SINGAPORE: Full-time workers in Singapore have been found to be taking advantage of their paid time off (PTO) the most compared to their peers across the Asia Pacific, according to new data from Deel, which analysed time-off requests made in 2025 by more than 4,500 full-time workers in the region.

Singaporeans were found to have taken a median of 19 vacation days, ahead of workers in Hong Kong (16.5 days), Australia (16 days), Indonesia (15.5 days), Malaysia (15.5 days), and South Korea (15 days).

While Singaporeans are entitled to a median of 18 vacation days only, many ended up taking more through rollover days from previous years instead of letting them go to waste.

Singaporean workers with flexible vacation policies took even more time off, with a median of 20.75 days.

Last year, nearly six in 10 (57%) workers in Singapore used all of their entitled vacation leave, while nearly eight in 10 (77%) used at least 80%—both the highest in the region, compared with Hong Kong’s 43% and 69%, and Malaysia’s 51% and 69%.

Across the region, workers under flexible vacation policies in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam were also found to take more leave than their peers on fixed vacation policies, although the opposite was observed in Indonesia.

Workers in the city-state were also found to take longer breaks, stretching to four days or more, compared with one-day breaks, which were the most common vacation requests in the region. /TISG

Read also: Resilient but disengaged? Report says ‘functional disengagement’ rises among Singapore workers

This article (More Singapore workers are using their annual leave than their regional peers) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singapore-based design firm The Afternaut Group was appointed by Arcc Spaces to design its newest co-working space at the Bank of Singapore Centre, 63 Market Street, set to open in July 2026.

It will occupy levels five, six, and seven of the Bank of Singapore Centre, covering about 25,782 square feet (sq ft) and accommodating more than 300 members.

In an announcement on Tuesday (June 2), the project was described as Singapore-headquartered Arcc Spaces’ “most design-forward project to date”. This marks the fifth collaboration between the two firms, including The Co. at Duxton and Arcc Spaces at One Marina Boulevard (OMB). 

The newest co-working space is centred on biophilia (love of life or nature) and the need for relief from screen-heavy, notification-dense workdays. The space is said to feature greenery both indoors and outdoors, a collection of unique experiences catering to different working modes, and nature-inspired elements designed to create a calming connection to nature.

Arcc Spaces CEO Justin Chen said, “Our work with The Afternaut Group has always been a genuine co-authorship and each project has evolved alongside how work itself has changed. In an age defined by AI and digital saturation, and coming out of years of remote work, people are seeking something different from their offices: real connection, presence, and a reason to commute. The Bank of Singapore Centre is designed precisely around that need.”

The Afternaut Group’s Design Principal, Gwen Tan, said, “Each project with Arcc Spaces has pushed us to find a different expression of how people connect to a workspace, from the soul and creativity of a shophouse, to the precision of a five-star hotel.”

She added that with the new project, they have decided to design inward, adding: “Spaces that slow you down, draw you into the materiality, and make the experience in an office well elevated. This is the type of exploration we find most meaningful, and the rendition of it highly anticipated.”

Earlier last month, The Edge Singapore initially reported that the co-working space would open in June, taking over the space formerly occupied by OCBC. /TISG

Read also: ‘Clean Singapore no more’: Uncle shares concern of irresponsible rubbish dumping in Geylang not because of property prices dropping but of dengue and rats

This article (Singapore-based design firm The Afternaut Group to design Bank of Singapore Centre co-working space) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

MANILA: A Filipina who worked in Japan as an entertainer in the early 2000s has pushed back against claims that women on entertainer visas were merely hostesses, saying she was genuinely hired to sing and dance and earned significantly more than she did in the Philippines.

Her comment against the narrative that Filipinas were forced into becoming hostesses back then came after Philippines Raw posted on their instagram account, @philippines.raw, that in 2004, when over 82,000 Filipinas entered Japan, many of them became victims of trafficking and were found by Japanese authorities, not singing or dancing, but working as hostesses—sitting with Japanese men, serving them drinks, “enduring hands they never agreed to”.

Screengrab from Philippine Raw’s Istagram post.

According to her, that job was her first job overseas. 

“I was one of the entertainers back 2003-2006, but I do sing and dance. Working in the Philippines back then, I only earned PHP 5,000 per month, but in Japan, I earned over PHP 30,000 monthly plus tips more than 4x,” she said.

