Low-wage workers encouraged to upgrade skills through training to boost employability

New amount applies to CPF members who turn 55 between 1 July 2010 & 30 June 2011

English proficiency now a requirement for skilled levy status

A large majority of employees in Singapore were working in establishments that have adopted some form of flexible wage system.

MOM's services to be consolidated under one roof to raise service excellence

Under the three-year Workfare Training Support (WTS) scheme, low wage workers can enjoy higher course fee funding...

Robust economic recovery strengthens labour market

Minister for Manpower Mr Gan Kim Yong has announced that Singapore will ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Tripartite Consultation

Inspections part of nation-wide blitz to address Work at Height safety lapses

The annual tripartite International Labour Conference (ILC) held from 2 -18 June 2010 was attended by government, worker and employer representatives...

 Recommends productivity growth to lead wage increases; tripartite partners urged to work together closely to raise productivity and enhance competitiveness

Singapore's Minister for Manpower, Mr Gan Kim Yong, will lead a tripartite delegation to attend the 99th Session of the International Labour Conference

Supervisor jailed for four weeks for failing to brief worker and causing his death

The final Tripartite Guidelines for Re-employment of Older Employees has been announced by the Minister for Manpower.

Ministerial, tripartite council to galvanise the nation to improve national productivity, encourage skills upgrading and develop a comprehensive system for continuing education and training

Levy rates & tiers for S Pass and Work Permit to be increased gradually between July 2010 and July 2012.

From 19 February 2010, all factories will use the new Workplace Number for all factory licence transactions with MOM.

 MOM releases the 2010 edition of the Career Compass, the career guide for students.

As a follow-up to the new Factory Notification Scheme which was launched for the lower risk factories on 1 November 2008

Majority of establishments keep workers beyond the age of 62

10-year plans to imporve Construction and Marine WSH standards was launched...

To ensure that WSH Officers are competent in discharging their duties

WSH Council calls on industry to take timely re-look at impact of WSH practices on business productivity

Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) Training Enhances Job Mobility

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) conducted nearly 1,000 surprise worksite inspections under "Operation Sky Hawk II"

The Government has accepted the National Wages Council (NWC)'s wage recommendations for 2010/2011.

National Wages Council (NWC) Guidelines 2010/2011

Singapore's Manpower Minister to Attend 21st Asean Labour Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi

The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is conducting the comprehensive Labour Force Survey

The Service Literacy Test (SLT) for Work Permit Holders (WPHs) in the Hotel, Retail and F&B industries will begin on 3 May 2010.

Employer CPF contribution rate to go up by 1% to help workers build up retirement savings

Employment continued to grow strongly

The Ministry of Manpower, Singapore, is hosting the ASEAN Workshop on Eliminating Recruitment Malpractices

Redundancies fell from the record high in the first quarter of 2009

The Minister for Manpower has appointed 18 members or "champions" to the Workplace Safety and Health

11 Specified Public Holidays for 2011.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has charged an individual  in court for operating as an unlicensed employment agent.

Four workers have been prosecuted and convicted over the past six months for making fraudulent claims under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA).

Hospitals in Singapore are looking to recruit overseas medical students ahead of their graduation...

Singapore’s labour chief has urged employers to consider restoring their portion of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions...

Chances for fresh grads for landing a job have improved tremendously as companies ramp up hiring this year..

Refinements of workfare payment to low wage workers announced by Ministry of Manpower..

Salary increase for social workers...

Fund for construction industry that would help increase its productivity.

Singapore tackles population challenge, reviewed its process of granting permanent residency and citizenship..

Manpower Ministry topped the most number of subjects for discussion on Ministries’ Budgets. 

Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will work with agencies and voluntary welfare organisations to provide customised training for the disabled.

The maid levy for families with elderly folk will not be reduced or waived in the near future..

Better system, they said, would need two crucial elements — continuous education and company—specific training.

MOM released details on the planned increases in S Pass and Work Permit worker levy rates announced in the 2010 Budget.

Singapore Government will continue to work closely with its tripartite partners to upgrade the skills of older workers.

