China Staff articles from April 2003

China Staff archives from April 2003

Why is HR outsourcing activity so slow in Greater China? Why is HR outsourcing not as prevalent in Hong Kong and China as it is elsewhere in the world? China STAFF looks at the results of the recent Hewitt Associates "Outsourcing in Asia-Pacific" survey to find some of the answers. (HR Outsourcing).
April 1, 2003... Outsourcing. It's apparently a "hot topic" at the moment for a lot of HR professionals in the region, yet how much is really understood about it? And why are most organisations in the region slow to act on the perceived benefits of it? To...

Dealing with SARS in your workplace: the SARS epidemic has caused concern for employers and employees in China and Hong Kong. China STAFF offers some practical guidance for how workplaces can address the issue. (Special Feature).
April 1, 2003... The outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), a potentially deadly disease that is caused by a previously unknown and highly infectious virus, has disrupted the operations of companies in Hong Kong, Singapore and China. Many...

A case for mediation?(resolving employment disputes in Hong Kong)
April 1, 2003... Introduction As a tool for resolving employment disputes, mediation is still in its infancy in Hong Kong. However, given its success in other jurisdictions, and the proposed reform of the judicial system, there is every reason to suspect...

Solutions for stressful times: an organisation's ability to effectively manage the issue of workplace stress can have a dramatic impact on the bottom line. Understanding the causes of workplace stress can help employers in the region better manage the issue, according to the speakers at China STAFF's recent "Workplace Stress Seminar". (Workplace Stress).
April 1, 2003... Hong Kong is currently going through some stressful times. Already suffering from an ailing economy, the recent SARS outbreak has meant Hong Kong is facing even tougher times. It is against this backdrop that more and more organisations in...

Plenty of room for investment in HR in China: as China moves away from a planned economy, companies will be investing more heavily in HR. But where should these investments be made? China STAFF looks at the Human Capital Index for China to find some answers. (Managing Your PRC Workforce).
April 1, 2003... In last month's issue of China STAFF, we looked at the Human Capital Index (HCI) score for Hong Kong. Te recap, global HR consulting firm Watson Wyatt has been conducting the Human Capital Index (HCI) survey since 1999, which is designed to...

Expatriate assignments and package localization planning. (Data Page).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Expatriate Assignments and Package Localization Planning Has your company been faced with expatriates wishing to stay on in China for the long term? Yes * No ** If yes, have you begun...

A quarter of Hong Kong's workforce don't feel secure in their jobs: survey. (Hong Kong News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Nearly one out of four workers in Hong Kong (24%) say there is a possibility they could lose their jobs in the coming year, according to the first global Career Confidence Index survey, conducted by Right Management Consultants. The only...

SARS epidemic causing rise in discrimination: EOC. (Hong Kong News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has reported that the recent SARS outbreak has seen a rise in the number of enquiries to the government agency, sparking fears that discrimination is on the rise. Of the SARS-related enquiries taken...

Calls to temporarily suspend MPF activity. (Hong Kong News).(MPF holidays)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... There have been calls in Hong Kong to allow "MPF holidays" to come into effect as a way of dealing with the economic downturn. Leading the charge are Liberal Party chairman, James Tien, and the British-based accounting body, Association of...

Income levels for skilled workers set to soar. (China News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... The incomes of China's young and skilled generation will increase, according to a recent study of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), which was reported in The Standard. According to the report, the income levels of...

Shanghai authorities clamp down on late payments. (China News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Shanghai authorities have issued a regulation prohibiting companies from withholding or delaying payment of their employees' salaries, according to a report in the Shanghai Daily. The regulation stipulates that a delay of more than one...

Graduates prefer government jobs: survey. (China News).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Graduating university students rank government departments as their top choice in job seeking, according to a recent survey of 250 graduating university students, reported in the Shanghai Daily. According to the survey, 54% of graduating...