DESPITE the economic downturn, fresh graduate Tan Peiling had no problems looking for a job. The 23-year-old found employment a month after graduating in mid-April this year.
Miss Tan, who graduated from the Singapore Management University with a Bachelor of Science (Economics) and a second major in Corporate Communications, was recruited by Citibank Singapore (Citi) under its one-year Citi Banking Trainee Programme.
She said: 'I thought that there would be fewer jobs on offer or that it would take me longer to find one.'
But her job hunt proved more smooth-sailing than she had anticipated. She applied for 10 jobs, and received the offer from Citi three weeks after she had applied.
The Citi Banking Trainee Programme is supported by the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) Finance Graduate Immersion Programme (FGIP).
The FGIP was introduced to encourage financial institutions to provide fresh graduates with industry and research attachments during this period to develop talent in preparation for the upturn.
Apart from Citi, a number of financial institutions have signed on to the FGIP, including DBS, UOB, OCBC and Standard Chartered Bank.
Miss Tan said she had found out about the programme via word-of-mouth.
She said: 'My friend, who'd previously worked in my department, told me what the job entails. I'd always wanted to work in a bank, so I didn't want to miss this opportunity.'
Trainees are deployed across the bank's corporate, consumer and private banking departments, and may be trained in front, middle or back office operations.
Miss Tan is now a Relationship Management trainee in the Corporate Banking department.
She said: 'The learning curve has been steep because I've had to learn about the systems and processes of the bank, and pick up finance terminology from scratch.
'But I've received a lot of on-the-job training. Citi is a great place for a fresh graduate as the people here are very motivated, and you can learn a lot if you take the initiative.
At the end of the programme, trainees may be offered full-time positions.
Fresh graduates who prefer to create employment opportunities for themselves can turn to SPRING Singapore's Young Entrepreneurs Scheme for Startups (YES! Startups) for first-time entrepreneurs.
Launched last November, the scheme helps provide youths under the age of 26 with the necessary start-up capital to turn innovative business ideas into reality.
The scheme has helped recent Nanyang Technological University (NTU) graduates, Miss Fan Shufen and Miss Chen Yijun, both 23, to start their own company, E-thermnity, with two other schoolmates.
E-thermnity was granted funding of $50,000 from YES! Startups to develop a line of new and improved milk bottles.
The group decided to improve on milk bottles available on the market for a school project in the third year of their Bachelor of Science in Material Engineering (Hons) course.
Miss Fan said: 'The problem with current milk bottles made of polycarbonide is that they leach a toxic chemical after a prolonged period of use, say after six months, or when the bottles are scratched when they are washed.
'Studies showed that this chemical induces hyperactivity in infants and, in worst-case scenarios, neural damage.'
E-thermnity's milk bottles are made with a durable and non-toxic material. The improved milk bottle will also feature a built-in temperature indicator.
Miss Chen said: 'We coated the exterior of the milk bottles with a thermal ink that changes colour based on the temperature of the milk.
'When the bottle turns green, the temperature of the milk is just right. If the bottle is red, the milk's too hot; if it's blue, the milk's too cold. It's very intuitive.'
The group came up with a business plan for their product and entered the NTU Business Plan Competition '08.
They made it to the finals and had to set up a booth at a mock venture capitalist fair to promote their product.
That was when representatives from SPRING Singapore invited them to apply for YES! Startups funding.
Applicants to the scheme receive $4 from SPRING Singapore - up to $50,000 per venture - for every $1 that they raise through self-funding or school-funding or via a third-party. YES! Startups is available over a five-year period.
E-thermnity came in second and received a cash prize of $6,000 and another $500 for the Best Video Award.
The group then won the first prize of $10,000 in the Startup@Singapore business plan competition organised by the National University of Singapore in May.
They injected a total of $12,500 into the company and received $50,000 from SPRING Singapore, which is also putting the group in touch with patent lawyers and prototype manufacturers.
Of the 64 YES! Startups applications received so far, 17ventures have been approved.
- The New Paper
Jul 31, 2009
Job losses double in Q2
SOME 12,400 jobs in Singapore were lost in the second quarter, double the losses in the first three months when employment contracted by 6,200, said the Ministry of Manpower on Friday.
This is the first time that employment has contracted for two consecutive quarters since the 2003 economic downturn.
On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the overall unemployment rate rose from 3 per cent in March to 4.2 per cent in June.
Among the resident labour force, the non-adjusted unemployment rate was 6 per cent in June, higher than the 4.4 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting the increase in job seekers as tertiary graduates entered the labour market and students sought employment during the mid-year school vacation.
An estimated 116,600 residents were jobless in June. The seasonally adjusted figure was 91,800.
Manufacturing again bore the brunt of job losses, shedding 17,600 workers.
The construction sector is still going strong, adding 3,400 jobs to its workforce, but the gains were lower than in earlier quarters - 8,300 in the first quarter and 22,400 in the same quarter a year ago.
Services added 2,100 workers, also showing lower gains than before - 7,500 in the first quarter and 38,300 in the same period last year.
According to preliminary estimates, 4,800 workers were retrenched and 700 contracts were terminated prematurely, resulting in a total of 5,500 workers made redundant in the second quarter. This is less than half the 12,760 redundancies in the earlier three months, comprising 10,900 workers retrenched and 1,860 workers whose contracts were terminated prematurely.
MOM said the overall unemployment rate stabilised at a seasonally adjusted 3.3 per cent in June, unchanged from a quarter ago.
Among the resident labour force, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 4.8 per cent in March to 4.6 per cent in June.
"In the difficult job market, more people are deferring job searches and pursuing courses, including those supported under SPUR," said MOM, referring to the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur) which covers worker training.
Jobless residents who attend Spur will not be counted in the unemployment pool, hence reducing the jobless rate.
The full report on the second quarter labour market will be released on Sept 15.
- The Straits Times
Retrenchments down sharply, unemployment stabilises in Q2
The number of jobs lost in Singapore doubled to 12,400 in the second quarter of this year, according to the Manpower Ministry's (MOM) preliminary estimates on Friday.
This is the first time that employment has contracted for two consecutive quarters since the 2003 economic downturn. Manufacturing, again, bore the brunt of job losses.
Construction and services sectors increased their workforce, but the gains were lower than in previous quarters.
On the other hand, retrenchments appeared to have eased. MOM said 4,800 workers were laid off and 700 contracts were terminated prematurely in the second quarter.
This means 5,500 workers were made redundant during that period – half the number compared to the previous quarter.
Overall unemployment rate also stabilised at 3.3 per cent in June, unchanged from a quarter ago.
Among the resident labour force, the unemployment rate declined from 4.8 per cent in March to 4.6 per cent in June.
MOM said in the difficult job market, more people are deferring job searches to pursue training courses, including those supported under the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR).
An estimated 91,800 residents were unemployed in June.
- 938LIVE
This is the first time that employment has contracted for two consecutive quarters since the 2003 economic downturn.
On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the overall unemployment rate rose from 3 per cent in March to 4.2 per cent in June.
Among the resident labour force, the non-adjusted unemployment rate was 6 per cent in June, higher than the 4.4 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting the increase in job seekers as tertiary graduates entered the labour market and students sought employment during the mid-year school vacation.
An estimated 116,600 residents were jobless in June. The seasonally adjusted figure was 91,800.
Manufacturing again bore the brunt of job losses, shedding 17,600 workers.
The construction sector is still going strong, adding 3,400 jobs to its workforce, but the gains were lower than in earlier quarters - 8,300 in the first quarter and 22,400 in the same quarter a year ago.
Services added 2,100 workers, also showing lower gains than before - 7,500 in the first quarter and 38,300 in the same period last year.
According to preliminary estimates, 4,800 workers were retrenched and 700 contracts were terminated prematurely, resulting in a total of 5,500 workers made redundant in the second quarter. This is less than half the 12,760 redundancies in the earlier three months, comprising 10,900 workers retrenched and 1,860 workers whose contracts were terminated prematurely.
