categories of long-term pass holders, including:
Permanent resident status (PR)
Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H)
Expatriates including professional visit pass holders (PVP)
Resident pass holders
Spouse visas and their children
Students who are citizens of the respective countries
>> Read More
News Recap – 22 Aug to 28 Aug
28 Aug 2020
1. Addendum to President's Address: New Insurance Scheme for Migrant Workers' Medical Bills; Better Wages for Locals a Key Priority
An insurance programme will be developed to help employers manage unexpectedly large medical expenses of migrant workers, said Manpower Minister Josephine Teo on Wednesday (Aug 26).
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will also carefully consider the cost-sharing model for higher standards in migrant worker dormitories, even as a stronger system of medical support for the workers is built, she added.
"As important as it is to safeguard the health and wellness of our workers, we must also ensure the higher costs are sustainable," Mrs Teo said in her ministry's addendum to the President's earlier speech, setting out its priorities for the new term of government.
>> Read More
2. Singapore Cuts SHN Duration to 7 Days for Low-Risk Arrivals from Malaysia, Vietnam, and More
From 1 September 2020, Singapore will allow general travel to and from Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand, as well as travel for overseas studies, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced on Friday (21 August).
Additionally, effective the same day, travellers from low-risk regions/countries will only have to undergo a seven-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN), down from the usual 14 days.
>> Read More
3. Shell Picks Singapore Refinery as First Site Globally to Pilot Virtual Manufacturing Tech
Royal Dutch Shell will start a four-year pilot project at its Pulau Bukom refinery to implement the Digital Twin, an advanced manufacturing site technology that is expected to boost productivity, reliability and safety.
The Digital Twin - when fully implemented in 2024 - will be a complete virtual representation of the physical elements on the site, with the ability to dynamically respond to changes in conditions on the site, the oil and gas giant said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 27).
Shell said Pulau Bukom's position as an integrated oil and petrochemicals hub in Asia-Pacific, strong track record in piloting path-breaking digitisation projects and long history were reasons why it was selected to pioneer the Digital Twin.
>> Read More
4. Addendum to President's Address: Singapore to Continue Investing in Technology and Innovation to Fuel Growth
To help the economy recover from the severe blows of Covid-19, Singapore will keep investing in technology and innovation to safeguard its competitive edge globally and create opportunities for workers and businesses.
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat made the point on Wednesday (Aug 26) when he stressed the continuing importance of science and technology (S&T) as an engine of growth.
Research, innovation and enterprise in Singapore will help to transform the economy to create more jobs for Singaporeans, added Mr Heng in the National Research Foundation's (NRF) addendum to the President's Address. He chairs the Foundation.
>> Read More
5. Singapore will Push for Sustainable Growth, Further Strengthen Social Safety Nets: President Halimah
Singapore will make a “major push for sustainable growth”, while further strengthening its social safety nets, said President Halimah Yacob on Monday (Aug 24) at the opening of the nation’s 14th Parliament.
President Halimah has mentioned that Singapore will reimagine how we plan our city, redesign urban mobility and grow using less resources in a low-carbon future. She also mentioned that Singapore will push for green financing and sustainable infrastructure development across the region, to tap on Asia’s growth while protecting the environment.
>> Read More
6. Making Singapore Sustainable
From safeguarding limited natural resources to mitigating the impact of buildings on the environment, local companies have recognised the roles they can play and have stepped up to the challenge.
Global water technology company Xylem has been a part of the Singapore's water story since 1982, and had installed more than 320 sensors in the country's potable water supply pipelines to monitor the performance of the network and respond swiftly in case of abnormalities related to pressure variations, water quality issues, and leakage.
>> Read More
7. Fully Flexible Work Arrangements - Are Employees For or Against Them?
Having a fully flexible working arrangement could change how people work – e.g. gone are the 9-5 working days, and it will come a set of working hours tailor-made to an employee's needs. Furthermore, this could mean lesser reliance on the office environment, and more access to working from anywhere, as long as targets, goals and deliverables are achieved.
Nearly eight in 10 employees (79%) surveyed recently are in favour of such an arrangement, Perkbox has noted.
Of the 1,600 respondents, close to nine in 10 (85%) said having such policies would improve work-life balance, while slightly more than half (53%) believed it could make employees more engaged and productive; and 50% said it would allow them to feel more in control of their own workloads.
>> Read More
8. Singapore's MOM Looks to Raise the Salary Criteria for EPs and S Passes
In its addendum to the President's address 2020, Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) noted that further adjustments to the country's foreign workforce policies will be made to reflect the changed conditions in the employment market caused by COVID-19. This includes increasing the salary criteria for Employment Passes (EP) and S Passes.
According to the addendum, Singapore's foreign workforce policies have been intended to support economic growth, so as to create good jobs for Singaporeans. Regular calibrations are made to enable firms to access the manpower they need while ensuring a strong Singaporean core.
As such, Singapore has among the highest proportion of locals in the workforce employed in professional, managerial, executive and technician (PMET) jobs - nearly six in 10 locals in the country's workforce today are employed in PMET jobs. A strong Singaporean core has also been created, with nearly seven locals employed in PMET roles, for every one EP holder.
>> Read More
9. How to Maintain a Good Culture Amid High Growth
“Leaders won’t be successful if they're propping up values that don't ring true for everyone”
Airbnb, one of the most celebrated hypergrowth companies from the era, knows this all too well. A pioneer of the ‘sharing economy,’ the home rental business was privately valued at US$31bn before COVID-19. But as the travel industry was ground to a halt, the company lost $1bn.
Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ensuing social unrest – and now, the recession – organisations are beginning to see how the values they’d cemented during periods of high growth are standing the test of a complex and multifaceted crisis.
Key takeaways from this article:
Companies pledging to do better, must put in the effort to do so
Values versus Virtues – which is more important?
>> Read More
10. Join the SMF's Webinar to Learn Ways to Implement SMM at Your Workplace
As companies move into a new normal after the Circuit Breaker, they are now more concerned with ensuring that their workplace is in compliance with the Safe Management Measures (SMM).
With the support of the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council, Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) has come up with a webinar on SMM and WSH for companies in the manufacturing sector. Join the webinar to find out ways on how you can properly implement SMM at your workplace.
Through the sharing of good practices, the webinar also seeks to encourage companies to continue keeping WSH as a top priority in their daily operations, while integrating SMM into their existing WSH framework.
Date: 9 September 2020 (Wednesday)
Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Register here.
>> Read More
11. WSH Council Urges All to Play a Part in Preventing FFH Workplace Accidents
Falls from height (FFH) remain a major contributor to workplace deaths. In 2018-2019, FFH alone averaged 18.7% of all fatal injuries. That is to say, almost one-fifth of the total workplace deaths were due to falls from height. FFH also made up 10.9% of all major injuries and 4.8% of all minor injuries on average over these two years.
To assist employers in addressing the high incidence of FFH cases, the WSH Council has put together a list of accident advisories for fatal FFH-related accidents from 2018-2019, each containing valuable lessons with situation-specific recommendations to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents.
>> Read More
12. Accident Advisory: Worker Caught Between Lorry and Forklift
On 28 May 2020, a worker was within his forklift, attempting to open the door of a lorry that was beside his forklift, when the forklift suddenly reversed, trapping the worker between the door of the lorry and the chassis of the forklift. The injured worker was conveyed to the hospital where he eventually succumbed to his injuries.
Recommendation
Persons such as employers and principals in control of similar workplaces with forklift operations are advised to consider the following risk control measures to prevent similar accidents:
Forklift pre-operation check
Competent forklift operator
Forklift servicing and maintenance
Worker communication
Work supervision
Use presence detection technology
Risk Assessment
Conduct a thorough Risk Assessment (RA) for all work activities to manage any foreseeable risk that may arise when operating a forklift. The RA should cover, but not limited to, the following areas:
Possibility of accidental forklift movement and the measures in place to prevent accidental movement;
Possibility of operator entrapment (i) should the forklift overturn, or (ii) when working next to a stationary object or another vehicle; and
Safe work procedure for getting on and off the forklift operator seat.
>> Read More
13. Accident Advisory: Worker Fell Through Floor Opening
On 3 August 2020, a group of workers was carrying out Addition & Alteration (A&A) works on the second storey of a building. When two of the workers tried to remove the wooden planks on the floor, one of them fell through a floor opening under the planks and landed on the first storey. The worker was conveyed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Recommendation
Stakeholders, in control of similar workplaces and work activities, such as occupiers, principals and employers are advised to consider the following risk control measures to prevent similar accidents:
Covered floor opening
Barricading of hazardous area
Risk communication and WSH awareness
Risk Assessment
Employers and contractors are reminded to conduct a thorough risk assessment before starting A&A works to manage any foreseeable risk that may arise. Recognise hazards associated with building interior works such as unprotected edges or openings and address the possibility of falling from height. Occupiers and employers are reminded of the need to establish a fall prevention plan and to work closely with their principals and contractors to ensure the safety of all work areas.
For floor openings, key measures include installing secure covers, erecting suitable barriers, placing warning signs and deploying a travel restraint or fall arrest system. To prevent accidents, it is important that on-site rectifications are carried out as soon as possible once an unsafe condition is identified.
>> Read More
News Recap – 15 Aug to 21 Aug
21 Aug 2020
1. Johor Bus Services to Take RGL, PCA Travellers Across the Causeway to Woodlands
Free bus services provided by the Johor Public Transport Corporation (PAJ) to ferry travellers across the Causeway under the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) and Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) schemes were allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at the Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore from Thursday (Aug 20).
State Public Works, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Mohd Solihan Badri said this was the result of an agreement between the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (CIQ) at the Sultan Iskandar Building and Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
>> Read More
2. Malaysians or Malaysia PRs with a Valid Work Pass can Now Enter Singapore under the New PCA
Starting from August 17, if you employ work pass holders who are Malaysians or Malaysia permanent residents (PRs) and who enter Singapore by land, you can now bring them in under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) scheme. This is according to the Ministry of Manpower's latest update of the advisory for employers and employees travelling to and from COVID-19 affected areas.
Under the PCA scheme, Malaysians or Malaysia PRs with valid Singapore work passes should remain in Singapore for at least 90 days before returning to Malaysia for home leave.
The advisory stated that all other pass holders, including those on in-principle approval (IPA), Dependant’s Pass, Long Term Visit Pass and Letter of Consent (LOC), must continue to obtain MOM’s entry approval to enter Singapore.
>> Read More
3. COVID-19 Accelerates Digitalisation, Transformation for Some Businesses
The COVID-19 outbreak may have put the brakes on expansion plans for many companies in Singapore, but it has also pushed some into digitalising and transforming their businesses. F&B giant BreadTalk Group is among the firms taking a different approach. Brandon Tanoto with more.
