Cinemas are to reopen by 24 December across the country, according to an announcement by operator Major Cineplex Group Laos.
Major Cinemas to Reopen in Laos
Amid Struggle to Fill Job Vacancies, Companies Remain Sluggish in Sending Employees for Upskilling
- 78% of business leaders who report having vacant job roles are facing challenges in filling these vacancies at their companies.
- However, only half (51%) of business leaders say they have sent their workers for training in the past six months.
- Unionised companies (57%) are more likely to have sent their workers for training in the past six months, as compared to non-unionised companies (37%).
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 22 December 2021 – Workforce learning has become increasingly crucial to help maintain economic productivity by improving workforce competencies. However, only half (51%) of business leaders say they have sent their workers for training in the past six months. In addition, many (78%) business leaders who report having vacant job roles are facing challenges in filling these vacancies at their companies.
These were some of the key findings from a recent labour research on the Continuing Education and Training (CET): Now and What Could Be Next, by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Strategy, in partnership with NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB). The research surveyed a total of 564 business leaders across industries in Singapore, such as Manufacturing, Information and Communications, Financial and Insurance Services, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Professional Services.
Business leaders (63%) reveal that skills mismatch is the most prevalent form of mismatches, as compared to wages mismatch (17%), experience mismatch (18%), and expectations mismatch (2%). The top three industries most concerned about skills mismatch are public administration, real estate services, and wholesale and retail trade.
The top challenge for business leaders to send their workers for training is financial costs (38%), followed by difficulties in identifying relevant courses (37%), and matching employees to training (33%). To encourage them to send their workers for training, business leaders say that provision of higher training subsidies (73%) and business consultancy services (55%) would serve as incentives.
In view of the demand for higher training subsidies, three in four (75%) of business leaders say that they have participated in training-related initiatives by the Government, or Labour Movement. However, the overall utilisation of initiatives remains low at an average of 14%. It is therefore plausible that with the wide variety of training-related initiatives targeted at helping employers, most are unsure of which initiative would best address their concerns.
NTUC will continue to offer support through its Training & Placement (T&P) ecosystem to help companies better access and leverage these initiatives. Unions (17.9%) remain one of the top three avenues where business leaders have heard of training-related initiatives, with the others being Human Resource Departments in the company (27.5%) and Government websites (25.9%).
In addition, it was uncovered that unionised companies are more likely to invest in training for their workers. Out of the business leaders who sent their employees for training in the past six months, 57% were unionised companies while 37% were non-unionised companies.
Commenting on the findings, NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Chee Hong Tat says, “Expanding the role of the Labour Movement in the national training ecosystem is crucial to shape continuing education and training (CET) for workers. The Labour Movement will continue to work closely with government agencies, employers, Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and CET providers to identity current and future in-demand skills and address the quality and impact of training programmes in relation to workers’ skills gaps. We encourage employers to work with NTUC, be it through Company Training Committees or the newly-launched Learning eXperience Platform (LXP), and to tap on the resources available at NTUC’s Training and Placement ecosystem to strengthen their enterprise and workforce capabilities.”
NTUC LHUB’s Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Ong, says, “One of the ways to overcome the challenge of filling job vacancies is to upskill and uplift current employees, as building on existing talents is more cost-effective than hiring new talents. At NTUC LearningHub, we support business leaders by driving human-centric company transformation through outcomes-focused training. Existing employees know the business the best, in terms of company goals, values, policies and even culture, so the transition will be less disruptive. More importantly, employees will feel empowered to step up and contribute more to the organisation through expanding their know-hows in technical and technology skills. Therefore, career and skills development through training is a key employee value proposition as it demonstrates companies’ vested interest in the long-haul, to learn and grow together.”
About National Trades Union Congress
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national confederation of trade unions as well as a network of professional associations and partners across all sectors in Singapore. NTUC’s objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and working people remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of our members and working people; and to build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement. NTUC’s vision is to be an inclusive labour movement for all collars, ages and nationalities. NTUC is at the heart of the Labour Movement, which comprises 60 affiliated unions, six affiliated associations, 12 social enterprises, six related organisations as well as a growing ecosystem of U Associates and enterprise partners. For more details on NTUC, please visit our website at www.ntuc.org.sg.
About NTUC LearningHub
NTUC LearningHub is the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore which aims to transform the lifelong employability of working people. Since our corporatisation in 2004, we have been working with employers and individual learners to provide learning solutions in areas such as Cloud, Infocomm Technology, Healthcare, Employability & Literacy, Business Excellence, Workplace Safety & Health, Security, Human Resources and Foreign Worker Training.
