South-East Asia – Page 1392

Nurses to receive up to S0,000 in retention scheme with payouts every four to six years

Nurses to receive up to S$100,000 in retention scheme with payouts every four to six years

On: February 20, 2024

Retention schemes recognise that government officers, including nurses, at certain ages or years of service are particularly likely to contemplate leaving for “very valid personal and family reasons”, said the Health Minister. For example, they leave to start a family, further their studies, take care of aged parents or try out a new opportunity.

“A retention scheme signals to these officers, please think twice. Give yourself and give us a chance,” he added.

“As employers, we can help address these dilemmas and trade-offs in life, and help you stay in a career that you will find meaning and continue to make a very positive impact. On your part, if you stay on, perhaps after a while, things do work out after all.”

MOH also introduced a sign-on bonus for fresh nursing graduates in 2023, and public healthcare clusters hired 12 per cent more local fresh nursing graduates last year compared to the year before, said Mr Ong.

Singapore has 65,000 public healthcare workers, and about 24,000 are nurses. Nurses are often the first touchpoint for patients and provide care, comfort and support to patients and their families around the clock, said the Health Minister.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore faced higher-than-usual attrition of foreign nurses, he noted.

MOH Holdings and public healthcare institutions devoted efforts to recruit more nurses, and more than 5,600 of them accepted job offers since the end of 2022. About 4,500 are newly registered, said Mr Ong.

Overall, MOH has made up for the high nurse attrition in 2021 and 2022, he added. “We will continue to sustain this strong recruitment momentum for both local and foreign nurses.”

Some firms concerned about higher business costs when updated local qualifying salary scheme kicks in

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

Most employees in HRS Security Services will now qualify for the cost-sharing initiative.

“Under the previous PWCS scheme, the majority of the security officers, making up about 70 per cent, would not have qualified,” said Mr Singh.

“But right now, with the new enhancement, we now have this group that is covered over the next couple of years, and we will therefore be able to better manage our business costs.”

The company said that the enhanced measure will help it cut costs, and some of the savings may also be passed on to its customers or go towards training programmes.

“The security sector right now is going through a major push for the use of technology,” said Mr Singh.

“So we need subsidies, or whatever savings that we can have can then be channelled to train our security officers (and) our workers to better use technology to enhance their productivity, and that will overall lead to better outcomes.”

Big Joke not summonsed in ‘Minnie’ gambling case

By: Barkar Nash

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

Deputy police chief denies ‘leaked report’

Deputy national police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn confirmed on Tuesday he had yet to be summonsed over his alleged links to online gambling websites allegedly run by young woman known as “Minnie”.

Pol Gen Surachate was ressponding to an unconfirmed “leaked report” that the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) had summonsed him to give his side of the story.

Suchanun Suchitninsri, 25, alias “Minnie’’, is suspected of running online gambling websites, allegedly fronting for eight senior police officers.

“So far, I have not received a summons. Nobody has contacted me to give a statement. I assure you that I am not involved in any online gambling case,’’ Pol Gen Surachate told reporters.

According to the deputy national police chief, a police investigation report naming a number of his subordinates with alleged links to the “Minnie” case had been submitted to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which later returned it to investigators, saying it needed more investigation.

He said the extended investigation pointing to five senior police officers, including himself and Pol Maj Gen Pairote Kujiraphan, chairman of the police investigators association, being allegedly involved in the gambling case was still with the NACC, which would investigate further.

If a summons was issued, he might be asked to explain the sources of his money, to see whether it was linked to those gambling websites, Pol Gen Surachate said.

He questioned the reported leak about the police investigation into the case, which he said was confidential. He asked whether the head of the investigation should be held responsible.

CCIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakhonbancha confirmed on Tuesday that no summons was issued for Pol Gen Surachate.

He said he did not know where the report came from. He confirmed the investigation report into the gambling case had been submitted to the NACC.

Pol Maj Gen Pairote, one of the senior officers allegedly linked to Minnie’s gambling sites, on Tuesday submitted documents to the NACC.

Pol Maj Gen Pairote, who was investigation commander of Provincial Police Region 4 before serving as chairman of the police investigators association, asked the NACC to look into whether the investigation team had breached Section 157 of the Criminal Code and was derelict in its duty over the leak of the probe report.

“I have to come out to protect my dignity and that of the police investigators association, which I serve as chairman,’’ Pol Maj Gen Pairote said.

On Monday, Prayut Phetcharakhun, spokesman for the attorney-general, asked the national police chief to stop the eight police officers suspected in the online gambling case threatening two high-level prosecutors.

STB gave grant to Taylor Swift’s Singapore concerts, other government bodies ‘worked directly’ with promoter AEG

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) provided a grant to help bring Taylor Swift’s world tour to the country next month, her only stop in Southeast Asia.