>> Read More
4. Coronavirus Gut Check: How Small Businesses are Surviving
It’s been a trial by fire for small-business owners trying to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We walked into 2020 with a plan that we made in 2019 and then COVID-19 gut-checked us. Surprise!”. The CEO of Black upStart, Kezia Williams, said in the latest episode of #Next20, a new Verizon series about the issues that will define the next 20 years.
Entrepreneurs on inadequate budgets who have managed to keep their businesses open during the pandemic have had to rip up their business plans, dismissal of workers, pivot, renegotiate leases, reduce traffic at their shops for safety reasons, try to rehire fewer employees, and develop new products to sell – all while maintaining cash flow in an environment where many consumers are cash-strapped and unemployed.
>> Read More
5. COVID-19 Crisis may Widen Income Gap in Singapore: Development Bank of Singapore (DBS) Reports
While the Singapore government has ramped up efforts to save jobs amid the pandemic, the full impact on income is "far deeper and broad-based" than current economic numbers would suggest, with low-income earners bearing the impact of the prolonged slump, fresh data from DBS showed.
Against this setting, the pandemic is a "highly regressive" event which could possibly widen the income gap in Singapore, said DBS senior economist Irvin Seah at a media briefing on Tuesday.
As at May this year, more than 300,000 – or 26 per cent – of 1.2 million DBS customers have experienced a decline in income by more than 10 per cent. Among these affected customers, about a third suffered even sharper income deterioration in excess of 50 per cent, according to the bank's recent report on financial wellness.
>> Read More
6. New Initiative by Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) Allows SMEs to Seamlessly Prepare, File Returns
SMEs can now automate the preparation and filing of their statutory returns with IRAS and ACRA using dedicated accounting software, the agencies said in a joint statement on Thursday, 20 August 2020.
IRAS and ACRA have partnered accounting software providers to incorporate regulatory filing requirements into providers' software, which will automatically generate the required returns for companies with simple tax affairs and accounting transactions.
>> Read More
7. S$8 Billion Added to Singapore's COVID-19 Support Fund: What HR and Employers Should Note
The Singapore Government will be funding an additional S$8 billion worth of COVID-19 support measures, the Ministry of Finance announced on 17 August 2020.
In Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat’s ministerial statement, he has noted that residents and workers have been sharing their concerns on job security and loss of income, while Business and union leaders have also spoken about their efforts to retain workers and help them upskill or retrain.
3 core areas the Government is working towards to:
Continued support for jobs, and creating new ones;
Providing further support for sectors which have been hit the hardest;
Providing further support for sectors which have been hit the hardest Positioning Singapore to seize growth opportunities in a post-COVID-19 world
>> Read More
8. Your 5-minute Guide to Outsourcing Payroll Processes
From Excel sheets to employee self-service. From a back-end office function to becoming more visible. Payroll has come a long way, but has a longer way to go especially in times of pandemic when time and budgets are tight, affirms Aileen Ng, Regional Lead for HR and Payroll in APAC, TMF Group, in this exclusive interview with Human Resources Online.
Payroll in Singapore was always seen as an outdated back-end function, with very little attention paid to it as long as employees were getting paid for their work done. This was up until recent years, with the push for more digital practices and online interaction with agencies such as Central Provident Fund (CPF) and Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS), supported by government funding of software for SME employers. What also helped the evolution of payroll is the increasing expectations of the new generation in understanding their payroll clearly and easily.
>> Read More
9. Singapore's 2020 Salary Outlook for HR, Accounting & Finance, and More
Kelly Services' 2020 Singapore Salary Guide, developed in collaboration with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), summaries what professionals across functions – including Chief Financial Officers, regional HR Managers, and more positions can expect to take home this year. The functions that are covered are:
Human Resources;
Accounting & Finance;
Sales & Marketing;
Procurement;
Office Support;
Customer Service
>> Read More
10. What to Consider When Recruiting Amid COVID-19
How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the recruitment market in Singapore?
Callam Pickering, APAC economist at Indeed mentioned that while hiring seems to be showing improvement in most countries, it “hasn’t been the case” in Singapore.
“The impact of COVID-19 has been different here, owing partly to an initial containment of the spread, which delayed the hiring impact,” said Pickering, who's holding an upcoming webinar on the pandemic's impact on Singapore's labour market.
>> Read More
News Recap – 08 Aug to 14 Aug
14 Aug 2020
1. Tracking Workers’ Health with Mobile Apps, Wearable Devices
As the economy and travel gradually restart, migrant workers re-entering both the country and the workforce pose potential COVID-19 risks. To address this, the authorities have turned to digital technology, using tools like apps and wearable GPS devices to keep track of their health and movements.
Senior government officials told The Straits Times that such technological solutions have led to great savings in manpower and resources, and it would be otherwise unthinkable to handle the vast numbers and logistics involved.
>> Read More
2. New COVID-19 Cases Detected at Cleared Dormitories; Workers in Dorms to be Swabbed Every 14 Days
There have been new cases detected at dormitories declared to be cleared of the coronavirus and the authorities are monitoring the situation to manage the risk of new outbreaks.
A joint statement by the Ministry of Manpower, the Building and Construction Authority, the Economic Development and the Health Promotion Board on Tuesday (Aug 11) pointed to fresh infections in cleared dormitories without providing any details on the numbers affected.
It said that safeguards have been put in place to make sure that the intensive efforts spent over the past four months on the dormitories so far do not go to waste.
>> Read More
3. All Dorms Cleared of COVID-19 by Ministry of Manpower as of Aug 11
All dormitories, with the exception of 17 blocks in six purpose-built dormitories which serve as quarantine facilities, have been declared to be clear of the coronavirus by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) as of Tuesday (Aug 11).
