eNewsletter

Expatriates in Japan face the highest living expenses in Asia, according to a global survey by ECA International. Tokyo remains the most expensive city both regionally and internationally.

According to the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor, the South Korean government plans to revise the current Labor Standards Act and strengthen work-hour regulations.

There is an emerging social trend in China in which workers are handing in naked resignations. Naked resignations occur when workers quit their current job before finding another job, spending the time in-between to pursue personal interests.

Singapores Ministry of Manpower calls for companies to provide flexible work arrangements to access a bigger labor pool. These flexible work arrangements are expected to allow employers to realize cost savings and improved productivity.

The Chinese government and the All-China Federal Trade Unions (ACFTU) have recently strengthened their promotion of collective wage bargaining.

A recent report by the World Economic Forum found that India ranks 113 out of 135 countries in gender equality in the work place. Only 14% of the companies in India have 40% or more women among their employees.

Singapores new Retirement and Re-employment Act took effect on January 1, 2012. This act allows employees to continue working past the statutory retirement age of 62.

The electronics company Sony Corp. recently revealed that it is moving away from Japans traditional recruitment process. Sony announced in late December that they want to break out of the standard strict hiring process.

Trade union leaders in India have announced that they will hold a joint strike on February 28, 2012. All the Central Trade Unions (CTUs) are demanding better labor laws and effective government implementation of these laws to protect employees interests.

A recent survey in Japan found that 74% of degree-holding Japanese women voluntarily quit their careers. This is a significant 28% more than American women. Many people believe that Japanese women leave for traditional reasons such as childcare.

In the wake of Thailands devastating nationwide flood in October 2011, the government is providing financial incentives for businesses to re-open and hire. These policies will come into effect on January 1, 2012.

President Ma Ying-jeou has announced that he will reduce working hours and regulate unpaid leave in order to fight the current slow economic growth. Ma has also proposed changing current labor laws to decrease unemployment.