<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Nov 15, 2008
Handling excess manpower
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>MOM to review guidelines <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Debbie Yong
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Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong announced this on the sidelines of a Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) press meeting on Saturday. -- PHOTO: THE BUSINESS TIMES
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->WITH retrenchments likely to rise in coming months, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is reviewing its guidelines for employers on how to handle excess manpower.
A revised version is expected in the next few weeks.
Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong announced this on the sidelines of a Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) press meeting on Saturday.
He said the new guidelines will 'send a clear message to employers on the need to leverage on the tripartite framework' between the Government, employers and workers' unions, so that any retrenchment can be conducted in a 'responsible manner'.
This includes informing MOM well before a company sends out termination letters so that the Workforce Development Agency can find alternative jobs for affected employees.
Employers can also send workers to NTUC-subsidised skills training courses to better prepare retrenched staff for transition to a new job.
The guidelines will include more details about flexible wage systems and shorter work week or temporary layoff schemes that companies can adopt to trim costs rather than axe workers.
The guidelines will also encourage employers to work in consultation with their workers' unions to solicit support for any retrenchment plans.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and NTUC chief, Mr Lim Swee Say, who was at the event, agreed with Mr Gan that retrenchment should be conducted in a 'socially responsible' manner. Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.
Handling excess manpower
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>MOM to review guidelines <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Debbie Yong
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong announced this on the sidelines of a Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) press meeting on Saturday. -- PHOTO: THE BUSINESS TIMES
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->WITH retrenchments likely to rise in coming months, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is reviewing its guidelines for employers on how to handle excess manpower.
A revised version is expected in the next few weeks.
Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong announced this on the sidelines of a Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) press meeting on Saturday.
He said the new guidelines will 'send a clear message to employers on the need to leverage on the tripartite framework' between the Government, employers and workers' unions, so that any retrenchment can be conducted in a 'responsible manner'.
This includes informing MOM well before a company sends out termination letters so that the Workforce Development Agency can find alternative jobs for affected employees.
Employers can also send workers to NTUC-subsidised skills training courses to better prepare retrenched staff for transition to a new job.
The guidelines will include more details about flexible wage systems and shorter work week or temporary layoff schemes that companies can adopt to trim costs rather than axe workers.
The guidelines will also encourage employers to work in consultation with their workers' unions to solicit support for any retrenchment plans.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and NTUC chief, Mr Lim Swee Say, who was at the event, agreed with Mr Gan that retrenchment should be conducted in a 'socially responsible' manner. Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.