This brings to a close a four-month long effort by the authorities since a number of dormitories were first gazetted as isolation areas in April.
With the latest clearance, four in five, or 315,000 workers in the construction, marine and process sectors – which have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus – have been given the green light to resume work.
>> Read More
4. Ministry of Manpower (MOM): National Jobs Council (NJC) Curated 92,000 New Job Opportunities as at End-July
As at end-July 2020, NJC has curated 92,000 new job opportunities and 24,000 jobseekers have been placed into jobs, revealed the inaugural Jobs Situation Report by MOM.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has stepped up support for both the employers and workers. These efforts, which are now coordinated through the NJC, include the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package which aims to support close 100,000 jobseekers by expanding job, traineeship, attachment and training opportunities.
To help jobseekers better access these opportunities, the new Jobs Situation Report will provide weekly updates on the jobs situation in Singapore, highlighting the opportunities available for jobseekers and how they can be accessed.
>> Read More
5. Has COVID-19 Changed Employees’ Expectations of HR?
Head of HR APAC, Yvonne Teo, from ADP shares the ‘clear challenges’ leaders must prepare to face in these turbulent times.
While the future is uncertain, Yvonne Teo, believes the challenges facing HR leadership are clear. Besides the additional pressure from company leaders to perform, the COVID-19 pandemic has also changed employees’ expectations of HR, according to Yvonne’s observations.
Key takeaways from this interview with Human Resources Director media:
Management should trust their employees to perform while working from home
Management should frequently update their employees on Company’s plans and individual performance
Goals of leadership and employees complementary if managed effectively
>> Read More
News Recap – 01 Aug to 07 Aug
07 Aug 2020
1. Foreign Worker Levy Waiver, Rebates to be Extended
Firms in the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors badly hit by the coronavirus crisis will get more help to defray their labour costs, with the Government waiving more months of the foreign worker levy and giving more levy rebates.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), announced the extension of the support schemes on 1st August 2020 (Saturday) and said that $320 million will be set aside to cover the rebates.
>> Read More
2. Travellers who Serve Stay-Home Notice Outside of Facilities After Entering Singapore must Wear Electronic Device
Starting 11th August 2020 (Tuesday), travellers entering Singapore who are serving their stay-home notice outside of dedicated facilities will have to wear an electronic monitoring device throughout the 14 days.
This will apply to all travellers including Singaporeans, permanent residents, long-term pass holders, work pass holders and their dependants, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Ministry of Education (MOE) in a press release.
Any attempt to leave the place of residence or tamper with the electronic device will trigger an alert to the authorities, who will conduct follow-up investigations, except when the person is leaving his or her place of residence for an appointment to take the COVID-19 swab test.
>> Read More
3. 265,000 Foreign Workers Get Nod to Return to Work
The COVID-19 restrictions have forced firms in the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors to halt work since April, with many still unable to fully resume operations. But the dark days have begun to recede.
As of 4th August 2020 (Tuesday), 265,000 foreign workers in the three sectors have been given the green light to return to work, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Of these, 180,000 are residents in dormitories. This is a 73 per cent increase from a fortnight ago, when just 104,000 workers in dorms were allowed to do so, MOM said in a statement on Tuesday.
>> Read More
4. Steps to Ease Movement Curbs, Boost Well-Being of Migrant Workers in the Works: MOM
Plans are in the works to better support migrant workers’ mental health and allow them more freedom to leave their dormitories. Stress, caused by quarantines and uncertainty over personal health, families and jobs, has been building up amongst migrants workers.
Attention has been called to the psychological impact of movement restrictions on the vulnerable and low-paid group since the pandemic started.
Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamed said there will be a “relaxation from the current position” to explore ways for workers to safely leave the dorms, for example through staggered rest days.
>> Read More
5. 11 Skills that Make Remote Workers Successful
It takes a new type of worker to survive the “new normal”. With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the business landscape, hiring managers are now on the lookout for professionals who can meet the demands of remote and flexible work arrangements.
How does one succeed in this new environment? Hiring managers identified the following skills as the most crucial to remote work:
Time management (77.2%)
Working well independently (61.2%)
Self-motivation (44.2%)
Organisation (44.2%)
Self-sufficiency (41.7%)
Technology literacy (34%)
Interpersonal skills (32%)
Proactive communications (28.2%)
Managing expectations (24.8%)
Proactiveness (19.4%)
Consistent communication (18.9%)
>> Read More
6. 47 Employers Added to Watchlist for Suspected Discriminatory Hiring Practices
47 employers – most of which are from the financial and professional services sectors – have been placed on a watchlist of companies with suspected discriminatory hiring practices, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on 5th August 2020 (Wednesday).
The 47 companies collectively hire about 2,000 employment pass holders and more than 2,800 local professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
They were added to the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) watchlist “as their workforce profiles indicate that they may have discriminatory hiring practices”, said MOM in a press release.
>> Read More
News Recap - 18 Jul to 24 Jul
24 Jul 2020
1. Singapore’s Largest Dormitory With 16,000 Workers Cleared of Coronavirus
Singapore’s biggest dormitory for migrant workers has been declared free of the coronavirus after it had recorded one of the earliest and largest clusters among dorms.
Sungei Tengah Lodge was one of 69 more dorms of various types cleared by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) as of yesterday, bringing the total number cleared to 891.
Around 247,000 workers either have recovered or were tested to be free of the virus – more than 75 per cent of the 323,000 people residing in dorms.
