ZURICH, Jan 8 (Reuters) – Zurich Insurance is selling its Singapore life assurance business, with policies providing $4.5 billion of coverage, to Singapore Life as part of the Swiss group’s overhaul under Chief Executive Mario Greco.Singapore Life said it will become responsible for all the life, critical illness and disability policies of Zurich Life Singapore customers in the Asian country, with the transfer expected to be completed in the first half of 2018.Terms of the deal were not disclosed.The agreement follows Zurich Life Singapore’s closure to new business in December 2015 and does not affect any of Zurich’s other business in Singapore.David Kneale, chief executive of Zurich Life Singapore, said the decision followed Zurich’s strategy.Greco has promised to make the group leaner and more efficient, with a $1.5 billion cost-cutting programme centred on a plan to simplify its structure and improve accountability and performance.Zurich viewed its … [Read more...] about Zurich Insurance sells Singapore life assurance business
Business
LaVar Ball’s Big Baller Brand given an F by the Better Business Bureau after being blasted with negative reviews and complaints of unfilled orders
Big Baller Brand received an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau – the worst possible rating a company can get. The poor rating stems from a series of negative reviews and unresolved complaints from Big Baller Brand customers, including many who say that their credit cards have been charged without any word on the whereabouts of their purchase. In response, LaVar Ball insulted the Better Business Bureau, saying “Who cares about them? Tell them that Yelp! has replaced the Better Business Bureau.” LaVar Ball’s Big Baller Brand has received an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau after a series of unresolved complaints about the company and their services. According to the report from the Better Business Bureau, Big Baller Brand has had 32 complaints filed against it and left many of them unresolved. Ball’s BBB has also received a number of poor … [Read more...] about LaVar Ball’s Big Baller Brand given an F by the Better Business Bureau after being blasted with negative reviews and complaints of unfilled orders
Why these small business owners are embracing the minimum wage boost
On the face of it, business owners Gilleen Witkowski and Damin Starr have little in common: a millennial entrepreneur with a downtown Toronto dog walking outfit, and a father-of-six at the helm of a Niagara-based metal parts processing facility.But despite divergent journeys, they say they’ve both arrived at the same conclusion: a living wage is good for business. In the wake of a controversial backlash to the province’s minimum wage bump, up from $11.60 to $14 an hour this January, Witkowski and Starr are urging fellow entrepreneurs to embrace what they see as much needed change. And they believe many are. “I think some of the positive voices have been drowned out by some of the larger voices,” Witkowski said. Witkowski herself is no stranger to precarious work, part of the reason she says paying her employees $15 an hour was non-negotiable when she started her dog-walking and pet services businesses two years ago. … [Read more...] about Why these small business owners are embracing the minimum wage boost
E-business tax targeted to fill coffers
The Revenue Department estimates its annual tax revenue growth will triple to 15% after the e-business tax, a levy on any online transaction that takes place in Thailand regardless of the e-commerce operator's location, comes into force. The department's tax revenue has increased 5% or 100 billion baht a year on average, but the growth pace will be 15% or 300 billion once the e-business tax is enforced, said Prasong Poontaneat, the department's director-general.The department will conduct a second hearing of the draft e-business tax this month to measure public opinion before proposing it for cabinet approval.The draft bill requires online vendors who use a domain name in Thailand and have a payment system in baht, or transfer money from here, to pay the tax.Electronic media operators who earn income from advertising and website rental will be responsible for withholding tax and remitting it to the Revenue Department.The draft bill for the e-business tax has set a ceiling rate of 15%, … [Read more...] about E-business tax targeted to fill coffers
The premier should not be picking fights with small business owners
Who’s the real bully here? Could it be the government that has said businesses that can’t pay a $15 per hour wage don’t deserve to be in business? Could it be the government is publicly shaming businesses that are taking tough but needed steps to stay afloat and protect jobs?Premier Kathleen Wynne’s shock over small business owners’ reaction to the wage hike — be it increasing prices or reducing benefits, hours or positions — would have a lot more credibility had her government ordered even a basic impact assessment of the minimum wage hike before moving forward.We asked for one, numerous times, over the past several months; 94 per cent of our members want one. But the government consistently refused, opting instead to blindly roll the dice with people’s livelihoods.Why would they do that? To borrow a phrase from the premier, “I’ll be blunt.”This whole social experiment is an act of a government that doesn’t appear … [Read more...] about The premier should not be picking fights with small business owners