Despite trade unions in Goa not approving the minimum wage revision, the Labour Department has hiked the minimum wages in the State for all schedules of employment, by Rs 100. Unskilled workers who earned Rs 307 per day will now earn Rs 407 minimum wage per day. Similarly, semi-skilled workers who earned Rs 368 per day will now earn Rs 468 per day. Post revision, skilled workers will earn 523 per day as opposed to the Rs 423 they used to earn earlier. The variable dearness allowance or VDA has also been increased by Rs 105. Therefore, unskilled workers will…
Author: HRK News Bureau
Rapid7, a cybersecurity firm based in the US, has recently joined other companies undergoing workforce reductions. The company has officially announced its plans to lay off approximately 470 employees, constituting about 18 per cent of its total workforce. This decision comes as part of a comprehensive restructuring strategy that Rapid7 is implementing. What is surprising is that the move came without warning and that too at a time when the company’s performance has been meeting expectations. Clearly, by taking proactive steps to restructure its operations, the company aims to optimise its resources and capabilities more effectively. Corey Thomas, CEO, Rapid7,…
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), a charitable organisation established by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO and founder, Meta, and his wife Priscilla Chan, has reportedly reduced headcount. Approximately 48 employees were let go this week. The impacted employees will be given 16 weeks of basic pay, along with health insurance cover and a stipend of $10,000 as severance. According to the Washington Post, even though the headcount for 2023 is not available, CZI had a workforce strength of 450 in 2020. Established in 2015, Zuckerberg and Chan had committed to contribute 99 per cent of their Facebook shares, which was valued at $45…
OpenAI, which made ChatGPT, is looking for coders and critical thinkers as well as those with knowledge of machine learning (ML) among other things, to fill various research-oriented vacancies. Some of the roles it is looking to hire for are that of research engineers, research scientists and research managers. Those selected may earn a minimum of about Rs 2 crore and a maximum of about Rs 3.7 crore per annum. This was revealed in a recent podcast, by Jan Leike, head of superalignment, OpenAI. However, mere expertise in coding and machine learning will not suffice. The candidates should be genuinely…
Amazon employees in the US have received a mail to work from the office three days a week. The e-commerce firm has sent out this letter to the employees kind of questioning why they are not complying with the work-from-office mandate. What has irked the employees is the fact that this warning mail has also been sent to the employees who have been complying with the mandate. The mail points out how people are not adhering to the mandate of being in office thrice a week, despite the buildings allocated to them being ready. The mail was uploaded on an anonymous…
According to the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), approximately 107 Emiratis who had availed themselves of the Nafis programme benefits were found to have unknowingly accepted fraudulent positions within the private sector. Since the latter half of 2022, the ministry has imposed penalties on around 436 private companies for violating Emiratisation policies outlined in the Nafis scheme. As part of this initiative, the ministry has also managed to recover Dh2.3 million in financial support from Emiratis who, as part of the Nafis programme, unwittingly took up counterfeit positions within the private sector. The Emirati salary…
The New Amravati station has been inaugurated as yet another ‘pink station’ by the Central Railway. The station will be managed by an all-women staff, just like Matunga and Ajni stations of the Central Railway that turned ‘pink’ before it. The station looks after the running of 10 trains, and is therefore, a significant one in the Bhusaval Division. The station, used by about 380 passengers daily, will be managed by 12 women, including four deputy station superintendents, four points women, three railway-protection personnel and one station ticket-booking agent. This is another achievement towards making the Railways more inclusive. It…
With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu, Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) will now be able to establish a manufacturing plant in the state. The new facility will create 400 job opportunities in the state. The move is part of GVPL’s plan to ensure convenient access to significant markets in the southern region. The facility — which will come up in Thiruporur Taluk, Chengalpattu District, close to Chennai in Tamil Nadu — is aimed at enhancing GCPL’s manufacturing capabilities and making a significant contribution to the company’s overall production capacity. It will function…
In response to the hike in goods and services tax (GST) on online gaming, Kavin Bharti Mittal, CEO, Hike, and owner of Rush Gaming Universe, has decided to downsize the company’s workforce. More than a fifth of the total staff will be rendered jobless. This 400 per cent increase in GST liability will prove to be very challenging for a significant number of enterprising individuals who had introduced innovations within the gaming space. The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) can even lead to the closure of many micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as startups in the industry.…