Increase in Foreign Worker Levy in nursing homes mean higher operating cost.

A convenient one-stop centre for pass holders

Labour market shows encouraging signs of turnaround – Employment up, redundancies down with more job openings

New Code of Practice for Working Safely at Height released to help industry implement Fall Protection Plans at workplaces

Majority of employers polled see increase in organisational and staff performance with training

Aimed at preparing businesses and employees for re-employment legislation come 2012

Seven employers were charged in the Subordinate Courts this week. Five were charged for failing to provide their workers with the statutory benefits under the Employment Act (EA).

Total Employment Up With Slight Rise in Unemployment

MOM & WSHC outline two-pronged approach to tackle standards in areas of concern

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has so far revoked the licences of 11 employment agencies (EAs) in this year.

35 fines and warning letters issued in total

Change in Security Bond Conditions; Higher Cover for Medical Costs

London Business School conducting its flagship programme outside London for the first time

The Ministry would like to remind the public that Deepavali this year will fall on Saturday 17 October 2009 instead of Sunday 15 November 2009.

Unemployment stabilises – fewer redundancies and more job openings

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC) have formed a National Crane Safety Taskforce to improve the safety of crane operations.

The Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Inspectorate conducted night inspections at 11 worksites over the past week.

Accenture Services Limited, India (Accenture India) has won the inaugural Asian Human Capital Award.

 The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will develop two Continuing Education and Training (CET) campuses that will serve as the key focal points for skills upgrading.

According to preliminary estimates, total employment contracted by 12,400 in the second quarter of 2009, double the losses in the first quarter (-6,200).

Three employers and an employment agent have been prosecuted for kickback offences. In the first prosecution for kickback offences, three employers

In December 2008 when Singapore's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the quarter contracted over the year by 4.2%, two in five private establishments reported that they foresaw a need to cut wages in 2009, if business conditions worsened.

In December 2008 when Singapore's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the quarter contracted over the year by 4.2%, two in five private establishments reported that they foresaw a need to cut wages in 2009, if business conditions worsened.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will open a new Employment Pass Services Centre (EPSC) to register and issue new long term pass (LTP) cards to the following groups of long term pass holders on 1 July 2009

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Manpower Minister, Gan Kim Yong, has said that the US$13.7 billion budgeted to help Singaporeans deal with the economic downturn has been money well spent.

 In line with the slowing economy, total employment fell by 6,200 in Q1 2009 – the first quarterly contraction in nearly six years as the number of workers hired was lower than the number of workers who left their jobs.

Minister for Manpower Mr Gan Kim Yong is leading a tripartite delegation to attend the 98th Session of the International Labour Conference from 12 to 16 June 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.  

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has prosecuted a foreman, two company directors, two sub-contractors and two occupiers under the Workplace Safety and Health Act.

SINGAPORE: The Manpower Ministry (MOM) recovered about S$800,000 in claims on behalf of 750 workers between January and April this year.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Benefits of Workfare seen with increase in wages Reduction in income inequality, Gini coefficient, its first decline in a decade                                                                                          

An employer was charged in the Subordinate Courts today (4 June 2009) for failure to pay the salaries of his foreign workers.

The National Wages Council (NWC) has completed its deliberations on wage and wage-related guidelines for 2009/2010.

With Singapore's GDP projected to contract between 6% to 9% this year, coupled with the increasing unemployment rate [1], the tripartite partners - the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) – have worked to release the updated Tripartite Guidelines on Managing Excess Manpower (see Annex A ).

The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is conducting the Labour Force Survey from 25 May to 31 July 2009 on a sample of 33,000 households.

Seven employers were charged in the Subordinate Courts today for violations of the Employment Act.  

The Ministry of Manpower is introducing new measures under SPUR (Skiils Programme for Upgrading and Resilience)

The World Health Organisation has raised the pandemic alert phase for the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1-2009) from Phase 4 to Phase 5, signaling that a pandemic is imminent.

Preliminary estimates show that total employment declined marginally by 1,000 in the first quarter of 2009 as the economy continued to worsen.

