Spike in wrongful dismissal claims in Singapore in Q2

aseanpr 19 11 月

4 minutes

SINGAPORE - There was a significant spike in wrongful dismissal claims in the second quarter of this year, in tandem with the decline in local employment during that period. A total of 436 such claims were lodged under Section 14 of the Employment Act between April and June, compared with between 209 and 279 per quarter in the preceding four quarters, said a report on employment standards released on Thursday (Nov 19) by tripartite groups and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Many of the claims were lodged by employees who were unhappy over the abrupt manner in which they were let go, due in part to restrictions in face-to-face meetings during the circuit breaker period, and "there is no evidence that more employers terminated their employees unfairly to deny them of retrenchment benefit", said the report. Observers have expressed concern recently about the possibility of more disguised retrenchments, where employers terminate the employment of workers through other means to avoid paying retrenchment benefits. There were 69 claims for retrenchment benefits lodged in the second quarter, which is low, said the report by the MOM, the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and...

SeaPRwire

More Singapore employers investigated for possible discriminatory hiring practices

aseanpr 19 11 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - More employers are being investigated for possible discriminatory hiring practices, said a report on employment practices released on Thursday (Nov 19). 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. This means the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) barred them from hiring new foreigners or renewing the work passes of existing foreign staff for a period of time. About 43 per cent of them were identified through data analytics as part of MOM's proactive investigation efforts. The remaining 57 per cent were identified based on complaints received by the ministry and Tafep, said an MOM spokesman in response to media queries. Errant employers that breach the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices will be barred from hiring new foreign workers or renewing existing ones for 12 months to 24...

SeaPRwire

Covid-19 paralysed 34,000 jobs in the Mice industry – these two Singaporeans are fighting back

aseanpr 19 11 月

11 minutes

The new year had got off to a good start for Mr Dylan Sharma. His wife was expecting their first child and his event management company was set to repeat its strong showing of 2019. Then things took an unexpected turn in late January. Each day brought more bad news of a mysterious viral plague, sending jitters around the globe that trickled down to Tricom Events, which he had set up in 2006 with a business partner, Ms Janice Swee. Singaporeans vs The Pandemic | In Unchartered Waters: The MICE Innovators They had been colleagues at another event company when Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) hit in 2003. “We were mindful that it could be a replay,” said Mr Sharma, 43. Since then, the seasoned event planners have weathered other shocks and jolts — the 2008 global financial crisis, the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, and the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak, for instance. But nothing could have prepared them for the scale of devastation that the Covid-19 pandemic has wrought. The day after Singapore raised its disease outbreak response alert to orange on Feb 7, worried clients called to cancel or postpone events lined up for February and March. The two battle-tested directors were concerned, b...

SeaPRwire

MAS unveils 2021 Year of the Ox coins, which feature Coney Island where bull roamed

aseanpr 19 11 月

3 minutes

SINGAPORE - Collectors can now pre-order the 2021 Year of the Ox coins. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) unveiled the limited-edition coins on Thursday (Nov 19). The coins will be sold by The Singapore Mint, with the last day of pre-orders on Dec 20. Coins that are oversubscribed will be allocated by balloting, said the MAS. The 2021 coin features an ox against the backdrop of Coney Island Park, which the MAS described as "one of Singapore's ecologically sustainable parks with rich biodiversity". The obverse of each coin bears the Singapore coat of arms with the year 2021. A famed but elusive Brahman bull once roamed Coney Island until its death in September 2016. How the bull had found its way onto the island - connected by two bridges to Punggol Promenade and Pasir Ris Coast Industrial Park 6 - has remained a mystery. The National Parks Board first found it while in the process of setting up the 50ha Coney Island Park that opened to the public in October 2015. There will be 10 versions of the Year of the Ox coin that will be issued on Jan 1, 2021. PHOTO: MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE There will be 10 versions of the Year of the Ox coin that will be issued on Jan 1, 202...

