Retraining might not be best option
I REFER to the Government's advocacy of skills upgrading for the unemployed so that they can find jobs.
As Singapore prepares itself for more layoffs in the coming year, I wonder if asking the jobless to go for retraining is really the best solution.
Recently, I met some friends who had eagerly attended retraining programmes, only to realise after receiving their certification that there were no employers willing to hire them.
Their hope gave way to utter disappointment.
By financing such training courses - which do not come cheap - the Government may be throwing away money if participants of these programmes are unable to seek gainful employment after going through such courses.
Those who have undergone skills upgrading will be devastated when they know that there are no jobs waiting for them after having spent time and effort being retrained.
Skills upgrading will be effective only if there is ready employment for newly-trained workers.
But in a downturn, job creation will be minimal and employers have the luxury of choice.
Therefore retraining, though a viable option previously, may not be the answer in this economic crisis.
There might be a need for fresh ideas now.
The Government may want to explore other ways to keep the jobless meaningfully engaged.
In Japan, during the last recession, retrenched middle aged workers were employed on a part-time basis to provide job-search advice over the phone to those looking for help.
Not only were they gainfully employed, but they could also reach out effectively to those who were unemployed as they themselves had been in the same situation.
The Government has been using skills upgrading as a means of engaging the jobless in the previous few recessions.
It remains to be seen how effective this method will be in helping the jobless find employment in this current crisis.
Holding a certificate that can't get them a job is the last thing breadwinners want during these times.
Mr Gilbert Goh Keow Wah
Sydney, Australia
I REFER to the Government's advocacy of skills upgrading for the unemployed so that they can find jobs.
As Singapore prepares itself for more layoffs in the coming year, I wonder if asking the jobless to go for retraining is really the best solution.
Recently, I met some friends who had eagerly attended retraining programmes, only to realise after receiving their certification that there were no employers willing to hire them.
Their hope gave way to utter disappointment.
By financing such training courses - which do not come cheap - the Government may be throwing away money if participants of these programmes are unable to seek gainful employment after going through such courses.
Those who have undergone skills upgrading will be devastated when they know that there are no jobs waiting for them after having spent time and effort being retrained.
Skills upgrading will be effective only if there is ready employment for newly-trained workers.
But in a downturn, job creation will be minimal and employers have the luxury of choice.
Therefore retraining, though a viable option previously, may not be the answer in this economic crisis.
There might be a need for fresh ideas now.
The Government may want to explore other ways to keep the jobless meaningfully engaged.
In Japan, during the last recession, retrenched middle aged workers were employed on a part-time basis to provide job-search advice over the phone to those looking for help.
Not only were they gainfully employed, but they could also reach out effectively to those who were unemployed as they themselves had been in the same situation.
The Government has been using skills upgrading as a means of engaging the jobless in the previous few recessions.
It remains to be seen how effective this method will be in helping the jobless find employment in this current crisis.
Holding a certificate that can't get them a job is the last thing breadwinners want during these times.
Mr Gilbert Goh Keow Wah
Sydney, Australia
