channelnewsasia.com - Singapore labour market to remain soft
   
 
  blogs  
 
yournews
   
   
 
Video Finance Lifestyle Travel Weather Discussion TV Shows
CNA Live    | About Us 
 
  Home ›
 
Singapore News
Smaller Text Size Larger Text Size

 
 

Singapore labour market to remain soft
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 July 2009 1616 hrs

 
 
Photos  of

   
 

SINGAPORE: Singapore's labour market will continue to be soft for the next two quarters as the economic outlook remains uncertain.

Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong also said anecdotal feedback from unions and employers suggests retrenchment may be lower in the second quarter because most of it had been done after the Lunar New Year.

Nonetheless, the unemployment rate may remain high or increase in the second quarter, he said.

Job data for the second quarter will be released at the end of this month.

As for employment figures going ahead, Mr Gan said they depend on companies receiving orders beyond July and August.

So far, the situation remains unclear. Hence, it is difficult to predict if a second wave of retrenchment will come.

Mr Gan made these comments at a news conference regarding the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) on Friday morning.

So far, 1,800 companies have signed up for SPUR, sending 83,500 workers for training. Also, 40,600 individuals have signed up for SPUR.

Of this number, 19,000 found jobs through SPUR.

There are still 27,000 job seekers in Singapore.

The government had budgeted S$650 million for the SPUR programme and so far S$210 million has been committed.

- CNA/ir

 

 
Bookmark and Share



Other singapore News
New immigrants help sustain, enrich S'porean way of life, says SM Goh
Ample supply of housing in private market, says Minister Mah
Delegates start arriving in Singapore for APEC Summit
Preparing dinner for APEC leaders is no piece of cake
NTUC Eldercare to introduce training course for family members by 2010
CASE expects timeshare disputes to be among top complaints again this year
Singapore studying vulnerability to climate change
Basketball: Singapore Slingers lose to Philippine Patriots in ASEAN League
Golf: HSBC Women's Champions to return in 2010 with smaller field, reduced purse
Alleged murderer says he didn't intend to kill girlfriend
Singapore set to welcome year-end festivities with Christmas light-up
233 beneficiaries chip in for "We Are One" project
Maid trapped in blazing flat at Balestier rescued by SCDF
Football: Shootout success places Samut Sakhon third in Singapore Cup
Over 600 participants join 5.5km Walk With Diabetes
Fashion outlet Hermes sets up postcards exhibition for charity

 

 
Affiliate Sites:
 
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Advertise with Us  |  Terms & Conditions