<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Helping PMETs get back on their feet
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Subsidised training, career counselling and job placement among schemes available to those in need </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Shuli Sudderuddin
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Mr Lim Herh Kim, 54, lost his job in a manufacturing company two months ago. He is now on the Professional Conversion Programme to prepare for a career in the tourism industry. His wife and daughter are behind him. -- PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->When the going got tough this time, one group of workers has felt the impact deeply, unlike in previous downturns.
They are the PMETs - professionals, managers, executives and technicians - many of whom have lost their jobs.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Recession with a long bottom
'At first, we thought only financial institutions were hit. Now, people see an L-shaped recession, with a long bottom.'
MR TAY KOK CHOON, country manager of recruitment website JobStreet Singapore
Keep an open mind
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>As of the third quarter of last year, 2,248 PMETs were let go, out of a total of 6,418 retrenchments, according to Ministry of Manpower (MOM) figures.
Many retrenchments came from the finance sector and manufacturing industry, particularly electronics.
PMETs number some 945,000 and make up 51 per cent of Singapore's workforce. The number has grown in the last three years because of robust economic expansion and higher educational levels.
Jobless PMETs have sought help. Some 307 did so at the South West CDC from November last year to January this year, a spokesman said, up from 120 in the same period from 2007 to 2008.
A spokesman for NTUC's e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) said it has 1,400 PMETs seeking help, with the number rising at a rate of about 400 a month.
More PMETs could join their ranks.
Mr Tay Kok Choon, country manager of recruitment website JobStreet Singapore, said: 'At first, we thought only financial institutions were hit. Now, people see an L-shaped recession, with a long bottom.'
But there is hope. For one thing, the Government has rolled out a $20.5 billion Resilience Package to tackle the downturn.
This includes $4.5 billion dedicated to preserving jobs through the Jobs Credit scheme, which gives employers a cash grant for every Singaporean or permanent resident on their CPF payroll.
Another $650 million has been set aside for the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur) to train and upgrade workers, as well as help companies manage excess manpower.
Job fairs have sprouted.
Recently, Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong launched the Creative Industries career fair which offered 350 jobs and training and apprenticeship options, many of which were suitable for PMETs.
HR experts said training is paramount in helping people re-enter the workforce or keep their jobs.
Said Ms Lynne Ng, regional director of HR company Adecco South East Asia: 'Companies are looking to retrain employees to strengthen their business competitiveness when the market rebounds. Extra training and reskilling will reduce the risk of retrenchment.'
Recently, MOM launched the Professionals Skills Programme (PSP) under Spur. It brings together initiatives like subsidised training, career counselling and job placement specifically for PMETs.
There are also skills upgrading courses for PMETs who want to boost their chances of staying in the same industry.
Said an MOM spokesman: 'The take-up rate has been encouraging. As of mid-February, about 3,700 PMETs have tapped on or will be undergoing training under PSP.
'Another 150 have attended career workshops for PMETs at the career centres at CDCs.'
Entering another line is also an option.
In January, for instance, the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) rolled out a Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) in the tourism industry.
The scheme aims to train and place mid-career professionals in jobs in growing sectors.
More than 200 PMETs attended the course previews and at least 70 applications were received for the first intake of 25 trainees.
Take the case of Mr Lim Herh Kim, 54, who was retrenched from his job as an operations manager in manufacturing in January.
He signed up for the PCP in tourism and is now attending classes and working in an apprenticeship with the Sentosa Leisure Group.
'I'm a little worried about changing my line but times are bad so it's better if I start from scratch now,' he said.
Elsewhere, there are more than 20 other programmes for occupations such as registered nurses, occupational therapists and media and digital media professionals.
WDA aims to double the programmes from more than 20 to over 40 this year.
However, some PMETs feel that while there are training opportunities, they are not necessarily available to those who are unemployed.
'I cannot afford to go for them as I'm jobless and I don't have a company to send me for one,' said Ms Adeline Gui, 34. She has been looking for a job in sales support or customer service since late last year after leaving her job in sales.
Said Mr Philippe Capsie, country manager, Manpower Singapore: 'Although the courses are subsidised, certain PMETs may still be reluctant to part with their income as there is no guarantee of job security unless the courses are sanctioned by their companies.'
A WDA spokesman said courses under the PSP are 90 per cent subsidised by the Government.
PMETs can sign up directly at more than 40 Continuing Education and Training Centres islandwide and no employer support is required.
Mr Gan's view is that PMETs should be responsible for their job security.
'Go for training, be realistic in your salary expectations, be willing to try out opportunities in other sectors,' he advised.
[email protected] A list of Professional Conversion courses can be viewed at http://app2.wda.gov.sg/web/Contents/Contents.aspx?ContId=741
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><TR>Subsidised training, career counselling and job placement among schemes available to those in need </TR><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Shuli Sudderuddin
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Mr Lim Herh Kim, 54, lost his job in a manufacturing company two months ago. He is now on the Professional Conversion Programme to prepare for a career in the tourism industry. His wife and daughter are behind him. -- PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->When the going got tough this time, one group of workers has felt the impact deeply, unlike in previous downturns.
