• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Budget 2021: S$5.4 billion for SGUnited to support hiring of 200,000 locals, but S’pore will continue to welcome expats for skills transfer

by Aldgra F.
16/02/2021
in Business, Current Affairs, Labour, Parliament
Reading Time: 3 mins read
20
Budget 2021: S$5.4 billion for SGUnited to support hiring of 200,000 locals, but S’pore will continue to welcome expats for skills transfer

The Singapore government has allocated an additional S$5.4 billion to a second tranche of the Jobs and Skills Package to support the hiring of 200,000 locals this year, and provide up to 35,000 traineeships and training opportunities, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday (16 Feb).

In his Budget 2021 speech, Mr Heng noted that close to 76,000 people have been placed into jobs, traineeships, attachments, and skills training opportunities as of end-December last year.

Of the S$5.4 billion boosts, the bulk of S$5.2 billion will be channelled to extend the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI) up to end-September this year.

“With the extension, companies hiring eligible locals will be given up to 12 months of wage support from the month of hire, while mature workers, persons with disabilities and ex-offenders will be given more support – up to 18 months of enhanced wage support,” he noted.

Moreover, Mr Heng said that the Government will also allocate support for the extension of the SGUnited Skills, SGUnite Traineeships, and the SGUnited Mid-career Pathways Programmes up to March next year to provide workers with additional support before landing a job.

The stipend for ITE traineeship positions will be increased to a range of S$1,600 to S$1,800, from S$1,100 to S$1,500, starting from April onwards to encourage take-ups.

Additionally, the stipend for diploma traineeship positions will also be raised to a range of S$1,700 to S$2,100, and from S$1,300 to S$1,800. But the allowance for university traineeships remains unchanged.

It was also stated that the maximum duration of each traineeship will be reduced from nine to six months from 1 April this year, in line with economic recovery and to encourage employers to offer trainees full-time jobs.

Mr Heng also announced that the Government will enhance the salaries for nurses and other healthcare workers.

He noted that this will apply to workers across public healthcare institutions and publicly-funded community hospitals and long-term care service providers, adding that more details will be revealed at the Health Ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

Singapore government welcomes expats because there are certain sectors where Singaporeans may be “short of skills”

While the Minister acknowledged Singaporeans’ concern about the country’s reliance on foreign labour, he pointed out that businesses and trade associations have also expressed difficulties in hiring locals and have requested migrant worker quotas not be further tightened.

“The way forward is neither to have few or no foreign workers, nor to have a big inflow. We have to accept what this little island can accommodate,” he remarked.

To address this, the Wage Credit Scheme (WCS) – initially announced in Budget 2013, extended in Budget 2015 and Budget 2018 – will be extended for another year to help employers co-fund 15 per cent of wage increases given to local staff.

Mr Heng added that the Government will also extend the Capability Transfer Programme (CTP), which supports foreign-to-local skills transfer, until end-September 2024.

He explained that the Government “welcomes expatriates with the right expertise to complement Singaporeans”, and extended the CTP because there are certain sectors where Singaporeans may be “short of skills”.

“This will allow us to add vibrancy to the local market, better serve international and regional markets, and enhance Singapore’s attractiveness to global investors,” said the Minister.

Mr Heng highlighted that more than 140 companies and over 970 locals have either benefitted or are expected to benefit from the 40 projects as of the end of last year.

Meanwhile, the Sub-Dependency Ratio Ceiling (sub-DRC) – the proportion of S Pass holders that a company can employ – for the manufacturing industry will be reduced to 18 per cent in 2022, and then decreased to 15 per cent in 2023.

“To achieve our vision of being a global advanced manufacturing hub, firms must make it a priority to develop a strong, highly-skilled local core in their workforce.

“We cannot do without foreign workers, especially those with deep skills, but we should moderate further our reliance on them, so as to focus on creating good jobs on locals,” said Mr Heng.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.
Tags: Budget 2021Heng Swee Keat

Related Posts

Comments

Netizens slam DPM Heng Swee Keat for blaming S’poreans wanting to be “bubble wrapped”, say they seek balance for local workforce

14/08/2021
Parliamentary questions for 10 May 2021
Finance

Foreigners contributed approximately 32% in personal income tax per year while 50% of workers do not earn enough to pay taxes

11/05/2021
NCMP Leong Mun Wai urges for clearer view of Singapore’s fiscal revenue during exchange with DPM Heng in Parliament
Parliament

NCMP Leong Mun Wai urges for clearer view of Singapore’s fiscal revenue during exchange with DPM Heng in Parliament

11/05/2021
Business

Around one-third of govt contracts for legal services awarded to small and medium-sized firms over the past five years: DPM Heng

11/05/2021
DPM Heng Swee Keat asks for feedback on making Changi Point more “vibrant”; netizens prefer it to be untouched
Comments

DPM Heng Swee Keat asks for feedback on making Changi Point more “vibrant”; netizens prefer it to be untouched

19/04/2021
Opinion

Mr Heng cites his age for resigning while PAP Govt raised retirement age for people to work older

12/04/2021
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
20 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

03/02/2023
Minister Tan See Leng only reveals 500 intra-corporate transferees from India for last year – a Covid year

Increasing number of working Permanent Residents in Singapore but with a stable PR population

03/02/2023

A multi-party parliament is the only way to make sure that Singapore continues to not condone or tolerate corruption

03/02/2023
Anwar criticised over appointing own daughter as his senior advisor

Anwar criticised over appointing own daughter as his senior advisor

03/02/2023
Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

02/02/2023

The Keppel bribery scandal tests Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption

02/02/2023
Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

02/02/2023
US businesses ‘fear internet curbs in Hong Kong’

Hong Kong offers free flights after COVID isolation

02/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
36

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

by Leong Szehian
28/01/2023
69

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
39

...

February 2021
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
« Jan   Mar »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz