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SINGAPORE: The aim of a new initiative, mooted by the Industrial and Services Co-operative Society and the Singapore Business Federation, is to get companies to hire at least one ex-offender to give him or her a chance at a new lease of life.
Called "Corporate Doors", it was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Thursday.
Mr Wong said the recidivism rate of prisoners is going down – in 1988, 44 per cent of ex-convicts landed in jail again, but by 2006, the figure was down to 25 per cent.
Besides a strong after-care network, the deputy prime minister said the improvement can be attributed to prison officers who act as rehab officers, as well as the many volunteers who provide social and religious counselling.
Since its official launch in 2004, the Yellow Ribbon Project has been successful in raising public awareness about the difficulties and challenges of ex-offenders and their families.
The Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) has more than 1,700 employers willing to employ ex-offenders.
More than 50 companies have already signed up for the Corporate Doors initiative, meaning they would be employing at least one ex-offender in their company.
With the Singapore Business Federation having some 15,000 members, there could be even more opportunities for ex-offenders to land a job.
Dawn Kong, director, FB Franchise Organisation, said: "Those who have stuck with the programme have successfully taken that second leap in life. They have integrated into society through work, employment and business."
Winston Sim, CEO, TCC Hospitality Resources, said: "Because we're in the hospitality industry, some of our clients did have some concerns. But with proper training and guidance, we've proved that some of them are, in fact, doing better than our regular staff."
At the event on Thursday, some S$300,000 was also raised to fund the Gift of Hope package, which provides prisoners with a S$50 voucher to aid their return to society. The money will also be used to re-skill ex-offenders.
- CNA/so
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