While she added that there was “nothing wrong” with her experience, stories from other Filipinas suggest otherwise.

In a document from the gender equality forum Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW), some Filipinas who worked in Japan as entertainers due to poverty and lack of economic opportunity in the Philippines back then were forced to work wearing sexy clothes, go on afternoon dates with their customers, and were made to clean the clubs they worked at, even when they entered the country as professional singers.

Due to cases like this, in 2005, the Japanese government started requiring all foreign entertainers to have two years of formal education in the performing arts and two years of work experience outside Japan, in hopes of curbing human trafficking in the country, as studies found many women in the entertainment industry ended up in prostitution.

Although it was met with protests from Filipino entertainers, who were looking for opportunities that brought higher earnings, according to Gulf News.

A year later, PhilStar reported that Japanese bars and entertainment venues began shutting down amid tighter policies, which triggered a scarcity of entertainers, including Filipinos.

The same strict policies, however, also led to Filipinas marrying Japanese men. At the time, the number of OPAs declined even as the number of Filipino entertainers in Japan increased. This was because Filipinas who married Japanese men started working in nightclubs in Japan, as reported by GMA News Online.

To this day, different stories emerge from Filipinas who went there for better opportunities. As for the realities they faced, some may have been fortunate, but some not as much. /TISG

Read also: Mental health: Filipino workers suffer the most burnout, followed by Singaporeans

This article (Filipina who worked in Japan says not all entertainers were victims of trafficking) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: The number of million-dollar Housing and Development Board (HDB) resale flat transactions rose to 166 units in May 2026 after a dip in April, when there were only 138 units transacted.

According to Singapore Business Review, citing data from 99.co and SRX, which tracked HDB resale flats sold for at least S$1 million, the overall million-dollar resale units share was at 7.8%.

Between May 2025 and May 2026, the number of million-dollar resale transactions ranged from 87 to 172 units per month.

There were 143 units transacted in May last year, followed by 132 in June, 169 in July and 141 in August. The figure rose to 172 in September before falling to 87 in October. It then increased to 120 in November and 145 in December.

This year, January recorded 146 transactions, before the figure fell to 122 in February, rose to 145 in March, and dipped again to 138 in April. The figure then rose to 166 transactions in May.

A five-room HDB flat at Pinnacle@Duxton recorded the highest transacted price for last month at S$1.63 million.

The unit, located at Block 1B Cantonment Road, spanning 1,130 square feet (sq ft), or about S$1,442 per square foot (psf), fetched a price 5.2% higher than the average resale price of five-room flats at Pinnacle@Duxton.

Meanwhile, Bukit Merah recorded the highest number of million-dollar resale flats at 22 units, followed by Toa Payoh and Queenstown with 21 units each.

Last month, a four-room HDB flat at Bukit Merah with only 45 years left on lease was sold for a record S$1.53 million. /TISG

Read also: Million-dollar HDB resale flats rise nearly 50% to over 1,500 in 2025

This article (Million-dollar HDB resale flats rose to 166 units in May after April dip) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Home buyers in Singapore often face the dilemma of having to choose between a resale Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat or a condominium. Deciding becomes even more complex when life circumstances change and new priorities come into play.

For first-time parents, the focus often shifts towards balancing the need for a more spacious home, spending within budget, and having the option to upgrade when other housing needs arise.

A Singaporean couple in their 30s, who recently became first-time parents, faced the exact same dilemma. They originally planned to move from the two-bedroom condo unit they were renting to a three-bedroom condo while remaining in the Bedok area.

However, after reviewing their finances, immediate housing needs as they were expecting a newborn, and long-term property plans with Royston, a property agent and partner property consultant at Stacked, they ultimately decided to purchase a million-dollar resale HDB flat instead.

Why they chose not to upgrade to a condo just yet

As with many home buyers, affordability was one of their biggest considerations.

The Stacked case study, based on a consultation with Royston, noted that the couple had an initial budget of around S$1 million and wanted to avoid overstretching themselves financially after welcoming their newborn.

As first-time buyers, they were eligible to borrow up to 75% of a property’s purchase price. However, given that their combined income was above S$14,000, they were not eligible for an HDB Concessionary Loan and had to rely on a private bank loan instead.