>> Read More
2. 354 New COVID-19 Cases In Singapore, Including 8 In Community And 5 Imported From India
Singapore has confirmed 354 new cases of COVID-19, including eight that are in the community, five that are imported and 341 who are migrant workers staying in dormitories.
In a press release on Thursday (July 23), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the five imported cases include two permanent residents, two work pass holders and one dependant’s pass holder.
>> Read More
3. Comeback Strategies: 9 Ways For Companies To Return To A “New Normal”
Employers realised that returning to the workplace was not the same as compared to pre-pandemic times, and is actually more complicated than what they perceived.
Whether employees are telecommuting or working on-site, one thing we know is that a new shape of work will emerge. As the pandemic unfolded in stages, economic recovery will also likely happen in stages:
Return safely to work
Navigate a dynamic environment and ready the workplace
Re-examine remote, flexible and blended working
Delegate non-core activities to focus on priorities
Return to stability
Clarify priorities and realign around “the new minimum”
Focus on cost containment and zero-basing design
Use transformation as an optimisation strategy
Return to energy
Support the workforce – mentally, physically and financially
Reconfirm the organisation’s purpose and value
Design an energising employee experience
>> Read More
4. 4 Things HR Can Do To Sustain Engagement In A Remote Workforce
During this COVID-19 pandemic, HR has tirelessly supported business continuity and keeping employees safe, healthy, and productive. Ever since Singapore entered the circuit breaker, and employees were forced to telecommute, it became necessary for them to move certain processes virtual. A survey by Kerry Consulting found that the adoption of e-onboarding and e-exit has been very popular during the circuit breaker, with 83% of respondents following clear processes along with the use of video calls and other specific e-practices whenever possible.
HR can adopt the following to sustain Employee Engagement:
Virtual Team Building
Digital Learning & Development
Communication & Feedback
Health & Wellness Activities
>> Read More
5. Google Supports 3,000 Singaporean Through On-The-Job Training, Local Office Placements, Training Courses And More
Google has collaborated with Economic Development Board (EDB), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), to launch Skills Ignition SG - a jobs and skills training initiative for 3,000 local entry-level and mid-career jobseekers in Singapore.
Currently under Skills Ignition SG, there are two programmes being offered:
On-the-job training and opportunities
Skills upgrading
In April this year, Google and UOB announced the expansion of the SME Leadership Academy, thus increase the capacity by ten-fold to help 4,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by the end of 2021. Since its expansion three months ago, the programme has trained over 1,000 SME workers in the retail and tourism sectors.
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6. Staying Ahead Of The Curve In A Post-Pandemic World
“Be ready with new skills, not just any skill but those that are related to your workplace by paying attention to the emerging skills and trends in your industry”. This statement is mentioned by Patrick Tay Teck Guan, MP-Elect for Pioneer SMC, Asst Secretary-General, NTUC, in this exclusive interview with Human Resources Online.
The past few months have been fraught with uncertainty for what the future holds and how we can pull through this COVID-19 pandemic. As we progressively move towards the reopening of the economy, the questions pondering on our minds are: What’s next? How do we brave through a post pandemic era, and prepare ourselves for the future ahead, when we don’t even know what the future holds?
The interview is primarily talking about upskilling and training and the focus on how we can learn new skills and future-proof ourselves in this post-pandemic era.
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7. Case Study: Approaching Personalised Learning Through The Lens Of The Learner
What if you could customise your training plan through an application? Christopher Schultz, Director, Group Learning & Organisation Development, puts himself in the learner’s shoes for a personalised Learning & Development strategy, in this exclusive interview with Human Resources Online.
Some key takeaway points from the interview session:
Learners would appreciate if an app would tell them what their learning goals are
Address issues pertaining to training through an application is vital
>> Read More
News Recap - 11 Jul to 17 Jul
17 Jul 2020
1. Resuming Business Activities Make Sure You Have These Safe Management Measures In Place
With more businesses in Singapore resuming activities during Phase Two of reopening, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has put together a checklist of safe management measures required at the workplace for the resumption of business activities, as well as what companies must be prepared to show when inspected by any government agency.
Employers in Singapore should note that the Government will take action against errant employers, including the cessation of operations and enforcement. While this checklist is released by Singapore's MOM, we're confident it will come in handy for HR leaders across the region as your organisations prepare to resume business activities over the next few weeks/months.
The checklist has been split into four key parts (click on the link to jump straight to each part):
Take care of your workers
Take care of the workplace
Take care of workers who become unwell at the workplace
Implement a system of safe management measures at workplaces
>> Read More
2. Singapore Researchers Discover Antibodies that Can Neutralise Virus, Paving Way For Better Treatment
The search for antibodies that can neutralise the coronavirus in a Covid-19 patient can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, but researchers in Singapore have prevailed.
They have found antibodies, a key element of the human immune system, that bind to four important sites of the coronavirus.
In binding to these sites, the antibodies prevent the virus from either hijacking a human cell, or replicating inside of it.
>> Read More
3. New Contact Tracing Device And Check-in System On Trial At Worksite
Surbana Jurong is trialling the use of a new contact tracing device and digital check-in system to have more visibility and control over the social encounters of Covid-19 patients to minimise infection spread at worksites.
The move is said to be necessary to avoid contributing to another wave of infections and business shutdowns.
The technology on trial is developed by Temasek Holdings-owned cryptographic technology specialist D'Crypt, and could potentially complement the national contact tracing device TraceTogether Token and mandatory digital check-in system SafeEntry at workplaces.
>> Read More
4. Singapore Enters Technical Recession As GDP Dives 12.6%
The economy took a far bigger hit than expected in the second quarter as the circuit breaker took its toll and sent the country into its first technical recession in 11 years.