They are the PMETs - professionals, managers, executives and technicians - many of whom have lost their jobs.
<TABLE width=200 align=left valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD class=padr8><!-- Vodcast --><!-- Background Story --><STYLE type=text/css> #related .quote {background-color:#E7F7FF; padding:8px;margin:0px 0px 5px 0px;} #related .quote .headline {font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:10px;font-weight:bold; border-bottom:3px double #007BFF; color:#036; text-transform:uppercase; padding-bottom:5px;} #related .quote .text {font-size:11px;color:#036;padding:5px 0px;} </STYLE>Recession with a long bottom
'At first, we thought only financial institutions were hit. Now, people see an L-shaped recession, with a long bottom.'
MR TAY KOK CHOON, country manager of recruitment website JobStreet Singapore
Keep an open mind
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>As of the third quarter of last year, 2,248 PMETs were let go, out of a total of 6,418 retrenchments, according to Ministry of Manpower (MOM) figures.
Many retrenchments came from the finance sector and manufacturing industry, particularly electronics.
PMETs number some 945,000 and make up 51 per cent of Singapore's workforce. The number has grown in the last three years because of robust economic expansion and higher educational levels.
Jobless PMETs have sought help. Some 307 did so at the South West CDC from November last year to January this year, a spokesman said, up from 120 in the same period from 2007 to 2008.
A spokesman for NTUC's e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) said it has 1,400 PMETs seeking help, with the number rising at a rate of about 400 a month.
More PMETs could join their ranks.
Mr Tay Kok Choon, country manager of recruitment website JobStreet Singapore, said: 'At first, we thought only financial institutions were hit. Now, people see an L-shaped recession, with a long bottom.'
But there is hope. For one thing, the Government has rolled out a $20.5 billion Resilience Package to tackle the downturn.
This includes $4.5 billion dedicated to preserving jobs through the Jobs Credit scheme, which gives employers a cash grant for every Singaporean or permanent resident on their CPF payroll.
Another $650 million has been set aside for the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur) to train and upgrade workers, as well as help companies manage excess manpower.
Job fairs have sprouted.
Recently, Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong launched the Creative Industries career fair which offered 350 jobs and training and apprenticeship options, many of which were suitable for PMETs.
HR experts said training is paramount in helping people re-enter the workforce or keep their jobs.
Said Ms Lynne Ng, regional director of HR company Adecco South East Asia: 'Companies are looking to retrain employees to strengthen their business competitiveness when the market rebounds. Extra training and reskilling will reduce the risk of retrenchment.'
Recently, MOM launched the Professionals Skills Programme (PSP) under Spur. It brings together initiatives like subsidised training, career counselling and job placement specifically for PMETs.
There are also skills upgrading courses for PMETs who want to boost their chances of staying in the same industry.
Said an MOM spokesman: 'The take-up rate has been encouraging. As of mid-February, about 3,700 PMETs have tapped on or will be undergoing training under PSP.
'Another 150 have attended career workshops for PMETs at the career centres at CDCs.'
Entering another line is also an option.
In January, for instance, the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) rolled out a Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) in the tourism industry.
The scheme aims to train and place mid-career professionals in jobs in growing sectors.
More than 200 PMETs attended the course previews and at least 70 applications were received for the first intake of 25 trainees.
Take the case of Mr Lim Herh Kim, 54, who was retrenched from his job as an operations manager in manufacturing in January.
He signed up for the PCP in tourism and is now attending classes and working in an apprenticeship with the Sentosa Leisure Group.
'I'm a little worried about changing my line but times are bad so it's better if I start from scratch now,' he said.
Elsewhere, there are more than 20 other programmes for occupations such as registered nurses, occupational therapists and media and digital media professionals.
WDA aims to double the programmes from more than 20 to over 40 this year.
However, some PMETs feel that while there are training opportunities, they are not necessarily available to those who are unemployed.
'I cannot afford to go for them as I'm jobless and I don't have a company to send me for one,' said Ms Adeline Gui, 34. She has been looking for a job in sales support or customer service since late last year after leaving her job in sales.
Said Mr Philippe Capsie, country manager, Manpower Singapore: 'Although the courses are subsidised, certain PMETs may still be reluctant to part with their income as there is no guarantee of job security unless the courses are sanctioned by their companies.'
A WDA spokesman said courses under the PSP are 90 per cent subsidised by the Government.
PMETs can sign up directly at more than 40 Continuing Education and Training Centres islandwide and no employer support is required.
Mr Gan's view is that PMETs should be responsible for their job security.
'Go for training, be realistic in your salary expectations, be willing to try out opportunities in other sectors,' he advised.
[email protected] A list of Professional Conversion courses can be viewed at http://app2.wda.gov.sg/web/Contents/Contents.aspx?ContId=741
