Manpower minister urges employers & workers to stay flexible, positive

Stay positive, stay flexible and stay together – that’s how Singapore’s government, labour movement and employers’ federation will weather the global economic downturn.

The annual dialogue brought together key players from Singapore’s tripartite partnership.

One participant said he had no need to send his workers to the national skills upgrading scheme, SPUR, and asked if the subsidies for workers could be turned into additional Jobs Credits instead.

The labour chief, however, replied that SPUR subsidies were not an entitlement for companies.

Secretary-General of NTUC, Lim Swee Say, said: “NTUC will object because you know why? Because if MOM were to suggest that employers can either use SPUR for training or to reduce the payroll, then many employers are going to say, ‘All my workers are 100% trained’.”

One participant said recent talk of a recovery has prompted some to consider leaving their jobs for greener pastures. However, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong urged a rethink.

He said: “If you have a reasonably good job, hold on to it and opportunities will come, rather than to resign and then try to look for a job and three months later, you may find that you’re back to square one.”

Mr Gan added that the recession was not yet over and workers should remain realistic.

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