MOM said the overall unemployment rate stabilised at a seasonally adjusted 3.3 per cent in June, unchanged from a quarter ago.
Among the resident labour force, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 4.8 per cent in March to 4.6 per cent in June.
"In the difficult job market, more people are deferring job searches and pursuing courses, including those supported under SPUR," said MOM, referring to the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur) which covers worker training.
Jobless residents who attend Spur will not be counted in the unemployment pool, hence reducing the jobless rate.
The full report on the second quarter labour market will be released on Sept 15.
- The Straits Times
Retrenchments down sharply, unemployment stabilises in Q2
The number of jobs lost in Singapore doubled to 12,400 in the second quarter of this year, according to the Manpower Ministry's (MOM) preliminary estimates on Friday.
This is the first time that employment has contracted for two consecutive quarters since the 2003 economic downturn. Manufacturing, again, bore the brunt of job losses.
Construction and services sectors increased their workforce, but the gains were lower than in previous quarters.
On the other hand, retrenchments appeared to have eased. MOM said 4,800 workers were laid off and 700 contracts were terminated prematurely in the second quarter.
This means 5,500 workers were made redundant during that period – half the number compared to the previous quarter.
Overall unemployment rate also stabilised at 3.3 per cent in June, unchanged from a quarter ago.
Among the resident labour force, the unemployment rate declined from 4.8 per cent in March to 4.6 per cent in June.
MOM said in the difficult job market, more people are deferring job searches to pursue training courses, including those supported under the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR).
An estimated 91,800 residents were unemployed in June.
- 938LIVE
Marina Bay Sands has filled only 2,000 of the 4,500 gaming vacancies
WHERE have all the casino job seekers gone? Despite the state of the economy and the huge turnout at job fairs of late, gaming positions at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) are going a-begging.
The integrated resort (IR) is struggling to fill the 4,500 places it has for croupiers, cashiers and slot attendants, among others.
It has hired only about 2,000 Singaporeans so far, and says it will have a last go at hiring here during a job fair to be held at Suntec Singapore this weekend.
If it fails to fill the positions, it will be forced to look to foreign shores, the IR's senior vice-president of casino operations Ken Davie said on Thursday.
He said the toughest position to fill is that of croupier, a job for which the minimum qualifications are being above 21 years old, having manual dexterity, customer service and simple arithmetic skills, and no colour-blindness.
The starting pay is $1,800 before tips. Even training is provided by the company. Those with a talent for the job can rise to the position of shift manager, earning up to $11,000 a month.
Other gaming jobs have similar salaries and career paths. And yet, there are no takers.
Mr Davie said this is the first time that the Las Vegas-based group has had so much trouble filling gaming positions. It had no problem at its home base or its Macau outfit.
He said MBS received thousands of applications for the 10,000 jobs on offer, but most were for other openings, such as waiters, marketing positions and housekeeping.
Some of those who did apply for gaming jobs were not serious about taking up the positions available. Mr Davie put MBS' hiring difficulties down to the fact that gaming is a new industry here and people may feel some trepidation about taking a job they know little about.
- The Straits Times
The integrated resort (IR) is struggling to fill the 4,500 places it has for croupiers, cashiers and slot attendants, among others.
It has hired only about 2,000 Singaporeans so far, and says it will have a last go at hiring here during a job fair to be held at Suntec Singapore this weekend.
If it fails to fill the positions, it will be forced to look to foreign shores, the IR's senior vice-president of casino operations Ken Davie said on Thursday.
He said the toughest position to fill is that of croupier, a job for which the minimum qualifications are being above 21 years old, having manual dexterity, customer service and simple arithmetic skills, and no colour-blindness.
The starting pay is $1,800 before tips. Even training is provided by the company. Those with a talent for the job can rise to the position of shift manager, earning up to $11,000 a month.
Other gaming jobs have similar salaries and career paths. And yet, there are no takers.
Mr Davie said this is the first time that the Las Vegas-based group has had so much trouble filling gaming positions. It had no problem at its home base or its Macau outfit.
He said MBS received thousands of applications for the 10,000 jobs on offer, but most were for other openings, such as waiters, marketing positions and housekeeping.
Some of those who did apply for gaming jobs were not serious about taking up the positions available. Mr Davie put MBS' hiring difficulties down to the fact that gaming is a new industry here and people may feel some trepidation about taking a job they know little about.
- The Straits Times
Jul 25, 2009
Job market not that bleak
THE worst is yet to be, many soon-to-be graduates thought late last year as they braced themselves for a tough job search amid the global slump.
But as they attend their graduation ceremonies this month, many are finding the job market is not that bleak after all.
At the Singapore Management University (SMU), preliminary estimates show that of 820 students who graduated in May and June, two-thirds have found jobs or secured job offers.
SMU has a graduating cohort of 1,100 this year.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has 7,983 graduates this year. A straw poll shows only a 3 per cent dip in the number of students who have found jobs compared to the batch last year.
'To our pleasant surprise, we didn't do too badly and things weren't that drastic,' said NTU's career and attachment office director Loh Pui Wah.
Mr Loh attributed this to the graduates' quality education, internship experiences and government schemes.
On SMU's figures, director of career services Ruth Chiang said: 'It's encouraging, considering that they secured jobs within two months of graduation.'
Many of SMU's recent graduates, she said, have joined the financial services sector - in banks, private equity firms and fund houses. Several have gone into consulting and the public sector.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) could not give a figure but said many of its graduates have been hired in areas such as research and development, offshore engineering, financial services, urban and landscape design as well as consulting.
NUS has a graduating cohort of 8,810 this year.
- The Straits Times
But as they attend their graduation ceremonies this month, many are finding the job market is not that bleak after all.
At the Singapore Management University (SMU), preliminary estimates show that of 820 students who graduated in May and June, two-thirds have found jobs or secured job offers.
SMU has a graduating cohort of 1,100 this year.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has 7,983 graduates this year. A straw poll shows only a 3 per cent dip in the number of students who have found jobs compared to the batch last year.
'To our pleasant surprise, we didn't do too badly and things weren't that drastic,' said NTU's career and attachment office director Loh Pui Wah.
Mr Loh attributed this to the graduates' quality education, internship experiences and government schemes.
On SMU's figures, director of career services Ruth Chiang said: 'It's encouraging, considering that they secured jobs within two months of graduation.'
Many of SMU's recent graduates, she said, have joined the financial services sector - in banks, private equity firms and fund houses. Several have gone into consulting and the public sector.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) could not give a figure but said many of its graduates have been hired in areas such as research and development, offshore engineering, financial services, urban and landscape design as well as consulting.
NUS has a graduating cohort of 8,810 this year.
- The Straits Times
Jul 20, 2009
Workers training effective in reducing retrenchments
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
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
13,000 hired by public sector
THE public sector has hired more than 13,000 people in the first five months of this year.
This is almost three-quarters of the 18,000 jobs in ministries, statutory boards and other agencies that it planned to fill in the next two years.
The jobs went to school-leavers and mid-career professionals, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is minister in charge of the civil service, said.
Those recruited included 7,485 officers to work in ministries - mostly in Defence, Education and Home Affairs - and in statutory boards.
Another 3,869 filled jobs in the restructured hospitals; there were 1,438 recruited by universities; and 291 who were employed as kindergarten teachers.
'We expect the total number recruited to continue to increase in the coming months as government agencies are still actively recruiting,' said Mr Teo.
There are still vacancies in the education and health care sectors, as well as in the Home Team and Defence Ministry.
He was giving an update on Monday on the recruitment drive by the public sector - Singapore's largest employer. It employs about 110,000 people, or about 4 per cent of the total labour force here.
Mr Teo assured Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC) - who asked for an update on the numbers - that the vast majority of the jobs went to Singapore citizens or permanent residents.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) said some residents in their 40s and 50s had told him that they had difficulty getting jobs as the public sector wanted younger people.
