These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.
Stay informed with The ASEAN Post.
Some HR jobs at risk of being replaced by robots in next 5 years: Study
Some roles performed by human resource (HR) managers are at risk of being taken over by robots in near future, a study commissioned by the Ministry of Manpower and the Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) has found. Of the 27 HR roles that were analysed, 24 will be impacted by technology at varying degrees in the next three to five years, according to the study conducted by advisory, broking and solutions firm Willis Towers Watson released on Thursday (Dec 10). Eight of these roles will be most severely affected and are at risk of being replaced. They are lower-level positions in areas such as talent management, performance and rewards, as well as organisation development. This is because the tasks in these roles are administrative in nature and can be automated with advances in robotic process automation, machine learning and social robotics. The remaining 16 jobs, which are at the manager and head levels, will be augmented by technology and require skills in areas such as data analytics. Only three jobs will see minimal impact from automation: head of talent management, HR business partner and manager of organisation development. Meanwhile, technological advancements will lead to the creation of new roles in HR that are highly specialised, such as a HR data analyst, the study found. "In the long term, people analytics will be a key skill required by all roles in HR rather than being a dedicated role," said Willis Towers Watson in its report. The firm noted that the study highlights the need for HR to reinvent itself by driving business transformation. Leaders in the field also need to recognise the need for new capabilities in HR, such as the use of predictive analytics, the firm added. Investing in and adopting technology in HR will increase efficiency and allow HR to deliver "seamless and cutting-edge" services and experiences more effectively, said Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad on Thursday. "This will enable HR to pursue more strategic high-value activities and unlock value creation for the business," added Mr Zaqy, who was speaking at the People Behind People Forum where he announced the study's findings. He added that MOM will continue to support businesses in strengthening their HR capabilities and helping HR professionals gain new skills to remain relevant. IHRP is also developing training courses for HR professionals to pick up skills to prepare for the digital transformation of the industry. – The Straits Times
Comply with SOPs to prevent new clusters - Health DG
Following the growing number of clusters originating from social gatherings in recent times, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has reminded the public to adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) when attending any type of gathering or while in public places. Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, through a Facebook post, today said that this includes large gatherings involving families such as celebrations, and religious ceremonies which are also attended by individuals with symptoms. He cited an example of the Enggor Cluster in Perak and the Indah Mas Cluster in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor which started with family gatherings and then spread in the community. Dr Noor Hisham added that the Inai Cluster and Jambul Cluster in Sabah are among clusters that stem from celebrations while the Mentari Cluster detected in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur started from religious ceremonies involving family members and acquaintances present at a funeral in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan. "The public is required to comply with the SOPs in all circumstances and in all places, as assembly activities organised without SOPs compliance will increase the risk of Covid-19 transmission to the public. "It is very important for us always to be vigilant and strive to protect ourselves, family and even the community around us from getting Covid -19 infection," he said. "Physical distancing is difficult to practice in crowded and confined spaces, but taking lessons from the incidents of these clusters, the community is advised to abide by and obey the advice given," he said. – New Straits Times
Fear over Myanmar strain
The coronavirus spreading in Myanmar is a different strain that spreads 20% faster than the original one in Wuhan, according to Dr Prasit Watanapa, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital. Dr Prasit on Wednesday said around 60% of Covid-19 infections in Myanmar were caused by the G614 strain. The strain that spread in Wuhan last year was called D614. The G614 strain has spread significantly in Western countries and is responsible for the most cases at present. "G614, which can spread faster, therefore needs a faster response," said the doctor. Dr Prasit warned that hiding information from the authorities would make the virus situation worse and put everyone at risk. "Only one slip can cause great damage to the country," said Dr Prasit. He said society cannot be complacent after the recent news of vaccines being rolled out. "Don't pin your hopes on it, as it could take at least half a year for Thailand to gain access to Covid-19 vaccines," he warned. In Tak, governor Pongrat Piromrat said the provincial communicable disease committee has allowed Thai nationals in Myanmar to return to Thailand through legal border crossings since Dec 7 in a bid to deter illegal entry -- the cause of Covid-19 transmission recently. One border crossing which Thai returnees are allowed to use is the one at the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. Tak closed the border with Myanmar on March 21. On Wednesday was the first day in almost two weeks that Thailand saw no local infections caused by illegal entry. Thailand recorded 25 new patients from nine countries. In Chiang Rai, governor Prachon Pratsakul urged stranded Thais in Tachileik to visit the Township Border Committee in Myanmar to express their desire to return to Thailand. The governor said they would not be jailed but would be fined 1,800 baht per person for illegally entering Myanmar. Once they arrived home, Thai public health officers would take care of them, he said. Around 400 Thais have been stranded in Myanmar. Some 42 Thais who filed requests to return to Thailand travelled back through the crossing at the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge on Wednesday. Army chief Gen Narongpan Jitkaewthae said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had instructed all military units responsible for security at the Thai-Myanmar border to step up measures by patrolling more frequently, by foot and drone, around the clock. Thai returnees travelling back from Myanmar would not face serious punishment, Gen Narongpan said. Director-general of the Disease Control Department Opas Kankawinphong said there were 46 confirmed cases related to infected Thai returnees from Myanmar. All were in state quarantine facilities or being treated at hospitals. – Bangkok Post
Indonesian patrol boat captures Malaysian-flagged fishing vessel in Strait of Malacca