JCN Newswire

Fujitsu Chosen for the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for 21st Time

ruth 19 11 月

2 minutes

TOKYO, Nov 19, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced that it has been chosen for inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), the world's leading Socially Responsible Investment (SRI)(1) index. This is the 21st time for Fujitsu to have been included in this index since its creation in 1999.DJSI World is a stock index offered cooperatively by US-based S&P Dow Jones Indices that selects companies for their excellent sustainability, based on an analysis from the perspective of governance and economics, the environment, and society. Annually, 2,500 companies are eligible globally for this designation, and the top 10% of businesses per industry are chosen from the perspective of sustainability. Including Fujitsu, 323 companies were selected for DJSI World in 2020, 39 of which were Japanese companies.Fujitsu achieved high evaluations in the IT services & Internet Software and Services industry group on the basis of its environmental initiatives, such as "Environmental Reporting" and "Climate Strategy", and its efforts related to the area of society, including its "Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy" and "Human Rights" initiatives. Fujitsu will...

ACN Newswire

FE Credit to issue JCB Card in Vietnam

indie 19 11 月

2 minutes

HO CHI MINH & TOKYO, Nov 19, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - VPBank Finance Company Limited (FE Credit) and JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., Japan's only international payment brand announced the launch of the FE Credit JCB Credit Card.FE Credit JCB Plus CardFE Credit JCB Gold CardThe new FE Credit JCB Card has 2 different card grades: FE Credit JCB Plus Card and FE Credit JCB Gold Card. The holders of FE Credit JCB Card can access JCB's acceptance network with about 34 million merchants around the world.FE Credit pioneered Credit Cards for category entrants and first time card users in Vietnam. These two products from FE Credit Card powered by JCB are loaded with features and benefits which resonate with the needs of the target segment. A few examples of these unique offerings are, Oi Plus Program - a flagship loyalty program that rewards cardholders on their everyday spending, EasyPay - one of Vietnam's largest 0% retail installment program, and Selfie PLUS - one-click mobile-to-card image upload solution.About FE CreditA pioneer in Consumer Finance, FE CREDIT has established a solid foundation to become the market leader in the u...

ACN Newswire

Trintech Expands to Meet Demand for Leading Mid-Market Solution, Adra

indie 19 11 月

4 minutes

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE, Nov 19, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Trintech, a leading global provider of integrated Record to Report software solutions for the office of finance, today announced at its virtual Trintech Connect Adra User Conference, the expansion of its Australian Data Centre with an expanded in country team to meet the needs of mid-market customers using its Adra solution in the region. With these investments, Adra customers will benefit from higher performance and robust support for data governance requirements."At Trintech, we are relentlessly committed to ensuring our customers are supported by not only the strength of our solutions, but also the expertise of our people," said Darren Heffernan, President, Mid-Market at Trintech. "This investment reinforces our dedication to ensuring a best-in-class experience wherever our customers are globally. With this newly expanded data centre, our customers can be assured that their data is housed in some of the world's most secure, high-end facilities, offering the highest industry standard levels of uptime, security and reliability - and compliant with governance and financial regulatory policies.""Trintech has several consulting...

SeaPRwire

Asia shares fall as fresh Covid-19 outbreaks overshadow vaccine progress

elean 19 11 月

3 minutes

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Asian stocks followed Wall Street's sharp selloff on Thursday (Nov 19) as concerns about rising coronavirus infections and new shutdowns in major US cities hosed down earlier investor enthusiasm about Covid-19 vaccine developments. Bearish sentiment triggered a late-session retreat in stock markets on Wednesday after a surge in new Covid-19 infections prompted New York City, which has the largest school district in the United States, to halt in-person learning starting from Thursday. The news of the shutdowns overshadowed Pfizer Inc's announcement that its covid-19 vaccine was 95 per cent effective and that the company would apply for emergency US authorization within days. Pfizer's vaccine has a similar effectiveness as the candidate developed by Moderna Inc. "It's like a seesaw, the fight between the growth of Covid and the excitement about the vaccine is really weighing on the market," said Hilary Kramer, chief investment officer for Kramer Capital Research in New York. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 lost 0.5 per cent in early trading, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index futures lost 0.02 per cent. Japan's Nikkei 225 fell 0.4 per cent. New York City joined other larg...

