Singapore proposes more support for ‘professional’ workers

The task force made nine recommendations to address PMEs’ concerns around job security, skills and training. They include to launch a framework to support unemployed PMEs, to improve workplace fairness and to differentiate access by foreign workers to occupations where there are sufficient local workers.

Mayumi Soh of Pinsent Masons MPillay, the Singapore joint law venture between MPillay and Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law, said: “It will be interesting to see if the recommendations will be accepted by the government and if so, how exactly they will be implemented. The Employment Pass application framework has also been updated a number of times in recent years, and employers should keep an eye out to see how the proposed changes to the EP application review process will affect their business.”

The task force suggests improving workplace fairness via improving HR standards and strengthening enforcement against companies that adopt unfair practices.

A support framework should be introduced to provide supplementary income relief and assistance to PMEs who are involuntarily unemployed. Older PMEs in their 40s to 60s, who may find it more difficult to return to the workplace, should be provided skills training and mentoring opportunities, and their employers should get short term salary support.

The task force also called for a tripartite work group to be set up to assess the feasibility, conditions and size of the proposed unemployment support.

The recommendations were made by Singapore’s PME Taskforce (PME TF), which was set up by the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF). The PME TF carried out consultations with 10,000 workers and business leaders when developing its proposals.