- The Straits Times
This is almost three-quarters of the 18,000 jobs in ministries, statutory boards and other agencies that it planned to fill in the next two years.
The jobs went to school-leavers and mid-career professionals, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is minister in charge of the civil service, said.
Those recruited included 7,485 officers to work in ministries - mostly in Defence, Education and Home Affairs - and in statutory boards.
Another 3,869 filled jobs in the restructured hospitals; there were 1,438 recruited by universities; and 291 who were employed as kindergarten teachers.
'We expect the total number recruited to continue to increase in the coming months as government agencies are still actively recruiting,' said Mr Teo.
There are still vacancies in the education and health care sectors, as well as in the Home Team and Defence Ministry.
He was giving an update on Monday on the recruitment drive by the public sector - Singapore's largest employer. It employs about 110,000 people, or about 4 per cent of the total labour force here.
Mr Teo assured Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC) - who asked for an update on the numbers - that the vast majority of the jobs went to Singapore citizens or permanent residents.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) said some residents in their 40s and 50s had told him that they had difficulty getting jobs as the public sector wanted younger people.
- The Straits Times
Despite retraining, mature job seekers still face discrimination
GOING for retraining is no guarantee of securing a job - even in the fast-growing services industry, if the experiences of some unsuccessful job seekers are anything to go by.
According to them, age discrimination is still rampant in this sector, which would go against the Government's efforts to retrain mature workers.
Currently getting by on overseas contract assignments, food and beverage manager Joe Lim, 53, attended an Employability Camp for PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) at e2i in April. But he told Today that he and his friends from the F & B line have "given up looking for a job in Singapore".
Citing the example of how his boss, who was a maitre d', is now a waiter at a country club, Mr Lim said: "Employers are looking for younger and cheaper hires. It's hard to get a job if you're above 35, unless through referrals."
Another job seeker, Ms Tan Bee Heng, 48, has sent out "two to three" applications - and gotten one rejection - since she completed the Certified Service Professional course two weeks ago at the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).
"I think it's because of my age that employers don't seem very interested in hiring me. They say things like 'Oh, this year you're 48'," said the petite, well-groomed woman, who had been working in a printing firm for 22 years before she was retrenched in May.
The concern is palpable especially when more than half of those above 40 are deemed to be more vulnerable to job cuts during the recession.
When told this, Singapore Industrial and Services Employees' Union (SISEU) executive secretary Josephine Teo said that while it was "true there will be individuals who will find it hard to find a job ... the services industry is very broad".
Mrs Teo, who is also a Member of Parliament, noted that certain service jobs in health, education and transportation were more open to hiring mature workers.
But it is not always the case with retail, said Mrs Teo citing ION Orchard as an example which was pitching at a different market.
Still, Mrs Teo said there was no reason why mature workers cannot work as front-line staff.
"I had impeccable service from a sales assistant in Macy's. She looked like she was 70, but she carried herself very well and she was very persuasive."
With the silver dollar market growing, Mrs Teo added that retailers would benefit from hiring older staff.
"Take for instance, handphone shops. I don't use a lot of the functions offered on some of these high-tech phones, and the buttons are so tiny - so I would like someone who is able to empathise. I find that mature workers are more likely to do that," said Mrs Teo, 41.
Beauty chain Skin Inc owner Sabrina Tan agreed. In a profession which exalts youth, half of her 14-strong staff are in their 30s, and her latest hire is 40.
"Age is not an issue. You should be well-groomed but I don't expect staff with perfect skin. I expect them to be independent, experienced and have good customer skills," she said.
Jumbo Group of Restaurants general manager Ang Kiam Meng reiterated that his company has many job vacancies in waitering, service operations and management.
Said Mr Ang: "We don't discriminate people in their 40s. In fact, we welcome them to apply for a job with us."
- TODAY newspaper
According to them, age discrimination is still rampant in this sector, which would go against the Government's efforts to retrain mature workers.
Currently getting by on overseas contract assignments, food and beverage manager Joe Lim, 53, attended an Employability Camp for PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) at e2i in April. But he told Today that he and his friends from the F & B line have "given up looking for a job in Singapore".
Citing the example of how his boss, who was a maitre d', is now a waiter at a country club, Mr Lim said: "Employers are looking for younger and cheaper hires. It's hard to get a job if you're above 35, unless through referrals."
Another job seeker, Ms Tan Bee Heng, 48, has sent out "two to three" applications - and gotten one rejection - since she completed the Certified Service Professional course two weeks ago at the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i).
"I think it's because of my age that employers don't seem very interested in hiring me. They say things like 'Oh, this year you're 48'," said the petite, well-groomed woman, who had been working in a printing firm for 22 years before she was retrenched in May.
The concern is palpable especially when more than half of those above 40 are deemed to be more vulnerable to job cuts during the recession.
When told this, Singapore Industrial and Services Employees' Union (SISEU) executive secretary Josephine Teo said that while it was "true there will be individuals who will find it hard to find a job ... the services industry is very broad".
Mrs Teo, who is also a Member of Parliament, noted that certain service jobs in health, education and transportation were more open to hiring mature workers.
But it is not always the case with retail, said Mrs Teo citing ION Orchard as an example which was pitching at a different market.
Still, Mrs Teo said there was no reason why mature workers cannot work as front-line staff.
"I had impeccable service from a sales assistant in Macy's. She looked like she was 70, but she carried herself very well and she was very persuasive."
With the silver dollar market growing, Mrs Teo added that retailers would benefit from hiring older staff.
"Take for instance, handphone shops. I don't use a lot of the functions offered on some of these high-tech phones, and the buttons are so tiny - so I would like someone who is able to empathise. I find that mature workers are more likely to do that," said Mrs Teo, 41.
Beauty chain Skin Inc owner Sabrina Tan agreed. In a profession which exalts youth, half of her 14-strong staff are in their 30s, and her latest hire is 40.
"Age is not an issue. You should be well-groomed but I don't expect staff with perfect skin. I expect them to be independent, experienced and have good customer skills," she said.
Jumbo Group of Restaurants general manager Ang Kiam Meng reiterated that his company has many job vacancies in waitering, service operations and management.
Said Mr Ang: "We don't discriminate people in their 40s. In fact, we welcome them to apply for a job with us."
- TODAY newspaper
Jul 17, 2009
Retrenchments ease off in Q2 compared to Q1
Retrenchments between April and June saw a sharp drop, compared to the first three months of the year. But the labour movement warns of further job losses ahead in its mid-year update on the unionised sector.
In the first half of this year, 31,177 workers were placed on shorter work weeks or were temporarily laid off as companies sought ways to cut costs.
Between January and March, there were 24,135 workers affected, but this number dropped sharply to 7,600 workers between April and June.
Retrenchment numbers saw a similar improvement over the same period. 1,400 workers lost their jobs in the second quarter of this year, compared to 4,744 in the first quarter – mostly from the manufacturing sector, followed by services.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said this is partly due to business picking up in some sectors of the economy, such as electronics and chemicals. Some companies also wanted to hold on to their workers, in case the economy recovers.
Government measures like the Jobs Credit Scheme and the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) also helped companies reduce their wage costs.
NTUC said compared to the Asian Financial Crisis a decade ago, companies are more willing to try out other cost-management solutions.
For instance, the number of workers affected by shorter work weeks and temporary layoffs so far is more than double the total number in 1998 when retrenchment figure hit 29,000 nationwide.
But with so much uncertainty in the economy, NTUC expects a second wave of job losses in the second half of the year.
NTUC's Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, who is also a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said: "Do not assume that retrenchments will stop. Retrenchments will not stop. We hope it will be as low as in the second quarter, but we cannot assume."
The labour movement said based on company feedback, retrenchment numbers may run into the hundreds or even thousands. More workers are likely to be put back on shorter work weeks, and may well face a wage cut or a wage freeze.
