The job situation in Singapore could have been worse given the severity of the global economic downturn, if not for the concerted efforts of the government, businesses and labour movement, said NTUC's secretary-general, Lim Swee Say.
Making the point in his May Day message to workers on Tuesday, Mr Lim said measures like the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) and Jobs Credit have made a difference in saving jobs.
He said: "Many companies, (when) faced with a situation of excess manpower, they either retrench the workers or find ways to keep the workers at the minimum costs. In the case of SPUR and Job Credits, they have come in very handy, enabling many companies either to defer retrenchment or reduce retrenchment.
"We have come across companies asking for more, but at the same time we also have companies which have taken concrete action to try to find ways to break even at a much lower level of revenue, and yet at the same time working in collaboration to take full advantage of the various schemes offered by the economic agencies.
"(But) there are companies which will keep asking for more, (regardless of) whether the government or the union can do more to support them. Our message to them is: as we go through this downturn, the pain will be so severe that it is not realistic to hope for a painless solution.
"What the government and labour movement can do is to lighten the pain and share the load. And what we need is for the management to take the lead as well and play their part to find ways to cut wage and non-wage costs."
In the unionised sector, retrenchments were reaching as high as 900 per week during the Lunar New Year period.
However, the number has now dropped to an average of less than 300 per week, averting a potentially explosive situation of massive retrenchment in Singapore, said the Labour Movement chief.
"Everyday when I wake up, the first thing I look at is: what is the level of retrenchment, how many more jobs have we lost?" said Mr Lim. "The second thing I worry (about) is whether every job lost translates to another unemployed worker."
Mr Lim warned that the battle against the downturn is far from over. He said the retrenchments in the first quarter of this year would not be the only wave of job losses, but just the first.
Therefore, it was important for the tripartite partners to gear up for tougher challenges ahead of them, and not be disheartened.
Besides tackling the immediate challenges of cutting costs and saving jobs, the NTUC chief said the labour movement has got to be ready for the upturn and hence the need to also ensure that workers are ready to take on new jobs and new openings in emerging markets and new growth areas.
Mr Lim said: "Our key challenge today is not one of unemployment challenge, but rather the structural unemployment challenge. There are still jobs today: e2i (the employment and employability institute) today has got about 19,000 jobs, the job seekers about 9,500. And yet overnight, we have not been able to match because of a mismatch of skills, because of expectations."
He added that the tripartite partners are addressing this problem with SPUR.
At the same time, Mr Lim added that it is also important for the country to keep building new capabilities, upgrade service quality and restructure businesses especially at the time of a downturn, so that it can be prepared to take full advantage when the upturn comes.
- Channel News Asia
Apr 28, 2009
Apr 27, 2009
Going green will create jobs
GOING green will help the economy, the Government hopes, by creating 18,000 more jobs and adding $3.4 billion to the Republic's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2015.
On Monday, Singapore's Government released its sustainable-development blueprint which projects that environment and water technologies and clean energy solutions will each contribute $1.7 billion to the GDP in the next six years.
Of these, 11,000 jobs will come from environment and water technologies, such as water-treatment plants, while 7,000 will come from the clean energy industry, such as solar-cell plants or biofuels.
To grow the clean technology - or 'cleantech' - sector, a $680 million fund has been set aside for research, development and training manpower.
January's Budget also pledged an additional $1billion for sustainable development over the next five years.
Though that figure is a small percentage of Singapore's $257.4 billion GDP produced last year, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said: 'We are not looking at headline-grabbing numbers...We are looking at something that is doable in the Singapore context, that is practical, that will give us results.'
- The Straits Times
On Monday, Singapore's Government released its sustainable-development blueprint which projects that environment and water technologies and clean energy solutions will each contribute $1.7 billion to the GDP in the next six years.
Of these, 11,000 jobs will come from environment and water technologies, such as water-treatment plants, while 7,000 will come from the clean energy industry, such as solar-cell plants or biofuels.
To grow the clean technology - or 'cleantech' - sector, a $680 million fund has been set aside for research, development and training manpower.
January's Budget also pledged an additional $1billion for sustainable development over the next five years.
Though that figure is a small percentage of Singapore's $257.4 billion GDP produced last year, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said: 'We are not looking at headline-grabbing numbers...We are looking at something that is doable in the Singapore context, that is practical, that will give us results.'
- The Straits Times
Apr 25, 2009
Demand for security personnel to rise; more PMETs needed
Demand for security personnel is expected to surge over the next few months. This is according to industry players, who say more security personnel are needed during a recession.
