Singapore’s Tech Crunch

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Singapore is one of the world’s best seaports, a business hub in the region. However, Singapore has also set her eyes on transforming into one of the world’s top technology hubs. With tech giants such as Bytedance, Zoom, Grab expanding in the region, the tech recruitment scene should absolutely be bustling to the brim with young, bright talents…that is, until one realises that Singapore is currently facing a tech crunch.

What happened?

Singapore has taken measures to become a technology hub, such as various “Smart Nation” initiatives that aim to integrate advanced technology into daily living. Singapore’s world class quality infrastructure and top tier security has also attracted many major companies to the region, drawing flocks of talented people too. However, due to employment laws that aim to safeguard the livelihoods of locals, which restricts the number of foreign talents that could be hired per company, along with the declining local population, many tech companies find themselves lacking in people to hire for their respective technology related job roles. Despite competitiveness for engineering and computer sciences in local universities increasing, many roles are still left unfilled, and recruiters reported having to search for months before they could find someone to fill the roles.

On the other side of the issue, job seekers have reported seeing stringent low pay for entry-level positions with high requisites, and certain sectors have been reported to be overwhelmingly filled with a skewed ratio of foreigners to local citizens. However, even that is changing as covid-19 has impeded global travel, including the commuting of foreign talents to Singapore, and so companies are in need of more local employees than ever. Hence, it is suggested that companies’ recruitment efforts should reflect the strength of their need for tech talents, and offer attractive salaries and benefits, in order to attract local talents. For exclusive delves into the hidden gems of the local tech scene, companies can consider utilising our recruitment solutions, where we specialise in hiring tech talents.

Hong Kong’s road to recovery: Slowly, but surely

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It has been a long, drawn-out year with the fight against the global pandemic, and as the world shifts its gears to adapt to the new normal, there are finally more optimistic signs observed. Hong Kong, where the unemployment rate in 2020 suffered due to both political protests and the impacts of the pandemic, is finally on a gradual track to recovery.

On 20 July 2021, Hong Kong’s Census and Statistics Department revealed that the unemployment rate has dropped sharply to 5.5% for the 3 month period ending in June. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, this is the lowest the unemployment rate has been. A closer look at the labour market across sectors has also confirmed that unemployment dipped across almost all the major business areas. This is even inclusive of sectors that were severely impacted by the impacts of the pandemic, such as the retail sector, in which the unemployment rate declined by 1.4 percentage points. 

Though figures still remain below pre-Covid rate, joblessness in many business services sectors such as real estate, insurance, and even retail, accommodation and restaurant sectors have dropped in tandem with the improvement of the economy. Data shows that In industries like finance, the number of people acquiring jobs has even grown.  

Undoubtedly, Hong Kong’s local economy is gaining momentum and it is on track to a gradual recovery. Given Hong Kong’s vaccine bubble scheme and the easing restrictions, the local epidemic situation is stabilising and businesses are slowly picking up and starting to hire again. It is still expected for the economic growth to continue experiencing volatility, but as of now, it is still a positive checkpoint for Hong Kong. 

If you are looking to expand your business services to Hong Kong, click here to be redirected to our PEO solutions service page. Connect with our consultants to get a deeper view of Hong Kong’s market outlook today.

This article is written in reference from:

Cannix Yau. (2021, July 20). Hong Kong unemployment rate drops to 5.5 per cent as city brings Covid-19 situation under control. Retrieved July 22, 2021, from South China Morning Post website: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3141811/hong-kong-economy-gathers-steam-unemployment-drops

Malaysia’s MCO: a necessary price to pay?

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In the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia is one of the countries to face a brutal struggle. Fast forward from the start of the pandemic up until today, Malaysia is currently at their 3rd Movement Control Order (MCO), which is a nationwide cordon sanitaire measure to flatten the curve from the third wave of the virus in their homeland. In essence, all economic sectors are allowed to operate, but cross-district and interstate travel, and social/sports activities are strictly prohibited. 

Today, Malaysia’s unemployment rate stands at 4.8%, with the number of unemployed people jumping over 63% in 5 quarters. It is a crisis in itself, with the vicious cycle of businesses struggling to survive and the bleak job prospects in the market worsening the situation. In a study from official data, skill-related underemployment has reached an all-time high at 38%, highlighting the rising desperation of people having to turn to jobs beneath their skillset.

