Under the NTUC Enhanced Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP), union members aged 40 years and above will get increased funding support of $500, announced NTUC on 19 June 2020.
The enhanced funding will apply from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2022.
Currently, NTUC union members can use UTAP to defray 50 per cent of unfunded course fees for up to $250 per year. The programme is managed by NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute).
According to NTUC, the Enhanced UTAP is part of its employability support for workers in their 40s and 50s towards skills upgrading and re-skilling. It also complements the national SkillsFuture effort.
With the UTAP enhancement, union members, aged 40 to 60, who have not used their SkillsFuture Credit since 2015 or UTAP will have a combined amount of $2,000 available for training.
Meanwhile, union members above 60 will have a combined amount of $1,500.
Earlier this year, the Government announced that Singaporeans between 40 and 60 would get an additional SkillsFuture Credit top-up of $500 under the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package.
This is in addition to this year’s $500 SkillsFuture Credit top-up for all Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said that he was particularly concerned about workers above the age of 40, no matter PME or rank-and-file.
“This group is double sandwiched – middle class and often caring for ageing parents and young children. I understand that they are anxious because they are at a higher risk of losing their jobs, and once out it is harder to get back in.
“This is why I’m doubling the training support for NTUC union members aged 40 and above to $500. If they have not utilised the UTAP or SkillsFuture Credit, they will now have up to $2,000 available for training. I hope with this additional funding, together with the efforts of our NTUC Job Security Council, will give them greater assurance,” said Mr Ng.
Commenting on the Enhanced UTAP, e2i CEO Gilbert Tan said: “The road to recovery for Singapore’s economy from the COVID-19 pandemic may be long and hard. Henceforth, it is important for us to create more training and career opportunities for mid-career Singaporeans aged 40 years and above, as this group is more vulnerable and may require additional help in skills acquisition as they support their young and older family members.
“We want to reach out to them now and beyond the pandemic, to raise their employability through the Enhanced UTAP funding support, so that they can jumpstart with relevant skills when the job market picks up again.”
In his national broadcast on 18 June 2020, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the Government is working to help middle-aged and mature Singaporean workers.
“We will spare no effort to help them carry on with their careers in the most productive jobs they can do so that they can continue to provide for their families and contribute to Singapore. The Government will give employers extra support when they hire middle-aged and older Singaporeans … This is and must be a national effort. And it needs new thinking among employers, to give middle-aged and mature Singaporean workers a fair chance to prove themselves,” said Mr Tharman.
To find out more about the Enhanced UTAP, visit e2i’s website.