Gross domestic product (GDP) dived 12.6 per cent compared with the same period last year - markedly more than the 10.5 per cent drop economists tipped in a Bloomberg poll.
It is also much worse than in the first quarter, when GDP fell by a revised 0.3 per cent, marking the first time growth had turned negative in a decade.
>> Read More
5. More Covid-19 Cases Among Migrant Workers Expected As More From Higher-Risk Dorms Are Tested
More Covid-19 cases could arise among migrant workers in dormitories over the next few days because more will be tested after completing their isolation period, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday (July 14).
Some of the workers come from dormitories with a higher prevalence of Covid-19, which is expected to lead to increased case numbers, it added.
More than 215,000 workers have been tested and cleared so far - comprising around two-thirds of those living in dorms, MOH noted.
>> Read More
6. Leadership And Career Enablement Top APAC's Learning List Amid COVID-19
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, learners are moving away from job-specific knowledge to soft skills - specifically leadership and career enablement.
Digging deeper, Tigerhall pointed out that this trend suggested that users were looking to learn insights on embracing change and disruption, communicating effectively as leaders, making hiring and firing decisions, as well as managing a team that is working remotely; aptly reflecting the challenges faced by professionals in mid-level positions and above in their efforts to help their teams and organisations navigate the ongoing economic crisis.
>> Read More
7. How To Build A Meaningful Partnership Between Functional Leaders And The HR Manager?
Meaningful business partnership (BP) between functional leaders and their respective HR manager can be valuable in successfully managing functional groups. Especially, in global settings, with employees from different culture and customs, under different sets of laws of the lands, forming BP with the local HR becomes all the more important for functional leaders for effective management of the foreign branch office.
>> Read More
8. Digital transformation and leadership tips from head of HR at JLL
Winnie Tsien, Head of Human Resources for Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan at Jones Lang LaSalle, reveals how she made the switch from social worker to HR, her leadership style, the challenges of digital transformation, and why dealing with people is the greatest challenge of all.
Some key takeaway points from the interview session:
Be resilient, positive and patient when it comes to digital transformation
Be an inclusive and transparent leader to see things in a bigger picture
>> Read More
News Recap - 04 Jul to 09 Jul
09 Jul 2020
1. 7 More Worker Dorms Cleared of COVID-19 Patients
Seven worker dormitories have been cleared of patients who test positive for the COVID-19 virus, and now house only recovered individuals and those who have recently tested negative for the virus.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday (July 8) that the inter-agency task force has been clearing dormitories through aggressive testing of migrant workers residing in dormitories.
The seven dormitories, which are also now closed clusters, are at Tuas South Street 12, 109 Ubi Avenue 4, 11 Defu Lane 1, 12 Kwong Min Road, 18 Woodlands Industrial Park E1, 55 Genting Lane and 6 Tuas View Square.
>> Read More
2. Long-term Effects of COVID-19 Infection Being Studied in Singapore
More than 500 COVID-19 patients here who have recovered are part of an ongoing study to monitor the long-term effects of infection. The effort, which will continue for up to two years, is helmed by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).
Numerous studies worldwide have found that the disease can wreak havoc on almost every organ, including the kidneys, liver, heart and brain. Patients have died not only from lung failure, but also from kidney failure, blood clots, liver abnormalities and neurological manifestations.
>> Read More
3. Malaysia May Announce Decision on Reopening of Borders for Green Zone Countries Soon
Malaysians and Singaporeans may soon have a better idea about the reopening of Malaysia's borders, as its Minister of Foreign Affairs has announced that negotiations are ongoing.
In a Facebook post yesterday (6 July), Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said these negotiations are on, especially on agreements in the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) category, which includes Singapore, Brunei, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia in the green zone previously announced by Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
This RGL was introduced to facilitate travel between these countries, either for official purposes or essential business; at the same time, a Periodic Commuting Agreement (PCA) will enable Singaporeans and Malaysians who are also long-term pass holders to return home periodically on a short-term basis.
>> Read More
4. How Digital Twins Help Achieve Business Continuity in Changing Times
Implementing or enhancing digital twins will help companies prepare for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity that is likely to continue into 2021 and beyond.
Business continuity refers to maintaining, adjusting or rapidly resuming business functions in the event of a major disruption. Most major organizations have continuity plans in place that cover dealing with critical system/network failure, cyberattacks, hurricanes or price fluctuations in critical materials but not for pandemics.
Since the declaration of the pandemic, many supply chain professionals have had to learn how their organizations were adapting and achieving business continuity by leveraging digital twins.
>> Read More
5. How Confident are Millennials and Gen Zs in Their Employers' Response to the Pandemic?
In times of crisis - such as the current COVID-19 pandemic - how governments respond is one thing, but how the employer responds is also critical in building up employee confidence.
In fact, in the recent 2020 Deloitte Global Millennial Survey, a number of Millennials and Gen Zs surveyed around the world found themselves more loyal to their employers based on how they handled the ongoing pandemic.
For instance, of the 9,102 individuals surveyed across 13 countries between April and May this year, two-thirds said they were pleased with the speed and manner in which their employers had acted; at the same time, about six in 10 (60%) believed these actions made them want to stay with their employers for the long term.
Additionally, in terms of mental health, about 60% said their employers had taken actions to support their mental wellbeing during this period, with a majority saying their employers had sacrificed profits to help them and their clients/customers.
