Special Employment Credit Scheme

Mr Chen Show Mao asked the Acting Minister for Manpower among the employers and senior workers who have benefited from the Special Employment Credit scheme (a) which industries do the employers belong to; (b) what kind of jobs are the senior workers employed for; and (c) on average, how long do the senior workers stay on the job, according to industry and job type.

Mr Tan Chuan-Jin: Employers who are benefiting from the Special Employment Credit (SEC) scheme belong to various industries, from agriculture and fishing to healthcare and social services. Companies in the wholesale and retail sector form the largest group and account for about one quarter of the employers, while about 15% are in the manufacturing sector.

About one quarter of eligible employees are cleaners or labourers, and about one fifth are service and sales workers. Other main occupation types include clerical support workers, and plant and machine operators. More than 90% of workers who benefited from the SEC in the first half of 2012 have remained in employment one year later, while more than 85% of them continue to hold jobs within the same industry.