Based on their income and cash flow, their maximum loan quantum was estimated at around S$1 million.

Given the couple’s budget and their aim to avoid overstretching themselves on monthly repayments, Royston said they could opt for an older resale flat, which tends to be priced lower than units that had just reached their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), while still having more space.

This means, if they went for a two-bedroom condo priced at around S$1.8 million, they would have paid S$5,000 monthly, instead of just about S$3,200 over a 25-year tenure for a S$1 million HDB resale flat.

The couple eventually purchased a four-room, turned three-bedroom corner unit at Bedok South Horizon, a Build-To-Order (BTO) development launched during the November 2016 BTO exercise, for S$1.01 million on May 24. Two rooms in the unit had been merged by the previous owner to accommodate a walk-in closet. /TISG

Read also: Million-dollar HDB resale flats rose to 166 units in May after April dip

This article (New parents opted for a S$1 million HDB over a condo — here’s why) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Starting today, June 1, until the end of August, FairPrice Group (FPG) will freeze prices of over 500 daily essentials across all its outlets to help Singaporeans cope with the rising cost of living.

This includes essential items such as housebrand rice, cooking oil, eggs, fresh and frozen poultry and meat, milk, pantry staples, and household detergents—items FPG said are especially important for lower- and middle-income households.

The price freeze follows a similar move in April, when FPG did the same measure for 100 daily essentials.

FPG Group CEO Vipul Chawla said the price freeze in April worked in protecting household budgets. Widening that move to over 500 daily essentials will help Singaporean households deal with “prolonged global uncertainties.”

NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng also said “by keeping these prices consistent, families can better plan their expenses and worry less.”

“No worker and their family should face rising costs alone; we will continue to stand with them through any challenges,” he added. /TISG

Read also: FairPrice Xtra: S$85 all-you-can-eat durian buffet in June featuring Musang King, Black Thorn, and more

This article (FairPrice Group freezes prices of over 500 daily essentials from today to end-August to help Singaporeans with rising cost of living) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singaporean workers appear to be feeling growing pressure in the job market after analysts said fresh graduates may need to taper their salary expectations.

Just last month, Aslant Legal founder and recruiter Shulin Lee also said that Singapore workers are not “hungrier” than foreign workers, as she explained why companies she’s working with are letting go of Singaporeans and hiring talent from neighbouring Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines instead.

With these comments, a netizen questioned, “You’re not hungry enough, but you also should not ask for more. Which one is it?”

Online comments surfaced after a June 1 Channel News Asia (CNA) report titled “Fresh grads in Singapore may need to taper salary expectations amid uncertainty: Analysts”, which cited a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) survey of residents aged 22 to 28 who said they were earning less than they had anticipated.

The report also highlighted that a third of university graduates rejected job offers due to low pay. Analysts explained that this was because graduates believe a higher starting salary provides a buffer in case of slow salary increments and its influence on their future earnings.

However, they warned that, with companies becoming more cautious on pay increases amid global uncertainty and inflation risks, unrealistic salary expectations may lead graduates to miss out on opportunities and prolong their job search.

Commenters did not hold back from reacting online. One user quipped, “Funny how we need to keep accepting lower and lower wages despite productivity improving and inflation increasing”, while another said, “Funny how analysts never ask businesses to taper their expectations of consumer spending power and lower prices.”

Questions about Singapore being “pro-business, not pro-workers” also surfaced.

A third, meanwhile, rattled off what Singaporeans were being asked to do: raise the city-state’s fertility rate, fund their parents’ allowance, upskill to be ready for an AI-ready economy, support local businesses, and more.

A fourth remarked that the “winners” are those who inherited properties from their grandparents or parents, as “[they] don’t have to do much”. /TISG

Read also: ‘It’s a prediction problem’: Recruiter’s comment on Singaporean workers not being ‘hungrier’ than foreign workers gets more backlash

This article (‘Not hungry enough’ and asking for too much? Singaporeans question mixed messages to workers) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

While the trend among some homegrown manufacturers in Singapore is to shift production to Malaysia, Japanese snack maker Matsunaga Seika is moving towards the city-state, as it plans to open a directly operated store here by around 2028.

