By Ramesh Subbaraman and Geraldine Peters
Mature PMETs
Q: NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Heng Chee How on what the Government is doing to give more support to middle-aged and mature PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) to minimise their unemployment and under-employment.
A: Minister of Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin
· The Government will encourage PMETs to use the Jobs Bank as it will be integrated with the new Individual Learning Portfolio (to be launched in 2017) that will consist of tools and Labour Market information.
· The SkillsFuture Study Awards, SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative and SkillsFuture Fellowships will assist in helping PMETs deepen and improve their job-specific and leadership skills as well as master their fields.
· Education and training subsidies for Singaporeans aged 40 and above will be enhanced to a minimum of 90% of the training costs for courses funded by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and courses already subsidised at 90% and above will retain the subsidy.
· MOE and WDA will expand the range of flexible and bite-sized modular courses offered by the Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). WDA also aims to have at least 75% of its training partners’ courses to offer online or workplace learning components.
· Enhance the Max Talent Programme to be called P-Max with stronger career development components and work towards matching 3,000 PMETs with Small and Medium Enterprise jobs over a three-year period.
· An increase in monthly salary support for employers who hire PMETs on The Professional Conversion Programme in the place-and-train mode – targeted at those aged 40 and above or those unemployed for six months or more.
· WDA to complement its existing career services for PMETs through collaboration with private search and placement firms.
Strengthening the Singapore Core
Q: NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Yeo Guat Kwang on whether the Government can consider building a core of local workers in all other major industries with the CoreTrade Scheme currently used by the construction industry.
A: Minister of Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin
· One of the Sectoral Manpower Plan’s (SMP) key objectives is to develop a deep pool of local talent in key sectors through the forging of skill-based career progression pathways as well as by improving HR practices and enhancing workplace conditions.
· Ministry of Manpower will work closely with trade associations and training institutions along with employers and unions to develop and implement comprehensive SMPs in all key sectors by 2020.
Low-Wage Workers
Q: NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Zainal Sapari on the Government’s plans for helping Low-Wage Workers to achieve sustained annual salary increase through productivity improvements and tripartite efforts.
A: Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Hawazi Daipi
· MOM is to continue its focus on the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) introduced in 2007, the Workfare Training Support Scheme (WTS) in 2010 and the WorkRight initiative in 2012, along with the development of the Progressive Wage Model with the NTUC.
· Review of WIS was last done in 2013 and will be reviewed next in 2016, based on feedback and suggestions from tripartite partners.
· MOM plans to work with the NTUC to expand their outreach to Low-Wage Workers and educate them on the available avenues for help.
Progressive Wage Model
Q: NTUC Vice-President and Nominated Member of Parliament K. Karthikeyan on whether MOM will extend the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) licensing to more industries.
A: Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Hawazi Daipi
· Unions have been in negotiation with employers from varying sectors such as Hospitality, F&B and Retail to implement PWM frameworks within their operations.
· PWM to be mandatory through governmental means will be done with caution, especially with sectors where cheap-sourcing is readily available.
· A suitable trajectory of wages based on productivity improvements should be determined over time
SkillsFuture
Q: NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Ang Hin Kee on whether the government will design a system in such a way that benefits the majority wanting to learn new skills.
Minister of Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin
· MOM is to ensure that education and training via all SkillsFuture initiatives are of high-quality and are industry-relevant by co-developing course curriculums with the Institutes of Higher Learning and developing various Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) frameworks through consultations with tripartite partners.
· The MOE along with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will further enhance existing accreditation frameworks to ensure sustained relevance and standard in training.
Workplace Safety And Health
Q: NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay on how MOM is dealing with the changes in the workforce landscape.
A: Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Hawazi Daipi
· MOM will continue to calibrate measures to ensure relevancy and effectiveness in relation to the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Act’s extension to cover all workplaces since 2011.
· Will urge Singaporeans to take personal ownership in making safety and health a personal priority.
Source: NTUC ThisWeek