SeaPRwire

Google to integrate bank accounts in payments app

elean 19 11 月

2 minutes

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - A Google bank account? The internet giant said on Wednesday (Nov 18) it would be partnering with commercial banks and credit unions starting next year to allow users to manage mobile-based accounts through the Google Pay platform, in the latest move by tech giants into consumer finance. "People do almost everything on their phones today, but for many, the way they save, pay and engage with their bank has remained unchanged," said Caesar Sengupta, vice president of Google Payments. "That's why we're working with trusted financial institutions to create Plex, a new mobile-first bank account integrated into Google Pay." The Plex Accounts for US consumers will be offered with no monthly fees, overdraft charges or minimum balance requirements, according to Google, which said 11 banks and credit unions were participating. Google at the same time said it was updating its Google Pay app to help users better organise payments to people and businesses. "Instead of showing a stack of cards or a long list of transactions, the new Google Pay app focuses on the friends and businesses you transact with most frequently," Mr Sengupta said. The initiative comes with tech giants...

SeaPRwire

Former Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer makes comeback with new app to organise contacts

elean 19 11 月

2 minutes

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer began her comeback to the tech scene on Wednesday (Nov 18) with the launch of a new mobile app aimed at helping people organise their contacts. The start-up created by Ms Mayer after her departure from Yahoo in 2017 unveiled its app called Sunshine Contacts, which "automatically creates a comprehensive set of your personal and professional contacts from disparate places like your phone, online address books, and email," according to the company. "The essential technologies that help us stay connected to those who matter most are antiquated," said Ms Mayer, co-founder and CEO of Sunshine, which was previously known as Lumi Labs. "At Sunshine, we believe there's an immense opportunity to make the mundane magical. It's been an extremely challenging and rewarding problem to tackle and we're just getting started." Sunshine, based in Silicon Valley, has raised US$20 million in capital and plans to launch a series of other applications. The Sunshine Contacts app, which is free and available for the Apple iOS operating system, aims to help users create more organisation of their personal and professional contacts. "If you are li...

SeaPRwire

US stocks sag as New York shuts schools on Covid-19 rise

elean 19 11 月

3 minutes

NEW YORK (AFP) - Wall Street stocks fell for a second straight session on Wednesday (Nov 18), tumbling after New York City ordered public schools closed with anxiety over the coronavirus deepening. Equities were choppy throughout the day, but took a distinct downward path once New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the school closures after the city hit its target of a seven-day average coronavirus positivity rate of 3 per cent. The move came as US coronavirus cases tick higher, with Johns Hopkins University reporting nearly 162,000 new cases in the last day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 1.2 per cent at 29,438.42. The broad-based S&P 500 also shed 1.2 per cent to 3,567.79, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index lost 0.8 per cent at 11,801.60. "This is a tug of war between vaccine excitement and nervous trepidation" about the virus, said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities. Still, Hogan noted that stocks are still at a high level, with both the Dow and S&P 500 ending at records on Monday. Among individual shares, Pfizer rose 0.8 per cent as said it planned to apply for emergency use authorisation of a coronavirus vaccine "within days" fol...

ACN Newswire

HKTDC to Host Five Major Annual Events in Early December

indie 19 11 月

10 minutes

HONG KONG, Nov 19, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is staging five industry-leading events online in early December, namely the HKTDC SmartBiz Expo, HKTDC Hong Kong International Franchising Show, the Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum), DesignInspire, and the Asian E-tailing Summit. Through these brand-new online platforms, numerous industry elite speakers will look at the current business practices of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and examine how they can apply innovative technologies and creative thinking to address the challenges of an evolving market landscape, and to help strengthen their development during the pandemic and beyond.HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang said: "In light of the global pandemic, several HKTDC events are going online, but this doesn't impede our efforts to provide the latest market information and create business networking opportunities. We have been encouraged by the way different industries have proactively participated in our online activities, which helped them make good progress even under the current difficult situation. In order to enhance the competitiveness of local SME...