Retrenchments may be rising in Singapore but security firms like Prosec Services are on a hiring spree.
Prosec is looking for some 85 security officers and 25 supervisors to beef up its current team of 750 personnel.
V K Kanesan, recruitment specialist, Prosec Services, said: "Recession means more business because more security is needed."
Prosec is one of 22 security firms hiring at a career fair held at Suntec City and organised by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
Prosec also plans to hire more mid-career professionals, managers, executives and technicians, or PMETs, for supervisory roles. And the firm hopes to retain at least some 40 per cent of its personnel when the economy picks up.
Kanesan said: "During the SARS period, people jumped into this industry, because... out there, there's no job, this industry has a job. But then when the economy picked up, they left for better pay, better schemes.
Some 1,200 jobs are on offer at the career fair. WDA expects some 3,500 security personnel will be needed in Singapore over the next two years although industry players believe the number may be higher.
To help cope with the increased demand, WDA has introduced three new security training modules to help PMETs cross over into the industry.
Hui Mei San, director of Workforce Development Agency, said: "We want to ensure that the workers have good progression and are able to enter into the industry even without prior experience."
WDA has tied up with the Security Industry Institute to launch the Professional Conversion Programme and the Security Supervisor Conversion Programme to help workers join the security industry at an operational and supervisory level.
The agency has also partnered APRO Training Centre to introduce a Professional Conversion Programme designed to help professionals, managers and executives make career switches from non-security industries. Each course takes in about 60 workers and the next intake is in May.
The courses last between six and nine months, during which workers will receive training allowances of between S$260 and S$2,000 per month.
Upon completing training, candidates will be bonded for up to nine months. They will be guaranteed a gross monthly salary of nearly S$2,000.
Altogether, WDA has 34 training modules under its Security Workforce Skills Qualifications programme.
- Channel News Asia
Retrenchments may be rising in Singapore but security firms like Prosec Services are on a hiring spree.
Prosec is looking for some 85 security officers and 25 supervisors to beef up its current team of 750 personnel.
V K Kanesan, recruitment specialist, Prosec Services, said: "Recession means more business because more security is needed."
Prosec is one of 22 security firms hiring at a career fair held at Suntec City and organised by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
Prosec also plans to hire more mid-career professionals, managers, executives and technicians, or PMETs, for supervisory roles. And the firm hopes to retain at least some 40 per cent of its personnel when the economy picks up.
Kanesan said: "During the SARS period, people jumped into this industry, because... out there, there's no job, this industry has a job. But then when the economy picked up, they left for better pay, better schemes.
Some 1,200 jobs are on offer at the career fair. WDA expects some 3,500 security personnel will be needed in Singapore over the next two years although industry players believe the number may be higher.
To help cope with the increased demand, WDA has introduced three new security training modules to help PMETs cross over into the industry.
Hui Mei San, director of Workforce Development Agency, said: "We want to ensure that the workers have good progression and are able to enter into the industry even without prior experience."
WDA has tied up with the Security Industry Institute to launch the Professional Conversion Programme and the Security Supervisor Conversion Programme to help workers join the security industry at an operational and supervisory level.
The agency has also partnered APRO Training Centre to introduce a Professional Conversion Programme designed to help professionals, managers and executives make career switches from non-security industries. Each course takes in about 60 workers and the next intake is in May.
The courses last between six and nine months, during which workers will receive training allowances of between S$260 and S$2,000 per month.
Upon completing training, candidates will be bonded for up to nine months. They will be guaranteed a gross monthly salary of nearly S$2,000.
Altogether, WDA has 34 training modules under its Security Workforce Skills Qualifications programme.
- Channel News Asia
Apr 24, 2009
4 in 10 laid off foreigners
FOUR out of 10 workers laid off last year were foreigners, according to latest figures from the Manpower Ministry (MOM).
The proportion is a 10-year high, and analysts say it shows that contrary to popular belief, Singaporeans have not unfairly borne the brunt of layoffs in the current recession.
'A lot of foreigners are employed in lower-skilled service industries which slowed down in the later part of last year, so they have been affected,' said Nanyang Technological University economist Choy Keen Meng.
A total of 16,880 workers lost their jobs last year, double the figure for 2007. Of these, 13,920 were retrenched and 2,970 had their contracts terminated prematurely.
The bulk of those in the latter group - 2,380 - were foreigners.
Of the 13,920 retrenched, 9,770 were locals - Singaporeans and permanent residents - and 4,140 foreigners.
As MOM pointed out, the proportion of foreigners laid off last year broadly reflects their presence in the workforce.
