Singaporean comedian and content creator Kelvin Tan, also known as Mayiduo, attracted attention on social networks late last month when he gifted Rolex watches worth a total of S$150,000 (US$111,500) to seven outstanding employees at his interior design company SG Interior KJ, according to Yahoo News Singapore.

Singaporean content creator Kelvin Tan gifts a Rolex watch to an employee of his company SG Interior KJ.

He did the same last year too. The 31-year-old owner shared an Instagram video of his employees picking out the Rolex watches, and said in the caption: "In this current age and time, if you are a boss who keeps all the profits for yourself, you will never go far. Take care of your team and your team will automatically take care of your business."

Lunar New Year bonuses is a common practice in this part of the world, but this year Rolex watches and the six months’ salary Taiwan’s Eva Airways paid are fairly rare.

For Eva, this is the highest it has paid since establishment. Cabin and ground staff also received an average pay hike of NT$5,000 ($160), while pilots got NT$11,000-20,000. The airline achieved a 45.1% increase in consolidated revenues in 2023 to a record NT$200.3 billion ($6.4 billion).

China Airlines offered employees five months’ salary, a cash gift of NT$20,000 and an average salary hike of 4%, according to Taipei Times.

Tigerair Taiwan, whose revenues skyrocketed by 850% to nearly NT$12.5 billion ($400 million), paid employees a four-month bonus.

But overall, bonuses have decreased this year in Taiwan. A survey by human resource and employment service provider 1111 Job Bank in Taiwan, found while 85% of companies are paying bonuses, they are down 3% on average.

For office workers it is 1.32 months’ salary, down 0.02 months.

The business and commercial services sector leads with an average of 1.93 months, followed by the information technology (1.52 months) and consumer services (1.45 months) industries.

1111 Job Bank said business owners adopted a cautious and pragmatic approach due to the recession.

The situation is similar in mainland China. Recruitment portal Zhaopin said the average bonus for office workers decreased as businesses sought to controlled costs amid economic instability.

A survey of some 50,000 employees in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai found only 20.2% sure of getting a bonus, down 6.7 percentage points from last year.

Some 39.4% were not sure and 13.8% said they would not get a bonus. The average bonus expected is CN¥6,950 ($968), down CN¥1,478 ($246). The biggest bonuses are in the media, auto and financial industries.

Bac Giang mobilizes and receives over 1.1 million USD for Tet gifts

BAC GIANG - Responding to the campaign "Tet for the Poor" in 2024 Lunar New Year of the Dragon, the Fatherland Front Committee at all levels and member organizations mobilized and received more than 47,000 Tet gifts worth over 27 billion VND (over 1.1 million USD) for the poor, near poor households and those living in particularly difficult circumstances in Bac Giang province.

Event to bring Tet gifts, chung cake to disadvantaged people

A programme to make chung (square, glutinous rice cake) for disadvantaged people will take place at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on January 30 on the outskirts of Hanoi, ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

PM presents Tet gifts to disadvantaged workers in Hai Duong

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and presented gifts to disadvantaged workers and the poor in the northern province of Hai Duong on January 10, ahead of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) 2024.

HCMC to spend $41M on Tet gifts, citizen support

Ho Chi Minh City authorities will spend over VND1 trillion ($41 million) to support people with cash and gifts for the Lunar New Year (Tet), the municipal labor department said Thursday.

Source: VnExpress