HR News and Updates | AUGUST 2022
Posted on 30 August 2022 in Business | Anna Beatrice
Let’s take a look at Singapore’s top HR news, updates and insights for August.
Four Individuals Convicted of Operating Employment Agencies Without a License
Four individuals who are all family members have been convicted of running separate employment agencies without a license in Singapore. They were convicted of multiple offences where they have been fined a total of $112,000 for violations against the Employment Agencies Act.
Following the conviction, they were permanently debarred from operating in the employment agency industry. MOM also called for members of the public who are aware of agencies that are overcharging to confidentially report the matter to them.
Read OnSingapore to Update Vaccination Requirements for Selected Work Pass Holders
Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced updated vaccination requirements for work pass and LTP applications, renewals of existing work passes for work permit and S Pass holders in CMP sectors, and more.
COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to be a condition for the approval of all new applications for long-term passes and work passes. For renewal applications, vaccination will also continue to be required for the renewal of existing work passes for the following groups of work permit, training work permit, and S Pass holders.
Meanwhile, all other pass holders will need to be fully vaccinated to apply for new passes. These revised vaccination requirements will take effect from 1 October 2022.
Read OnSingapore to No Longer Require Mask-Wearing in Most Indoor Areas
Starting on 29 August 2022, wearing a mask will no longer be required indoors in Singapore. Similarly, private transport modes such as taxis, school buses and private bus services, also no longer require passengers to wear a mask.
As part of this updated mandate, masks will still be required on transport modes such as the MRT, LRT, and public buses, as well as in indoor public transport facilities such as boarding areas at bus interchanges and MRT platforms.
Read OnSingapore Aims to Have 10,000 More People with Disabilities in Employment
Due to the small increase in disability (PWD) employment rates since last year, the government has implemented initiatives to help organisations accommodate PWDs. They include a wage offset scheme and grants to help offset physical modifications that businesses may need to make workplaces more accessible.
SG Enable also offers disability employment training to businesses looking to be more inclusive and said in the last year they have seen more employers engaging their training than any other year.
Read OnClose to Six in 10 SMEs in Singapore Have Only Enough Cash to Last Them Less than Six Months
In a recent survey by UOB, Accenture and Dun & Bradstreet, some 58% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore have a financial runway that can sustain them for less than six months,
It is also said that SMEs in Singapore face new challenges like high inflation and rising interest rates, and are concerned about the increasing costs of raw materials, rents and utilities.
Read OnIs It True That HR Is Not Your Friend?
The former VP of HR at Microsoft, Chris Williams, shared his thoughts on employees seeking someone in HR to listen to their concerns, in which he said that HR is rarely the best place to turn to for help.
"If you have a problem with another employee, especially your manager, and you decide to involve HR, you're not enlisting someone on your side. Instead, you're involving the company in the issue", says Williams.
He also recommended the workers to seek help outside their organisation because they’ll get a more objective perspective not cluttered with politics.
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