The tripartite partners have set up Tripartite Upturn Strategy Teams (TRUST Teams) to provide advice and assistance to companies, on how the various measures such as the Tripartite Guidelines on Managing Excess Manpower (MEM), National Wages Council (NWC) Guidelines, Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) and Jobs Credit can be implemented.

Employment Growth Remains Strong; Unemployment Up                                                                                   

At 6pm on 26 April 2009, the broken tower crane at the Ardmore II construction worksite was successfully removed after a 22-hour operation over two days.

Amidst a rapid deterioration in the economy, worker redundancies nearly doubled in 2008 from the year before.

Twenty-nine foreign workers were sentenced to two weeks imprisonment for providing false information to officers from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

The National Wages Council (NWC) chaired by Prof Lim Pin, Professor of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, will commence its deliberations on wage and wage-related guidelines for 2009/2010 in May 2009.

Three coffeeshop operators were charged in the Subordinate Court today for falsely declaring the number of local workers employed so as to inflate their foreign worker entitlement.

Joint MOM-SPF operation results in 4 people facing more than 200 charges                                                                                    

Some 420 workers (or 83%) of Raffles Contractors and Hokh Contract Services who had employment disputes with their employers have chosen to be repatriated home, after accepting a settlement offered by their employer's representatives.

Programme-based Engagement (ProBE) is a key Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) initiative by the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSHC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

FOR the banking sector, 2007 was an innocent, prosperous time when now fearful terms such as 'sub-prime', 'toxic assets' and 'banking bailout' were still obscure. Jobs were plentiful amid booming demand for financial services.

PRODDED by desperate times, 800 jobseekers flocked to the South West CDC Internship Fair on Friday, eager to land stints in industries which have been shunned by many Singaporeans.

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which need expert advice in these trying times - but cannot afford it - can now turn to the inaugural Business Advisers Programme (BAP).

MID-CAREER PMETs will be trained as social workers under a new professional conversion programme.

AT LEAST 45,000 new jobs will be up for grabs in the next two years, with many of them suitable for professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).

IN TIMES of mounting job losses, like the present, one question inevitably arises: What about the foreigners in our midst?

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), together with the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), conducted two nationwide operations on 16 foreign workers' dormitories on 10 March and 24 March 2009.

ABOUT 750 jobseekers who have applied for Marina Bay Sands' 4,500 casino jobs turned up on Wednesday for the first screening session.

SCHOOL-LEAVERS from low-income Chinese Singaporean families will be given a hand in finding their first jobs.

The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) will be releasing the first payment of the Jobs Credit scheme to eligible employers on March 31, 2009.

FACED with an increasingly tight job market, undergraduates here are lowering their expectations and saying 'yes' to unpaid internships in a bid to land a good job.

MR GILBERT Goh, laid off for 20 months in 2003, found out then how little support there was for people who lose their jobs.

A DROP in annual salary is in store for the 66,000 workers in the civil service this year, with senior officers seeing a bigger percentage fall.

IT'S a familiar story these days, from Wellington to Washington. The Federal Bureau of Investigation gets more than 270,000 applicants for its 3,000 job openings.

THE Jobs Credit scheme rolled out in the recent Budget has drawn a strong positive reaction from trade associations surveyed by Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI).

BUCKING the trend in other industries, recruitment in Asia's biomedical science sector remains strong despite the economic downturn, says recruitment firm ScienTec Consulting.

The Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) investigations into the chemical spillage at Chemic Industries Pte Ltd (Chemic Industries) on 27 Feb 2009 have revealed preliminary findings on how the incident happened, and important points for the industry to ensure the safe handling of hazardous chemicals

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is prosecuting Loke Siew Fai (Director, Tipper Corp Pte Ltd) and Paul Lee Chiang Theng (Director, Gates Offshore Pte Ltd, Goldrich Venture Pte Ltd and S1 Engineering Pte Ltd) today (19 March 2009) for failing to pay the salaries of their foreign workers on time.

SINGAPOREANS, it seems, will not stand for working on their feet.                                                                                                  

GRADUATES are hurting the most among the growing pool of jobless Singapore residents battered by the economic crisis.