STB and the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY) said this on Tuesday (Feb 20) in response to media queries, although they stopped short of confirming if an exclusive deal was struck preventing the US pop sensation from holding her Eras world tour elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Questions surrounding a performance deal surfaced on Friday when Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said that the Singapore government offered US$2 million to US$3 million per show in exchange for exclusivity in Southeast Asia.

According to Mr Srettha, concert promoter AEG had informed him of the arrangement.

In their joint response to CNA’s queries, MCCY and STB did not specify the size of the grant or the conditions attached to it.

They said MCCY and the Kallang Alive Sport Management had “worked directly” with AEG for Swift to perform in Singapore at the National Stadium, recognising that there would be “significant demand” from local and regional fans.

“STB also supported the event through a grant,” they added.

Kallang Alive Sport Management, a wholly owned entity under MCCY, manages the Singapore Sports Hub where the National Stadium is located.

Swift has six sold-out shows scheduled to be held from Mar 2 to Mar 9.

More than 300,000 tickets have been sold, with a “significant” number of fans travelling from other countries, said MCCY and STB.

“It is likely to generate significant benefits to the Singapore economy, especially to tourism activities such as hospitality, retail, travel and dining, as has happened in other cities in which Taylor Swift has performed,” they added.

Singapore is one of two stops in Asia on her Eras tour. Swift performed four shows in Tokyo earlier this month.

After Singapore, her next show will be in Paris on May 9, followed by other European destinations like London, Amsterdam, Milan, Munich and Vienna.

Change in ABSD rules for housing developers welcome but developers may want more, experts say

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

DESIRE TO LISTEN TO INDUSTRY

However, he said that the changes show the government’s desire to listen to developers.

He noted that most of the policies over the past few years have always been targeted at tightening supply and imposing more on the developers while “rightfully” being biased towards the market.

“This really is quite a nice gesture to let the developers know that they’re listening,” said Mr Quek.

“It is a significant signal this time round that the government’s putting in some effort to look at things from the supply side of the situation.”

Both analysts said the change in tack could be due to the government recognising that the property market may face some headwinds going forward.

Mr Quek noted that the development industry in Singapore is large and that it employs several people.

“It contributes a lot to our employment sector, our GDP (gross domestic product) … So by giving them this bit of flexibility, I think the government definitely has interest in wanting to keep this a sustainable business for them,” he said.

Road traffic deaths rise in 2023; more fatal accidents involving speeding, red-light running, drink-driving

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: The number of fatal traffic accidents in Singapore rose in 2023, with cases increasing “significantly” from 104 in 2022 to 131.

As traffic volumes rose following the lifting of COVID-19 measures in 2022, so did the number of traffic accidents, Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Tuesday (Feb 20).

The number of fatal accidents in 2023 exceeded the pre-COVID level of 117 cases in 2019.

SPF also noted a rise in traffic accidents leading to injuries but the figure was still below that of 2019.

Fatal accidents caused by violations such as red-light running, speeding, and drink-driving all increased in 2023.

While the number of red-light running and speeding violations and accidents fell last year, fatal cases resulting from such accidents rose.

Red-light running fatal accidents went up from three in 2022 to eight in 2023, while speeding-related fatal accidents rose from 18 to 33.

Drink-driving accidents, including those resulting in deaths, increased. Fatal cases increased by one, to 11 in 2023.

Accidents that caused injuries increased slightly by 2.4 per cent from 6,779 cases in 2022 to 6,944 cases in 2023. The number of people injured also rose, though both figures stayed below their pre-COVID levels.

The authorities flagged that there was a “significant increase” in the number of accidents that were caused by motorists who either failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to properly control their vehicle or changed lanes without due care.

“Motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians are the most vulnerable groups of road users, and continue to account for a disproportionate number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries or death,” said SPF.

While motorcycles only make up 14.4 per cent of the total vehicle population, motorcyclists or pillion riders were involved in 53.5 per cent of all traffic accidents and accounted for half of all traffic fatalities.

In addition, while comprising only 19.1 per cent of Singapore’s population, the elderly were involved in 68.4 per cent of all fatal traffic accidents involving pedestrians, and accounted for 69.2 per cent of pedestrian fatalities.

“Compared to 2022, the number of fatal accidents in 2023 involving motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians increased by 44.0 per cent and 13.0 per cent respectively.”

OCBC to give 4,600 junior employees in Singapore one-off payment to cope with cost of living concerns

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: OCBC bank is giving 4,600 junior employees in Singapore S$1,000 (US$743) each to help them better cope with rising cost-of-living concerns.

The payout is part of a one-off support for close to 14,000 junior employees globally and totals around S$9 million, announced the bank on Tuesday (Feb 20).

The support will help more than 40 per cent of OCBC Group’s overall headcount in its 19 markets and includes employees across OCBC and its subsidiaries including Bank of Singapore, OCBC Securities and Great Eastern Holdings.

The employees will receive the payout from February to March this year, said OCBC.

In Singapore, those receiving the one-off support make up about 40 per cent of the total number of employees based in the country, and includes new entrants to the workforce and unionised employees.

