UAE to relax COVID-19 restrictions nationwide

During the UAE Government media briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Saif Al Dhaheri, Official Spokesperson of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA), has announced that the UAE will be relaxing COVID-19 restrictions nationwide, as well as sector-specific updates, which will come into effect starting 28th September, 2022.

READ MORE HERE

UAE - Saturday, 8 October paid holiday for private sector on Prophet Muhammad’s birthday

The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) announced that Saturday, 8th October 2022, 12th Rabi Al-Awwal 1444, will be a paid holiday for the private sector in honour of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday.

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歸途有風 - 演唱: 王菲

天籁之音再开金口，又在听觉上作出新感。太棒了！

要 穿过那 世间的火

要 尝过一生 炙热的默

有多少 不得已 来不及 还流浪在梦里

才可明白 为何而来

要 放开过 勿放的手

要 千山万水 懂得泪流

要风起 要别离 要万里 要归期不由你

才可明白 为何回头

谁在唤我

唤我的名字 我的远走

我没说的 爱与歉疚

请让风声 带我回家

让它告诉我

抉择多难 都已做过

不问得失 无悔对错

让月光 带我回家

让来路 带我回家吧 归途中

别睡 要走向篝火 满身风沙的人呐

把行囊 都烧了 爱仅需空着两手

别退 要走向脆弱 听见哭声的人呐

门背后 是谁呢 拥抱着 你的噩梦

Wu

离开的 会重逢

谁在唤我

唤我的名字 我的远走

我没说的 爱与歉疚

一声声 带我回家

记得告诉我

该我赴的约 都已赴过

不问得失 无悔对错

让月光 带我回家 牵着我的手

让来路 带我回来吧 归途上 总有风

泪与泪重逢

唯有爱证明活着

四月 燕子又飞过 夏夜会复活蝉鸣

归来吧 归来吧 不管你失去什么

冬天 升起了烟火 就原谅大雪寒冰

归来吧 归来吧 从荒漠 里奔向我

Wu

归途上 总有风

听见了吗 要走向篝火

别睡着了 这不是尽头

Scotland - Rural visa pilot proposed

A proposal endorsed by Parliament for a bespoke rural visa pilot scheme for Scotland has been published.

This community-driven and employer-based migration proposal has been jointly developed by the Scottish Government, local authorities and key representatives from employers and partners based within remote and rural communities.

READ MORE HERE

New Zealand - 3000 more Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE) workers to ease workforce pressures

The Government continues to respond to global workforce shortages by announcing the largest increase in over a decade to the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE), providing 3000 additional places, Immigration Minister Michael Wood and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor have announced.

READ MORE HERE

Canada - New amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (temporary foreign workers)

The new amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations:

• protect temporary foreign workers;
• ensure the integrity of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP); and
• address some technical issues.

READ MORE HERE

Japan - Border measures in Japan will be eased from 11 October 2022

From 11 October 2022, border measures in Japan will be eased as follows.

(1) Review of the restriction on new entries of foreigners

Foreigners will no longer be required applications through Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System (ERFS) by your sponsors in Japan. At the same time, limiting the entries of foreigner to package tours will be lifted.

(2) Visa waiver  measures

Visa waiver measures will be re-introduced.

(3) Review of vaccination and testing

Except for entrants and returnees with symptoms of COVID-19, no testing will be carried out at the time of entry. However, all entrants and returnees will be required to submit vaccination certificate (primary series and booster dose of vaccination listed in EUL of WHO) or negative result certificate on the pre-departure test.

(4) Limitation of total number of foreigners entering Japan

Limitation of total number of foreigners entering Japan, which is currently 50,000, will be lifted.

(5) Reopening airports and seaports to international flights and ships

Airports and seaports which currently do not accept international flights and ships will be gradually reopened to international flights and ships in accordance with future schedules as soon as the acceptances are ready.

