Statistics from the Ministry of Manpower’s Labour Market Advance Release Q2 2016 on 28 July 2016 revealed that unemployment in Singapore had increased from 1.9 per cent in March 2016 to 2.1 per cent in June 2016. Unemployment rates among Singapore citizens had risen to 3.1 per cent, up from 2.6 per cent last quarter.
The release attributed the slower employment growth to subdued economic conditions and highlighted how the Ministry will work with tripartite partners to help displaced workers find new jobs.
LABOUR MOVEMENT’S EFFORTS
One avenue where displaced workers can get support is through NTUC’s U PME Centre.
At a media briefing on 27 July 2016, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and Director PME Unit Patrick Tay shared that the Career Activation Programme (CAP) will be enhanced to help unemployed PMEs.
The CAP was piloted in July 2015 in partnership with professional services social enterprise GioCareers to offer out-of-job mature PMEs community-based peer support via a network of career activists who function like facilitators.
Having been through similar predicaments in their own personal lives, these career activists are better able to relate to the participants and guide them through their challenges.
AN ENCOURAGING START
The key thing is the journey from the job loss, to them (the CAP participants) gaining employment, said ASG Tay, adding that besides helping displaced PMEs with job searches and employability training, the area of emotional support is a gap that the CAP hopes to bridge.
He also shared that the number of career activists have also increased from an initial team of three to 30 today.
DOING MORE FOR PMEs
“I think we have the capacity to double or even triple the number of people we can help, if the need arises. It’s not target based, but on a needs basis for people who can benefit from it,” said ASG Tay.
He added that there are plans to expand and deepen the programme on two levels.
To increase the quality of the support rendered to CAP participants, career activists will undergo a structured training programme with certification that is pegged to requirements such as having strong interpersonal skills and experience in overcoming career challenges. This will be developed with NTUC LearningHub and GioCareers.
For participants, deeper engagement will come in the form of a Career-Life Planning and Management workshop to help them learn more about themselves, understand their goals and chart out constructive steps to achieve them.
This will be on top of the networking and dialogue sessions with the career activists.
Additionally, participants will continue to receive support throughout their career transition via a digital forum on the CAP community website. This will help build a network in which they can remotely interact and connect with their fellow peers and career activists. Consultants from the U PME Centre will also
continue to reach out to them even after they have been placed in new jobs.
AT A GLANCE: CAREER ACTIVATION PROGRAMME
What is it?
• The peer-to-peer support programme aims to deepen the assistance rendered to unemployed PMEs who are age 40 and above.
How does it work?
• CAP sessions offer PMEs an opportunity to interact and network with each other to gain support.
• PMEs can also count on the support of a career activist who can provide
emotional support for these PMEs during difficult times and encourage,
motivate and inspire them.
• Participants will also be able to remain in touch with their peers and career
activists throughout their transition journey.
What is new?
• Participants will now get to partake in a more holistic Career-Life Planning and
Management workshop that will let them rediscover themselves and aid them
in the construction of steps to attain career goals.
• There will also be post placement support whereby consultants from the
U PME Centre and GioCareers will follow-up with CAP participants to check in
on how they are settling into their new roles.
• Participants can look forward to greater community support in the form of
digital forums for increased interaction and sharing with career activists.
• Career activists will undergo a certification and training programme to equip
them with the relevant skills to help their charges.
