MPs call for more Govt help to address job-skills mismatch
Reuters file photo
SINGAPORE — As businesses and workers grapple with the economic slowdown and bleak jobs outlook, the Government can provide them with more help by providing funding for absentee payroll, supplementing wages of those who are undergoing training to take on new jobs, and sharing data more promptly on where the jobs are, said labour Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday.
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) assistant secretary-general Patrick Tay, in a post on the labour movement’s blog yesterday, called for a “comprehensive mechanism to enhance tripartite efforts to (match workers to relevant jobs) more expeditiously and expediently”.
Mr Tay, who is a Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC, urged the Government to support the wages of workers on the Professional Conversion Programme — which trains mid-career professionals preparing to switch industries — so as to encourage more adults to reskill for new jobs without having to take a major pay cut.
He also suggested offering an allowance to unemployed Singaporeans who undergo SkillsFuture courses, and expanding the SkillsFuture credit so that it can be used for courses related to career coaching.
The Manpower Ministry and other agencies can also share data to help the labour movement so that workers can be placed in relevant jobs more efficiently, Mr Tay added.
Fellow labour MP Zainal Sapari said the Government can help to identify the industries and jobs most likely to be disrupted by emerging technologies, and allow professionals in those sectors to tap programmes to acquire new skills, even when they are still employed.
“For example, insurance and housing agents will most likely be displaced due to greater online transactions. Help must be given to them to reskill when they still employed, rather than when they are unemployed,” said Mr Zainal, who is an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
Mr Desmond Choo, another labour MP, suggested expanding NTUC’s training and reskilling schemes to a wider variety of industries. Institutes of higher learning can also work with the labour movement to help graduating students look for careers in small and medium enterprises here, he added.
Mismatches in the workforce is also a key area that the labour movement plans to focus on next year.
For a start, it will help Singaporeans take up relevant jobs in the financial, infocomm technology, engineering and manufacturing, and healthcare sectors.
Mr Tay also urged employers to be supportive of training and job redesign. “Mindsets have to change, from the hiring of mature workers to employee engagement and appreciating the future nature of work and work types,” he said.
“The challenge that confronts us this decade will be somewhat different and diverse. The ‘killer app’ is how we can, as one country and one people, stay not just ready, relevant and resilient, but have the necessary ability, agility and adaptability to navigate and ride on the ebb and flow,” Mr Tay added.