ACN Newswire

At a time when a safe and healthy home has never been more important, Habitat for Humanity serves 5.9 million more people through new or improved housing

indie 18 11 月

5 minutes

MANILA, Nov 18, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - A safe, decent, and healthy home has been the first line of defense for families around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the work of Habitat for Humanity, more than 5.9 million people accessed better housing in the last year, according to the global nonprofit's fiscal year 2020 annual report released today. In Asia and the Pacific region, Habitat has helped more than 1.9 million people have access to better housing.The report highlights how the organization addressed the need for safe, decent and affordable shelter worldwide, under mounting headwinds from the pandemic that restricted some of the ways Habitat traditionally executes its mission. With many of the organization's usual activities affected by the spread of COVID-19 over the course of the fiscal year (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020), its affiliated organizations in more than 70 countries and 1,100 communities across the United States found ways to adapt and continue serving."While this year has brought many challenges and heartaches to communities we serve across the world, I'm grateful that Habitat has had an opportunity to serve so many families when they needed it ...

ACN Newswire

Epazz DeskFlex Booking Software’s COVID-19 Compliance Helped Increase Overall Revenue in the Third Quarter to $410,000 Unaudited

indie 18 11 月

5 minutes

CHICAGO, IL, Nov 18, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Epazz Inc. (OTC: EPAZ), a provider of mission-critical cloud-computing software solutions and blockchain business solutions, announced today that the DeskFlex room booking software continues to attract more global clients from real estate and telco companies amid the COVID-19 pandemic, helping increase overall revenue to over $410,000 unaudited for the third quarter.According to a recent report on the real estate software market, global real estate software market demand will grow from USD $9M in 2019 to USD $18M by the end of 2025 at a compound annual growth rate of 11.57%. The report highlights the cumulative impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior changes, purchasing patterns, demands, rerouting of the supply chain dynamics of the current market and government mandates. The real estate software market is expected to provide reliable and relevant automation across banking management, facility management, integrated workplace management and asset management to companies worldwide. Because of the continued COVID-19 threat, workers are demanding safer offices and alternates with flexible work hours. As of the present, there is no availabl...

JCN Newswire

Eisai Selected for Membership in Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index 2020 for Seventh Time

ruth 18 11 月

3 minutes

TOKYO, Nov 18, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced today that it has been selected for a membership in the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI Asia Pacific), the Asia Pacific version of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), which are a family of premier global indices for socially responsible investment (SRI). This marks Eisai?s seventh selection.The DJSI family was jointly established between RobecoSAM AG (Switzerland) and S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (United States) in 1999 and assesses the corporate sustainability performance of eligible member companies based on economic, environmental and social criteria. The DJSI is one of the important investment criteria for the investors around the world who emphasize on corporate initiatives for improving non-financial value focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG).This year, the DJSI Asia Pacific has selected top 158 companies (82 of which are from Japan) from among the approximate major 600 companies in the region. Eisai received high scores in categories such as Innovation Management, Climate Strategy, Environmental Reporting as well as Human Rights.In addition to the DJSI Asia Pacific,...

JCN Newswire

Eisai: Jyseleca (Filgotinib) for Rheumatoid Arthritis Launches in Japan

ruth 18 11 月

3 minutes

TOKYO, Nov 18, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Gilead Sciences K.K. and Eisai Co., Ltd. today announced that Jyseleca (filgotinib maleate 200 mg and 100 mg tablets), a new once-daily, oral, JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitor that preferentially inhibits JAK1, will be launched in Japan on November 18 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with prior regulatory approval by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.Jyseleca is indicated for RA (including prevention of structural joint damage) in patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapies. The therapy has received approval in Japan and Europe.Based on a co-promotion agreement entered into by Gilead and Eisai in December 2019, Gilead will hold the marketing authorization of Jyseleca, while Eisai will be responsible for product distribution of Jyseleca in Japan. The companies will collaborate in product information provision activities in Japan."It is estimated that approximately 600,000 to 1 million people1 are living with RA across Japan," said Luc Hermans, MD, President and Representative Director, Gilead Sciences, K.K. "While RA treatment is advancing, many patients still do not experience sufficient ...

