Employer Returns for 2025-26 Issued to Hong Kong Employers on 1 April 2026
On 1 April 2026 Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department issued roughly 270,000 profit‑tax returns, 120,000 property‑tax returns and 340,000 employer returns for the 2025‑26 assessment year. Multinational enterprise groups subject to the global minimum tax must now file profit‑tax returns electronically, with a one‑month filing deadline. Employers can prepare and submit all IR56 forms online using the IRD’s web‑based tool, while individuals are urged to use eTAX and iAM Smart for digital filing and signing. A budget proposal also seeks a one‑off 100% tax reduction capped at HK$3,000 (≈$384) per taxpayer, pending Legislative Council approval.
MoU Between SRA, TikTok Shop and WSG to See Deeper Focus on Social Commerce Scene
The Singapore Retailers Association, TikTok Shop, and Workforce Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop social commerce capabilities across the retail sector. The partnership will create training programmes for three new roles—livestream hosts, sellers, and engineers—through job redesign and...
Over-Dependence on AI Ranks as the Top Concern Across Southeast Asian Markets Surveyed
A Milieu Insights survey of 3,000 workers across six Southeast Asian markets finds that over‑dependence on AI is the top workplace concern, cited by 53 % of respondents, outpacing privacy and job‑loss worries. While employees fear erosion of judgment more than...
MOH Releases Details on Updated Salary Guidelines for Community Care Staff in Singapore
Singapore’s Ministry of Health released updated salary guidelines for the community care sector on 8 April 2026, recommending roughly a 7 % increase in total annual compensation for most roles. The new tables detail starting and mid‑point monthly base salaries and median annual...
New Cross-Border Bill in Singapore Covers Provisions on Designated CIQ Zones, Incident Management, and More
Singapore’s Parliament passed the Cross‑Border Railways (Border Control Co‑Location) Bill, clearing the legal path for the Johor Bahru‑Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS Link). The legislation creates designated CIQ zones at Woodlands North and Bukit Chagar stations, allowing Malaysian and Singapore pre‑clearance officers to...
Faces of HR: Ramya Balakrishnan's Tips on Ensuring "AI Feels Like Having an Extra 0.5 Headcount by My Side"
Ramya Balakrishnan, VP of Global Talent at Coty, treats AI as an extra “0.5 headcount” that helps her think faster and clearer. She uses AI as a thought partner to brainstorm, pressure‑test ideas, and sharpen clarity while always starting with...
New Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee to Support Businesses, Workers & Households Amidst Disruptions and Rising Cost Pressures
Singapore has formed a Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee to mitigate the fallout from the Strait of Hormuz closure, which has doubled Brent crude to $141 per barrel and LNG to $22 per MMBtu. The committee will secure essential fuels, bolster...
Up the Ranks: Accor Strengthens Its Global Leadership with Appointment of Laurent Choain as Global Chief People & Culture Officer
Accor announced the appointment of Laurent Choain as its Global Chief People & Culture Officer, effective 1 April 2026, adding him to the Group Management Board and the Premium, Midscale & Economy Executive Committee. Choain brings more than three decades of international...
Case Study: Inside Kerry’s Playbook for a Real‑life, Globally Consistent Employee Experience
Kerry Group is redefining its employee experience (EX) by rejecting a one‑size‑fits‑all model and adopting a "globally aligned but locally activated" framework. The approach anchors on three principles—simplicity, responsiveness, and focus on critical moments—while giving regional teams the freedom to...
Olam Group to Divest Mindsprint to Wipro for US$375mn as Part of Its Reorganisation Plan
Olam Group announced the sale of its IT and digital services arm Mindsprint to Wipro for $375 million, part of its Updated 2025 Re‑organisation Plan. The transaction is expected to generate an estimated $310.5 million gain and will see Mindsprint’s 3,200 employees,...
Breaking Barriers: Inside Alicia Yip’s Approach to Culture, Leadership, and Organisational Development in the Automotive Industry
Alicia Yip, Head of Organisational Development & Culture at Proton, has built a holistic framework that ties performance management, leadership development, and cultural engagement into a single system. By listening across generations and cultures, she bridges hierarchical expectations and drives...
10 Arrested, 41 Assisting in MOM's Probe Into Employment-Related Offences in Singapore
On 31 March 2026 Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) arrested ten people, including directors and staff from five construction firms, for suspected fraudulent work‑pass applications. The companies allegedly paid Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions to "phantom" workers—individuals not actually employed—to inflate local...
