MOM: Helping displaced Singaporeans find jobs “topmost priority”

Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo announced that her “topmost priority” is to help displaced Singaporeans find employment.

Teo, who will be speaking at the HR Tech Festival Asia Online 2020 from September 29 to October 1, said that with the COVID-19 outbreak – particularly in the foreign workers’ dormitories – stabilising, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will refocus their attention on creating jobs by working with the National Jobs’ Council.

“When COVID-19 hit, much of MOM’s bandwidth was taken up to help keep out imported cases and to minimise fatalities. Ever since the situation at the dormitories moved into recovery phase, we have been redoubling our efforts on jobs, with fairness as a theme,” she said in a Facebook post on July 25 after remaining as Singapore’s manpower minister following the reshuffling of the government cabinet line-up.

“My topmost priority is to help displaced Singaporeans get back to work. Whether they are middle-aged jobseekers, fresh graduates or freelancers – everyone deserves a fair chance to move into new roles or take up meaningful company-attachments until the economy recovers. We work through the National Jobs Council to get employers’ support,” she added.

READ: Singapore employers to receive S$4 billion to pay wages

Besides helping Singaporeans find jobs, Teo expressed her commitment to ensuring essential workers get “fair opportunities” to progress.

“Another key priority is to continue to uplift our essential workers. They deserve fair opportunities to progress. Ever since I was in the NTUC, the tripartite partners have been doing much more than the bare minimum to support these brothers and sisters. We will not let up,” she said.

Teo will be joined by Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State with MOM, at the HR Tech Festival Asia Online 2020.

Join us at the HR Tech Festival Asia Online 2020 from September 29 to October 1 for more in-depth discussions and exclusive insights from over 70 of the world’s leading HR thought-leaders as we navigate this new world of work together.

Year 2020 is an exceptional year and to show solidarity with the HR community, the organisers, HRM Asia are offering all HR professionals complimentary access to HR Tech Festival Asia Online this year. The road ahead in the new norm will be challenging. So, spread the word and let’s band together at HR Tech Festival Asia Online 2020.

As seats are limited, reserve your free access pass today, and visit the website for more information, the latest agenda, as well as updates on speakers and exhibitors.