Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong said government measures to help companies manage excess staff have been effective in reducing Singapore's retrenchment numbers and the unemployment rate.
Mr Gan told Parliament on Monday that the SPUR-JOBS scheme saw 50 companies committed to hiring 1,200 local workers in various industries so far. The scheme, announced in May, encourages the recruitment and retention of trainees.
And as of end-May, the Professional Skills Programme (PSP) - which helps professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETS) and fresh graduates enhance their skills and employment prospects - saw about 36,000 trained or committed to training.
Mr Gan said some companies are currently hiring, but cautioned against premature optimism.
He said: "It is important for us to continue to be vigilant, to continue to work hard to create jobs, so that they (workers) are more employable. So that when job opportunities are created, workers are ready to take on these opportunities.
"The outlook remains uncertain particularly in the third quarter, and the next quarter. Whether the companies' hiring will sustain will depend a lot on their order books for the next two quarters. Some companies are hiring, but it is not broad-based.
"When I talked to the companies anecdotally, most of them were unable to see beyond the third or fourth quarter. So it is important for us to continue to press on the various measures to upgrade the workers in their skills and employability."
- Channel News Asia
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