Daily Briefing: $350 progressive wage increase for 3,000 landscape employees gets green light; Grab in talks to invest US$100m in Indian hotel startup Oyo

And government agencies amp up checks on food establishments providing catering services during the festive season.

From Human Resources:

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) accepted the recommendations of the Tripartite Cluster for Landscape (TCL) industry report which includes yearly adjustments, a schedule of increases to the progressive wage model (PWM) basic wage levels, as well as the introduction of a mandatory PWM bonus for workers in the landscape maintenance sub-sector from 2020.

Around 3,000 resident landscape maintenance employees will benefit from these recommendations, which will be implemented accordingly.

The mandatory PWM Bonus for landscape maintenance employees, both Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, will be implemented from 2020 onwards. It will be applicable to workers who have been with the same employer for at least 12 months, as at the cut-off date of the bonus computation.

The quantum of the Bonus will be equivalent to at least two weeks of basic monthly wages, paid at least once but not more than twice a year.

Read more here.

From Reuters:

Grab is in advanced talks to invest US$100m into Indian hotel-reservations startup Oyo.

The proposed investment is part of Oyo’s ongoing $1 billion funding round and will be made through A1 Holdings Inc, an entity controlled by Grab, the report said.

Grab, known as the Uber of Southeast Asia, was valued at around $11 billion at its last funding round in August, sources have told Reuters.

Read more here.

From Channel News Asia:

The National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Agri-Food Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) will increase checks on food establishments during the festive season, especially on those providing catering services.

Ahead of an expected increase in the number of consumers dining out and ordering catered food, the agencies said they will remind food operators of good hygiene practices during food preparation and handling.

The emphasis on caterers comes after three mass food poisoning incidents in November.

Last week, more than 130 students and teachers fell ill after consuming food prepared by FoodTalks Caterer and Manufacturer while attending a kids' camp.

Read more here.