Faces of HR: Kingley Lim on Why AI Improves People Outcomes when It Removes Work, Not Adds Dashboards
Kingley Lim, Henkel’s APAC Head of Culture, DEI, CSR & Talent, says AI improves people outcomes only when it removes repetitive work, not when it adds more dashboards. He emphasizes that automating routine HR tasks frees leaders to focus on...
Malaysia Government to Maintain Subsidised Petrol Prices as Global Oil Disruption Persists: MOF
Malaysia will keep subsidised fuel prices for another week despite Brent crude topping $100 per barrel and refined gasoline and diesel exceeding $150 and $250 respectively. Retail rates without subsidies rise to RM4.95 ($1.09) per litre for RON97 and RM6.02...
Up the Ranks: Nokia Welcomes Kristen Pressner as Chief People Officer
Nokia has appointed Kristen Pressner as its new Chief People Officer, reporting directly to the CEO and the Group leadership team. Pressner brings more than 30 years of global HR experience, most recently serving as Global Head of People &...
Mainland’s Local Governments Call on Companies to Offer Flexible Work Arrangements for Working Parents During School Holidays
China’s local authorities, led by Suzhou’s municipal government, are urging employers to adopt flexible work and staggered‑leave policies for staff with school‑age children during the spring break and Qingming holiday. The guidance prioritises paid‑leave requests, allows segmented use of annual...
Workers Affected by Twelve Cupcakes Closure to Start Receiving a Portion of Their Unpaid Salaries Effective End-March 2026
Salary recovery for the 80 former Twelve Cupcakes employees has commenced, with the liquidator notifying most workers of payable amounts as of the end of March 2026. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) issued a stern warning after the bakery chain...
Heavy Congestion Expected at Singapore–Malaysia Land Checkpoints over Qing Ming and Good Friday Long Weekend
Heavy congestion is expected at Singapore’s Woodlands and Tuas land checkpoints during the Qing Ming and Good Friday long weekend (April 3‑5 2026). The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has tightened security checks amid heightened global tensions, pushing immigration wait times to as long...
Indonesia to Start Weekly Friday WFH Policy This Month to Curb Energy Use
Indonesia will launch a mandatory work‑from‑home day every Friday for civil servants beginning 10 April 2026. The policy, part of the National Work Culture Transformation, aims to curb fuel consumption and improve energy efficiency amid global supply‑chain uncertainties. The government projects fuel‑related...
Malaysia’s Economy Expanded by 5.2% in 2025, Supported by Broad-Based Growth Across All Major Sectors
Malaysia's economy expanded 5.2% in 2025, slightly above the 5.1% pace of 2024, driven by a 5.5% rise in services, 4.5% manufacturing growth and a 12.2% construction surge, supporting a GDP of roughly $400 bn. Early 2026 data show the Industrial...
Hong Kong’s MPFA Proposes Raising MPF Income Thresholds to HK$10,500 Min and HK$40,000 Max
Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) has proposed raising the MPF income thresholds, moving the minimum from HK$7,100 to HK$10,500 (about $1,340) and the maximum from HK$30,000 to HK$40,000 (about $5,120) per month. The statutory 5% contribution rate...
The 4 Shifts in Global Talent Mobility Every HR Leader Needs to Track, as Shared by OCBC's Joel Leong
OCBC’s Joel Leong highlighted four critical shifts reshaping global talent mobility, urging HR leaders to treat mobility as a strategic capability rather than a logistical function. He noted that assignments now serve dual imperatives—meeting business needs and accelerating talent development,...
April 2026 U-Save and Service & Conservancy Charges Rebates to Be Disbursed From Today, Reaching 1mn Singaporean Households
Singapore’s Ministry of Finance announced that more than one million HDB households will receive U‑Save and Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates starting today as part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme. Eligible families can get up to S$190 (≈ $140 USD)...
Electricity for Households and Town Gas in Singapore to Increase Between 1 April to 30 June 2026
Singapore’s Energy Market Authority will raise household electricity tariffs by 2.1% to S$0.56 /kWh (about $0.41) and the overall tariff by 2.0% to S$0.52 /kWh (≈$0.38) from 1 April to 30 June 2026. The average monthly bill for a four‑room HDB flat rises S$1.80 (≈$1.33)...
