EMPLOYMENT OF THE ELDERLY AND EX-OFFENDERS

25.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad asked the Minister for Manpower in view of the initiatives put in place by the Government to employ the elderly and ex-offenders, (a) what is the progress in helping these groups find employment in the Government and the private sector; and (b) for each of this group from 2004 to 2006, how many are employed in the Civil Service and in which areas.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Employment of older workers

The latest figures from the June 2006 Labour Force Survey show that more older workers are employed. The resident employment rate for the 55-59 age group increased from 55.9% in 2004 to 60.6% in 2006. Similarly the resident employment rate for the 60-64 age group rose by more than 8 percentage-points from 33.6% in 2004 to 41.9% in 2006. In absolute terms, these represent an increase of 41,200 workers in the 55-64 age group. These improvements are encouraging but we must persist in our efforts to help more older workers stay employed.

Between 2004 and 2006, the Civil Service recruited about 1,500 mature workers who are above age 40*, about 700 of whom are above age 50. In addition, 11% of about 3,800 retired civil servants were re-employed over the same period^.

• This includes retired civil servants who are re-employed.

^ This excludes those re-employed on a temporary basis and those providing services on a contract-for-service basis.

The Workforce Development Agency’s career centres, which are run together with the Community Development Councils (CDCs) and self-help groups, have since 2004 placed over 28,000 mature workers in jobs across a variety of sectors.

Employment of ex-offenders

The Civil Service does not track the number of ex-offenders employed as it does not differentiate these employees.

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For the private sector, since 2004, the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) has assisted about 8,500 offenders and ex-offenders in their job search through its database of potential employees # . Another 500 ex-offenders found jobs through the WDA’s career centres.

The 8,500 figure reflects the number of offenders/ex-offenders whom SCORE has helped in the job search process. The actual jobs secured since 2004 is 6,472. This excludes those who found jobs through the on-line job portal and the latest Yellow Ribbon Job Fair in November 2006.

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