REFER TO THE INFORMATION HERE

HKSAR - Government announces lifting of compulsory quarantine requirement on arrival at Hong Kong

The Government announced on September 23 the lifting of compulsory quarantine requirement for inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan starting from September 26, after analysing scientific data and striking a balance among factors such as transmission risks. 

The arrangement for inbound persons from the Mainland or Macao will be rationalised at the same time. 

The Government's goal is to minimise the inconvenience faced by inbound travellers due to quarantine requirements and allow room for Hong Kong to connect with the world as far as possible, while being able to contain the epidemic development.

READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE

Taiwan - The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced weekly cap will be increased from the current 50,000 to 60,000O and on-arrival saliva PCR testing for arrivals when they arrive at airport/port (D0) will be ended

On September 22, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that the measures listed below are scheduled to be relaxed, effective 00:00 on September 29 (incoming flight's scheduled arrival time), after the pandemic situation will be observed for a week.

I. Weekly cap on arriving travelers: in principle, the weekly cap will be increased from the current 50,000 to 60,000.

II. Testing measures:

A. On-arrival saliva PCR testing for arrivals when they arrive at airport/port (D0) will be ended. Instead, four rapid test kits will be given to arrivals aged 2 and older by workers at international airports/ports upon arrival. Arrivals can use the test kits during the first three days and the self-initiated epidemic prevention period.

B. Travelers who have experienced any suspected COVID-19 symptoms in the 14 days before arrival should voluntarily report their symptoms on the Quarantine System for Entry. Such travelers should receive a health assessment by a quarantine officer upon arrival and cooperate in undergoing a test at the airport/port or the hospital.

READ MORE HERE 

READ QUARANTINE MANDATE HERE

Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has said Japan will further ease border controls

Kishida said Japan will end the limit on the number of people entering Japan. It will also lift the ban on individual travel and allow visa-free visits from October 11.

READ THE NEWS HERE

New Zealand - New investor migrant visa opens

The new Active Investor Plus visa category created to attract high-value investors, has officially opened marking a key milestone in the Government’s Immigration Rebalance strategy, Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash and Immigration Minister Michael Wood have announced.

READ THE NEWS HERE

China mulls measures to further boost foreign investment

China will take measures to boost foreign investment, with the manufacturing industry as a priority, the country's top economic planner said on Sept 19.

READ MORE HERE

HKSAR - Temp vaccine pass rules adjusted

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government September 16 announced that it will revise the provisional vaccine pass arrangement applicable to all inbound travellers from September 17, requiring them to have received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

It said the revision was made after considering that COVID-19 vaccines have been widely administered in places outside Hong Kong and the local vaccine pass requirements will be further strengthened.

READ MORE HERE

European Parliament - Parliament adopts new rules on adequate minimum wages for all workers in the EU

The minimum wage should ensure a decent standard of living

• EU rules to respect national wage-setting practices
• 
  
• Collective bargaining to be strengthened in countries where it covers fewer than 80% of workers
• 
  
• Right to redress for workers, their representatives and trade union members if rules are violated

Minimum wages in all EU countries should allow for decent living and working standards, and member states should promote collective bargaining for pay.

READ MORE HERE 

READ THE NEW LEGISLATION HERE

BLACKPINK - ‘Shut Down’ M/V

<Shut Down> MV dropped today. Looks like it's time for BlackPink to drop their music producer, the magic is getting old and dated.

Singapore - Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) launches Financial Services Industry Transformation Map 2025

Mr Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Finance, and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Deputy Chairman, launched the Financial Services Industry Transformation Map (ITM) 2025 today. 

The ITM 2025 lays out the growth strategies to further develop Singapore as a leading international financial centre in Asia – to connect global markets, support Asia’s development, and serve Singapore’s economy.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE HERE 

READ THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY TRANSPORTATION MAP 2025 HERE

Singapore - Ministerial Statement at Parliament Sitting Regarding Enhancements to Work Pass Framework

Ministerial Statement at Parliament Sitting on 12 September 2022 regarding enhancements to Work Pass Framework. 