The pandemic has greatly depressed the employment outlook, with an increasing number of graduates unable to secure jobs and uncertainty continues to loom. As of now, even wage-boosting interventions have failed at compelling the labour market to generate higher productivity jobs. With survival at the forefront of businesses’ concerns, a lot more has to be done to extend support to these struggling businesses. As of 28 June 2021, the Malaysian Government has rolled out the Pemulih Stimulus Package, which is a 150 billion-ringgit fiscal spending initiative in the form of unemployment assistance, cash aids and wage subsidies. In this, special grants and support for small and medium-sized enterprises are also included.

Undoubtedly, Malaysia is in a crutch trying to balance the effects of shuttering sectors while shouldering the impact on their economy. However, at all costs, Malaysia is refusing to revert back to MCO 1.0, which is a full COVID-19 lockdown with all sectors shut. Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has firmly explained the risks of doing so, with the threat of a collapsing economy at the forefront. Thus, despite the calls for stricter curbs on the MCO, it is a fragile situation that needs careful management.

If you are looking for a job or talent prospects in Malaysia, you’re in the right place. Connect with our consultants to let them help you find a footing amidst the uncertainty in the Malaysian labour market. Click here to be redirected to our services page for more information.

This article is written with reference from:

Falak Medina, Ayman. “Malaysia’s Pemulih Stimulus Package: Supporting Businesses and Individuals.” ASEAN Briefing, 30 June 2021, www.aseanbriefing.com/news/malaysias-pemulih-stimulus-package-supporting-businesses-and-individuals/. Accessed 13 July 2021.

Hirschmann, R. “Malaysia: Skill-Related Underemployment Ratio.” Statista, Statista, 2 June 2021, www.statista.com/statistics/1240959/malaysia-skill-related-underemployment-ratio/. Accessed 13 July 2021.

Lee Hwok Aun. “Barring Failures to Contain Potential COVID-19 Waves, Malaysia’s Economy and Labour Market Look Poised to Recover, Says a Researcher.” CNA, CNA, 18 Apr. 2021, www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/malaysia-economy-recovery-covid-19-mco-jobs-employment-market-14634452. Accessed 13 July 2021.

4 Reasons why your business needs to engage in PEO services

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Professional Employer Organisation, also known as PEO, is a term quickly gaining traction globally. Especially because we are currently living in the climate of a pandemic, this has forced many businesses to think about engaging PEO services to facilitate their expansion in the international markets. 

If you are here, chances are you are deliberating on whether or not to work with a PEO. Here are 4 reasons why it might be time for you and your business to take the leap of faith.

  1. PEO helps you navigate your business

With COVID-19 throwing many business plans off tangent, we know that expanding abroad might be one of the tougher goals to achieve now. Growing a business overseas is inherently difficult and without the right investment of effort, it is easy to fail because research and experience in the particular market is the key to success for overseas expansion.

This is how a PEO can be your biggest asset. A PEO that has experience in the specific market you want to expand to, can help navigate your business and provide accurate advice with regards to legal issues and more. If you are uncertain of the business culture, HR and employment functions in said country, it is encouraged to work with a PEO that can guide your business and ensure that your business is compliant on foreign grounds.

  1. PEO lets you focus on your business strategy

Hiring employees, addressing compensation, benefits and compliance issues are additional functions that can be labour-intensive and easily neglected if the right resources are not invested to look after them. But by working with a PEO, you can free yourself off taking care of these and focus on your strategic business decisions. Essentially, a PEO will act as a support function for your company to address your HR needs. Furthermore, you are leaving your people in the hands of specialised experts who can professionally manage the HR infrastructure. No more ambiguity, no more hassle.

  1. PEO helps you gain a competitive advantage

This thus enhances your business’s competitive position as well, not just because you can now focus on your strategic goals. Since a PEO helps you in recruitment and employment, you will be in good hands in terms of attracting the right talents that fit your company. Not only that, a PEO can help you save time and cost since PEOs already have direct access to an extensive database of qualified candidates. This can once again help you realign and narrow your focus to just making the final hiring decision.

  1. PEO protects your business

The IRS states that an estimated 40% of small businesses pay an average fine of $845 annually due to avoidable payroll and tax mistakes. All these errors and mistakes can add up to a hefty cost. Penalties aside, payroll mistakes easily kill the morale of employees, which can impact the workforce productivity if left poorly managed. In this aspect of compliance, it can be tricky for businesses that want to expand to markets that operate under different policies and regulations. While it is not impossible to navigate through it yourself, a PEO can take away the stress and provide certainty with regards to protecting your business from avoidable mistakes like such.