>> Read More
6. Suite Talk: Ohmyhome's CEO on Why You Should Treat Your Team as Family
In an exclusive interview with Rhonda Wong, CEO and co-founder of Ohmyhome (housing property company), hosted by Human Resource Online, she shares with us her beliefs in treating her team like her own family and tips for employee retention.
Some key takeaway points from the interview session:
Inspiring your team is important, as retention rates can increase
Adopting an “open-door policy” where your employees can approach you readily
Constantly thinking on ways to bring out the talents of the individuals
>> Read More
News Recap - 27 Jun to 03 Jul
03 Jul 2020
1. Phase two will likely stay in place for months
Restrictions such as limiting gatherings to groups of five people or fewer will likely remain for sometime despite more activities resuming under phase two of Singapore's reopening, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said yesterday.
Mr Wong told a virtual press conference that phase two, which started two weeks ago, will run for months before the next level kicks in.
>> Read More
2. Keeping organisations in Singapore running during COVID-19
The onset of Covid-19 and mandatory lockdowns across the globe left organisations with limited time to react. Businesses had to keep delivering quality service to their customers, while simultaneously ensuring that employees are treated with compassion, and given the support they need to stay safe.
Maintaining the safety of workers means businesses must deploy robust and smart solutions to enable new ways of working remotely from the office. Contact centre services also need to be quickly upgraded to avoid disruption to customer service. Members of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network (APN) are leveraging the cloud and implementing innovative solutions to help organisations adapt to this new environment.
>> Read More
3. 78 more migrant workers dormitories cleared of COVID-19
Another 78 migrant workers dormitories have been cleared of COVID-19, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Tuesday (June 30). This brings the total number of migrant workers cleared of COVID-19 to 87,000 as of Sunday, said the ministry in a media release. The figure includes those residing in Government-provided accommodation facilities as well.
The latest cleared dormitories comprise 72 factory-converted dorms and six construction temporary quarters, said MOM. Three blocks for recovered workers in three purpose-built dormitories have also been cleared of COVID-19.
>> Read More
News Recap - 20 Jun to 26 Jun
26 Jun 2020
1. MOM warns of phishing campaign using fake e-mail address with COVID-19 support fund as bait
A potential phishing campaign designed to steal personal data and financial information of individuals and companies is being planned by hackers using a fake Ministry of Manpower (MOM) e-mail address, warned the Ministry on 19th June 2020, Friday.
MOM said the hackers are planning to use the e-mail to trick people, using the COVID-19 support fund as bait to get them to share private data.
“The hackers plan to use a spoofed MOM e-mail address (covid-support[@]mom[.]gov[.]sg) and using the COVID-19 support fund as a lure to get recipients to click on the embedded phishing link,” MOM further elaborated.
>> Read More
2. 31 more dorms COVID-19 free; 79,000 migrant workers in total cleared of COVID-19
Thirty-one more dormitories – which houses about 3,700 residents – have been cleared of COVID-19, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on 23rd June 2020 (Tuesday).
In a press release, MOM said that the dormitories comprise 27 factory-converted dormitories and four construction temporary quarters. In addition, four Blocks for Recovered Workers (BRWs) within three purpose-built dormitories have also been cleared.
In total, 163 dormitories and 18 BRWs in 11 purpose-built dormitories have so far been cleared of COVID-19.
MOM further added that as of 22nd June (Monday) about 79,000 migrant workers have been cleared of the virus, including those who are residing in government-provided accommodation facilities. Those cleared of the virus are a mix of workers who have tested negative as well as those who have recovered from infections.
>> Read More
3. Most migrant workers expected to be cleared of coronavirus by end-July
By the end of next month, about 70 per cent to 80 per cent of foreign workers staying in dormitories in Singapore are expected to be cleared of the virus, allowing them to resume work.
National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, in disclosing this at a virtual briefing yesterday, said these workers “would have either recovered or tested free of the virus”.
"So we are controlling the infection in the community, and we are continuing to make progress to clear the migrant worker clusters and the dormitories, and allow the workers to resume work safely," said Mr Wong, who co-chairs a task force combating the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore.
He added that the authorities hope to test and clear the remaining 20 per cent of workers of the virus in August.
>> Read More
4. New licensing conditions for employment agencies from Oct 1 to ensure they consider Singaporeans fairly
New rules are being introduced to ensure employment agencies recruiting candidates on behalf of employers consider Singaporeans fairly for vacancies.
The agencies will need to fulfil this and other new conditions to be licensed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) from 1st October 2020 onwards, said MOM in a statement on 22nd June 2020 (Monday).
It added that employment agencies with good hiring practices will be chosen as "placement partners", to help local job seekers secure jobs and traineeships under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package.
This comes as the Government moves to strengthen job opportunities for Singaporeans amid the more difficult labour market conditions as a result of COVID-19.
>> Read More
News Recap - 13 Jun to 19 Jun
19 Jun 2020
1. MOM issues fines, orders closure of workplaces for failing to comply with SMM
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has issued 52 fines and ordered seven workplaces to cease operations over lapses in Safe Management Measures (SMM) as at Monday (15th June) afternoon, following the lifting of Circuit Breaker measures earlier this month.
Six of the workplaces ordered to close were found to have many employees on site despite them being able to do their work at home, while the seventh was due to multiple lapses in implementing said measures.
>> Read More
2. All workers in dorm must activate contact tracing app by Friday
MOM stated that all workers staying in dormitories will have to download and activate the national contact tracing app TraceTogether by Friday. The requirement applies to work permit and S Pass holders in the construction, marine and process sectors.
