TRAINING ALLOWANCES FOR SPUR COURSES

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TRAINING ALLOWANCES FOR SPUR COURSES:

(Eligibility criteria for unemployed workers): 8.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Acting Minister for Manpower what are the eligibility criteria for unemployed workers to qualify for training allowances if they undertake SPUR-approved courses.

The Acting Minister for Manpower (Mr Gan Kim Yong): Sir, the fees for courses under SPUR are highly subsidised by the Government at 90%. Trainees who are unemployed may receive training allowances of $4 per hour. Instead of a set of rigid eligibility criteria, we encourage jobseekers to approach career consultants at the Community Development Councils (CDCs) or NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) for assistance. This is because the training allowance is not an entitlement but depends on the circumstances of the jobseekers which may differ widely. The career consultant will then be able to assess the jobseeker's training needs as well as his commitment to find a job after training, in deciding whether he will receive a training allowance. In addition, the career consultant can also provide advice on training and career opportunities to help the jobseekers. This approach is more flexible, yet rigorous and effective.