To date, NTUC LearningHub has helped over 25,000 organisations and achieved over 2.6 million training places across more than 500 courses with a pool of over 900 certified trainers. As a Total Learning Solutions provider to organisations, we also forge partnerships and offer a wide range of relevant end-to-end training solutions and work constantly to improve our training quality and delivery. In 2020, we have accelerated our foray into online learning with our Virtual Live Classes and, through working with best-in-class partners such as IBM, DuPont Sustainable Solutions and GO1, asynchronous online courses.
For more information, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com
#NTUCLearningHub
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Minh Tien group to present circular economy model on Viet Nam National Day
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 22 December 2021 – On December 30, 2021, Minh Tien Group plans to present its Circular Economy Model at Viet Nam National Day at the World Expo in Dubai.
Display booth of Minh Tien Group at the Vietnam Pavilion
On December 30, 2021, Viet Nam National Day takes place at the World Expo 2020 Dubai with an agenda to provide international audiences a better understanding of Viet Nam – a modern and globalized country with rich cultures and a strong national identity.
At the Expo, the Vietnam Pavilion is located in the Opportunity District with the main theme: “Distilling the Past, Shaping the future.”
This year, on the Vietnam National Day, Minh Tien Group proudly presents the Circular Economy Model, which revolves around the coffee tree including green coffee beans; Coffilia; Ha Chuc Cascara Tea; Namigo bio-packaging; and Organic fertilizer. Essentially, the by-product of a production stage will become the input material for future production.
Nguyen Thi Hong Minh, Chairwoman of Minh Tien Group, said: “Coming to the Expo this year, we aim to announce and assert our business principle with the Circular Economy Model in our company’s ecosystem, which fully explores the quintessential value of our product lifecycle and minimizing our carbon footprint.
“To realize this vision of sustainable agriculture, Minh Tien Group is committed to being a successful contributor to the Vietnam Pavilion.”
The feature of Minh Tien Group’s Circular Economy model at the Expo has received widespread attention from international audiences, delivering a new perspective on the modernized and innovative agriculture industry of Viet Nam.
Minh Tien Group is a leading coffee corporation with over 30 years of history. Determination to appreciate the value of Vietnamese coffee beans, continuous investment in research and development, and expertise from different farmlands across the globe, have all helped make the company a well-trusted coffee supplier to international partners.
With the vision “Shaping the green economy,” Minh Tien Group is committed to efforts towards innovative and sustainable development to confidently enhance the value of Vietnamese coffee on international markets.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Rhenus Hong Kong Partners with Geek+ to Develop its First AMR Warehouse in Asia
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 22 December 2021 – Global logistics service provider Rhenus in Hong Kong collaborates with Geek+ to co-develop smart logistics solutions through automation of warehousing operations with autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
Geek+, a global AMR leader, and Rhenus Hong Kong are proud to announce the successful deployment of the first AMR-operated Rhenus warehouse in Asia.
The impact of COVID-19 continues to be felt on global supply chain operations, with the disruption of the labour market having exacerbated labour shortages. The innovation-focused, solutions-oriented logistics provider Rhenus Hong Kong will adopt Geek+’s advanced robotics and AI technologies in a proof-of-concept warehousing project in the country. This is the latest Rhenus initiative in the region and is part of its ongoing strategy to deepen its focus on IT-driven digitalisation by tapping into smart logistics to build a sustainable and robust supply chain.
Since 2019, Rhenus has been making strategic tech-driven investments in Greater China, especially across its warehousing business division, including automated solutions to improve the efficiency of its warehouses and operational processes. With the Geek+ solution, Rhenus Hong Kong can handle large volumes of orders, flexibly meet rapidly changing SKUs, and improve order-fulfilment performance. The Hong Kong site will be the first smart Rhenus warehouse in the Asia-Pacific.
Cliff Xu, CEO of Rhenus Air & Ocean Greater China, said: “Our goal is to provide the best and most innovative logistics service to achieve faster and more flexible movement of goods, to cater to the rapid growth in e-commerce. By working closely with Geek+, we not only realise warehouse digitalisation, but also improve operational efficiency and accuracy, translating to greater cost-savings for customers in the long run.”
The Rhenus Hong Kong warehouse will use Geek+ Goods-to-person solutions. Robots will be used as part of the system to automatically bring goods to the operators, achieving 99.99 percent accuracy. The solution also helps maximise warehouse storage as aisle space is minimised.
One of the features of the AI-driven system are Geek+’s proprietary algorithms. They optimise order combinations and adjust the inventory layouts in real time, maximising efficiency. In the Rhenus Hong Kong warehouse, over 2,000 SKUs of cosmetic products are constantly arranged according to popularity and expiry date.
