HOTLINE FOR ASSISTING RETRENCHED WORKERS

Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh asked the Minister for Manpower why the hotline number 1822-5358047, which is meant for assisting retrenched workers in securing alternative employment, is a recorded mail voice which only gives website access code and general employment information and not a personalised service to identify job needs and vacancies of callers, especially callers who speak limited English or Chinese.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: The hotline number 1822-5358047 is for enquiries on Employment Act. It has 3 hunting telephone lines, manned by 3 duty officers of the Labour Relations Department of the Ministry of Manpower, to answer enquiries on terms and conditions of employment, retrenchment and other Employment Act provisions. When the 3 lines are engaged, callers are channelled to the Integrated Voice Response System which provides pre-recorded frequently asked questions and answers on the Employment Act. The information is available both in English and Chinese.

The hotline number for job seekers requiring assistance to find employment or prospective employers looking for job seekers to fill vacancies is 1800-5395389. It is manned by officers of the Ministry's Employment Service Department.