Foreigners made up 36 per cent of Singapore's workforce last December.
In actual numbers, they form 1.2 million of Singapore'sl population in June, driving it to a record 4.84 million.
The number of layoffs last year is the highest since 2003.
- The Straits Times
The proportion is a 10-year high, and analysts say it shows that contrary to popular belief, Singaporeans have not unfairly borne the brunt of layoffs in the current recession.
'A lot of foreigners are employed in lower-skilled service industries which slowed down in the later part of last year, so they have been affected,' said Nanyang Technological University economist Choy Keen Meng.
A total of 16,880 workers lost their jobs last year, double the figure for 2007. Of these, 13,920 were retrenched and 2,970 had their contracts terminated prematurely.
The bulk of those in the latter group - 2,380 - were foreigners.
Of the 13,920 retrenched, 9,770 were locals - Singaporeans and permanent residents - and 4,140 foreigners.
As MOM pointed out, the proportion of foreigners laid off last year broadly reflects their presence in the workforce.
Foreigners made up 36 per cent of Singapore's workforce last December.
In actual numbers, they form 1.2 million of Singapore'sl population in June, driving it to a record 4.84 million.
The number of layoffs last year is the highest since 2003.
- The Straits Times
Jobs availiable at Sentosa IR
THERE are still plenty of jobs available in the recession, with many of them at the Sentosa integrated resort, said Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong.
In his first visit to Resorts World at Sentosa, Mr Gan received an update on the progress of the project from its head executives.
They told him the resort with a casino is on track to open in first quarter of next year. Four out of six hotels, the casino, the public retail and dining area called Festive Walk and the first Universal Studios theme park in the region will open then.
After the closed-door presentation, during which he asked about the hiring situation, he told reporters : 'I am cheered that the management here has made a commitment that they are going to reach out to Singaporeans first.'
He said the resort had been working with various Government agencies like Singapore Workforce Development Agency, National Trades Union Congress and the different Community Development Councils to hire as many Singaporeans as possible.
- The Straits Times
In his first visit to Resorts World at Sentosa, Mr Gan received an update on the progress of the project from its head executives.
They told him the resort with a casino is on track to open in first quarter of next year. Four out of six hotels, the casino, the public retail and dining area called Festive Walk and the first Universal Studios theme park in the region will open then.
After the closed-door presentation, during which he asked about the hiring situation, he told reporters : 'I am cheered that the management here has made a commitment that they are going to reach out to Singaporeans first.'
He said the resort had been working with various Government agencies like Singapore Workforce Development Agency, National Trades Union Congress and the different Community Development Councils to hire as many Singaporeans as possible.
- The Straits Times
7 in 10 jobless reemployed
SEVEN in 10 Singaporeans retrenched in the third quarter of 2008 were re-employed by December, possibly reflecting more realistic expectations given the weak job market outlook.
The number who got a job again after being laid off was higher than the 62 per cent in the previous cohort in September.
The rise was generally felt across the board, with the major exception of degree holders whose re-employment rate fell from 68 per cent to 62 per cent.
Among locals retrenched in the first nine months and re-employed by the end of the year, 56 per cent secured employment in the same industry from which they were shed. This was slightly lower than the 58 per cent a year ago.
This was the thin silver lining amid the worst recession Singapore is facing. During the year, redundancies nearly doubled as the economy deteriorated rapidly.
This was especially felt in the fourth quarter when layoffs surged to a record quarterly high of 9,410, nearly triple the 3,180 laid off in the preceding quarter.
For the whole of 2008, redundancies hit 16,880 workers, comprising 13,920 workers retrenched and 2,970 workers whose contracts were terminated prematurely, according to a report released by the Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department on Friday.
This translated to 11 workers made redundant for every 1,000 employees, nearly double the 6 per 1,000 in 2007.
Nevertheless, redundancies in 2008 remained below the highs hit in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis when 32,800 workers, or 33 per 1,000, were laid off, and in the 2001 economic downturn, which saw 27,570 workers or 26 per 1,000 lost their jobs.
The workers who were made redundant last year were from across all three broad occupational groups. But more professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) were laid off - from 31 per cent in 2007 to 37 per cent in 2008, while the share of production and related workers displaced fell from 56 per cent to 52 per cent and clerical, sales and service workers from 13 per cent to 11 per cent.
Production and related workers were the hardest hit, with 14 workers made redundant per 1,000, followed by PMETs at 9.9 per 1,000 and clerical, sales and service workers at 5.5 per 1,000 in 2008
The report said overall, the share of locals and foreigners laid off broadly reflected their representation in the workforce.