Core inflation in Singapore is “expected to decrease more gradually only towards the last quarter of 2024”, according to the bank. Singapore’s core inflation rose to 3.3 per cent in December.

The one-off payment is aligned with a recommendation from the National Wages Council (NWC) in October 2023 which urged employers to give workers one-off payment to help with the rising cost of living, beyond the support from the government.

“Providing a one-off assistance payment, with heavier weightage for lower to middle income employees, was one of the recommendations that was accepted by the Singapore government,” said OCBC.

For employees outside Singapore, the one-off support takes into consideration the respective local market conditions, OCBC said.

OCBC’s head of group human resources, Ms Lee Hwee Boon said: “The amount, for each of the 14,000 who will benefit, may not be large.

“However, we hope that this can help colleagues defray concerns on the rising cost of living.”

The bank also said that it “regularly reviews its employees’ built-in wage increases and variable payments to ensure that they commensurate with the bank’s performance and employees’ contribution”.

OCBC to give 4,600 junior employees in Singapore S,000 each to cope with cost of living concerns

OCBC to give 4,600 junior employees in Singapore S$1,000 each to cope with cost of living concerns

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: OCBC is giving 4,600 junior employees in Singapore S$1,000 (US$743) each to help them better cope with rising cost-of-living concerns.

The payout is part of a one-off support for close to 14,000 junior employees globally and totals around S$9 million, the bank announced on Tuesday (Feb 20).

The employees will receive the payout from February to March this year, said OCBC.

In Singapore, those receiving the one-off support make up about 40 per cent of the total number of employees based in the country, and include new entrants to the workforce and unionised employees.

Core inflation in Singapore is “expected to decrease more gradually only towards the last quarter of 2024”, according to the bank. Singapore’s core inflation rose to 3.3 per cent in December.

“Providing a one-off assistance payment, with heavier weightage for lower to middle income employees, was one of the recommendations that was accepted by the Singapore government,” said OCBC.

For employees outside Singapore, the one-off support takes into consideration the respective local market conditions, OCBC said.

OCBC’s head of group human resources, Ms Lee Hwee Boon said: “The amount, for each of the 14,000 who will benefit, may not be large.

“However, we hope that this can help colleagues defray concerns on the rising cost of living.”

DBS bank had on Feb 7 announced a similar one-time bonus of S$1,000 for its junior employees – who make up half of its total headcount.

Police appeal for information on 14-year-old girl missing for 4 months

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: The police on Tuesday (Feb 20) launched an appeal for information on a 14-year-old girl who has been missing for four months.

Farisha Aqilah Muhammad Faizal was last seen in the vicinity of Woodlands Secondary School on Oct 18, 2023 at about 5.30pm.

Anyone with information should call the police hotline at 1800 255 0000 or submit the information online.

All information will be kept strictly confidential, the police said.

Parks chief Chaiwat shrugs off legal threat from graft busters

By: Barkar Nash

On: February 20, 2024

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 20 Feb 2024 at 15:55

National parks chief Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn remains unfazed as he faces a new battle, this time a request by graft busters that the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry penalise him for alleged misconduct in a construction project when he was chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park a decade ago.

Mr Chaiwat said on Tuesday that he had committed no wrong.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission has accused him of misconduct in the handling of a housing construction project inside the park in Kaeng Krachan district, Phetchaburi province.

The NACC has sent a letter to the ministry, giving it 30 days to take disciplinary action against Mr Chaiwat, according to media reports on Monday. The NACC has provided no details of the case, including when it sent the letter to the ministry.

Mr Chaiwat said the construction work was carried out using the 2013 fiscal budget and included an office building and houses for staff, Thai PBS reported on Monday. It was built inside the park to facilitate a crack down on poachers hunting wild elephants in the forest for their ivory, he said.

On Tuesday, he said he would fight to protect his innocence, and that he had never taken bribes or other dirty money. “I am allowed to defend myself. I will fight and appeal the case,” he told Thai PBS.

Jatuporn Buruspat, permanent secretary for natural resources and environment, said the ministry would ensure fair treatment in the case. “I take good care of all officials under me and ensure fairness for every one of them,” he told reporters at Government House.

Mr Chaiwat is already on a collision course with the Agriculture Land Reform Office (Alro) over 42 blocks of land in Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Chong district.

Mr Chaiwat, who now heads the Office of National Parks, is intent on preventing about 2,900 rai of land being given to farmers under Sor Por Kor 4 land reform certification. He is staunchly opposed to the move, insisting the land is inside the boundary of Khao Yai National Park.

On Tuesday he rejected the suggestion the fresh disclosure of his alleged misconduct was linked to the land dispute. “That is nonsense,” he said.

Mr Chaiwat is due to retire this year after a checkered career which includes a controversial acquittal on a charge of murder brought over the disappearance of Karen rights activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen in Kaeng Krachan National Park in 2014.

South-East Asia (Page 1,392)

DESIRE TO LISTEN TO INDUSTRY