NTUC's message to companies is to press on with flexible work arrangements and worker training.
"Cutting costs to save jobs can only enable us to buy time... But having bought the time, having found a way to keep this excess manpower, we must turn this excess manpower into an investment in new capabilities," said Mr Lim.
NTUC added that companies in the plastics, machinery and textile sectors, which were already badly affected in the first half of the year, are expected to do even worse in the next six months.
On the other hand, those in construction, retail and healthcare have a more optimistic outlook.
- Channel News Asia
In the first half of this year, 31,177 workers were placed on shorter work weeks or were temporarily laid off as companies sought ways to cut costs.
Between January and March, there were 24,135 workers affected, but this number dropped sharply to 7,600 workers between April and June.
Retrenchment numbers saw a similar improvement over the same period. 1,400 workers lost their jobs in the second quarter of this year, compared to 4,744 in the first quarter – mostly from the manufacturing sector, followed by services.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said this is partly due to business picking up in some sectors of the economy, such as electronics and chemicals. Some companies also wanted to hold on to their workers, in case the economy recovers.
Government measures like the Jobs Credit Scheme and the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) also helped companies reduce their wage costs.
NTUC said compared to the Asian Financial Crisis a decade ago, companies are more willing to try out other cost-management solutions.
For instance, the number of workers affected by shorter work weeks and temporary layoffs so far is more than double the total number in 1998 when retrenchment figure hit 29,000 nationwide.
But with so much uncertainty in the economy, NTUC expects a second wave of job losses in the second half of the year.
NTUC's Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, who is also a Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said: "Do not assume that retrenchments will stop. Retrenchments will not stop. We hope it will be as low as in the second quarter, but we cannot assume."
The labour movement said based on company feedback, retrenchment numbers may run into the hundreds or even thousands. More workers are likely to be put back on shorter work weeks, and may well face a wage cut or a wage freeze.
NTUC's message to companies is to press on with flexible work arrangements and worker training.
"Cutting costs to save jobs can only enable us to buy time... But having bought the time, having found a way to keep this excess manpower, we must turn this excess manpower into an investment in new capabilities," said Mr Lim.
NTUC added that companies in the plastics, machinery and textile sectors, which were already badly affected in the first half of the year, are expected to do even worse in the next six months.
On the other hand, those in construction, retail and healthcare have a more optimistic outlook.
- Channel News Asia
Jul 13, 2009
Over 3,000 teachers hired
THE Ministry of Education has recruited more than 3,000 teachers and 680 allied educators by June - exceeding the targets that it had earlier set.
Although the ministry has stepped up hiring this year, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen assured that it will continue to be rigorous in the selection of teachers and allied educators, ensuring that only those with the passion, aptitude and commitment are selected.
Going forward, he said MOE will continue to recruit good teachers for the service and also continually develop the existing pool of teachers to keep them abreast of the latest innovations in education practices and concepts, and help them lift their professional excellence.
Speaking at a National Insitute of Education (NIE) teachers' investiture ceremony on Monday, Dr Ng also announced that MOE is offering postgraduate scholarships to 51 Education Officers to pursue their Master's degree or PhD at local and overseas universities.
In his speech, the minister said Singapore teachers are well regarded internationally and its education system has been held up as a model of succcess by other countries, inlcuding the UK and United States.
Turning to the recommendations by the Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) committee, which include recruiting all graduate teachers by 2015, Dr Ng said these will have profound impact on primary school education.
'The key to making all these happen will be our teachers. Our education system will need quality educators to lead and effect changes in an evolving environment,' he said.
On teacher training, he said the continuing challenge for NIE is to strengthen the nexus between theory and practice, and urged the institute to find more effective ways to provide practical learning experiences for student teachers.
'It should strengthen the role of mentorship provided during the practicum and induction periods,' added Dr Ng.
'NIE will need to review and enhance the pedagogical methods and assessment that are aligned with our desired outcomes of education and to train new teachers to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and values for the 21st century classrooms.'
- The Straits Times
Although the ministry has stepped up hiring this year, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen assured that it will continue to be rigorous in the selection of teachers and allied educators, ensuring that only those with the passion, aptitude and commitment are selected.
Going forward, he said MOE will continue to recruit good teachers for the service and also continually develop the existing pool of teachers to keep them abreast of the latest innovations in education practices and concepts, and help them lift their professional excellence.
Speaking at a National Insitute of Education (NIE) teachers' investiture ceremony on Monday, Dr Ng also announced that MOE is offering postgraduate scholarships to 51 Education Officers to pursue their Master's degree or PhD at local and overseas universities.
In his speech, the minister said Singapore teachers are well regarded internationally and its education system has been held up as a model of succcess by other countries, inlcuding the UK and United States.
Turning to the recommendations by the Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) committee, which include recruiting all graduate teachers by 2015, Dr Ng said these will have profound impact on primary school education.
'The key to making all these happen will be our teachers. Our education system will need quality educators to lead and effect changes in an evolving environment,' he said.
On teacher training, he said the continuing challenge for NIE is to strengthen the nexus between theory and practice, and urged the institute to find more effective ways to provide practical learning experiences for student teachers.
'It should strengthen the role of mentorship provided during the practicum and induction periods,' added Dr Ng.
'NIE will need to review and enhance the pedagogical methods and assessment that are aligned with our desired outcomes of education and to train new teachers to equip our students with the knowledge, skills and values for the 21st century classrooms.'
- The Straits Times
Jul 12, 2009
45 get jobs before graduatin
THE first batch of 45 National University of Singapore (NUS) accountancy graduates in two decades have all found jobs - doing so before they received their degree scrolls on Sunday. They secured these jobs following internship with companies, a requirement of the programme they were on.
The NUS programme, which began in 2006, is actually business administration with an accounting specialisation. The programme exposed them to business modules such as finance, consulting and management, as well as accounting.
NUS relinquished its original accountancy programme in 1987 to the then Nanyang Technological Institute.
Its intake for its revamped accountancy course, at under 200 students a year, is smaller than those at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU).
NTU's programme was reported in 2006 to have 600 students, while SMU takes in 200 a year.
On Sunday, about 880 students graduated from the NUS Business School's various degree programmes, such as Master of Business Administration and the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Two ceremonies were held.
Of the 530 BBA graduates from NUS, excluding those who specialised in accountancy, two-thirds had secured jobs by the time they graduated, down from 80 per cent two years ago.
A Straits Times poll in March among 300 final-year business/finance students from across the three universities found that accountancy students seem to have an easier time landing jobs, even in a recession.
It was reported that this is because the turnover rate is very high among accountants, especially in the first two to three years, leaving vacancies in the field.
At the graduation ceremony for BBA students on Sunday afternoon, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua emphasised the value of a university education and spoke on the need to adapt to changes in the working world. 'Careers will not always proceed according to plan... You will not only need to learn to seize opportunities as they present themselves, but also need to be proactive in creating them,' she said.
- The Straits Times
The NUS programme, which began in 2006, is actually business administration with an accounting specialisation. The programme exposed them to business modules such as finance, consulting and management, as well as accounting.
NUS relinquished its original accountancy programme in 1987 to the then Nanyang Technological Institute.
Its intake for its revamped accountancy course, at under 200 students a year, is smaller than those at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU).
NTU's programme was reported in 2006 to have 600 students, while SMU takes in 200 a year.
On Sunday, about 880 students graduated from the NUS Business School's various degree programmes, such as Master of Business Administration and the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Two ceremonies were held.
Of the 530 BBA graduates from NUS, excluding those who specialised in accountancy, two-thirds had secured jobs by the time they graduated, down from 80 per cent two years ago.
A Straits Times poll in March among 300 final-year business/finance students from across the three universities found that accountancy students seem to have an easier time landing jobs, even in a recession.
It was reported that this is because the turnover rate is very high among accountants, especially in the first two to three years, leaving vacancies in the field.