'Re-employment of locals retrenched improved in December 2008 from a quarter ago, possibly reflecting more realistic expectations among jobseekers given the weak job market outlook,' it noted.
- The Straits Times
The number who got a job again after being laid off was higher than the 62 per cent in the previous cohort in September.
The rise was generally felt across the board, with the major exception of degree holders whose re-employment rate fell from 68 per cent to 62 per cent.
Among locals retrenched in the first nine months and re-employed by the end of the year, 56 per cent secured employment in the same industry from which they were shed. This was slightly lower than the 58 per cent a year ago.
This was the thin silver lining amid the worst recession Singapore is facing. During the year, redundancies nearly doubled as the economy deteriorated rapidly.
This was especially felt in the fourth quarter when layoffs surged to a record quarterly high of 9,410, nearly triple the 3,180 laid off in the preceding quarter.
For the whole of 2008, redundancies hit 16,880 workers, comprising 13,920 workers retrenched and 2,970 workers whose contracts were terminated prematurely, according to a report released by the Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department on Friday.
This translated to 11 workers made redundant for every 1,000 employees, nearly double the 6 per 1,000 in 2007.
Nevertheless, redundancies in 2008 remained below the highs hit in 1998 during the Asian financial crisis when 32,800 workers, or 33 per 1,000, were laid off, and in the 2001 economic downturn, which saw 27,570 workers or 26 per 1,000 lost their jobs.
The workers who were made redundant last year were from across all three broad occupational groups. But more professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) were laid off - from 31 per cent in 2007 to 37 per cent in 2008, while the share of production and related workers displaced fell from 56 per cent to 52 per cent and clerical, sales and service workers from 13 per cent to 11 per cent.
Production and related workers were the hardest hit, with 14 workers made redundant per 1,000, followed by PMETs at 9.9 per 1,000 and clerical, sales and service workers at 5.5 per 1,000 in 2008
The report said overall, the share of locals and foreigners laid off broadly reflected their representation in the workforce.
'Re-employment of locals retrenched improved in December 2008 from a quarter ago, possibly reflecting more realistic expectations among jobseekers given the weak job market outlook,' it noted.
- The Straits Times
Apr 18, 2009
5,000 union workers axed
THE number of retrenched unionised workers has hit one of the highest levels in the last decade, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said yesterday.
The figure so far this year has reached about 5,500, said NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How. In 1999, a total of 7,635 unionised workers lost their jobs.
Needy retrenched union workers will benefit from the labour movement's U Care Fund. Some money will be put aside to help currently retrenched union workers who received little or no benefits.
The fund was launched this year to collectively raise money from the tripartite partners - government, employers and unions - in response to the economic downturn.
Given a target of $20 million in its kitty by the end of May, it crossed the $10 million mark yesterday, when a total of $990,000 was donated.
NTUC Foodfare, NTUC Healthcare, NTUC Learning Hub, NTUC Link, NTUC Thrift, NTUC Foodfare's union - the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union (FDAWU) - and the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF) donated the money.
In particular, this was NTUC Foodfare's single largest donation of $512,000 to the labour movement.
To mark the event, chief executive officers of the social enterprises, Mr Heng and union leaders from FDAWU spent 11/2 hours preparing and serving over 100 sets of Foodfare's signature $1.80 breakfast set meals to customers at Foodfare's outlet in Simei MRT station.
- The Straits Times
The figure so far this year has reached about 5,500, said NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How. In 1999, a total of 7,635 unionised workers lost their jobs.
Needy retrenched union workers will benefit from the labour movement's U Care Fund. Some money will be put aside to help currently retrenched union workers who received little or no benefits.
The fund was launched this year to collectively raise money from the tripartite partners - government, employers and unions - in response to the economic downturn.
Given a target of $20 million in its kitty by the end of May, it crossed the $10 million mark yesterday, when a total of $990,000 was donated.
NTUC Foodfare, NTUC Healthcare, NTUC Learning Hub, NTUC Link, NTUC Thrift, NTUC Foodfare's union - the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union (FDAWU) - and the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF) donated the money.
In particular, this was NTUC Foodfare's single largest donation of $512,000 to the labour movement.
To mark the event, chief executive officers of the social enterprises, Mr Heng and union leaders from FDAWU spent 11/2 hours preparing and serving over 100 sets of Foodfare's signature $1.80 breakfast set meals to customers at Foodfare's outlet in Simei MRT station.
