Singapore to give more support to unemployed PMETs: Lim Swee Say

SINGAPORE'S Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will raise its salary support caps to encourage more employers to offer Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) to mid-level workers.

Manpower minister, Lim Swee Say, told parliament during the Committee of Supply debate on Monday that MOM would raise the salary support cap to S$4,000 from S$2,000 currently. At 70 per cent wage support, the ministry will able to support mid-level jobs up to S$5,700 of salary.

Mature professionals, managers, executives and technicans (PMETs) - age 40 and above - or long-term unemployed (six months or more) will get more support, up from S$4,000 to S$6,000. At 90 per cent wage support, the government can now support mid-level jobs up to S$6,700 of salary, Mr Lim said.

The minister also unveiled enhanced support to help more PMETs affected by redundancy, especially those who are long-term unemployed.

Mature unemployed PMETs who have been actively looking for jobs will get wage support from 12 months to 18 months, and wage support of up to S$42,000 in total over 18 months.

PMETs aged 40-49 who are made redundant or unemployed for six months will get wage support doubled, up to S$25,200 over 12 months.

Career support programme will be extended to all PMETs who are unemployed for six months or more, regardless of age or whether they were laid off - this means up to S$12,600 in wage support over 12 months for younger PMETs under 40.