At the graduation ceremony for BBA students on Sunday afternoon, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua emphasised the value of a university education and spoke on the need to adapt to changes in the working world. 'Careers will not always proceed according to plan... You will not only need to learn to seize opportunities as they present themselves, but also need to be proactive in creating them,' she said.
- The Straits Times
Jul 11, 2009
More firms re-hiring older workers
AT 72, electrical engineer Sik Sing still keeps the flour-making machines humming at flour manufacturer Prima Limited.
And when his wife Chye Moey turned 62 last year, the company asked her to stay on as a packing machine operator on a yearly contract instead of retiring.
The couple are beneficiaries of Prima's longstanding re-employment policy, which chief executive officer Primus Cheng said was one which valued the loyalty, experience and contributions of older employees.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) - which wants to see more companies keep older workers on the job - yesterday cited Prima as a model.
It noted that Prima's re-employment offer to those who reach retirement age pre-dates the national effort which began more than three years ago.
At Prima Limited, 23 employees in its 252-strong workforce were re-employed after reaching the retirement age of 62.
Among the oldest is Mr Sik, who agreed to a 20 per cent cut in his pay and 50 per cent reduction in bonuses so he could keep working.
'I've been in this job for almost 50 years now. I can teach the younger ones who don't have experience to slowly take over,' said Mr Sik, who now draws a monthly salary of $2,600.
'If I stayed at home, I wouldn't have anything to do.'
NTUC deputy secretary-general Heng Chee How, who visited Prima Limited's flour-milling factory at Keppel Road yesterday, said there has been no let-up in efforts by the labour movement to get all 1,200 unionised companies to adopt re-employment practices before January 2012.
That is when a law requiring employers to re-hire workers beyond the retirement age of 62 is due to be introduced.
He told reporters that as at the end of last month, 747 unionised companies had adopted re-employment practices - up from 565 a year ago.
More older workers were also being re-employed in unionised firms. Latest figures showed that at the end of last month there were 5,421 such workers - up from 4,639 a year ago.
Re-employment practices were also becoming more established, said Mr Heng, who was accompanied on his visit by NTUC secretary-general Lim Swee Say and other union leaders.
Companies that re-hire older workers in an ad hoc fashion were realising that they must be more systematic and plan for re-training well ahead of employees reaching retirement.
This is so they can cope with the wave of babyboomers who will be turning 62 in the coming years.
He noted at least one-third of unionised companies had yet to commit to re-employment practices.
Some argued that this was because they have a young workforce. Others said they had more pressing concerns, and felt they could address the re-employment issue later.
Some companies also believed that a new set of prescriptions on re-employment would be issued by the Government - and so they would wait for that to happen.
But Mr Heng told them not to wait as there would be no such prescriptions.
He instead encouraged them to be proactive and to come up with arrangements and re-employment practices which suited their specific needs.
Besides the NTUC's efforts, the Manpower Ministry and the Singapore National Employers Federation were also reaching out to the more than 100,000 non-unionised companies - mostly small and medium enterprises - to do the same.
- The Straits Times
And when his wife Chye Moey turned 62 last year, the company asked her to stay on as a packing machine operator on a yearly contract instead of retiring.
The couple are beneficiaries of Prima's longstanding re-employment policy, which chief executive officer Primus Cheng said was one which valued the loyalty, experience and contributions of older employees.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) - which wants to see more companies keep older workers on the job - yesterday cited Prima as a model.
It noted that Prima's re-employment offer to those who reach retirement age pre-dates the national effort which began more than three years ago.
At Prima Limited, 23 employees in its 252-strong workforce were re-employed after reaching the retirement age of 62.
Among the oldest is Mr Sik, who agreed to a 20 per cent cut in his pay and 50 per cent reduction in bonuses so he could keep working.
'I've been in this job for almost 50 years now. I can teach the younger ones who don't have experience to slowly take over,' said Mr Sik, who now draws a monthly salary of $2,600.
'If I stayed at home, I wouldn't have anything to do.'
NTUC deputy secretary-general Heng Chee How, who visited Prima Limited's flour-milling factory at Keppel Road yesterday, said there has been no let-up in efforts by the labour movement to get all 1,200 unionised companies to adopt re-employment practices before January 2012.
That is when a law requiring employers to re-hire workers beyond the retirement age of 62 is due to be introduced.
He told reporters that as at the end of last month, 747 unionised companies had adopted re-employment practices - up from 565 a year ago.
More older workers were also being re-employed in unionised firms. Latest figures showed that at the end of last month there were 5,421 such workers - up from 4,639 a year ago.
Re-employment practices were also becoming more established, said Mr Heng, who was accompanied on his visit by NTUC secretary-general Lim Swee Say and other union leaders.
Companies that re-hire older workers in an ad hoc fashion were realising that they must be more systematic and plan for re-training well ahead of employees reaching retirement.
This is so they can cope with the wave of babyboomers who will be turning 62 in the coming years.
He noted at least one-third of unionised companies had yet to commit to re-employment practices.
Some argued that this was because they have a young workforce. Others said they had more pressing concerns, and felt they could address the re-employment issue later.
Some companies also believed that a new set of prescriptions on re-employment would be issued by the Government - and so they would wait for that to happen.
But Mr Heng told them not to wait as there would be no such prescriptions.
He instead encouraged them to be proactive and to come up with arrangements and re-employment practices which suited their specific needs.
Besides the NTUC's efforts, the Manpower Ministry and the Singapore National Employers Federation were also reaching out to the more than 100,000 non-unionised companies - mostly small and medium enterprises - to do the same.
- The Straits Times
Unionised sector sees retrenchments fall in Q2: labour chief
The second quarter of this year saw only one—third of the number of lay—offs experienced in the previous quarter for the unionised sector, said labour movement chief Lim Swee Say.
And while this showed an improvement over the nearly 10,000 retrenched in the first quarter, Mr Lim said Singaporeans must not assume the downturn is over.
When the economic downturn hit Singapore, the labour movement set itself three targets, said NTUC Secretary—General Lim Swee Say. These were: to avoid record retrenchments, a high unemployment rate as in 2003 when SARS hit, and to be among the first to bounce back when the upturn returns.
Mr Lim said: "After six months of tripartite efforts, we believe we are on track. We cannot say for sure that by the end of this year, whether we would be able to succeed to achieve all these three targets. But we will continue to pursue our ’Upturn the Downturn’ strategy."
Mr Lim reminded Singaporeans that the downturn was not over yet despite recent reports that companies have started hiring.
A survey by consultancy firm Hudson said that for the first time since 2007, hiring expectations are up across the board.
The Singapore National Employers Federation also found from its regular quarterly surveys that the percentage of companies saying they were hiring had gone up from 20 to 25 per cent between March and June this year.
Stephen Lee, president, Singapore National Employers Federation, said: "Certainly this is a positive sign, but the question is how long will we be bottom—bumpy and how long will we stay at the bottom.
"Certainly there are no strong signs to indicate a fast recovery. So most companies are prepared that it will stay where it is and wait till the first quarter of next year to see whether it will pick up."
Mr Lim added: "Let us remember that not all industries will recover at the same time and at the same pace. So when we see some companies starting to recover and starting to hire workers, we should be happy, but don’t be too happy.
"We cannot keep retrenchment down to zero. But we can make sure that when the worker is retrenched, he does not necessary become an unemployed worker."
Hence the need to remain focused on the fundamentals, with cutting costs to save jobs being key.
Although there may be some signs of improvement in hiring, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation said it is not time for companies and workers to rest on their laurels.
They encourage both employers and workers to take full advantage of the various training and re—training schemes available to enhance the employability of their workers
- Channel News Asia
And while this showed an improvement over the nearly 10,000 retrenched in the first quarter, Mr Lim said Singaporeans must not assume the downturn is over.