- The Straits Times
Apr 14, 2009
Resorts World reassures S'poreans that bulk of the jobs will go to them
TWO reports circulating on the Internet that half of the 10,000 jobs at Sentosa's upcoming integrated resort (IR) have been set aside for foreigners have created a furore among some Singaporeans.
Two publications in the Philippines - the Manila Standard Today and the Philippine Star - on April 4 quoted the country's President Gloria Arroyo as saying she has secured 5,000 positions at the casino-resort - opening next year - for Filipinos.
She was quoted as saying she had sent a delegation to Singapore last month to explore job opportunities for Filipino nationals here, and added that Labour Secretary Marianito Roque met Resorts World at Sentosa chief executive officer Tan Hee Teck to talk about opportunities for Filipinos.
Manila Standard Today also quoted administrator Jennifer Manalili of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration as saying: 'They are expanding and there will be openings for workers for hotels, casinos and performers.'
Ms Manalili, who was part of the delegation here last month, added: 'Universal Studios will also have a theme park so they told us they want to hire Filipino talent and performers...They might come here to conduct auditions either next month or in June.'
She also told the Manila Standard Today the government will send another team here next month to 'finalise discussions and requirements for Filipino workers'.
The reaction on online forums here to the reports has been furious. Some said setting aside so many jobs for foreigners amounted to 'betrayal'. A netizen going by the nickname likedatosocan wrote on one local forum: 'I am jobless now and Singaporean. Why am I not employed? I can go low as well, I mean on salary. I speak English without accent. Why not hire me?'
Others questioned whether the service provided by the growing number of Filipino service staff here is better than that provided by Singaporeans.
When asked about the Philippine media reports, Resorts World spokesman Robin Goh would only confirm a meeting had taken place. 'The Philippine Embassy requested a meeting with Resorts World at Sentosa, which Resorts World hosted. Jobs for Filipinos were discussed during the meeting, in which Resorts World stated our commitment to hire Singaporeans first, particularly in this recession.'
He added: 'Resorts World will offer 10,000 jobs when we open, and we expect the bulk of them to go to Singaporeans.' He said the resort currently has 500 employees, of whom 80 per cent are Singaporeans and residents here. The remaining 20 per cent hail from countries like Australia, Britain, Malaysia and the United States.
- The Straits Times
Two publications in the Philippines - the Manila Standard Today and the Philippine Star - on April 4 quoted the country's President Gloria Arroyo as saying she has secured 5,000 positions at the casino-resort - opening next year - for Filipinos.
She was quoted as saying she had sent a delegation to Singapore last month to explore job opportunities for Filipino nationals here, and added that Labour Secretary Marianito Roque met Resorts World at Sentosa chief executive officer Tan Hee Teck to talk about opportunities for Filipinos.
Manila Standard Today also quoted administrator Jennifer Manalili of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration as saying: 'They are expanding and there will be openings for workers for hotels, casinos and performers.'
Ms Manalili, who was part of the delegation here last month, added: 'Universal Studios will also have a theme park so they told us they want to hire Filipino talent and performers...They might come here to conduct auditions either next month or in June.'
She also told the Manila Standard Today the government will send another team here next month to 'finalise discussions and requirements for Filipino workers'.
The reaction on online forums here to the reports has been furious. Some said setting aside so many jobs for foreigners amounted to 'betrayal'. A netizen going by the nickname likedatosocan wrote on one local forum: 'I am jobless now and Singaporean. Why am I not employed? I can go low as well, I mean on salary. I speak English without accent. Why not hire me?'
Others questioned whether the service provided by the growing number of Filipino service staff here is better than that provided by Singaporeans.
When asked about the Philippine media reports, Resorts World spokesman Robin Goh would only confirm a meeting had taken place. 'The Philippine Embassy requested a meeting with Resorts World at Sentosa, which Resorts World hosted. Jobs for Filipinos were discussed during the meeting, in which Resorts World stated our commitment to hire Singaporeans first, particularly in this recession.'
He added: 'Resorts World will offer 10,000 jobs when we open, and we expect the bulk of them to go to Singaporeans.' He said the resort currently has 500 employees, of whom 80 per cent are Singaporeans and residents here. The remaining 20 per cent hail from countries like Australia, Britain, Malaysia and the United States.
- The Straits Times
Apr 10, 2009
Cut costs but no layoffs
UNITED Overseas Bank (UOB), Singapore's second-biggest lender, is planning a restructuring process to cut costs - but it is understood no jobs will be lost.