The company, known for its Shiruko Sand toasted biscuits with red bean paste, said the city-state will serve as its regional hub as it expands across Southeast Asia.

There’s no exact location for the flagship store yet, but company president Kunihiro Matsunaga told Nikkei Asia that they intend to open it in “the very best location”.

The company believes it can compete with local players, given the lack of direct rivals making similar Japanese-style biscuits.

A sales base will also be established in Singapore, as the company looks to build its presence here, aiming to promote the snack brand to neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam and eventually the US.

After gaining brand recognition through its Singapore flagship store, it also plans to expand into wider retail channels.

The snack maker is leaning into its overseas expansion and stronger retail operations to reach sales of 10 billion yen (S$80.2 million) by 2032, up from 3.4 billion yen last year. Of this, about two billion yen is expected to come from overseas markets as it ramps up exports, starting with Southeast Asia. /TISG

Read also: ‘I try my best to support locals but sometimes they don’t make it easy to’: Netizen reacts to rapid expansion of Chinese F&B brands in Singapore

This article (Matsunaga Seika plans Singapore flagship store as part of Southeast Asia expansion) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

UNITED STATES: Last year, the godfather of artificial intelligence (AI) Geoffrey Hinton said the age of AI is a great time to be a plumber. Just this week, that line starts to feel a bit more real, as Meta launched a funded skilled trades programme offering free training and guaranteed jobs after graduation.

On Monday (June 8), Meta launched the America’s Workforce Academy (AWA) in partnership with the National Urban League, the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), and CBRE, to support the buildout of AI data centres, the infrastructure needed to power its AI push.

The programme, initially funded with a US$115 million investment, will first launch in Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana, and Texas this year.

It is open to qualified veterans, recent graduates, career changers and other new entrants to the trades across all 50 states, with no prior experience required.

Graduates will receive verified, industry-standard credentials in fields such as electrical work, mechanical systems and plumbing.

Meta will also cover all costs, including tuition, airfare and lodging, while providing trainees with a daily stipend during training.

A Meta spokesperson told Reuters that jobs on offer will be full-time roles with general contractors supporting Meta’s data centre buildout, although it was not specified how many positions would be available.

In other news, netizens were surprised to see a new role emerge amid layoff headlines linked to AI, after a worker said their startup suddenly introduced a new role called “AI Agent Manager”. /TISG

Read also: Construction and sustainability costs keep Singapore the world’s second-most expensive market to build data centres

This article (AI needs more than coders: Meta launches training programme with guaranteed jobs) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: More Singaporeans are aiming to save over a million dollars and retire in their 40s, according to a joint study by CIMB Singapore and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), titled the “Attitudes and Beliefs towards Financial Independence Report”, which gathered responses from over 1,000 Singapore residents aged 18 to 60.

Now, 56.3% of Singaporeans are aiming to save over S$1 million to gain financial independence, compared to 52.3% last year. Meanwhile, 35.8% said between S$1 million and S$2.5 million would be the “sweet spot”.

It also found that Singaporeans are now looking to retire in their 40s instead of their 50s, which was the norm last year, as reported by The Edge Singapore.

In fact, Gen Zs, the younger generation known for breaking the norm, are aiming to achieve financial freedom in their 30s, with some even as early as their 20s.

However, only 46.4% said they have started planning for retirement, held back by competing priorities (42.2%), not knowing where to start (34.4%), and believing it is still too early (31.9%).

While 78% believe financial freedom is attainable, only 36% are “moderately confident,” while 34.6% said they constantly feel anxious about their financial future.

Among generations, Millennials, whose main focus is building wealth (27%), were found to be the most confident about achieving financial independence, with 91.2% already having financial independence plans.

On the other hand, Gen Zs, who are aiming to retire earlier as they value autonomy and control over income and spending (25.7%), were found to be the most anxious (41.2%).

Gen X, who insist on living debt-free (20.1%), sits in the middle, with 38.3% saying they often feel anxious and 30.5% feeling strongly confident.

