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SINGAPORE: More than 650 companies in the retail sector have offered about 3,600 opportunities from April to the end of September under the SG United Jobs and Skills program, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in its latest work situation report on Monday ( October 12 ° ).
These include jobs, internships organized by companies and adjuncts, as well as training opportunities.
About 70 percent of the opportunities offered were for jobs, MOM said, adding that 40 percent of the jobs were professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs) roles such as sales, marketing, and business development managers, retail and wholesale. commercial sales and marketing managers and executives.
The remaining 60 percent of the jobs were non-PMET roles, such as shop and retail salespeople.
“These are needed to meet the immediate manpower needs for customer service operations when retail stores resumed after the circuit breaker,” MOM said.
Many retail stores closed during the circuit breaker as part of the measures put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
(Table: Ministry of Manpower)
READ: COVID-19: 24,000 jobs offered, job accessories under SGUnited package between March and July
The “top roles” in the retail sector can demand salaries ranging from S $ 1,400 in
the lower limit of the salary range for non-PMET roles, at S $ 6,500 at the upper end of
salary range for PMET roles, the Human Resources Ministry said.
(Table: Ministry of Manpower)
These figures were released as part of a series of updates on the labor market.
Between April and September, 770 people were granted company-organized jobs, enhanced roles, internships and adjuncts, as well as training opportunities in the retail sector, with 700 finding jobs or retaining their jobs in new or improved roles within retail. .
A total of 70 job seekers have signed up for company-organized internships and adjuncts since June 1.
READ: COVID-19: Changing careers is challenging for some job seekers despite opportunities
IMPROVEMENT OF THE SKILLS OF THOSE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT
In September, Workforce Singapore (WSG) reached out to some 13,600 job seekers through walk-in interviews, professional workshops and seminars, as well as SGUnited job and skills information kiosks and the SGUnited jobs and skills series.
“To increase the number of successful matches with opportunities in the retail sector, employers and job seekers can take advantage of various government initiatives to close
skills gaps, “said MOM.
These initiatives include the Career Conversion Program (PCP), the P-Max Program and Career Test, and the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package.
For example, given the increasing demand for digital professionals in the industry, employers who hire people in the middle of their career can participate in the six-month PCP for digital professionals. Job applicants less familiar with customer-facing roles can also participate in the PCP for Retail Professionals.
READ: Nearly 6,700 food sector opportunities offered since April amid COVID-19 pandemic: MOM
As of the end of August, more than 550 existing workers at 37 retailers have been, or are being, trained and reassigned to new or higher-value jobs through WSG’s Job Redesign Rehabilitation Program.
This program was implemented in October 2019 and supports “retail redesign and business transformation efforts,” MOM said, adding that it was enhanced in February this year to “address changing market conditions due to COVID-19. “.
“This initiative has helped moderate staff reductions while helping retailers retain experienced staff,” the ministry said.
Of these 550 workers, 40 percent of them will receive a promised salary increase from employers after completing the training, and employers have committed to reviewing the salaries of the remaining 60 percent once the COVID situation has stabilized. -19.
READ: 33,100 job applicants placed in jobs, internships and training opportunities under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package
SUPPORTING THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE ELDERLY
Nearly one in three people employed in retail is 55 or older, making it “one of the top industries employing older workers,” MOM said.
“To promote senior-friendly human resource practices, financial support of uap to S $ 375,000 is available from each employer through the Early Re-employment Grant for Senior Workers and the Part-Time Re-Employment Grant,” the ministry added. .
Image: Ministry of Manpower
The grants were introduced as part of the S $ 1.3 billion support package for older workers. Applications for the grants opened on July 1.
In the first three months of applications, nearly 650 companies and 440 companies applied for the Early Adoption Grant for Senior Workers and the Part-Time Reemployment Grant, respectively.
Almost all were small or medium-sized companies, including those in the retail sector, MOM said. These companies employ about 37,000 employees.
Meanwhile, the tripartite partners have updated the Tripartite Guidelines on the Reemployment of Older Employees, which was first published in 2011.
The new guidelines include guidance for employers on rehiring older part-time workers, encouraging employers to raise their internal retirement and re-employment age above legal requirements, as well as taking a “forward-looking approach” to guide the employees. in their professional development.
“Employers are encouraged to embark on job redesign to effect organization-wide and system-level changes and to build more senior-friendly workplaces to increase the number of older workers. they can do their jobs effectively, “said MOM.
The guidelines will also advise employers on how they can restructure medical benefits to be more sustainable.
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