Lit Fung, VP, Managing Director APAC, UK and Americas at Geek+, said: “We believe that the smart warehouse upgrade is the only answer to the rapid growth of e-commerce business and growing customer expectations. We will continue to support Rhenus with tailored solutions that best fit their multi-customer business.”
About Rhenus Hong Kong
Established in 2002, Rhenus Hong Kong provides air, ocean and land (truck and rail) freight solutions, as well as warehousing and consolidation services. Its warehouse, strategically located at the ocean port and near the airport, is designed for storage and distribution services that cater to both Hong Kong and Mainland China. In January 2021, Rhenus Greater China launched the Rhenus Integrated Solutions and (Re-) Engineering (RISE), a state-of-the-art warehousing solution that improves operational transparency and visibility of warehousing processes through data-driven decisions.
About Geek+ (www.geekplus.com)
Geek+ is a global technology company leading the intelligent logistics revolution. We apply advanced robotics and AI technologies to realize flexible, reliable, and highly efficient solutions for warehouses and supply chain management. Geek+ counts 500 global customers and has sold more than 20,000 robots worldwide. Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 1500 employees and is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Germany, the UK, the US, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore.
About Rhenus
The Rhenus Group is one of the leading logistics specialists with global business operations and annual turnover amounting to EUR 5.4 billion. 33,500 employees work at 820 business sites and develop innovative solutions along the complete supply chain. Whether providing transport, warehousing, customs clearance or value-added services, the family business pools its operations in various business units where the needs of customers are the major focus at all times.
#Rhenus
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
LianLian Global and Netcetera team up to secure payments globally
SINGAPORE – EQS Newswire – 22 December 2021 – LianLian Global, a leading cross-border payments company, helps world-class retailers such as Amazon, Fnac and Kaufland quickly and securely process payments. This year when they were looking for a 3DS server provider, they found the perfect match in Netcetera, an international market leader in payment security software. Together they are ensuring the security of global online transactions.
As LianLian Global look to extend their markets even further abroad, they want to ensure top-level security against fraud in payment, and selected Netcetera. The Swiss software company presented their best-in-class 3DS acquiring server, which is fully compliant with all EMV specifications and successfully used by various global customers. The server provides secure authentication of online payments processed by LianLian Global. Both companies saw an exciting opportunity for cross-Pacific collaboration in this project.
The 3DS server has now been implemented by Netcetera and is ready to serve LianLian Global’s customers around the world. Kristain Xiang, Head of Global Acceptance at LianLian Global commented “Netcetera were quick to react to our needs and ensured a smooth process from start to finish”.
Ivan Ong, Senior Business Development Executive at Netcetera said “We are delighted to be able to use our expertise to help secure payments in new markets for LianLian Global. We always consider how the latest technology can bring customers the most advantages.”
About Netcetera
Netcetera is a global software company with cutting-edge IT products and individual digital solutions in the areas of secure digital payment, financial technologies, media, transport, healthcare and insurance. More than 2,000 banks and issuers, and 150,000 merchants rely on the digital payment solutions and globally certified 3-D Secure products of the market leader for payment security. The owner-managed company covers the entire IT lifecycle, from ideation and strategy to implementation and operation. The balanced combination of the latest technologies and proven standards ensures investment security, from large-scale projects to innovative start-ups. Founded in 1996, Netcetera is a holding company with around 800 employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with additional locations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Further information: netcetera.com
About LianLian Global
LianLian Global is an international cross-border payments company that connects local sellers to global opportunities. We make it effortless for eCommerce merchants to grow their international business opportunities. When sellers need to process payments, receive international payouts, get financing, solve shipping logistics, manage foreign exchange, or pay tax obligations abroad, we simplify the complexity of operating in other countries, giving merchants and sellers the freedom to do business anywhere – seamlessly. Part of LianLian Digitech, and with licenses and offices in the Americas, Europe and throughout Asia, LianLian Global is integrated into mainstream eCommerce platforms around the world, with services covering more than 100 countries and regions.
Further information: www.lianlianglobal.com
#Netcetera
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Laos Confirms 1,341 New Cases of Covid-19 and Four Deaths
Laos has recorded 1,341 cases of Covid-19 across the country today, with four new deaths.
Thai Businesses Concerned About Agricultural Sector Following Laos-China Railway Opening
The Thai Chamber of Commerce has raised concerns that the Laos-China Railway could hurt Thailand’s agricultural economy and the competitiveness of its businesses.
Man Arrested for Attempting to Courier 70,000 Methamphetamine Pills
A Savannakhet man has been arrested for attempting to send 70,000 methamphetamine pills with a courier service.