Sunday, September 23, 2012
Malaysian jobseekers to face tough times in Q3
Employers predict that jobseekers in Malaysia will face a harder time in the third quarter of 2012, according to the latest survey by JobStreet.com.
Despite assurances from the government that the Malaysian economy is set to grow by up to six per cent, one third of employers (33%) feel that the general outlook will be slightly worse or much worse. This is a marked increased from Q2’s 22%.
The number of respondents who answered that the job outlook will be slightly better or much better has dropped from 47% to 31% for Q3 2012. The number of employers who felt that employment prospects would worsen increased by 10%, compared to the same period last year.
Almost half of respondents (46%) said that they will be hiring less people, replacing or filling essential positions only in the next 12 months. Another 11% said that they will not be conducting any hiring exercises in the near future.
The survey said that jobseekers with skills in sales and marketing, or marketing and business development, are the most sought after, followed by those with expertise in computer and information technology, accounting and administration.
Major industries such as manufacturing, information and communication technology, retail and wholesale trade, and finance were likely to have the lowest job growth in the next year.
Investment protection agreement marks new milestone in cross-strait relations
Two years of negotiations have finally resulted in the signing of the Cross-Strait Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement between Taiwan and mainland China on August 9, formally establishing an institutionalized cross-strait mechanism that strengthens protection of the lives and property of investors. The agreement encompasses Taiwanese businesses that invest through third areas, and marks a new milestone in cross-strait economic and trade relations.
Statistics compiled by the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) show that applications by Taiwanese businesses to invest in China amounted to a total of 39,891 cases with a total investment value of approximately US$117.4 billion between 1991 and the end of June this year. This accounted for about 63% of Taiwan’s total outward investment during the period, making China the biggest recipient of overseas investment by Taiwanese businesses.
Many Taiwanese companies have been struggling to develop their business in mainland China for years, and some have even moved the center of their operations there, but their investments have never enjoyed legal protections. Minister Shin-Yuan Lai of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) notes that the Cross-Strait Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement is a vital foundation for the protection of Taiwanese investors, “the first step in the establishment of safety,” and that it will help make the protection of Taiwanese businesses more complete and more institutionalized, and the investment environment healthier.
Statistics compiled by the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) show that applications by Taiwanese businesses to invest in China amounted to a total of 39,891 cases with a total investment value of approximately US$117.4 billion between 1991 and the end of June this year. This accounted for about 63% of Taiwan’s total outward investment during the period, making China the biggest recipient of overseas investment by Taiwanese businesses.
Many Taiwanese companies have been struggling to develop their business in mainland China for years, and some have even moved the center of their operations there, but their investments have never enjoyed legal protections. Minister Shin-Yuan Lai of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) notes that the Cross-Strait Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement is a vital foundation for the protection of Taiwanese investors, “the first step in the establishment of safety,” and that it will help make the protection of Taiwanese businesses more complete and more institutionalized, and the investment environment healthier.
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Saturday, September 22, 2012
New war footing on Thai-Cambodian border
Since early January, Royal Thai Army (RTA) planners have prepared new plans to defend Thailand against potential attacks from Cambodia, a move that threatens to rekindle tensions along the two countries' contested border. The plan, drawn up by the RTA's 2nd Army Region and formally approved in April, represents a significant departure from previous Thai strategic footings vis-a-vis Cambodia and involves the immediate commitment of large regular army combat units along the border.
The new plan is highly unusual for the RTA and could be perceived as provocative given the lack of any immediate and realistic military threat from Cambodia. It would also seem to contradict the policy of the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, which has worked to ease tensions with Cambodia over a disputed land claim at the Preah Vihear temple that spiked during the previous Abhisit Vejjajiva-led government.
The last time that Thailand faced a threat of conventional invasion was in early 1979, when units of the Vietnamese army arrived on the Thai border after overthrowing Cambodia's Khmer Rouge government. There was an initial brief period of panic that the battle-hardened Vietnamese might continue into Thailand. Those concerns faded, however, when it became apparent that Vietnam was bogged down in Cambodia and China offered support in the event that the Vietnamese crossed into Thai territory.
The new plan is highly unusual for the RTA and could be perceived as provocative given the lack of any immediate and realistic military threat from Cambodia. It would also seem to contradict the policy of the Yingluck Shinawatra administration, which has worked to ease tensions with Cambodia over a disputed land claim at the Preah Vihear temple that spiked during the previous Abhisit Vejjajiva-led government.
The last time that Thailand faced a threat of conventional invasion was in early 1979, when units of the Vietnamese army arrived on the Thai border after overthrowing Cambodia's Khmer Rouge government. There was an initial brief period of panic that the battle-hardened Vietnamese might continue into Thailand. Those concerns faded, however, when it became apparent that Vietnam was bogged down in Cambodia and China offered support in the event that the Vietnamese crossed into Thai territory.
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Suu Kyi backs end of US sanctions
Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was upbeat over the country's reforms in her first public address in the United States, urging the US to drop its last sanctions. Her optimism was tempered with warnings that democracy demanded the release of all political prisoners and the call for a clear reform timetable beyond the whims of the military and government.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Share those magical moments
Dear readers,
I have created a place in facebook for you to share your positive service encounters with the world.
Please record your positive experiences.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/WHO-WOW-US/219182861432518?ref=hl
Thank you
Amithe
I have created a place in facebook for you to share your positive service encounters with the world.
Please record your positive experiences.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/WHO-WOW-US/219182861432518?ref=hl
Thank you
Amithe
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