READ THE STATEMENT HERE

Japan Looks to Ease COVID-19 Border Controls Further

The Japanese government is looking to remove the country’s entry cap and reopen borders to individual foreign travelers, possibly as early as October, people familiar with the matter said.

READ THE NEWS HERE

New Zealand - Vaccination requirements for all travellers arriving into New Zealand including air crew also ends, and the requirement to test on day 0/1 and 5/6 will now just be encouraged

• The COVID-19 Protection Framework ends at 11.59pm tonight, Monday 12 September

• All mask wearing requirements removed, except in healthcare and aged care facilities

• Only COVID-19 positive individuals required to isolate for seven days, household contacts no longer need to 

• All Government vaccine mandates to end in two weeks on 26 September

• Removal of all vaccination requirements for incoming travellers and air crew

• Support for business and workers to continue through leave support payments

• All New Zealanders aged 65 and over, and Māori and Pacific aged 50 and over, to have automatic access to COVID anti-virals if they test positive

READ MORE HERE

Singapore - MAS and SGX Group Launch ESGenome Disclosure Portal to Streamline Sustainability Reporting and Enhance Investor Access to ESG Data

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX Group) today jointly launched ESGenome, a digital disclosure portal for companies to report Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data in a structured and efficient manner, and for investors to access such data in a consistent and comparable format.

READ THE MEDIA RELEASE HERE 

China - Opportunities for foreign enterprises increasing

China's unwavering efforts to expand high-level opening-up in the digital economy and green development will create more growth opportunities for foreign enterprises, according to government officials and business leaders on Sept 8.

READ MORE HERE

Vietnam - Lunar New Year holiday may last seven days and foreign workers working in Viet Nam will be entitled to one more traditional New Year's day and their country's national day

The Ministry of Home Affairs has agreed with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs' proposal on a 7-day holiday for the 2023 Lunar New Year, which will be submitted to the Government for consideration and approval.

READ MORE HERE

Taiwan - Visa-Exempt Entry Status for Singapore temporarily suspended from September 12, 2022

Visa-Exempt Entry Status for Chile, Dominican Republic, Israel, Japan*, Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand*, Brunei*, Philippines*, Russia* temporarily suspended from September 12, 2022.

REFER TO INFORMATION HERE

China - Govt unveils measures to bolster economic recovery

China announced a cut in the foreign exchange reserve requirement ratio for banks on Sept 5 as part of the country's new round of measures to boost support for economic recovery, officials and industry experts said.

READ MORE HERE

New Zealand - Pathways to make New Zealand home now open

• Applications for the Green List Straight to Residence pathway open today

• The streamlined pathway will help address shortages in highly skilled areas

• Confirmation of this year’s Refugee quota including increases in places allocated to the Middle East and Africa international allocations, and emergency/urgent resettlement places

• The number of places specifically set aside for Afghan refugees has been brought forward with 200 places are being allocated in 2022/23.

The Government is delivering on its promise of a responsive and streamlined immigration system to help relieve workforce shortages while providing meaningful humanitarian support, Immigration Minister Michael Wood has announced.

READ MORE HERE 

South Korea - Visa-free entry from Japan, Taiwan, Macao extended to Oct. 31 / Predeparture PCR test for arriving passengers lifted on Sept. 3

The visa waiver for arrivals from Japan, Taiwan and Macao adopted last month has been extended to Oct. 31.

READ MORE HERE

The predeparture test for COVID-19 for all arriving passengers in Korea will be lifted on Sept. 3.

READ MORE HERE

New Zealand - Govt backs scheme to increase tourism workforce

The Government will invest $2 million to support Go with Tourism, an initiative that connects jobseekers with employers, to help address the workforce shortage in the industry and accelerate economic recovery, Tourism Minister Stuart Nash announced 2 September.

READ MORE HERE

Japan - Daily entries to Japan to be raised to 50,000 people from Sept. 7

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that the government will relax its border control measures against the novel coronavirus, raising the daily limit on entries to 50,000 people from Sept. 7.

READ THE NEWS HERE