HR News: 6 Mar, 2017

1.

Vodafone’s ReConnect: A career launchpad for women on break

The programme aims to bring talented women in 26 countries back into the workplace after a career break.

With International Women’s Day just around the corner, Vodafone announced two major initiatives designed to increase opportunities for women in the workplace, and enhance life prospects for women in emerging markets.
The Vodafone ReConnect programme is designed to attract talented women, who have left the workplace for several years (in most cases to raise a family) and who would like to return to work on a full-time or flexible basis, but are struggling to make the professional connections needed or refresh the skills required.
The programme will operate across 26 countries—with a target of 1,000 ReConnect recruits within three years. It will complement other Vodafone global initiatives focussed on encouraging and supporting women in the workplace, including the Group’s global maternity policy announced in March, 2015.
The telecom company is committed to increasing the proportion of women in management and leadership roles. Under the ReConnect programme, up to 500 women on career breaks will be recruited into management roles over the next three years, accounting for around 10 per cent of all Vodafone external management hires over that period. In addition, Vodafone will recruit up to 500 women on career breaks into a range of frontline roles.

2.

New Zealand offers free week-long trip to attract tech talent

The trip will include pre-arranged job interviews, meet-ups with others in the tech industry along with tours around Wellington.

New Zealand offers free week-long trip to attract tech talent
The trip will include pre-arranged job interviews, meet-ups with others in the tech industry along with tours around Wellington
New Zealand has found a unique way to draw talent for its tech industry in Wellington, as it looks to recruit tech talent from across the globe. It is offering a free trip to the country for those who can prove their merit.
This ‘global talent attraction programme’ is being organised in a bid to recruit about 100 new software developers, creative directors, product managers, analysts, and digital strategists from around the world to invigorate the country’s growing tech scene.
Under the initiative, the city will host 100 candidates for a free week-long trip, where techies can both participate in job interviews and also get to know the country. For the recruitment drive, the trip will include pre-arranged job interviews, meet-ups with others in the tech industry along with tours around Wellington.
The application process is also quite simple and unbiased. Those interested in moving to New Zealand for a tech job can register their interest online with LookSee Wellington and will have to create a profile there. Then, tech firms from around the city will nominate their favourite candidates. At the end of the admission process, LookSee will choose the 100 most-nominated candidates and set them up with a week-long trip to Wellington—complete with airfare and accommodations.

3.

Now withdraw pension without Aadhaar card.

In a move that will make things convenient for retired professionals, the retirement fund body, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), has allowed full and final withdrawal of funds by the subscribers from their pension account, without providing their Aadhaar number.
A senior official shared that all those members filing claims for withdrawal of funds from their pension account would now not be required to submit Aadhaar as mandated in an earlier order of the EPFO. To withdraw the amount accumulated in their pension account, members with less than 10 years of service, can submit a full and final settlement claim through Form 10C.
However, the members submitting claims for fixing their pensions using Form 10D would be required to submit Aadhaar number or enrolment slips.
The official also shared that the requirement of submitting Aadhaar number under Form 10C claims led to issues in settlement of withdrawal cases. Thus, it is decided that obtaining Aadhaar should be mandatory for the time being only for pension (fixation under 10D Form) and not for withdrawal cases (under Form 10C).
In early January, EPFO had made it mandatory for pensioners as well as subscribers to submit Aadhaar numbers to continue the benefits under its various social security schemes.