In its summary financial statements - released yesterday ahead of its annual report due out later this month - the bank indicated that it wished to improve efficiencies and cut operating costs.
'In this turbulent environment, the group will steer a cautious course,' it said in the report.
The Straits Times understands that there will be no job cuts and the ongoing restructuring exercise involves tweaking its technological operations.
A UOB spokesman confirmed yesterday that it is 'integrating technology and operations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the region to better serve its customers'.
UOB has already implemented a wage freeze across the organisation.
Kim Eng Research analyst Pauline Lee said that UOB's cost-to-income ratio of below 40 per cent is the lowest when compared with peers OCBC Bank and DBS Group Holdings.
'It is fair for a company to look at cost savings during a difficult operating environment,' she said. 'Maybe UOB's interest is not to go to the market to raise funds, so this (restructuring) is one avenue for it to conserve cash.'
For months, market talk has been that UOB might announce a rights issue to raise capital.
But its deputy chairman and chief executive, Mr Wee Ee Cheong, during the bank's fourth-quarter results briefing in February, quashed the rumours and said it did not need to do so.
- The Straits Times
In its summary financial statements - released yesterday ahead of its annual report due out later this month - the bank indicated that it wished to improve efficiencies and cut operating costs.
'In this turbulent environment, the group will steer a cautious course,' it said in the report.
The Straits Times understands that there will be no job cuts and the ongoing restructuring exercise involves tweaking its technological operations.
A UOB spokesman confirmed yesterday that it is 'integrating technology and operations to enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the region to better serve its customers'.
UOB has already implemented a wage freeze across the organisation.
Kim Eng Research analyst Pauline Lee said that UOB's cost-to-income ratio of below 40 per cent is the lowest when compared with peers OCBC Bank and DBS Group Holdings.
'It is fair for a company to look at cost savings during a difficult operating environment,' she said. 'Maybe UOB's interest is not to go to the market to raise funds, so this (restructuring) is one avenue for it to conserve cash.'
For months, market talk has been that UOB might announce a rights issue to raise capital.
But its deputy chairman and chief executive, Mr Wee Ee Cheong, during the bank's fourth-quarter results briefing in February, quashed the rumours and said it did not need to do so.
- The Straits Times
Apr 9, 2009
Second wave of layoffs possible
LABOUR chief Lim Swee Say warned on Thursday that Singapore could see a second wave of retrenchments. The first wave hit just after the Chinese New Year festivities in February, when companies began to axe workers in large numbers.
Some 800 to 900 jobs were shed weekly for a month following the holidays, he said. But it slowed significantly after the Government's Jobs Credit scheme and Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur) kicked in, he added.
The numbers fell to about 200 to 300 a week. 'Since then it's stayed at that level,' he added.
The $4.5 billion Jobs Credit scheme pays for part of a local worker's salary, while the $650 million Spur sponsors workers' training.
But the slowdown in pace is just the calm before the storm, said Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.
'We must not assume that retrenchment will now subside and stay low at this current level for the rest of the year. We must be prepared that there could be a second wave of retrenchment coming on board.'
He said it was anybody's guess how big the retrenchment numbers would be in the second wave but the Government and the labour movement were prepared.
Mr Lim was speaking to reporters after accompanying Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on a visit to NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), a training and job matching centre in Redhill Road.
He also agreed with Mr Lee that Singapore could have suffered an even bigger loss of jobs in the first three months of this year if not for such programmes as Spur and the Jobs Credit scheme.
Mr Lee had said that job losses in the first quarter would probably exceed 10,000.
- The Straits Times
Some 800 to 900 jobs were shed weekly for a month following the holidays, he said. But it slowed significantly after the Government's Jobs Credit scheme and Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur) kicked in, he added.
The numbers fell to about 200 to 300 a week. 'Since then it's stayed at that level,' he added.
The $4.5 billion Jobs Credit scheme pays for part of a local worker's salary, while the $650 million Spur sponsors workers' training.
But the slowdown in pace is just the calm before the storm, said Mr Lim, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.
'We must not assume that retrenchment will now subside and stay low at this current level for the rest of the year. We must be prepared that there could be a second wave of retrenchment coming on board.'
He said it was anybody's guess how big the retrenchment numbers would be in the second wave but the Government and the labour movement were prepared.
Mr Lim was speaking to reporters after accompanying Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on a visit to NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), a training and job matching centre in Redhill Road.
He also agreed with Mr Lee that Singapore could have suffered an even bigger loss of jobs in the first three months of this year if not for such programmes as Spur and the Jobs Credit scheme.