In an exchange filing, Kirloskar Oil Engines announced that it has issued 32,268 fully paid-up equity shares with a face value of Rs 2 each. These shares were allotted as a result of the exercise of employee stock options under the Kirloskar Oil Engines-employee stock option plan 2019. As a consequence of this recent allocation, there has been a notable surge in the issued and subscribed capital of Kirloskar Oil Engines. This significant shift is marked by a transition from the prior state, where the company’s capital was represented by 14,48,37,759 equity shares, each possessing a nominal value of Rs…
To promote and encourage a balanced work-life dynamic, mPokket, a digital lending platform, has rolled out a ‘don’t-feel-like-it’ (DFLI) strategy. The new work-from-home strategy is aimed at enhancing employee morale, motivation, and mental well-being. The policy aims to address the obstacles encountered by employees in various locations. It will grant them freedom to work from home on their preferred days, empowering them to effectively handle personal responsibilities while upholding productivity and job contentment. The policy will allow employees to utilise a maximum of 12 (DFLI) days annually. The leaves would allow them for one remote work day per month. Along…
In addition to the 21 per cent reservation that OBCs enjoy in educational institutions and state-government jobs in Rajasthan, six per cent more seats within the Other Backward Classes (OBC) will now be reserved for the Most Backward Castes. Rajasthan is readying for a caste census in the state, as revealed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The most backward castes will be identified by the OBC Commission, which will then submit a report. Also, the Rajsthan government has done away with the requirement of immovable property when it comes to the 10 per cent reservation offered to the Economically…
Los Angeles Thousands of Los Angeles city employees embarked on a 24-hour strike demanding higher wages and denouncing alleged unfair labour practices. The strike, organised by SEIU Local 721, encompassed various roles including sanitation workers, lifeguards, and traffic officers. Picket lines emerged early at sites like Los Angeles International Airport, while a substantial rally gathered at City Hall later in the morning. The union claimed that over 11,000 LA city workers participated, including mechanics, engineers, and airport custodians. SEIU Local 721 justified the strike by citing the city’s failure to engage in sincere negotiations and its imposition of labour practices…
To address labour shortages in certain job sectors, Canada is taking action. The government is launching a programme called the recognised employer pilot (REP) in September. This effort falls within the temporary foreign worker programme (TFWP) and aims to assist employers who consistently abide by the TFWP’s rules. The main goal of the recognised employer pilot is to simplify things for employers who have a history of following the TFWP’s guidelines. These responsible employers will get a special permission called labour market impact assessments (LMIAs). These permissions will be valid for up to 36 months, giving them more flexibility and…
Ericsson has announced the launch of its centre of excellence (CoE) in collaboration with the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC), at Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (DSEU). This pioneering CoE is poised to equip a cohort of 300 students in its inaugural year with comprehensive training in cutting-edge fields such as 5G technology and other emerging technological domains. The centre will address the skill gap created post technological advancement in India, including launch of 5G networks, as well as wide use of smartphones and IoT devices. The centre will offer students world class training and skill-development programmes that will make…
The central government has introduced a noteworthy policy change that grants significant child care leave privileges to female and single male government employees. Jitendra Singh, union minister of state for personnel, conveyed this information on August 9. This fresh policy outlines that female government employees and single male counterparts engaged in civil services or roles linked to the Union’s affairs can now avail themselves of child care leave (CCL). This provision is stipulated under Rule 43-C of the central civil services (leave) rules, 1972. Eligible employees have the opportunity to utilise this leave for up to 730 days over their…
After dedicating 18 years to her job, an Australian woman faced job loss. Her company employed technology to observe how she worked from home. They discovered that her work effort, such as typing on her computer, fell short. Her role included crafting insurance documents and adhering to guidelines, but her performance wasn’t up to par. Over 49 days, spanning from October to December, her computer usage was scrutinised. It became apparent that she frequently commenced work late, wrapped up early, or even skipped entire workdays. Although she claimed to be using other devices for tasks, her company remained unconvinced of…