Ultimately, working with a PEO can bring obvious advantages to your business. If you are currently looking to expand into the Asian market, we are offering PEO services for specific markets in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Even if you have not made a final decision, feel free to speak with our professional consultants about any enquiries. You can also click here to be redirected to our PEO Services page to learn more about what we offer.

This article is written with reference from:

The European Business Review. (2020, September 28). What does a PEO do and how can it benefit your company? Retrieved June 21, 2021, from The European Business Review website: https://www.europeanbusinessreview.com/what-does-a-peo-do-and-how-can-it-benefit-your-company/

Asia: Salary growths to improve in 2021

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In 2020, many employees suffered a reduction in salary growth due to adverse financial impacts on business from socio-political tensions and the pandemic. The reduction in growth dropped from 4% in 2019 to 2.1% in 2020. That brings to an estimate that 2 in 5 Hong Kong employees were not getting any wage increase at all. 

However, experts have forecasted that there will be an increase in salary growth to an average of 3% in 2021 as businesses remain hopeful of a gradual economic recovery. In the APAC region, lower salary growth rates are observed across all locations as well, but their average forecasted increase in 2021 is relatively higher at 4.3% as compared to Hong Kong.

Real salaries in Hong Kong however – salary after the consideration of inflation – will still be estimated to be low, at a forecasted figure of 0.6% this year. In comparison with Singapore’s forecasted figure of 2.7%, this is an observable gap, which may reflect Hong Kong’s pace in keeping up with remaining competitive economically. 

These forecasts take into account that lesser companies are now implementing salary freezes. A study by ECA International revealed that the average real salary increase across the APAC region is forecasted at 1.7%, which is much higher than the global average of 0.5%. Since the inflation rate in Asia is not too far off the global average, this forecasted increase is attributed to quick adaptation to the pandemic, leading to sustained productivity and hence, possible salary increases.

China is another country to show positive signs of recovery, and China employees can expect to see a 5% salary increase, up from 3.8% in 2020. Real salary growth is forecasted to be an average of 2.3%, slightly behind Singapore. However, China has shown remarkable improvements and resilience in terms of managing the impact of COVID19.

This article is written with reference from:

ECA International. (2020, November 18). Workers in Hong Kong set to see recovery in salary increases in 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from Eca-international.com website: https://www.eca-international.com/news/november-2020/workers-in-hong-kong-set-to-see-recovery-in-salary

Hong Kong: The frozen minimum wage

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On 2 February 2021, Hong Kong Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Law Chi-kwong, announced that the minimum wage will be frozen at HK$37.50 per hour from May 2021 up till 2023. Since the Minimum Wage Ordinance was enacted in 2011, this is the first time that the minimum wage is frozen. 

This freeze is in response to Hong Kong’s current economic recession and high unemployment rates. On top of that, the Hong Kong government believes that by freezing the minimum wage, it can help to minimise the loss of low paying jobs which threatens to further depress the unemployment rate. 

However, concerns have been raised by the HKFTU’s Rights and Benefits Committee with low-income workers in mind. In fact, the members of the committee have been lobbying for subsidies for the low-income workers to mitigate the impact of the frozen minimum wage on their quality of life. Essentially, they are fighting for the Government to offer subsidies so as to make up for the grassroots’ loss of purchasing power. 

This was however rejected as the chairwoman of the Minimum Wage Commission argued that the previous 8.7% wage increase from 2019 has outpaced inflation thus far and hence, this freeze in minimum wage will not adversely affect the purchasing power of the grassroots. Moreover, Secretary Law said that there are other government welfare policies in place such as the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance which can help this group of people. 

Ultimately, this move in freezing the minimum wage is to strike a balance between forestalling excessively low wages as well as reducing the cuts in low paying jobs. 
If you want to know more HR insights about expanding your business in Hong Kong, feel free to connect with us. Or click here to be redirected to more information about employment regulations in Hong Kong. 