When the economic downturn hit Singapore, the labour movement set itself three targets, said NTUC Secretary—General Lim Swee Say. These were: to avoid record retrenchments, a high unemployment rate as in 2003 when SARS hit, and to be among the first to bounce back when the upturn returns.
Mr Lim said: "After six months of tripartite efforts, we believe we are on track. We cannot say for sure that by the end of this year, whether we would be able to succeed to achieve all these three targets. But we will continue to pursue our ’Upturn the Downturn’ strategy."
Mr Lim reminded Singaporeans that the downturn was not over yet despite recent reports that companies have started hiring.
A survey by consultancy firm Hudson said that for the first time since 2007, hiring expectations are up across the board.
The Singapore National Employers Federation also found from its regular quarterly surveys that the percentage of companies saying they were hiring had gone up from 20 to 25 per cent between March and June this year.
Stephen Lee, president, Singapore National Employers Federation, said: "Certainly this is a positive sign, but the question is how long will we be bottom—bumpy and how long will we stay at the bottom.
"Certainly there are no strong signs to indicate a fast recovery. So most companies are prepared that it will stay where it is and wait till the first quarter of next year to see whether it will pick up."
Mr Lim added: "Let us remember that not all industries will recover at the same time and at the same pace. So when we see some companies starting to recover and starting to hire workers, we should be happy, but don’t be too happy.
"We cannot keep retrenchment down to zero. But we can make sure that when the worker is retrenched, he does not necessary become an unemployed worker."
Hence the need to remain focused on the fundamentals, with cutting costs to save jobs being key.
Although there may be some signs of improvement in hiring, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation said it is not time for companies and workers to rest on their laurels.
They encourage both employers and workers to take full advantage of the various training and re—training schemes available to enhance the employability of their workers
- Channel News Asia
Jul 10, 2009
Start-up courses for PMETs
HELP is at hand for retrenched professionals who are toying with the idea of setting up their own business during the recession.
From next month, polytechnics here will be rolling out entrepreneurship courses for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
About 500 training places will be available at these courses, developed jointly Spring Singapore and the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE).
The announcement was made on Friday by Trade and Industry Minister Mr Lim Hng Kiang at the ACE Bluesky Festival.
Planning for these courses began in April when the Enterprise Development Centres, run by business associations reported an increase in the number of PMETs seeking start-up advice.
'Going into business is not that straightforward,' said Mr Sim Choon Siong, deputy director of entrepreneurship development at Spring Singapore.
'A lot of PMETs who are thinking of entrepreneurship may be very good in their job as professionals, but may not be exposed to the business aspects of things. These courses will introduce them to these elements.'
PMETs make up 37 per cent of the 12,760 workers made redundant in the first quarter, and an increasing number are considering entrepreneurship.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute 99 per cent of the 160,000 enterprises in Singapore. A third of these business owners are estimated to be PMETs.
Meanwhile, SMEs employ nearly six out of every ten workers - providing about 1.5 million jobs - and contribute to half of Singapore's gross domestic product.
Mr Lim said: 'I am very encouraged that despite the economic downturn, the number of start-ups formed has not dipped over the past few months.
'Perhaps, the weaker job market has even prompted more entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity to set up their own businesses.'
- The Straits Times
From next month, polytechnics here will be rolling out entrepreneurship courses for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).
About 500 training places will be available at these courses, developed jointly Spring Singapore and the Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE).
The announcement was made on Friday by Trade and Industry Minister Mr Lim Hng Kiang at the ACE Bluesky Festival.
Planning for these courses began in April when the Enterprise Development Centres, run by business associations reported an increase in the number of PMETs seeking start-up advice.
'Going into business is not that straightforward,' said Mr Sim Choon Siong, deputy director of entrepreneurship development at Spring Singapore.
'A lot of PMETs who are thinking of entrepreneurship may be very good in their job as professionals, but may not be exposed to the business aspects of things. These courses will introduce them to these elements.'
PMETs make up 37 per cent of the 12,760 workers made redundant in the first quarter, and an increasing number are considering entrepreneurship.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute 99 per cent of the 160,000 enterprises in Singapore. A third of these business owners are estimated to be PMETs.
Meanwhile, SMEs employ nearly six out of every ten workers - providing about 1.5 million jobs - and contribute to half of Singapore's gross domestic product.
Mr Lim said: 'I am very encouraged that despite the economic downturn, the number of start-ups formed has not dipped over the past few months.
'Perhaps, the weaker job market has even prompted more entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity to set up their own businesses.'
- The Straits Times
Can't find job even when he reduces pay by 80%
He used to earn a five-figure monthly salary, but no one is willing to hire him now even though he is willing to settle for S$3,000 a month.
Mr Roland Ang, 52, told Shin Min Daily that he used to manage a hedge fund in an investment firm, but lost his job when his company folded last November.
He joined the finance department of a bank after serving national service, and worked his way up from an administrative assistant to department head, but his highest educational qualification stops at secondary school.
He also says that he was headhunted four times in the nineties, and commanded a pay of about $15,000 a month, not including annual bonuses. But he finds it hard, if not impossible to find a job now.
He and his wife have three children aged eight to 16, and they are also taking care of his 90-year-old mother.
Mr Roland Ang has been actively seeking employment, and sends out 20 to 30 job applications a month on average. He says he went for two interviews a month but was always unsuccessful.
He thinks that it is his lack of educational qualifications and age that is deterring employers.
"When they see that I have no university degree, they say they will contact me again but they never do. Even when I indicate that I am willing to lower my salary expectations to only S$3,000, which is the starting pay of a fresh grad.
"They say that I have too much experience. I don't understand, why don't companies want to employ an experienced staff who is willing to work for less pay? Isn't that a good thing? So I think that my age is a factor."
Mr David Ang, Executive Director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) told Shin Min daily that employers should not view age and educational qualifications as critical factors when hiring.
He pointed out that they should give older workers a chance, meet them face to face to find out if their experience and skills are relevant before making a decision.
He also says that he empathises with Mr Ang's plight, but feels that offering to lower his pay does not help as companies generally pay according to the position and whether the applicant is willing to lower his expectations is not a factor in their hiring decision.
He also noted that Mr Ang may not have angled his resume and job applications to suit the requirements of the jobs he applied for.
"Companies receive a lot of job applications, if your resume does not have have any factor that captures the attention of the employer, it will be overlooked, so job seekers should customise each application to the job they are applying for."
He added that older job seekers who have ample experience, should not be discouraged although they may face rejection during the process of looking for a job, because employers who recognise their ability will hire them.
- AsiaOne
Mr Roland Ang, 52, told Shin Min Daily that he used to manage a hedge fund in an investment firm, but lost his job when his company folded last November.
He joined the finance department of a bank after serving national service, and worked his way up from an administrative assistant to department head, but his highest educational qualification stops at secondary school.
He also says that he was headhunted four times in the nineties, and commanded a pay of about $15,000 a month, not including annual bonuses. But he finds it hard, if not impossible to find a job now.
He and his wife have three children aged eight to 16, and they are also taking care of his 90-year-old mother.
Mr Roland Ang has been actively seeking employment, and sends out 20 to 30 job applications a month on average. He says he went for two interviews a month but was always unsuccessful.
He thinks that it is his lack of educational qualifications and age that is deterring employers.
"When they see that I have no university degree, they say they will contact me again but they never do. Even when I indicate that I am willing to lower my salary expectations to only S$3,000, which is the starting pay of a fresh grad.
"They say that I have too much experience. I don't understand, why don't companies want to employ an experienced staff who is willing to work for less pay? Isn't that a good thing? So I think that my age is a factor."
Mr David Ang, Executive Director of the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) told Shin Min daily that employers should not view age and educational qualifications as critical factors when hiring.
He pointed out that they should give older workers a chance, meet them face to face to find out if their experience and skills are relevant before making a decision.
He also says that he empathises with Mr Ang's plight, but feels that offering to lower his pay does not help as companies generally pay according to the position and whether the applicant is willing to lower his expectations is not a factor in their hiring decision.