From Saturday, being registered on TraceTogether will become one of the criteria workers have to meet on SGWorkPass – another app – in order to be allowed to leave their dormitories and go to work.
>> Read More
3. Migrant workers to remain in dormitories on rest days in Phase 2 of reopening
To prevent a wave of new COVID-19 infections, migrant workers will continue staying within their dormitories on their rest days as Singapore moves to Phase 2 of its reopening.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) added that when the infection rates in the community as well as the dormitories can be “sustained at lower levels for a longer period of time”, workers at cleared dormitories and blocks will have the opportunity to leave their dormitories to run personal errands at approved locations.
>> Read More
4. More long-term pass holders can return, but need prior approval
More long-term pass holders can return to Singapore during phase two of the country’s reopening, said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong.
But they have to get prior approval before entering Singapore, although the authorities have gradually approved more applications as the situation improves – especially for those with deep roots here or facing exigent circumstances, he added.
Mr Wong said government agencies, in particular the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), have received appeals and are working their way through the list.
>> Read More
5. “Stay Healthy, Go Digital” Campaign by IMD
With the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent implementation of the circuit breaker, Infocomm Media Development & Authority (IMDA) launched the “Stay Healthy, Go Digital” campaign in March 2020 to help businesses in different sectors cope with the changes in the business environment.
The campaign aims to help businesses to remain operational by adopting digital solutions, when a substantial amount of the workforce is now working from home (WFH).
Solutions which are very useful for this period includes Remote Working Tools, Laptop-bundles, and Temperate Taking solutions. Additionally, the solutions found within this campaign are either priced “Free”, “For a Limited-Time Offer” or “Supported by the Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG)”. To help alleviate the financial concerns of adopting these solutions, the PSG support has also been increased from 70% to 80% until 31st December 2020.
For more information on the campaign, please click here.
For a curated suite of technology solutions, please refer to the Digital Solutions Directory or SME Portal.
News Recap - 06 Jun to 12 Jun
12 Jun 2020
1. Strong monitoring, meritocratic government, tech abilities aided Singapore’s battle against COVID-19
Strong monitoring and detection, a meritocratic government and a “high degree” of technological sophistication helped make Singapore one of the safest places to live during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those qualities helped Singapore execute effective quarantines as well as social distancing and mandatory mask-wearing, the Deep Knowledge Group survey of 200 countries and territories said.
The report credits Singapore’s use of location data, video camera footage and the app TraceTogether, which tracks and records close encounters with infected people, for helping to contain the virus.
>> Read More
2. 5,500 migrant workers from 40 dorms approved to resume work in Singapore
Some 5,500 migrant workers from 40 dormitories here were cleared to resume working from 9 June 2020, Tuesday, following the completion of necessary preparations. They were among the first batch of 60 dormitories that the Government declared clear of COVID-19 infection last week.
The remaining 20 dormitories are still in the process of making the necessary arrangements that would allow their residents to resume work. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) also said that another 30 dormitories were added to the COVID-free list on Tuesday.
These 30 dormitories include a purpose-built dormitory (PBD), 14 blocks of recovered workers in eight PBDs, and 29 factory converted dormitories (FCDs) and construction temporary quarters (CTQs). Once they make the necessary preparations as instructed by the Government, their 8,400 migrant workers will be able to return to work.
>> Read More
3. Singapore chatbot helps doctors monitor migrant workers’ health in real time
A chatbot powered with artificial intelligence technology has been put to use at six migrant worker dormitories in Singapore, to allow doctors to monitor residents’ health in real time and intervene quickly when necessary.
The platform, named SGDormBot, was developed by National University Health System (NUHS) in partnership with AI health care start-up, Bot MD.
Using widely available social messaging applications such as WhatsApp, the bot reminds infected residents in the dorms to monitor their temperature, heart rate and oxygen levels, using their native language. The bot also sends NUHS clinicians a text message alert whenever there are abnormal vital signs reported, allowing them to intervene quickly through remote consultations.
>> Read More
4. 12 Practical Ways Remote Workers Can Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle
While working from home is a great fit for many people, it comes with its own set of challenges. Remote workers are usually operating from their own desks at home. Without intending to, they can fall into a very sedentary lifestyle that could lead long-term negative health consequences.
Here are 12 tips shared by Forbes to keep moving and stay healthy, all while working from homes:
1. Add exercise to calendar
2. Make self-care a priority
3. Make exercise more productive
4. Find ways to be active while working
5. Maximise technology
6. Use a fitness tracker
7. Try an online timer
8. Stand and walk in place
9. Take breaks away from desk
10. Set clear boundaries
11. Mark meetings that allow for walking
12. Find activities that motive you
Click here to read the tips in detail.
5. WSH Alert Accident Advisory
There were 2 advisories issues by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council between last Saturday and today.
Grace period of 2 months for mandatory Safety and Health Management System (SHMS) audits upon resumption of workplace operation
With the phased and controlled resumption of work activities announced by the Multi-Ministry Taskforce, workplaces with mandatory SHMS audits due during the Circuit Breaker period will be allowed to have the audit conducted within 2 months from the resumption of workplace operation. For example, workplaces that resumed operation on 2 June 2020 must conduct the next mandatory SHMS audit by 2 August 2020.
Please click here to read the full bulletin.
Accident Notification: Worker fell off parapet wall
On 2 June 2020, two workers were carrying out repair works on a sawdust extractor that was positioned next to a parapet wall. To reach the side of the extractor, one of the workers stood on the parapet wall, lost his footing and fell 12 metres to the ground. The worker was conveyed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Please click here to read the full notification.
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