This article is written with reference from:

Chau, C. (2021, May 25). Hong Kong freezes minimum wage amid pandemic woes | HRM Asia. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from HRM Asia website: https://hrmasia.com/hong-kong-freezes-minimum-wage-amid-pandemic-woes/

Cheng, S. (2021, February 4). Freezing Hong Kong minimum wage at HK$37.5 an hour is an “insult” to cleaners at Covid-19 frontlines, labour group says | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from Hong Kong Free Press HKFP website: https://hongkongfp.com/2021/02/04/freezing-hong-kong-minimum-wage-at-hk37-5-an-hour-is-an-insult-to-cleaners-covid-19-frontlines-labour-group-says/

Rthk News. (2021, February 2). Govt freezes minimum wage for the first time – RTHK. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from Rthk.hk website: https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1573669-20210202.htm

Singapore: IT as the way forward

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From a global standpoint, it is clear as day that technology skills are required in order to future proof businesses in this growing digital era. It is more important now than ever before to upskill in light of this evolving demand, as companies continue to actively recruit tech talents.

As Singapore inches closer to becoming Southeast Asia’s tech hub, the demand for tech talents is soaring but the difference between the demand and the supply of tech talents continue to widen. With major tech companies like US-based Zoom Communications and China’s Bytedance expanding their operations in the sunny island, the severe tech talent crunch is hampering Singapore’s progress in becoming a regional tech hub. 

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, said in 2020 that the information communications sector demand will surge over the next three years and another 60,000 professionals will be needed. In fact, in September 2020, there were already 10,000 tech-related job postings on government-run career portals. Through industry partnerships, there will also be an expected addition of 6,800 jobs and traineeships by June 2021.

In normal circumstances, companies will typically expand their search towards foreign talent in the face of a talent crunch. However, due to COVID-19, the tightened foreign worker policies is exacerbating the talent shortage in the IT sector. This is driving up wage premiums for IT professionals, and the situation will likely remain status quo for the foreseeable future.

If you are an employer and need help in finding your next tech talent, feel free to speak to us about your business needs and job demands. Click here to be redirected to our services page to browse our sector and category expertise in the IT & Technology industry. 

This article is written with reference from:

The Straits Times Business. (2021, January 27). Singapore faces talent crunch as tech giants scale up. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from The Straits Times website: https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/singapore-faces-talent-crunch-as-tech-giants-scale-up

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Know your HR: Should you outsource your HR?

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With the increasing pressures to cut costs, outsourcing your HR can be an arrangement to help handle your HR functions for your business.

Typically, businesses that face the following challenges are encouraged to outsource their HR:

  • Liability exposures and previous penalties due to HR lawsuits
  • Lack of in-house HR staff to manage HR infrastructure
  • Over focus of HR admin tasks over other business needs
  • Having many variations of compensation rates across a wide range of employees
  • Cost savings and budget constraints 

Recognising your businesses needs vs constraints is important in deciding whether you should outsource your HR. The next step is to decide what type of HR outsourcing your business requires. In summary, there are 2 main options:

  1. Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) 
  2. Human Resource Outsourcing (HRO)

The main difference between the 2 options is whether or not it utilises the co-employment model. For PEO, a co-employment model is used, which means to say that your employees will appear on the books of your PEO partner for legal and tax functions. Essentially, your PEO partner manages all employment matters with regards to the employee. For HRO, a co-employment model is not used, so your employees have a direct employment relationship with you and they remain in your company’s books. However, your HRO partner manages all the HR tasks for you. Depending on what you need help in, HRO offers flexibility by handling a certain HR task for you, like payroll processing.

If you think that your business will benefit from outsourcing your HR, click here to be redirected to our HR Outsourcing page to learn more about what services we offer and how to connect with us.

This article is written with referene from:

Freedman, M. (2020, September 23). Should You Outsource HR? Retrieved June 21, 2021, from Business News Daily website: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15827-outsourcing-your-hr.html

Singapore: COVID-19 hiring trends

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COVID-19 has disrupted various aspects of the job market, and one of the biggest changes is the change in the nature of job openings. According to the annual job vacancies report released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on April 9, it reflected that nearly 35% of the job vacancies last year were for remote roles. Due to job redesigning and reorganising efforts in the face of the pandemic, nearly half of all job vacancies last year were newly created. This is a notable increase compared with the past 2 years.

IT & Technology roles

The first significant trend is the acceleration of demand for IT development roles. Positions such as web developers, data and system analysts are extremely high in demand today. Prior to the pandemic, IT professionals have already been highly sought after. However, the rising need for IT talents is largely attributed to the adjustment towards remote work and the increased dependence on technology during COVID-19. These tech roles aren’t just limited to the IT industry as well. Many sectors like Finance, F&B are quickly advancing towards moving their business model online. Firms are encouraged to work towards upskilling their employees as the demand for tech skills is not expected to slow down in the coming years. 