He also noted that Mr Ang may not have angled his resume and job applications to suit the requirements of the jobs he applied for.
"Companies receive a lot of job applications, if your resume does not have have any factor that captures the attention of the employer, it will be overlooked, so job seekers should customise each application to the job they are applying for."
He added that older job seekers who have ample experience, should not be discouraged although they may face rejection during the process of looking for a job, because employers who recognise their ability will hire them.
- AsiaOne
Upturn in finance sector hiring: Good sign for the economy?
FOR the first time since early 2007, hiring expectations are up - and nowhere is this turnaround more telling than in the banking and finance sector, which was seeing a slew of layoffs just nine months ago or less.
Of all the sectors covered in recruitment firm Hudson's May survey, it reported the biggest leap in hiring expectations: 32 per cent of respondents expect to bump up Q3 recruitment, from Q2's 19 per cent. The proportion planning to cut headcount more than halved.
With the financial sector a major growth engine for Singapore, is this a sign of better times ahead not just for sector professionals - but the economy as well?
In its report card on the financial sector, Hudson noted: "Hiring plans that were delayed from Q4 2008 onwards are now being implemented as the volume of deals appears to be sustainable.
"This indicates a much more positive outlook both for the financial sector and the economy as a whole."
But though 26 per cent of respondents overall forecast higher recruitment, and 48 per cent expect recovery this year or the first half of next year, analysts caution against expecting a hiring spree.
Putting the tentative signs of optimism down more to companies' belief that the worst is over, Forecast Singapore economist Vishnu Varathan said: "The banking industry was not so much affected by how much they were losing, but rather the huge uncertainty over how much the losses were going to be.
"Now that there is less uncertainty, commodity prices, mergers and acquisition have picked up, we're seeing activity returning to the market and targetted hires."
The key word is targeted. Financial services headhunter David Powe, of Strategic Search Partners, told Today: "Few firms are hiring, and if they are, it's not across the board."
The opportunities that banks want to exploit currently are in distressed assets and Asian products, he said: "Clients are after candidates who are 100 per cent close to the fit and it's usually someone with five years of experience."
Nearly half the employers in the banking and financial services industry felt able to negotiate lower starting salaries - the most of all the sectors.
Hudson surveyed 700 executives across key industries. The manufacturing sector, responsible for the majority of jobs shed in the last few quarters, expressed a surprisingly optimistic hiring outlook.
CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun said the companies' forecast was consistent with the sector's seasonal patterns.
"Production and business pads up in the second half of the year to meet more orders for Christmas. You'll find this increase in demand whether it is a recession or not," he said.
On the same note, Mr Varathan said we shouldn't necessarily take the forecast at face value. "It's not clear from the data presented whether they are actually expanding operations," he said.
Manufacturing companies were most conservative about prospects for an economic recovery, with 25 per cent unsure when it will happen. Just 11 per cent think it will be this year, compared to 15 per cent of respondents from consumer, media and advertising.
Meanwhile, 42 per cent of respondents in the IT and technology sector anticipate recovery in the first half of next year, more than in any sector; while 77 per cent of healthcare and life sciences sector think the upturn will come sometime during next year.
Mr Varathan puts these varying forecasts down to each sector using different yardsticks.
"Manufacturing would want to see something more convincing like an upward trend in global demand before they stick their neck out," he said.
- TODAY newspaper
Of all the sectors covered in recruitment firm Hudson's May survey, it reported the biggest leap in hiring expectations: 32 per cent of respondents expect to bump up Q3 recruitment, from Q2's 19 per cent. The proportion planning to cut headcount more than halved.
With the financial sector a major growth engine for Singapore, is this a sign of better times ahead not just for sector professionals - but the economy as well?
In its report card on the financial sector, Hudson noted: "Hiring plans that were delayed from Q4 2008 onwards are now being implemented as the volume of deals appears to be sustainable.
"This indicates a much more positive outlook both for the financial sector and the economy as a whole."
But though 26 per cent of respondents overall forecast higher recruitment, and 48 per cent expect recovery this year or the first half of next year, analysts caution against expecting a hiring spree.
Putting the tentative signs of optimism down more to companies' belief that the worst is over, Forecast Singapore economist Vishnu Varathan said: "The banking industry was not so much affected by how much they were losing, but rather the huge uncertainty over how much the losses were going to be.
"Now that there is less uncertainty, commodity prices, mergers and acquisition have picked up, we're seeing activity returning to the market and targetted hires."
The key word is targeted. Financial services headhunter David Powe, of Strategic Search Partners, told Today: "Few firms are hiring, and if they are, it's not across the board."
The opportunities that banks want to exploit currently are in distressed assets and Asian products, he said: "Clients are after candidates who are 100 per cent close to the fit and it's usually someone with five years of experience."
Nearly half the employers in the banking and financial services industry felt able to negotiate lower starting salaries - the most of all the sectors.
Hudson surveyed 700 executives across key industries. The manufacturing sector, responsible for the majority of jobs shed in the last few quarters, expressed a surprisingly optimistic hiring outlook.
CIMB-GK economist Song Seng Wun said the companies' forecast was consistent with the sector's seasonal patterns.
"Production and business pads up in the second half of the year to meet more orders for Christmas. You'll find this increase in demand whether it is a recession or not," he said.
On the same note, Mr Varathan said we shouldn't necessarily take the forecast at face value. "It's not clear from the data presented whether they are actually expanding operations," he said.
Manufacturing companies were most conservative about prospects for an economic recovery, with 25 per cent unsure when it will happen. Just 11 per cent think it will be this year, compared to 15 per cent of respondents from consumer, media and advertising.
Meanwhile, 42 per cent of respondents in the IT and technology sector anticipate recovery in the first half of next year, more than in any sector; while 77 per cent of healthcare and life sciences sector think the upturn will come sometime during next year.
Mr Varathan puts these varying forecasts down to each sector using different yardsticks.
"Manufacturing would want to see something more convincing like an upward trend in global demand before they stick their neck out," he said.
- TODAY newspaper
Spring Singapore to subsidise entrepreneurship courses for PMETs
SINGAPORE: Professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETS) aspiring to start their own businesses and looking for tips to do so can look forward to subsidised courses next month on entrepreneurship.
Spring Singapore will subsidise up to 70 per cent of the course fees and has set aside S$500,000 for the scheme, which will be conducted at participating polytechnics until next May.
The courses, which will run between two and 12 weeks, are available on both part-time and full-time basis and include company visits and sharing sessions with established entrepreneurs.
PMETs will need to have at least a diploma to enrol for these courses.
- TODAY newspaper
Spring Singapore will subsidise up to 70 per cent of the course fees and has set aside S$500,000 for the scheme, which will be conducted at participating polytechnics until next May.
The courses, which will run between two and 12 weeks, are available on both part-time and full-time basis and include company visits and sharing sessions with established entrepreneurs.
PMETs will need to have at least a diploma to enrol for these courses.
- TODAY newspaper
Jul 5, 2009
Fresh grads rush in for jobs, banks may oblige
Thousands of fresh graduates continue to make a beeline for jobs in the financial industry, unfazed it seems by its less than sterling reputation and reports of retrenchment.
Some banks have been overwhelmed by the thousands of job applications from hopeful graduates - although they have openings only for less than 10 per cent.
Citibank said that to date it has received 50 per cent more job applications or as many as 4,500 from fresh graduates. In previous years, it received 2,500 to 3,000 applications from fresh graduates hoping to land a job under its management associate (MA) programme which takes in 20-30 people.
In May, Citibank said that it will be hiring 200 fresh graduates under its own MA programme as well as under the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) scheme.
The MAS scheme subsidises graduates' allowances over the next one to two years to encourage financial institutions to take them in.
MAS said in March that it will set aside $15 million for the initiative.
