Committee of Supply highlights 2019

Walking the tech journey with you

Technology also creates new jobs that are potentially of better quality

• Ramping up help for jobseekers to take up new jobs in growth sectors.
  • Launch new PCPs such as in Embedded Software and Prefabrication.
  • Enhance Career Trial to include part-time jobs to also benefit jobseekers who may have care-giving responsibilities.

Supporting businesses’ manpower needs

• New employer features through MyCareersFuture (e.g. view job applicants sorted by job fit, recommend suitable talent).

Strengthening support for Self-Employed Persons (SEPs)

• Help SEPs mitigate loss of income due to prolonged illness or injury.
  • Raise awareness of taxi and private hire drivers on importance of having prolonged medical leave insurance coverage.
• Helping SEPs save more regularly for healthcare and retirement needs through a ”contribute-as-you-earn“ (CAYE) model.
  • Government, as the service-buyer, to pilot CAYE from first quarter of 2020.

Supporting senior employment

Supporting older workers who wish to continue working

• Tripartite Workgroup on Older Workers (TWG-OW) reaffirmed the value of Retirement Age (RA) and Re-Employment Age (REA).
  • There is scope to raise RA and REA with Singaporeans living longer, and in good health. CPF Payout Eligibility Age remains at 65.
  • Further study needed on CPF contribution rates for older workers.
  • TWG-OW to submit final recommendations by end 2019.

Better care and assurance for workers

Building progressive workplaces

• Promote adoption of Tripartite Standard on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs).
  • Increase Work-Life Grant budget to a total of $100 million and extend application period to until June 2022.
  • Support companies in implementing job-sharing by developing a job-sharing implementation guide for employers. Guide will be launched by the first half of 2019.
• Facilitate integration of Persons with Special Needs into the workforce.
• TAFEP as a resource centre for managing workplace harassment.

Factsheet on Workplace Harassment @ TAFEP

Maintaining effectiveness of Dependency Ratio Ceiling controls in view of rising local wages

• The Local Qualifying Salary threshold, which determines the number of locals that count towards a firm’s quota to hire S Pass and Work Permit holders, will be raised from $1,200 to $1,300 from 1 July 2019.

Factsheet on Foreign Workforce Policy Announcements