Job security is about staying employable
- Claire Lee
Having job security means being employable, and not just staying employed in the same job, said Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat as part of the Budget debate on Friday.
“To help workers capture these opportunities and enjoy the fruits of growth, we have moved into helping workers get into growth areas, and equipping them with skills to secure sustainable livelihoods,” he said, according to The Straits Times.
“Our immediate priority is to build upon the skills and experience that workers have accumulated, while breaking down barriers so that they can access new jobs,” he added.
The government will continue to support job seekers in their career through the extension of the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package.
It is also partnering market leaders to conduct quality training. SkillsFuture Singapore, for instance, is working with firms like Siemens, Google, and Boston Consulting Group to offer SGUnited MidCareer Pathways programmes in advanced manufacturing, infocomm technology, and professional services.
READ: Singapore MP proposes formalising labour laws to protect locals
The minister added that so far, over 188,000 Singaporeans have used their SkillsFuture Credit in 2020, a 21% increase from 2019.
In 2020, 3,400 businesses sent employees for courses supported under the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit, while some 250 enterprises benefited from partnerships with SkillsFuture anchor companies to improve their workers’ skills development, he noted.