Mr Lee had said that job losses in the first quarter would probably exceed 10,000.
- The Straits Times
Apr 7, 2009
Help in scouring jobs market
ASKING for the number of job vacancies is almost second nature to Ms Venus Tan.
In the past six months, she has posed the question when attending functions, while buying a meal at McDonald's and even at a supermarket checkout counter.
But the 39-year-old, who is studying traditional medicine part-time, is not looking for jobs for herself.
She is a job navigator, a role she volunteered for when her MP, Ms Lee Bee Wah, set up a scheme for the Nee Soon South ward of Ang Mo Kio GRC, to help residents find jobs close to home.
Although the scheme was put in place in January last year - before the economic crisis hit - it has since become an important tool in Ms Lee's efforts to help residents cope with the downturn.
Speaking about the scheme on Tuesday, Ms Lee said in the last six months, more then 170 people have come to her Meet-the-People sessions looking for jobs.
Of these, around half have been placed in jobs through the Job Navigator scheme. The rest have been referred to the Central Singapore Community Development Council.
Ms Lee was giving an update on various measures that have been introduced in Nee Soon South since she was elected its MP in 2006. Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will be visiting the ward in two weeks' time.
- The Straits Times
In the past six months, she has posed the question when attending functions, while buying a meal at McDonald's and even at a supermarket checkout counter.
But the 39-year-old, who is studying traditional medicine part-time, is not looking for jobs for herself.
She is a job navigator, a role she volunteered for when her MP, Ms Lee Bee Wah, set up a scheme for the Nee Soon South ward of Ang Mo Kio GRC, to help residents find jobs close to home.
Although the scheme was put in place in January last year - before the economic crisis hit - it has since become an important tool in Ms Lee's efforts to help residents cope with the downturn.
Speaking about the scheme on Tuesday, Ms Lee said in the last six months, more then 170 people have come to her Meet-the-People sessions looking for jobs.
Of these, around half have been placed in jobs through the Job Navigator scheme. The rest have been referred to the Central Singapore Community Development Council.
Ms Lee was giving an update on various measures that have been introduced in Nee Soon South since she was elected its MP in 2006. Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will be visiting the ward in two weeks' time.
- The Straits Times
CDCs see more people seeking help for jobs
The number of people seeking job help from Singapore's five Community Development Councils (CDCs) is rising fast. In January, there were about 14,000. The number rose past 17,000 in February.
According to Central Singapore CDC, retrenched workers make up about 10 to 20 per cent of those seeking help at its career centre.
To meet demand, CDC career centres have been beefing up their services over the past few months.
More staff have also been hired to cope with the workload, and new initiatives started to give applicants training in jobseeking skills.
Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong was briefed on these measures at the Central Singapore CDC on Tuesday.
He said that the CDCs are also provided with job counsellors who work with the professionals, managers, executives and technicians or PMETs to assess their employment and training needs so as to better prepare them for job placements.
The CDCs are collaborating with other agencies as well as self-help groups to coordinate job placement efforts.
To help the PMETs, the CDCs have come up with new initiatives such as workshops and seminars. The first such programme was started in January. 50 people took part, and 80 per cent of them have found jobs.
- Channel News Asia
According to Central Singapore CDC, retrenched workers make up about 10 to 20 per cent of those seeking help at its career centre.
To meet demand, CDC career centres have been beefing up their services over the past few months.
More staff have also been hired to cope with the workload, and new initiatives started to give applicants training in jobseeking skills.
Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong was briefed on these measures at the Central Singapore CDC on Tuesday.
He said that the CDCs are also provided with job counsellors who work with the professionals, managers, executives and technicians or PMETs to assess their employment and training needs so as to better prepare them for job placements.
The CDCs are collaborating with other agencies as well as self-help groups to coordinate job placement efforts.
To help the PMETs, the CDCs have come up with new initiatives such as workshops and seminars. The first such programme was started in January. 50 people took part, and 80 per cent of them have found jobs.
- Channel News Asia
Apr 6, 2009
Job fair draws 800 grads
FRESH graduate Wang Wei Xiang will jump at a job that pays $2,000 a month, even though it is $500 less than the average starting pay.
The 26-year-old, who has a degree in business management from Singapore Management University, is even willing to be an intern for $700 a month.
His overriding concern is that the job gives him experience in human resource and organisational development.
Mr Wang's flexible stance on pay is typical among the 800 new graduates who attended a job fair on Monday.
Altogether, 28 organisations offered more than 6,000 jobs at the fair organised by Young NTUC, the youth arm of the National Trades Union Congress.