Lee Yan Hong, Citi Singapore human resource director, said that the recruitment process is still ongoing and progressing well.
The new hires will fill positions under three talent recruitment initiatives, namely the management associate, banking associate and banking trainee programmes, she said.
The latter two were new programmes specially created to be aligned with the MAS scheme.
Standard Chartered Bank said that the number of applications from fresh graduates this year has doubled.
It typically receives several thousands of applications a year for its prestigious banking associate programme.
D M Arulraj, regional head of human resources (SEA), Standard Chartered Bank said that the banks has hired about 180 graduates so far this year.
For its one-year banking associate programme tailored for high potential fresh graduates who are placed into job specific roles, the bank has taken in 38 graduates.
'This programme offers a structured career path for the graduates and they go through skills and product training necessary for their role to help them develop their careers,' said Mr Arulraj.
In addition, about 70 fresh graduates will be joining the bank next Monday under the MAS scheme. This batch will go through a one-month structured training with the focus on providing them with a fundamental knowledge of the bank's products and the financial industry, he said.
Stanchart also hired an additional 50 graduates in the first half of 2009, most of whom are in sales, he said.
DBS Bank to date has got about 1,200 applications from fresh graduates for jobs under the MAS scheme, for which it has 80 positions, said Edna Koh, a bank spokeswoman.
'DBS supports what MAS wants to achieve through this initiative,' said Ms Koh.
Positions are offered across the departments, including consumer banking, technology & operations, investment banking and wealth management.
'We are offering around 80 positions and we have hired approximately half the number already,' she said.
'In addition, we will continue to hire fresh graduates for our management associate programme this year. The size of the intake has not been finalised, but in the past, DBS typically recruits about 50 graduates for this programme each year.'
OCBC Bank said that it is taking in fresh graduates under the MAS scheme.
- The Business Times
Some banks have been overwhelmed by the thousands of job applications from hopeful graduates - although they have openings only for less than 10 per cent.
Citibank said that to date it has received 50 per cent more job applications or as many as 4,500 from fresh graduates. In previous years, it received 2,500 to 3,000 applications from fresh graduates hoping to land a job under its management associate (MA) programme which takes in 20-30 people.
In May, Citibank said that it will be hiring 200 fresh graduates under its own MA programme as well as under the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) scheme.
The MAS scheme subsidises graduates' allowances over the next one to two years to encourage financial institutions to take them in.
MAS said in March that it will set aside $15 million for the initiative.
Lee Yan Hong, Citi Singapore human resource director, said that the recruitment process is still ongoing and progressing well.
The new hires will fill positions under three talent recruitment initiatives, namely the management associate, banking associate and banking trainee programmes, she said.
The latter two were new programmes specially created to be aligned with the MAS scheme.
Standard Chartered Bank said that the number of applications from fresh graduates this year has doubled.
It typically receives several thousands of applications a year for its prestigious banking associate programme.
D M Arulraj, regional head of human resources (SEA), Standard Chartered Bank said that the banks has hired about 180 graduates so far this year.
For its one-year banking associate programme tailored for high potential fresh graduates who are placed into job specific roles, the bank has taken in 38 graduates.
'This programme offers a structured career path for the graduates and they go through skills and product training necessary for their role to help them develop their careers,' said Mr Arulraj.
In addition, about 70 fresh graduates will be joining the bank next Monday under the MAS scheme. This batch will go through a one-month structured training with the focus on providing them with a fundamental knowledge of the bank's products and the financial industry, he said.
Stanchart also hired an additional 50 graduates in the first half of 2009, most of whom are in sales, he said.
DBS Bank to date has got about 1,200 applications from fresh graduates for jobs under the MAS scheme, for which it has 80 positions, said Edna Koh, a bank spokeswoman.
'DBS supports what MAS wants to achieve through this initiative,' said Ms Koh.
Positions are offered across the departments, including consumer banking, technology & operations, investment banking and wealth management.
'We are offering around 80 positions and we have hired approximately half the number already,' she said.
'In addition, we will continue to hire fresh graduates for our management associate programme this year. The size of the intake has not been finalised, but in the past, DBS typically recruits about 50 graduates for this programme each year.'
OCBC Bank said that it is taking in fresh graduates under the MAS scheme.
- The Business Times
Jul 4, 2009
Chronic jobless doubles
TRY as they may, they just cannot seem to land a job.
The latest job market figures for the January to March period, released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on June 15, showed that there are now 16,600 long-term unemployed people in Singapore.
By definition, these people have been jobless for 25 weeks or more.
A year ago, the corresponding figure was less than half - 7,500.
In the first five months of this year, the CareerLink Plus Centre has seen 542 long-term unemployed and low-wage workers approaching it for help, compared to 1,293 cases for the whole of last year. The centre is a joint project between the Workforce Development Agency and self-help groups like the Chinese Development Assistance Council, the Singapore Indian Development Association, the Eurasian Association and the Association for Muslim Professionals. It is spearheaded by Mendaki.
Labour MP Halimah Yacob said: 'The economic crisis is not the only factor although it makes it harder for the unemployed to find jobs.
'The issue is one of structural unemployment too as many also do not have the skills to do the jobs that are available.'
Madam Halimah, an MP for Jurong GRC, has seen more of the chronic jobless in her constituency seeking help since the downturn.
Help is given with regard to technical and computer skills, and softer skills like preparing resumes and presenting themselves well at job interviews.
This chronic jobless group mainly comprises mature workers aged above 40, housewives in their 40s and 50s who want to go back to work, and people with physical disabilities, medical conditions or past criminal records.
- The Straits Times
The latest job market figures for the January to March period, released by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on June 15, showed that there are now 16,600 long-term unemployed people in Singapore.
By definition, these people have been jobless for 25 weeks or more.
A year ago, the corresponding figure was less than half - 7,500.
In the first five months of this year, the CareerLink Plus Centre has seen 542 long-term unemployed and low-wage workers approaching it for help, compared to 1,293 cases for the whole of last year. The centre is a joint project between the Workforce Development Agency and self-help groups like the Chinese Development Assistance Council, the Singapore Indian Development Association, the Eurasian Association and the Association for Muslim Professionals. It is spearheaded by Mendaki.
Labour MP Halimah Yacob said: 'The economic crisis is not the only factor although it makes it harder for the unemployed to find jobs.
'The issue is one of structural unemployment too as many also do not have the skills to do the jobs that are available.'
Madam Halimah, an MP for Jurong GRC, has seen more of the chronic jobless in her constituency seeking help since the downturn.
Help is given with regard to technical and computer skills, and softer skills like preparing resumes and presenting themselves well at job interviews.
This chronic jobless group mainly comprises mature workers aged above 40, housewives in their 40s and 50s who want to go back to work, and people with physical disabilities, medical conditions or past criminal records.
- The Straits Times
Jul 3, 2009
Jobless rate may rise
SINGAPORE'S unemployment rate from April to June may remain high or increase further from the previous quarter's 3.3 per cent, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has said.
This is based on anecdotal evidence from the unions and employers, he told reporters on Friday, adding that actual figures will be released later this month.
He was speaking at a press conference where he also gave an update on the impact of the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur).
The government-sponsored scheme, launched in December last year, pays part of workers' wages while they are on training as well as subsidises their training fees.
About 124,500 workers have been committed for training under Spur up to May this year.
About 1,800 companies have tapped on the programme, many of which are in industries affected by the downturn such as manufacturing and retail.
- The Straits Times
This is based on anecdotal evidence from the unions and employers, he told reporters on Friday, adding that actual figures will be released later this month.
He was speaking at a press conference where he also gave an update on the impact of the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur).
The government-sponsored scheme, launched in December last year, pays part of workers' wages while they are on training as well as subsidises their training fees.
About 124,500 workers have been committed for training under Spur up to May this year.
About 1,800 companies have tapped on the programme, many of which are in industries affected by the downturn such as manufacturing and retail.
- The Straits Times
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