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SINGAPORE – Companies will not be allowed to practice meaningless discrimination against local workers, as in the current difficult economic climate, it is “even more important” that Singaporeans have fair opportunities to find meaningful work, said the second minister of Manpower Tan See Leng on Monday (Aug 31).
Indeed, Singaporean companies are expected to do more to strengthen their Singaporean core, he added in his inaugural speech to Parliament.
He said: “We will give a stronger push to Singapore job seekers by working with companies to give more serious consideration to Singaporeans when hiring, especially those who are willing to adjust their expectations and adapt.”
At the same time, he assured companies that Singapore will not turn away global talents and investments, as skilled foreign workers allow them to remain globally competitive and provide learning opportunities for Singaporeans.
He made these points when he pledged to support two key groups of workers, young graduates and mature workers, whom he said had a “growing concentration of disconnected Singaporeans.”
Dr. Tan, who is also Second Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, spoke on the first day of the debate on the President’s speech.
The Covid-19 crisis, which he described as “undoubtedly the worst crisis in a generation,” has accelerated changes in Singapore’s economy and highlighted the need to be flexible to shift into new areas of opportunity and different ways of operating, said.
“We must always remember that our workers are the heart of our economy, and we must help our workforce to emerge stronger from this crisis,” he said, reiterating the government’s promise to help all workers, although not all jobs can be saved. .
Mature workers are “near and dear” to him, Dr. Tan said, since at 55, he too belongs to their age group. “Our mature workers in their 40s and 50s have contributed a good portion of their lives to our economy thus far.”
Most of them remain willing and can contribute to the economy for many more years, he noted.
But even before the pandemic struck, many were already concerned about the safety of their work and were adapting to the way technology has transformed their work.
Mature workers possess “a significant trove of experiential knowledge and practical wisdom that cannot be replaced or gained from academic pursuits or qualifications,” he said.
As they strive to prepare for new jobs, employers must also consider them fairly and offer them good opportunities for improvement and progression, he added.
“Meritocracy is a fundamental principle of Singaporean society and we must demonstrate it to the world by taking a stand against employers who discriminate against workers on the basis of nationality, age, gender or other factors that are irrelevant to the job.”
As for young graduates, Dr. Tan said he has received feedback that they are concerned about getting a job in today’s job market and how their career aspirations and careers may be affected.
“We are working very hard to keep our young workers engaged and inspired as they embark on their journeys into the world of work in the midst of this crisis.
“I want to assure our young Singaporeans that while they have had a difficult opening hand, I will do everything I can to ensure that their generation thrives and reaches its potential.
He also urged all job applicants, regardless of age and background, to be realistic in their expectations amid the tough economic climate and to keep an open mind about the opportunities available.
Describing the government’s support for employers, he said it is essential to develop a strong core of companies in Singapore that can grow and compete internationally.
To be successful, Singapore must find new ways to innovate and transform, he added.
“Not only incubating new ideas, but developing generations of Singaporeans who not only have transformative ideas, but also put those ideas into action and market them with strong intellectual property protection and validation from our government agencies.”
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