Programmes available for job-seekers after Covid-related temp roles: Tan See Leng
AFTER demand for Covid-19-related temporary jobs wane, the government expects most workers in these roles to return to their previous jobs, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng has said.
Noting that three in 10 workers placed in short-term Covid-19 roles were temporarily redeployed by the National Jobs Council from hard-hit sectors in the pandemic, he said that as demand recovers, these workers are expected to return to their previous roles.
But those who cannot return to their previous jobs due to reduced demand or choose not to can turn to a range of resources available to help them find suitable employment after their temporary employment in Covid-related roles, the minister said.
Citing that Workforce Singapore and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute collectively matched about 55,000 workers to other roles last year, Dr Tan assured that it is "not beyond the ability of this network to facilitate their job searches and to help them find placements in new sectors or activities where demand is rising".
In addition to the SGUnited Traineeships and Mid-Career Pathways and Skills programmes, the extended Jobs Growth Incentive and other career conversion programmes can provide "substantial wage and training support", said Dr Tan.
Responding to a supplementary question, the minister identified three growth sectors in the economy - wholesale trade, finance and infocomm - and encouraged employers to convert temporary staff to full-time roles through training opportunities.
But job-seekers should also keep an open mind about taking new opportunities and less familiar roles, said Dr Tan, adding that both employers and employees should work collectively to emerge from the pandemic in a much better position.
He noted that over 15,000 workers have been placed in public-sector or government-funded short-term roles to support Covid-19 operations such as swabbing, quarantine operations and the providing of patient services. This was carried out under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package.
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