The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry's Hiu Macan Tutul 02 patrol boat captured Malaysian-flagged fishing vessel KF 5152 caught illegally fishing in the Indonesian part of the Strait of Malacca on Sunday. The fishing vessel with a capacity of 64 gross tonnage (GT) equipped with trawl nets was caught fishing in Indonesian waters without a fishing permit or any other formal documents. The Indonesian authorities caught the four crew members illegally fishing at the time of their capture. Batam oceanic and fisheries resources surveillance station (PSDKP) head Salman Mokoginta said the Hiu Macan Tutul 02 had handed over the Malaysian-flagged boat to his office on Tuesday for further investigation. “The investigation will be conducted in Batam. We are detaining the ship and crew here for now,” Salman told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. He said that of the four crew members, two were Indonesians while the other two were Burmese nationals, despite the Malaysian flag that marked the fishing vessel. “The patrol boat detected one fishing vessel that was allegedly fishing. They were apprehended without resistance,” Salman said. He said the patrol boats under the PSDKP remained actively patrolling amid the COVID-19 pandemic in order to anticipate rampant illegal fishing by foreign vessels in Indonesian waters. “We warn foreign vessels not to think about entering Indonesian waters without valid documents. Whatever happens, the ministry [patrols] will always be at sea and we are not hesitant [to carry out enforcement],” Salman added. – The Jakarta Post
Gov’t lifts ban on deployment of health workers abroad
The government officially lifted the temporary ban on the deployment of nurses, nursing aides and nursing assistants abroad, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). “The moratorium or temporary suspension of deployment of newly hired nurses, nursing aides and nursing assistants is hereby lifted effective immediately,” the POEA said in its governing board’s Resolution No. 17 released on Tuesday. The nurses’ deployment shall be subject to travel restrictions of the host country and execution of a declaration that the deployed nurses are aware of the health risks. “With regard to other workers and allied health-care workers, the moratorium and temporary suspension shall remain effective,” said the POEA’s policy-making body led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. The POEA further said the annual deployment limit of 5,000 newly hired nurses imposed by the Cabinet-level Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) will take effect next year. Starting Jan. 1 next year, the POEA will impose an annual deployment ceiling of 5,000 on newly hired health workers disaggregated by occupation. The limit was imposed, the IATF said, “taking into consideration the national demand for health care vis-a-vis the number of (health-care workers)” during the pandemic. The POEA also allowed the hiring of health-care workers through government-to-government negotiations. Around 16,000 health-care workers mostly nurses have been deployed abroad so far this year despite the restrictions, according to the POEA. The government suspended the deployment of health workers in April supposedly to prevent a shortage of nurses and front-liners during the health crisis. On Nov. 20, President Duterte approved the recommendation of the IATF to allow more nurses, nursing aides and nursing assistants to work abroad but at a limit of 5,000 per year. POEA administrator Bernard Olalia had said they were waiting for the IATF resolution to see the exact coverage of the deployment. – INQUIRER.net
Phnom Penh declaration adopted at 9th ACMECS Summit
The ninth Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit held via videoconference on Wednesday has adopted a Phnom Penh declaration. Leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Việt Nam passed the declaration, which focuses on post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and preparations for future crises and challenges through public health cooperation and supply chains. It also emphasises that public private partnerships should be a locomotive for economic development. The spokesman for the Thai Government, Anucha Burapachaisri, said the summit looked into ACMECS co-operation within three pillars: a seamless ACMECS to promote regional connectivity, a synchronised ACMECS to promote harmonisation of trade, investment and industry policies, and a smart and sustainable ACMECS. Member states agreed with a Thai proposal to add “a safe, secure, and trustworthy ACMECS” as a fourth pillar. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said over the past 17 years, ACMECS co-operation has affirmed its own identity and become an important co-operation mechanism of the Mekong sub-region. “The 2019-23 ACMECS master plan is being deployed on three pillars based on comprehensive connectivity, towards building a competitive, dynamic and sustainable economy. Progress in establishing ACMECS development fund as an innovative finance mobilisation mechanism will support the implementation of co-operation programmes,” Phúc said. PM Phúc proposed the five Mekong countries foster economic and transport connection along the East-West Economic Corridor and accelerate the connection between the corridor and major industrial and economic centres while developing transport infrastructure systems in the border area, encourage air, road and railway connections between cities, cultural heritages and natural wonders of the region. The countries must also do research and sign coastal transport agreements. He highlighted the Mekong countries need to pay attention to sustainable agricultural development, towards the formation of Mekong agricultural value chains and deeper integration into the global value chain. This is a potential sector that accounts for a large proportion of the labour force in the Mekong countries. Countries in the region need to promote co-operation in environmental protection, sustainable management of natural resources, response to climate change and natural disasters, and promote the role of the ACMECS co-operation. “I believe that with the determination and efforts of the member countries, the co-operation of our five countries will grow stronger and stronger for the sake of peace, stability and common prosperity of our region. We welcome and support the ACMECS Secretariat and hope to co-operate with partners for regional common development,” he said. In his speech, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Prayut Chan-o-cha recommended that ACMECS co-operation be based on multidimensional connectivity, the establishment of an ACMECS development fund, and the establishment of an ACMECS Secretariat. – Viet Nam News
Cambodia COVID-19 vaccination initiative to see 10 million Cambodians vaccinated
Cambodia aims to vaccinate up to 10 million of its citizens as a preventive measure against COVID-19. In announcing this, Prime Minister Hun Sen, speaking at the 9th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit via video conference said that Cambodia will procure one million doses as a first step. According to Kao Kim Hourn, delegate minister attached to prime minister, during the meeting, Prime Minister Hun Sen asked all countries to share experiences related to the use of the vaccine. “Mr Hun Sen also announced that Cambodia needs to vaccinate up to 10 million people in the future,” said Kao Kim Hourn. To date, Cambodia has confirmed 354 cases of COVID19 with 307 recoveries and no death. Of this, 38 are community spreads. – Khmer Times