Up the Ranks: Sheila Bala Now Wears the Hat of Standard Chartered Malaysia's Head of Talent Acquisition
Sheila Bala has been appointed Head of Talent Acquisition for Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia, overseeing recruitment for both the banking franchise and the Global Business Services hub. Effective March 2026, she reports to the Global Head of TA&D in Singapore...
Singapore's CDA to Roll Out Enhanced Precautionary Measures Against Measles From 1 April 2026
Singapore’s Communicable Diseases Agency will implement enhanced precautionary measures against measles starting 1 April 2026. The policy follows detection of three genetically linked cases in January and 12 additional cases through March, most of whom were unvaccinated. Measures include mandatory testing for...
New Guidelines Coming up for Implementing Competency-Based HRMS in the Philippine Civil Service
The Philippines Civil Service Commission will issue CSC Resolution No. 2600005, a competency‑based HR framework set to take effect in mid‑April 2024. The guidelines require agencies—from national ministries to state universities—to adopt core, leadership and technical competencies for recruitment, performance,...
Yeo Hiap Seng to Cease Operations in Senoko Facility; 25 Affected Employees to Receive Retrenchment Benefits and Support
Yeo Hiap Seng announced it will cease large‑scale can manufacturing at its Senoko plant in Singapore, shifting production to its Johor and Selangor facilities in Malaysia. The consolidation aims to optimise capacity utilisation and improve overall manufacturing efficiency. The Senoko...
Travellers Attending Songkran Festival in Thailand Urged to Monitor Flight Updates Closely as Middle East Conflict Continues
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is urging travelers heading to the Songkran festival to book direct flights or plan well in advance, citing ongoing Middle East conflicts that could affect airspace. The agency notes that UAE carriers have...
Foreign Direct Investments Into Ho Chi Minh City Grow by over 200% in Q1 2026
Foreign direct investment into Ho Chi Minh City surged to nearly $2.9 bn in Q1 2026, a rise of more than 200% compared with the same quarter last year. When measured against the city alone, the increase approaches 480%. Exports for the...
Gig Workers Act 2025: What Employers Must Get Right as Enforcement Kicks in on 31 March
Malaysia will enforce the Gig Workers Act 2025 on 31 March, extending regulation beyond platform operators to any organisation hiring freelance talent. The law mandates clear contracts, transparent payment terms, and registration of gig workers for EPF and SOCSO contributions. Misclassification...
Malaysia's Upgraded Immigration System to Be Expanded to More Checkpoints From 31 March 2026
Malaysia will broaden its National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) to three new checkpoints—Senai International Airport, Bukit Bunga ICQS Complex, and Puteri Harbour Ferry Terminal—starting 31 March 2026. The rollout follows a six‑month pilot that already covered major airports such as KLIA and...
Inflation Rises Y-O-Y in Pahang, Terengganu Across Housing, Utilities, and Essentials in February 2026
Malaysia's Department of Statistics reported that Pahang's consumer price index rose to 2.1% year‑on‑year in February 2026, while Terengganu's inflation climbed to 1.6% year‑on‑year in January 2026. Both states saw price pressures in housing, utilities, and self‑care services, with Pahang...
Activate Malaysian Driving Licence to Qualify for BUDI95 Subsidy in Malaysia: JPJ
Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) announced that drivers must keep their Malaysian Driving Licence (LMM) active—renewed within 36 months of the previous expiry—to qualify for the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) fuel subsidy. Licences inactive for more than 36 months lose subsidy eligibility...
Motorcyclists and Pillion Riders Entering Singapore Can Use Facial Recognition From 31 March
Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority will replace fingerprint scans with facial recognition for motorcyclists and pillion riders at land checkpoints starting 31 March 2026. The rollout begins at 18 automated lanes in Woodlands, expanding to all 70 lanes and later to Tuas...
Workers Are Holding on to Their Jobs While Layoff Pressures Persist: Is ‘Job Hugging’ the New Threat to HR?
HR experts identify a growing "job hugging" trend where employees stay in roles despite dissatisfaction, driven by economic uncertainty and hiring freezes. Workers are trading growth and satisfaction for the perceived safety of their current positions, especially in Southeast Asia...
Family, Cultural, and Social Support Gaps Drive Early End to International Assignments: Study
A new AXA Global Healthcare study of 641 international assignees reveals that nearly half of overseas assignments end prematurely, driven primarily by family concerns, cultural adjustment difficulties, and social isolation. Mental‑health challenges affect 54% of assignees within the first three...