SeaPRwire

Bank of America Awards a New Contract Order to RIWI for over $650,000 USD

pandora 18 11 月

4 minutes

TORONTO, Nov 17, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - RIWI Corp. (TSXV: RIWI) (OTC Pink: RWCRF) (the "Company" or "RIWI"), a global trend-tracking and prediction technology firm, announces that BofA Securities has awarded an initial contract order to RIWI for over US$650,000 under its new three-year long-term agreement (the "Agreement"). BofA Securities represents the Bank of America's institutional broker-dealer businesses, including Global Markets, Investment Banking, and Capital Markets.This new contract order is the first request for RIWI data collection services under the Agreement signed between RIWI and BofA Securities on August 1, 2020. Under the Agreement, BofA Securities enjoys the opportunity to issue additional contract orders for RIWI data collection services - in any country of the world and on a broad range of topics affecting the global economy - up to July 31, 2023. This is the second three-year agreement RIWI has won with BofA Securities to date."This new, exciting work reflects RIWI's commitment to client delivery excellence and our commitment to innovative and proprietary data collection techniques for analysts and economists in diverse sectors and with investment interests ...

ACN Newswire

Global Hospitality Leader Millennium & Copthorne Prepares for Post-COVID-19 Recovery of Hotel Operations

indie 18 11 月

9 minutes

SINGAPORE / LONDON, Nov 18, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - A year after delisting from the London Stock Exchange, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited (M&C), a global hospitality leader, disclosed today major initiatives that will prepare it for a recovery by as early as 2021 from the recent challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.The privatisation granted M&C greater agility and cushioned impact of the pandemic. Lessons learned and operational changes in recent months have helped to lay a much stronger foundation. Properties across the globe have started to show 'green shoots' of improvements in occupancy and Gross Operating Profit (GOP) from the second half of 2020 which are expected to gain momentum in 2021.London-headquartered M&C was privatised on 19 November 2019 after delisting from the London Stock Exchange at a valuation of GBP2.23 billion (S$3.96 billion). M&C operates 66 hotels (seven of which are managed by third parties) in Asia (12), Europe/UK (21), USA (18) and New Zealand (15) under the Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) global brands; and 79 are under franchise and management contracts.M&C, with an inventory of over 40,000 rooms and operations...

ACN Newswire

Hong Kong Firms Maximise Digital Opportunities to Go Global

indie 18 11 月

7 minutes

HONG KONG, Nov 18, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - With the COVID-19 pandemic showing no sign of abating, how can Hong Kong, a city famous for its ability to respond rapidly, harness technology to create new opportunities? Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Electronics & Technologies Association (HKETA), the Symposium on Innovation & Technology 2020 invited experts from various sectors to offer insights into the latest developments, covering topics such as future technology trends, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and cloud applications, the "new normal" for businesses and the latest developments in pharmaceutical technology. Speakers shared their experience in using technology to solve problems, and introduced new ideas that could lead to future opportunities.Nim Cheung, Chairman of Symposium on Innovation & Technology Organising Committee; Charles Mok, Honorary President of Hong Kong Information Technology Federation; Lo Wai-kwok, Legislative Councillor (Engineering); Marcos Chow, Partner & Head of Technology Enablement at KPMG China; and Timothy Tam, Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs (Hong Kong) at Google, sharing in...

JCN Newswire

Honda e Becomes First Japanese Vehicle to Win ‘German Car of the Year’; Adds to Growing Tally of Global Accolades

ruth 18 11 月

4 minutes

TOKYO, Nov 18, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda's first battery-electric vehicle for Europe, the Honda e, has been named 'German Car of the Year 2021' in the country's prestigious annual Car of the Year Awards, becoming the first vehicle from a Japanese brand to do so. The car also won in the "New Energy" category.This is the latest in a series of prestigious accolades to be given to the Honda e since its launch in Spring 2020, including the top honour in the Red Dot Design Awards.The German Car of the Year awards are decided by a jury of leading German car journalists. The panel tests and reviews the latest cars, ranking them according to their usability, driving characteristics, market relevance and level of innovation. The winners of five categories - Compact, Premium, Luxury, New Energy and Performance - then go head-to-head to decide an overall winner."For Honda e to be the first Japanese car to be awarded German Car of the Year is a great honor and one we are incredibly proud to receive," added Katsuhisa Okuda, CO & President of Honda Motor Europe. "Customer and media response to the Honda e since it was first unveiled has been overwhelmingly positive. The Honda e is a perfe...

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