News roundup: Efficient occupancy planning is key to effective hybrid workplaces, and other stories

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, more efficient office utilisation will be the focus for companies adapting to hybrid workplace models. In other updates, the pros and cons of whether to invest in a new or second-hand property. And finally, the Philippines has ordered foreigners working in offshore gambling firms to leave the country in two months.

Occupancy planning is key to effective hybrid workplaces in APAC

Hybrid working will remain core to organisational strategies in the Asia Pacific, but more efficient office utilisation will become a bigger focus for corporations adapting to new working models. According to an analysis by JLL, while 84 percent of organisations in Asia Pacific are adopting a hybrid programme, the region is also leading in the return to the office, with the highest proportion (22 percent) of employees spending an average of five days in the office globally.

Understanding how offices are utilised will be key to planning successful hybrid workplaces. JLL’s new 2024 Global Occupancy Planning Benchmarking Report outlines how hybrid programmes are actively shifting to accommodate a greater variety of work activities and how companies can look at occupancy planning and workplace design more holistically to reflect these changes. Leveraging JLL insights and accumulated data from more than 85 organisations representing nearly 625 million square feet across 12 industries globally, the benchmarking report offers best practices for how companies can use their workspace as an asset to attract and retain top talent.

Choosing Australian property investments: New vs. old – Weighing the pros and cons

Now is a promising time to be a property investor in Australia. Despite ongoing challenges in the industry, the property market has shown resilience. House values have risen by 8.3 percent over the past year. Additionally, the number of residential listings is over 7 percent higher than the five-year average and with the current imbalance between supply and demand for rental properties, there is a steady stream of tenants seeking housing.

For landlords who are in a position to grow their property portfolio, the challenge lies in deciding whether a new or second-hand property best suits their investment strategy. Each option comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, particularly in terms of financing options, ease of tenancy, location and capital growth, risk factors and tax benefits. The Real Estate Conversation aims to provide a thorough analysis to help you make an informed investment decision.

Philippines orders foreign workers in offshore gaming hubs to leave in 2 months

The Philippines has ordered foreigners working in offshore gambling firms to leave the country in two months, its immigration bureau said on Wednesday, 24th July, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to stamp out the operators.

Reuters reports Marcos has banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) for their alleged links to crimes, human trafficking and financial scams, and gave the gaming regulator until the end of the year to shut down these businesses.

Philippine immigration chief Norman Tansingco said in a statement foreign workers had 59 days to leave the country. Around 20,000 people are expected to be affected by the order, most of them Chinese citizens. Workers who stay in the country beyond the two months will be deported, he added.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].