Parents of Singaporean Babies Born From 1 April 2026 to Get up to 10 Weeks’ Shared Parental Leave Under Enhanced...
Effective 1 April 2026 Singapore will expand its parental‑leave framework, allowing eligible parents up to 10 weeks of shared parental leave (SPL) on top of 16 weeks of government‑paid maternity leave and four weeks of paternity leave. The total paid leave entitlement rises to...
Golden Village to Close Tiong Bahru Cinema After 32 Years
Golden Village announced that its Tiong Bahru multiplex will shut its doors on 29 March 2026, ending a 32‑year run in the historic neighbourhood. The closure stems from the decision not to renew the cinema’s lease, prompting the company to consolidate operations...
ITE and BDx Data Centers Partner on Talent Development for Singapore's Digital Infrastructure Sector
The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and BDx Data Centers have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a talent pipeline for Singapore’s digital infrastructure sector. The partnership will give ITE students hands‑on training at BDx’s AI‑ready SIN1 data‑center, embedding...
Philippines' Construction Sector Tackles Youth Skills Gap Amidst Digital and Green Shift
The Philippines’ construction sector, a major employer, is launching a twin digital‑green transition to address a widening youth skills gap. A partnership forum in Quezon City introduced training modules on Building Information Modeling (BIM) and green construction, targeting low‑to‑medium‑skill workers....
ILO Adopts First Global Guidelines on Labour Rights for Professional Athletes
The International Labour Organization has adopted its first global guidelines to extend fundamental labour rights to professional athletes. Covering safety, anti‑discrimination, child protection and harassment prevention, the standards draw on the ILO’s five core principles. The draft will be presented...
GoGet Secures Gold Win for Best Recruitment Portal in Malaysia in 2025
GoGet clinched the gold award for Best Recruitment Portal at the 2025 HR Vendors of the Year Awards in Malaysia, outshining rivals with its rapid candidate matching and highly customizable solutions. The accolade underscores the platform’s ability to deliver talent...
Fewer Residents Left Employment Due to Eldercare Commitments Between 2024-2025: MOM
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower reported that the number of residents leaving the labour force to care for elderly relatives fell from 13,200 in 2024 to 12,300 in 2025, the first decline after a five‑year upward trend. The 2024 figure represented...
Fuel Price Surge Pushes Sydney Agency to Reintroduce Weekly WFH Day
Australian fuel prices have nearly doubled, pushing petrol to about AUD $3 per litre (≈USD $2). Sydney SEO firm UR Digital responded by mandating a weekly work‑from‑home day for its 11 staff, allowing employees to choose the day. The agency...
Faces of HR: Pauline Loo on Leveraging AI to Shift HR From 'Reactive' To 'Predictive'
Pauline Loo, SVP of HR at Nippon Sanso Holdings, explains how responsible AI can shift HR from a reactive, problem‑solving function to a predictive engine that anticipates turnover, identifies skill gaps, and personalises development pathways. By automating repetitive tasks, AI...
Up the Ranks: Robert Stone to Now Lead People & Culture at Omnicom Oceania
Robert Stone has been appointed Chief People Officer of Omnicom Oceania, effective March 2026, arriving from Clemenger BBDO where he served as Chief Talent Officer. He will steer the people integration required after Omnicom Group’s acquisition of Interpublic Group, aligning culture,...
Thailand Activates Crisis War Room to Support Overseas Citizens Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Thailand’s Ministry of Labour has opened a 24‑hour war room to monitor escalating Middle East tensions and safeguard the roughly 77,500 Thai workers stationed in Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The facility will coordinate with the Ministry...
Malaysia’s Economic Outlook Is Expected to Remain Positive yet Measured in 2026: DOSM
Malaysia’s Leading Index rose 0.6% in January 2026 to 113.4 points, buoyed by a 17.5% jump in real semiconductor imports and a 5.7% increase in non‑ferrous metal imports. The index slipped 0.6% month‑on‑month due to weaker money‑supply growth (M1) and a...
Half of Singapore Employees Surveyed Spend at Least an Hour Weekly Reworking AI Outputs, Limiting Productivity Gains
Workday’s survey of 3,200 employees shows that half of Singapore workers spend at least an hour each week reworking AI‑generated content, eroding the expected productivity boost. Despite this friction, 70% say they feel more productive overall and AI tools are...