MOM to study NTUC-SNEF taskforce recommendations on workplace fairness and support for workers

THE government will be studying recommendations by a taskforce focusing on issues faced by professionals, managers and executives (PME) as it works towards strengthening workplace fairness and creating job opportunities for locals, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Friday (Oct 22).

The taskforce, comprising the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) had put forward 9 recommendations to protect the interests of local PMEs a day earlier.

They includes suggestions to review the employment pass (EP) application process, introducing unemployment benefits and creating more job opportunities for mature workers, among others.

One recommendation is to create a points-based system for the review of EP applications, with foreign worker access differentiated by occupations.

This follows two rounds of tightening last year, with the minimum qualifying salary for EPs raised twice in less than six months. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong then signalled during this year's National Day Rally speech that Singapore will tighten EP criteria in a gradual and progressive fashion.

Said MOM in a statement: "We have been exploring further refinements to the employment pass framework to achieve our objectives of a strong Singaporean core, complemented by a diverse foreign workforce."

In July, tripartite partners formed a committee to review the framework for workplace fairness in Singapore, and its assessment is that legislation is the next step to build on the gains made thus far.

MOM said the tripartite committee will study the taskforce's recommendations as it designs a legal framework that is balanced and in the best interests of Singapore and Singaporeans.

"The recommendations will be taken into consideration in the ongoing review of manpower policies, the workplace fairness framework and employment support initiatives," said the ministry.

In a Facebook post, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng called the recommendations "timely" as the government has rolled out several initiatives in recent months to support local workers.

"Even as employers embark on business and workforce transformation, no worker should be left behind. We will continue to work with our tripartite partners to ensure that our workers have the skills, and be in the best position to meet the changing business needs," he said.

Dr Tan noted that over 140,000 local job seekers have been placed into jobs and skills opportunities under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package as of August, while close to 400,000 locals were employed by 58,000 businesses in the first 9 months since the Jobs Growth Incentive was launched.