Effectiveness of Support Schemes in Helping PMETs Find New Jobs

Ms Foo Mee Har asked the Minister for Manpower in light of job layoffs hitting a seven-year high (a) how successful have current support schemes been in helping Singaporeans, particularly PMEs, secure new jobs; and (b) what additional measures will the Government implement should the unemployment situation deteriorate further

The Minister for Manpower (Mr Lim Swee Say): **** Mdm Speaker, redundancies have risen due to weaker global economic conditions and ongoing economic restructuring. In anticipation of this, I announced in April this year the "Adapt & Grow" initiative.

Under "Adapt & Grow", we have enhanced and expanded the package of employment assistance for both the effected PMETs and rank and file workers. It includes Professional Conversion Programme, Career Support Programme, P-Max and Reskilling for Jobs Programme. WDA and e2i have also ramped up the number of job fairs and other career support events, such as career workshops and learning journeys to hiring firms.

Ms Foo asked how effective are our current support schemes. Mdm Speaker, in the first half of this year, WDA and e2i have assisted about 15,000 jobseekers through its Career Centres and the Adapt and Grow support programmes. With WDA and e2i assistance, about 4,000 PMETs and 6,000 Rank and File jobseekers have secured jobs.

Ms Foo also asked what additional measures will we implement moving forward. Mdm Speaker, the Government will continue to monitor the economic and labour market situation closely, and expand employment support to our workers proactively as we go through this period of not just cyclical uncertainty but structural transition as well.

Moving forward, with the restructuring of WDA into Workforce Singapore (WSG), we will go beyond helping the unemployed find jobs. WSG will do more and help more Singaporeans manage their career transitions throughout life. This is to maximise matching between the aspiration of workers and the manpower needs of businesses. WSG will also support tripartite efforts to transform our industries and strengthen the Singaporean Core in all major sectors. We believe this is the best way to position Singapore for growth and to create better jobs for our people. Later on, we will be doing the Second Reading of WSG Bill, and I will be happy to elaborate further. Thank you very much.

Mdm Speaker: Ms Foo. Keep your question short.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied): Mdm Speaker, earlier on, I had a supplementary question to ask from Minister Shanmugam's answer.

Mdm Speaker: Mr Low, we have already passed that question

Mr Low Thia Khiang: Mdm Speaker, I regret that. I should have been allowed to ask more supplementary questions.

Mdm Speaker: You should have put your hand up very quickly, Mr Low. Unfortunately, I have already called the next question. Ms Foo, make it very short and snappy.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr K Shanmugam): Mdm Speaker, if there is any process for allowing Mr Low to ask a question, I am happy to take the question. But I leave that entirely to you.

Mdm Speaker: Minister, we have already passed the Parliamentary Question (PQ) and we have already moved on to the next PQ. So, Ms Foo, please make it fast.

Ms Foo Mee Har (West Coast): Yes, Madam. I would like to ask the Minister with respect to the double weak companies – those with weak Singaporean Core and a weak commitment to nurture a Singaporean Core – would the Minister please give an update how these companies have strengthened their Singaporean Core as a result of TAFEP interventions and some of the things the Minister said they would do during the COS speech?

Mr Lim Swee Say: Mdm Speaker, indeed, we have taken action against not just the double weak but triple weak companies as well. These are companies that are weak in Singaporean Core today, weak in their commitment to strengthen the Singaporean Core in the future, as well as weak in their economic linkage to our economy. The programme is on-going. In fact, the list of companies is growing. If Members are interested, feel free to file a PQ. I will give you a comprehensive reply.

1.30 pm

Mdm Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.

[ Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos 10-12, 20, 23, 28-30, 32-36, 38, 44-47, 49-50, 51, 53-61, 63-67, 69-71, 73, 75-77, 81, 83-88, 90-97, 101-102, 104, 106 and 108 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix. Question Nos 13-19, 21-22, 24-27, 31, 37, 39-43, 48, 52, 62, 68, 72, 74, 78-80, 82, 89, 98-100, 103, 105 and 107 have been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament. ]