Budget 2023: New middlemen to serve as 'jobs-skills integrators' and provide better job matching, targeted skills training for workers
SINGAPORE — New intermediaries will soon be appointed to better connect industry players with training institutes and schools to improve job-matching for students and jobseekers, including retrenched workers.Called "jobs-skills integrators", the work of these middlemen will begin in the retail, precision engineering and wholesale trade sectors for a start, where there is a higher concentration of mature workers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The new initiative was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong during his Budget speech on Tuesday (Feb 14), where he spoke about enhancing support for displaced workers and "ensuring that training translates to good employment outcomes".
He also announced that there will be more support measures for senior workers and low-wage workers, among other vulnerable groups.
Mr Wong said that it is good to have more skills training but such training programmes can vary in quality.
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"Some lead to recognised certifications, or help workers gain specialised skills that are sought after by the industry, but others may not be so relevant to industry needs."He added that workers themselves may not know what training programmes to go for, and that employers, especially in SMEs, may also be unfamiliar with the training landscape and struggle to fit vacancies.
"There is therefore a need to develop labour market intermediaries who can work with industry, training and employment facilitation partners to optimise training and job placement," Mr Wong said.
Such integrators can be existing institutions but will have new responsibilities and outcomes to deliver.
For instance, these integrators will have to engage enterprises to understand the manpower skills gap in respective sectors, and work with training providers to update existing training programmes or develop new ones that will close the skills gap.
They also have to work closely with employment facilitation agencies, persuade industry partners and unions to be a part of the effort, and identify individuals with the right aptitude and fit for training.
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"Most importantly, they must ensure that training translates into better employment and earning prospects," Mr Wong said.He added that Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education, will give more details about the scheme during his ministry's Committee of Supply debate in Parliament.
HELP FOR VULNERABLE WORKERS
Mr Wong also laid out several measures to support vulnerable segments of the workforce such as senior workers, low-wage workers and workers with disabilities.SENIOR WORKERS
- To encourage and support employers who recognise the value senior workers have to offer, the senior employment credit will be extended from 2023 to 2025, to "continue providing wage offsets to employers who hire senior workers"
- The part-time employment grant will also be extended till 2025, which will encourage employers to offer part-time re-employment, other flexible work arrangements and structured career planning for senior workers
- To help more lower-wage workers, the Progressive Wage Model will be expanded to more sectors and occupations
- To provide transitional support to businesses adjusting to the model from 2022 to 2026, the Government will top up the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme fund by S$2.4 billion this year
- To support workers with disabilities, employers who hire such workers will benefit with the enhancement of the Enabling Employment Credit, which will cover a larger proportion of wages and a longer duration for persons with disabilities who have not been working for at least six months
- A new Uplifting Employment Credit will also be introduced in the form of a time-limited wage offset to encourage firms to hire ex-offenders
- More details about these schemes will be announced by Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, during his ministry's Committee of Supply debate in Parliament and the outcomes of these schemes will be reviewed in 2025
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Mr Wong encouraged employers and workers to "make the most of all the support that the Government in offering"."Upgrade your businesses, invest in innovation and training, reskill and upskill to stay competitive and seize new opportunities," he said.
"This is how we will continue to achieve quality growth in an economy that works for all."
