Opinion
SkillsFuture Credit scheme may end up a disappointment

It was reported on ST yesterday (10 Jan) that DPM Tharman launched the first of series of roadshows to publicise the government’s latest scheme – the $1 billion SkillsFuture Credit scheme.
Whether it is someone new to the job market, a homemaker wanting to get back to work or a retiree looking to stay active, the SkillsFuture Credit scheme will help them get ahead, said DPM Tharman.
“SkillsFuture empowers all of us to go further,” he said.
ST also interviewed an engineering production coordinator Zulkipli Md Khalid, 51, for its news article. Mr Zulkipli was at the roadshow browsing for courses that would prepare him for a second career. He was reported saying, “Now the economy is not so stable. If anything happens to my job, I need something to fall back on.”
Let’s say Mr Zulkipli has always wanted to be a web designer and plans to start his second career as one. So he goes to take one of the SkillsFuture Credit courses provided by the People’s Association:

https://portal.wda.gov.sg/content/wda/course-search-directory.html?Area=25
Armed with this knowledge, he happily goes online to apply for a web designer job. Indeed, there are many web designer jobs which can be found on our Jobs Bank like this one, for example, the one shown below:

How likely do you think he will be able to get this job with a good pay after finishing his SkillsFuture Credit course on web design?
Do note that the main purpose of Jobs Bank is to mandate employers who want to recruit foreigners on EP to advertise on it for Singaporeans first. But it does not necessary guarantee that Singaporeans will be employed. This is explained on MOM’s website:
Before you submit Employment Pass (EP) applications, you must advertise the job vacancies on the Jobs Bank administered by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
Also, do take note that there is no quota imposed on hiring foreigners on EP currently.
So, after 6 months of non-success in trying to find his dream web designer job, Mr Zulkipli simply gives up. The next thing he may be asking himself is, what is the use of this SkillsFuture Credit Scheme?

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