Healthcare roles

Next, the job demand in the healthcare sector is on the rise as well. Unsurprisingly, the pandemic has amplified the need for more healthcare professionals. Specifically, healthcare assistants and nurses are the positions with strong demand. In August 2020, the Ministry of Health announced plans involving the creation of over 9000 employment opportunities to meet the demand of the healthcare sector. The positions were also offered to candidates without a background in healthcare.

Logistic and supply chain roles

Lastly, due to the pandemic increasing citizens’ reliance on online delivery for food and groceries, Linkedin’s talent management report reflected an increase in demand for talent in the logistics and supply chain management sector. Even in this sector, companies are pooling more resources to invest in technology that can speed up their services.

With the major shifts reshaping the job market, it remains vital for businesses to prioritise workforce planning and continue redesigning the jobs to be future proof. The pandemic serves as a reminder of the power that technology holds, and companies have to continue to adapt in order to expand.

If you are currently in the search of talent, let us help you with the process. Click here to be redirected to our recruitment services page. If you are a jobseeker currently looking for an opportunity, click here to view our job openings and leave your CV with us.

This article is written with reference from:

HRD. (2021, February 15). LinkedIn reveals Singapore’s most in-demand jobs in 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from Hcamag.com website: https://www.hcamag.com/asia/specialisation/recruitment/linkedin-reveals-singapores-most-in-demand-jobs-in-2021/246514

Priya Sunil. (2021, June 2). 86% of Singapore employees surveyed want their employers to invest in tech skills training. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from Humanresourcesonline.net website: https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/86-of-singapore-employees-surveyed-want-their-employers-to-invest-in-tech-skills-training

Yang, C., & Tan, S.-A. (2021, April 9). A third of job openings in 2020 was for remote work; about half were newly created positions: MOM report. Retrieved June 21, 2021, from The Straits Times website: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/jobs/a-third-of-job-openings-in-2020-was-for-remote-work-about-half-were-newly-created

Singapore: Local employment wage changes

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Currently, there is no minimum wage in Singapore. In its place, there is a Progressive Wage Model (PWM), which is a scheme developed to guarantee career and wage progression for workers limited to sectors like security, cleaning, and landscape. Essentially, workers in these specific sectors will be guaranteed progression based on their productivity and skills, which can be enhanced through government-subsidised courses. 

Therefore, the Progressive Wage Model aims to strike a balance for businesses to pay for labour for its worth, while providing opportunities for Singaporean citizens to secure basic capabilities and upskill when possible. The constant issue however, is that the PWM covers too few industries. 

Although there are no minimum wages for the rest of the sectors, there are changes enacted by the Singapore Government to support local employment during these times of crisis. Firstly, there are key changes to foreign work pass policies. Here’s a summary of the changes:

  • From September 2020, the minimum monthly salary for Employment Pass holders was raised from $3900 to $4500.
  • For EP holders in the financial sector, they are subjected to a higher minimum monthly salary of $5000.
  • For mid-skilled foreign workers on S passes, the qualifying salary is raised from $2400 to $2500.
  • These changes have been made for new applicants after September 2020 and will apply to renewal applicants beginning May 2021. 

On top of these changes to foreign work pass policies, there is also the Job Growth Incentive Scheme (JGI) to go hand in hand with the Job Support Scheme in helping expand local employment. Essentially, the JGI aims to support wages for 12 months from September 2020 to 2021, split into 2 phases. Phase 1 begins from September 2020 to February 2021, and phase 2 starts from March 2021 to September 2021. The eligibility criteria however, is that JGI only applies to companies that reflect an increase in overall local workforce size earning ≥$1,400/month. If eligible, the support covers:

  • 25% of the first $5000 of gross monthly salary paid to new local hires. (50% for mature local hires aged ≥40 years or persons with disabilities or ex-offenders)
  • This supportable gross monthly wage will increase to the first $6000 of gross monthly wages paid from March 2021, which is the 2nd phase of the JGI.
  • For mature local hires/persons with disabilities/ex-offenders, government support can be extended beyond the JGI for another 6 months

This article is written with reference from:

IRAS. (2021). IRAS | Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI). Retrieved June 21, 2021, from Iras.gov.sg website: https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Schemes/Businesses/Jobs-Growth-Incentive–JGI-/