RECRUITING METHODS OF EMPLOYERS

Mr Cyrille Tan asked the Minister for Manpower whether his Ministry is (i) monitoring the situation in which employers are being "choosy" in their recruiting methods and (ii) considering measures to encourage employers to hire mature workers with relevant skills and experience.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: (i) Owing to the economic downturn, the demand for labour in Singapore has dropped to an unprecedented low in 1998. In September 1998, some 15,500 vacancies were reported. This was only about a third of the level reported in September 1997.

As jobs become scarce and more candidates are available for employers to choose from, it is a natural tendency for employers to be more selective. However, I urge employers to be reasonable and not to use unfair criteria. Jobs, which require generic skills and capabilities, should be opened to all applicants regardless of their age or social background. Employers should not confine their recruitment to younger workers only, if the job can also be performed by older workers. Older workers, who have much experience from their previous jobs can also contribute to a company's growth.

(ii) With an aging population, to discriminate against older job seekers is a practice that employers could ill afford. Even before the regional crisis affected us, the Ministry has undertaken various activities and programmes such as the "Back to Work" Programme, to help facilitate the employment of older persons. The thrust of our effort is to change employers' mindset on the employment of older persons and to encourage employers to provide job opportunities for them. On the legislative front, the retirement age has also been raised from 60 to 62 from January 1999, to help older workers stay on their jobs.

In view of the current economic situation, job seekers, regardless of age or educational level, are finding it difficult to secure a job. The situation may continue to be so for the rest of 1999. The Ministry is aware that the older and less educated job seekers face tougher challenges. We have therefore placed greater emphasis on helping them.

The Ministry has been monitoring the recruitment situation for some time. We hold discussions with employers to encourage them to employ older persons and to identify suitable jobs for them. We visit selected companies together with representatives from the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board, the Singapore National Employers Federation and the National Trades Union Congress to better understand the issues faced by employers in the management of older persons. We have also impressed upon employers that certain jobs could be restructured or redesigned to make them suitable for older workers to handle. We will continue with our efforts to help change the mindset of employers and to assist the older workers find alternative jobs.