They included the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, integrated resorts Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa, as well as pre-school operator NTUC First Campus.
About 12,000 are expected to graduate from the local universities this year, said NTUC assistant secretary-general Josephine Teo on Monday. But at least 1,000 of them may find themselves jobless even after six months, should their employment rate hit the 87 per cent level of the 2003 Sars period, said an NTUC statement yesterday.
Mrs Teo, who is adviser to Young NTUC, highlighted to the graduates at the fair the large number of jobs on offer, saying it shows there are still many opportunities despite the downturn.
Young NTUC plans to hold three networking sessions on specific industries to help the new graduates find jobs.
It also started an online employment advisory service for undergraduates and new graduates on Monday, at www.youngntuc.org.sg.
- The Straits Times
The 26-year-old, who has a degree in business management from Singapore Management University, is even willing to be an intern for $700 a month.
His overriding concern is that the job gives him experience in human resource and organisational development.
Mr Wang's flexible stance on pay is typical among the 800 new graduates who attended a job fair on Monday.
Altogether, 28 organisations offered more than 6,000 jobs at the fair organised by Young NTUC, the youth arm of the National Trades Union Congress.
They included the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, integrated resorts Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World at Sentosa, as well as pre-school operator NTUC First Campus.
About 12,000 are expected to graduate from the local universities this year, said NTUC assistant secretary-general Josephine Teo on Monday. But at least 1,000 of them may find themselves jobless even after six months, should their employment rate hit the 87 per cent level of the 2003 Sars period, said an NTUC statement yesterday.
Mrs Teo, who is adviser to Young NTUC, highlighted to the graduates at the fair the large number of jobs on offer, saying it shows there are still many opportunities despite the downturn.
Young NTUC plans to hold three networking sessions on specific industries to help the new graduates find jobs.
It also started an online employment advisory service for undergraduates and new graduates on Monday, at www.youngntuc.org.sg.
- The Straits Times
Higher jobless rate likely
UNEMPLOYMENT and retrenchment rates in the first three months of this year are likely to be higher than in the last three months of last year, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the release of the first quarter's figures this month, he said the economy was not yet out of the woods. He also noted that more retrenchment notices went out in the first quarter than in the previous one.
In the final quarter of last year, unemployment was 3.7 per cent for Singaporeans, up slightly from the 3.3 per cent from the third quarter.
If laid-off foreigners are included, the number of people retrenched in the final quarter of last year would be 7,500, three times more than the quarter before.
Earlier estimates for the number of people laid off in the first three months of this year have been put at more than 10,000.
With the downturn expected to last a few more quarters, Mr Gan said stemming unemployment and retrenchments and helping workers cope with the downturn were top on his list of priorities now.
He said: 'What's more important now is to focus on managing the downturn; managing costs so we can save more jobs.'
He wants more employers and workers on board the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience, which gives employers higher training subsidies so they will retrain rather than retrench workers.
The four-month-old programme, which has enrolled more than 43,000 workers from over 700 companies so far, has been successful in staving off some retrenchments by helping companies save costs. He said some of them may have decided to defer making the decision.
Beyond the immediate crisis, the minister - newly promoted to his post just last week from an acting capacity - also plans to improve workplace safety and to encourage employers to hire more older workers and women.
- The Straits Times
Speaking to reporters ahead of the release of the first quarter's figures this month, he said the economy was not yet out of the woods. He also noted that more retrenchment notices went out in the first quarter than in the previous one.
In the final quarter of last year, unemployment was 3.7 per cent for Singaporeans, up slightly from the 3.3 per cent from the third quarter.
If laid-off foreigners are included, the number of people retrenched in the final quarter of last year would be 7,500, three times more than the quarter before.
Earlier estimates for the number of people laid off in the first three months of this year have been put at more than 10,000.
With the downturn expected to last a few more quarters, Mr Gan said stemming unemployment and retrenchments and helping workers cope with the downturn were top on his list of priorities now.
He said: 'What's more important now is to focus on managing the downturn; managing costs so we can save more jobs.'
He wants more employers and workers on board the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience, which gives employers higher training subsidies so they will retrain rather than retrench workers.
The four-month-old programme, which has enrolled more than 43,000 workers from over 700 companies so far, has been successful in staving off some retrenchments by helping companies save costs. He said some of them may have decided to defer making the decision.
Beyond the immediate crisis, the minister - newly promoted to his post just last week from an acting capacity - also plans to improve workplace safety and to encourage employers to hire more older workers and women.
- The Straits Times
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