Employers in the United States are mandated by the US citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) to utilise form I-9 for the purpose of confirming the identity and work authorisation of individuals, who are hired for employment within the country, irrespective of their citizenship status. This form is also employed to authenticate the eligibility of employees sponsored under the H-1B program. Earlier, this verification process necessitated a physical review of documents. There was a temporary provision for remote inspections during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, a recent regulation, effective from August 1, 2023, introduces a change. It permits certain ‘qualified’ businesses to…
To address the issue of unemployment in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, the Save Arunachal Save Indigenous (SASI) has requested the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to enact the Arunachal Pradesh Private Job Reservation Bill. As per SASI, enactment of the Bill will benefit the indigenous youth who are struggling to find employment. The Bill, if enacted, will reserve positions for local candidates earning Rs 50,000 a month. The rule will be applicable to companies, trusts, societies, partnerships, firms, and even establishments that employ over 10 people /workers. This is the best way to ensure that local youth stop relying…
The Maharashtra government has issued an order for departments to update the state employee master database by February 28, 2024. The motive behind this move is to enhance the accuracy of the database and ensure comprehensive employee records. Under this directive, all departments will be provided with login credentials to input employee details. This information includes gender, caste, religion, physical disabilities (if any), joining and retirement dates, birthdates, and bank account information. The data uploading process is split into two phases. The initial information needs to be uploaded between September 1 and November 30 of this year. Subsequently, any needed…
Astra Space Inc., the American launch vehicle company based in Alameda, California, has reduced its headcount by 25 per cent. That means, about 70 people will be rendered jobless. The company has also reallocated some employees from the engineering and manufacturing divisions of its launch-services project, to its spacecraft engine building team. This downsizing is an attempt to cut costs and focus on other projects. The move will further delay the launch of its next-generation rocket and associated test flights. The debut flight was earlier scheduled for the end of this year. Astra had also decided to sell $12.5 million…
Mobile Premier League (MPL), the e-sports and skill gaming company, had had to resort to laying off about half of its India workforce because it is struggling with a tax burden, which has increased by 350 to 400 per cent! That means almost 350 employees will be let go. As per the new GST rules, the firm will have to pay 28 per cent tax on full deposit value. Till now, gaming platforms used to pay 18 per cent GST on platform charges. This big a hike in tax burden has forced the platform to reduce headcount. The platform’s variable…
Interface Microsystems has onboarded Deepti Mehta as its new CHRO, effective immediately. In the new role, Mehta will spearhead the company’s gamut of human resources and administrative operations, enhancing the company’s talent pool and fostering a conducive culture to drive its success. She will report to Amit Gupta, director, Interface Microsystems. Prior to joining Interface Microsystems, Mehta was associated with RR Kabel, where she spearheaded human resources operations for the consumer product sector. Moreover, she has worked with many companies such as HCL Technologies, Bharti Airtel, S Tel, and Luminous Power Technologies. Her longest stint was with Luminous Power, where…
Freshworks, a SaaS company, is currently experiencing a series of departures at the executive level. As per media reports, chief human resource officer Suman Gopalan and chief marketing officer Stacey Epstein have both resigned from their positions. Their last working day with the company will be September 15, 2023. The company disclosed in March 2023 that its co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) Shan Krishnaswamy exited the company in September 2022 as part of a management reorganisation. After that, the company reported its second phase of workforce reductions, affecting higher-ranking personnel such as senior directors, product managers, and senior vice…
Irene Tan has taken up the role of vice president – human resources for India and Southwest Asia at Coca-Cola, relocating to India for her new responsibilities. Her immediate priorities will encompass the recruitment of future-ready talent, facilitating performance enablement, and nurturing employee development. Tan has been associated with Coca-Cola since 2012, initially as a talent sourcing consultant for the Asia Pacific region based in Singapore. Subsequently, she relocated to Shanghai and was promoted to the position of lead talent acquisition partner for Greater China and Korea. During her tenure in China, she launched a pioneering campus recruitment programme for…
In the fiscal year 2023, Reliance Industries (RIL) experienced a significant change in its employee strength. Many employees chose to leave the company voluntarily during this time. This included workers from both the telecom arm Jio and the retail segment, Reliance Retail. RIL’s annual report revealed that out of the total departures, 41,818 were from Jio, and a larger group of 1,19,229 came from Reliance Retail. At the same time, Jio, which operates under RIL, hired a considerable number of new employees. Around 70,418 fresh hires joined Jio’s team during FY23, resulting in a total of 95,326 employees by the…