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SINGAPORE: Ahead of an announcement next Tuesday on the future of the Jobs Credit Scheme, Singapore's labour movement has once again called for the scheme to be gradually phased out, instead of sudden termination.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) stressed that the Resilience Package - which includes the Jobs Credit Scheme and Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) - was instrumental to help avoid record retrenchments and a rapid rise in unemployment.
As such, the Jobs Credit Scheme has not only helped workers save their jobs, it has also helped companies retain their skilled and experienced workers in preparation for the upturn.
NTUC explained that while retrenchments have eased, recovery is uneven across sectors.
Halimah Yacob, deputy secretary-general of NTUC, said: "Although the unemployment rate for the second quarter is only 3.3 per cent, we have to bear in mind that long-term unemployment numbers have gone up to 25,000. (This) means that retrenchments have gone down, but the unemployment rate is still quite worrying.
"(Unemployment rate in) the third and fourth quarter may go up. So unless there are a lot of new job openings, we do still see the need for companies to be able to support their workers because there is a concern whether this will trigger off fresh retrenchments if (the scheme) is immediately removed."
NTUC added that Singapore's economic outlook remained uncertain because global demand has yet to fully recover.
However, even as the NTUC called for a gradual phasing out of the Jobs Credit Scheme, it is mindful that the world after this recession will be a very different one.
Hence, it said Singapore companies and workers must gear up to become "cheaper" through higher productivity, "better" with new capabilities, and "faster" by being more flexible.
NTUC said this is the best way for Singapore to stay ahead of the competition.
This twin approach of a gradual phasing out of the Jobs Credit Scheme and speedy gearing up of the Singapore economy is the crux of the labour movement's position, as the two aspects are inextricably intertwined.
- CNA/yb
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