COMMENT: Brexit, Trump, Duterte... the signals and lessons for Singapore

P N Balji

June 27, 2016

ricky l8 seconds ago

Singapore have to solve the growing unemployment problem facing Singaporeans PMETs especially the matured PMETs 40 years old and above first - taking the cue of BREXIT.

This problem has not been solved for more than 3 years already.

ricky l1 second ago

Many sectors of the Economy are done well - whether housing, medical, education, finance, economy, transport, defense, home affairs etc ---- but this unemployment problem facing Singaporeans PMETs especially the matured PMETs 40 years old and above - seems to have no solutions even after 2 elections.

ricky l11 seconds ago

Rightfully there should be 3 approaches to solve this unemployment problem facing Singaporeans PMETs especially the matured PMETs 40 years old and above.

(1) Short-term measure - a quick fix to alleviate the unemployment problems faced by the PMETs.

(2) Medium-term measure

(3) Long-term measure

Since no jobless handout are given or insurance for unemployment are in place to help to provide relief to unemployed PMETs and workers.

Short-term contract contract jobs (1-year contract) can be with:-

(1) Respective Ministries, Statutories Boards, Organ of States

(2) Government-linked companies

(3) Private companies who want to join this scheme

Attempt should be made to cover every sectors of the Economy so that as many unemployed PMETs will be able to utilise their skills to contribute to the Economy.

The organisations that join this scheme can be entitled to the Wage Support under the Work Support Programme where such PMET is subsidised 50% of the salary per month until the contract is completed.

The contract can be 1 year contract.

The purpose of this scheme is to :-

(1) Provide temporary relief to those Singaporeans PMETs especially mature PMETs who lost their jobs for more than 6 months even though they have been actively looking for jobs but have difficulty finding jobs.

(2) As there are no job loss relief or handout, this scheme will allow unemployed PMETs to temporary land a job to tide sustain their living and support their families.

The 1 year contract job will at least help the unemployed PMETs to earn sufficient income to at least tie them over for 2 years.

This will be a more pragmatic approach of providing tangible help to unemployed Singaporean PMETs - as there are no job loss handout to help this group of unemployed PMETs - while waiting for the Economic Restructuring to settle down and the Economy to turn more favorable so that this group of unemployed Singaporean PMETs can rejoin the Economy with a permanent job.

This is more Compassionate and Pragmatic approach to temporary provide relief to solve the unemployed Singaporean PMETs problem.