Singaporeans mentioned the same struggles holding them back: high cost of living (70.7%), low income (54.0%), and family responsibilities (53.4%). Others also cited concerns over market volatility (32.8%), limited financial education (28.2%), and lifestyle pressures like shopping (22.8%). /TISG

Read also: Are corporate jobs no longer the goal of the younger generation? Gen Z claims she was ‘brainwashed’ into corporate

This article (More Singaporeans aim to save over S$1M and retire in their 40s yet fewer have started retirement planning) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

Microsoft Copilot has drawn backlash after Microsoft artificial intelligence (AI) CEO Mustafa Suleyman predicted that within 12 to 18 months, most tasks in white-collar work would be fully automated by AI—jobs where people are “sitting down at a computer.”

He described such roles as “either being a lawyer or an accountant or a project manager or a marketing person” in a conversation with the Financial Times earlier this year.

In the same interview, when asked about AI hallucinations and whether they could ever be fully eliminated, he said he believed they would be “largely eliminated,” saying the technology had improved at an “unbelievable” rate.

Instead of getting convinced, netizens, however, poked fun at “how well Copilot is going”. One commenter even quipped: “Copilot is obviously where he got this information from.”

Another called the tool “useless,” saying, “Copilot output takes me more time to correct than if I were to just do it myself.” Others, meanwhile, compared it to rival AI tools on the market, including Claude.

Backlash against AI tools like Copilot has recently pushed top tech executives to soften earlier claims about the technology’s ability to replace jobs. While AI primarily benefits tech companies, including Nvidia, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told CNA last month that CEOs who blame AI for job cuts are “just too lazy” and do it to “sound smart,” but they only end up “scaring people.” /TISG

Read also: MOM: AI is ‘augmenting but not replacing’ jobs; no indication of significant job displacement due to AI ‘at this point’

This article (Microsoft Copilot draws backlash after AI chief says AI would soon automate white-collar jobs within 18 months) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans online warned an expat who had just signed a contract as a cook after he shared the terms of his employment and asked whether they were normal in Singapore’s food and beverage (F&B) industry.

Posting on r/asksg on Saturday (May 30), he shared that he had already signed the contract the day before because his visa was due to expire in two weeks and that the contract did not state he needed to complete the full contract term before he could resign.

According to him, as the cook, he would be required to work 14 hours a day, 12 regular hours and an additional two hours of overtime, and would only have two days off a month. The role comes with a salary of S$2,000 a month.

Incentives would only start after three months of work, while there are seven days of annual leave after completing one year of service.

“Contract also stated 44 hours a week, but I have seen the roster schedule, everybody’s doing 14 hours a day, only one or two days off a month. They even fight for a day off,” he said.

Asking others working in the F&B market, he added: “Still quite new to the Singapore job market, so I’m not sure if these terms are standard or if I should be concerned.”

Commenters were quick to flag the job. The majority called it “insane,” while one commenter said, “This is extortion.”

“To put into perspective, you are working 14 hours per day, that’s 28 days of working in a month (2 off days per month), and you’re working 14 hours x 28 days in a month = 392 Hours in a month. S$2,000/392 = $5/hour? Even McDonald’s pays better,” the commenter added.

Another said that while the job was indeed “extortion,” he was not surprised that such contract terms exist.

A third, meanwhile, added that a Malaysian worker she knew working in Singapore had a similar experience. “I dated a regular chef once, a chef de partie (CDP), and his schedule was one day off per week, 12-hour shifts each day. Not sure about annual leave, but it was definitely more than seven. Salary was around S$3000,” she said.

According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), common working hours for employees under the Employment Act are up to nine hours a day or 44 hours a week for those working five days or less, and up to eight hours a day or 44 hours a week for those working more than five days a week.

Contractual working hours, however, are those agreed between an employer and employee in the contract of service.

If an employer requires employees to work more than 12 hours a day, up to a maximum of 14 hours, they must apply for an overtime exemption.

Employers must also provide one rest day per week, which is unpaid.

As for the contract, MOM’s website states that “If an employee does not show up on the first day of work, the Employment Claims Act does not apply as the employee has not started work.”

However, the new recruit is expected to notify the employer as soon as possible to resolve the matter amicably and explain the reason, where possible. /TISG

Read also: Singapore man who ‘accidentally climbed the corporate ladder’ says he just wants to mind his own business, do his job, and go home

This article (‘This is extortion’: Singaporeans warn cook after he signs contract requiring 12-hour shifts with just 2 days off a month for S$2,000) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.