AS OUR money woes increase with the worsening recession, a recent survey surprisingly found that half of Singaporean workers will sacrifice pay for meaningful work - even in these tough times.

In 2008, total employment increased by 221,600 or 8.1%, driven largely by strong gains in the first half of the year.

REDUNDANCIES nearly tripled from 3,180 in the third quarter of last year to a record quarterly high of 9,410 workers in the fourth quarter as the global economic downturn worsened.

SOME came out dancing, some gave flying kisses and waved goodbye to their colleagues.                                                                      

Two others charged for similar offences                                                                                                                                   

A JOB at one of the upcoming integrated resorts (IRs) here is proving to be a really hot commodity - with both Singaporeans and foreigners.

SINGAPORE: Two men from Singapore have made it to the top 50 candidates who are shortlisted for what is touted as the "Best Job in the World". They beat more than 34,000 applicants ranging from scientists, chefs and students from around the world.

WHEN Ms Annie Yeo, 32, left home for a job fair yesterday, she had more than a good chance of securing a position with an employer.

THE Government is setting aside $125 million to implement relief measures to keep the infocomm industry growing in these bad times.

INSTEAD of dwelling on numbers, the Government would rather focus on action: ensuring that help programmes recently put in place work to minimise the downturn fallout.

WHEN organisers of a job fair at Jelutong Community Centre in Sembawang opened the doors at 9.30 am yesterday, they were greeted by a long line of waiting people.

The Government will be making the next Workfare Income Supplement (”Workfare”) payment to employees in March.

SINGAPORE: Labour chief Lim Swee Say has urged Singaporeans not to be preoccupied with forecasts of retrenchment numbers but focus instead on saving jobs. 

Ten people from 21 businesses were charged in the Subordinate Courts today (27 February 2009) for falsely declaring the number of local workers employed so as to inflate their foreign worker entitlement.

MORE unionised workers will lose their jobs in the first three months of this year than originally estimated: The number is now expected to hit 4,300.

HE didn't declare to his employer that he was a bankrupt.                                                                                                           

 THERE have been reports in the newspapers about the importance of fair hiring policies during this recession.

UNDERGRADUATE Koh Si Hui is quietly confident that she would land a job after graduating this May.

There is little room for patience, it seems.                                                                                                                                      

HUNDREDS of job-seekers descended on Ang Mo Kio MRT station yesterday, hoping to land one of the 180 jobs up for grabs at public transport company SMRT.

SINGAPORE : Singapore's labour movement plans to set up a new fund called "U Care" to help needy workers tide over the recession.

SINGAPORE : The number of job seekers at one Community Development Council (CDC) shot up by some 40 per cent in the past three months

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) are introducing a new scheme to help professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) to survive the current recession.

Retrenched and needy workers can expect more help from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), which hopes to boost its war chest to $20 million by May.

Saturday was no rest day for 5,000 people who flocked to Bedok Central to check out the over-1,000 jobs on offer.

SINGAPORE: Jobs may be scarce during the economic downturn but Singapore companies are still hiring the disabled.

WHEN employers seek foreign workers, they probably go through one of the 2,000 licensed employment agents here.

THIS recession has been rough for many professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) as they cannot readily find work.

THE criteria for semi-skilled foreign workers coming to Singapore are to be tightened in a move to improve the skills and quality of those who will be employed here.

THE pay squeeze is moving up the management ladder, with many Singapore firms intending to freeze the base wages of executives.

MOST smaller firms here are unlikely to slash jobs during the first half of this year, but are under no illusion about the scale of the slowdown, says a survey.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Malaysia's understanding of Singapore's "unwritten policy" on retrenchment of foreign workers is that Malaysians will be let off last, Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said yesterday.

IT'S a piece of advice that's all too often heard and all too often ignored: be careful when lifting heavy objects.

HUNDREDS of unemployed Singaporeans flocked to Punggol Community Club yesterday to try and snag 150 security-industry jobs on offer.

Singapore Jobs | Heard this? You are fired even before you are hired.

THE threat of terrorism is fuelling demand for the security industry here, which is why there will be job openings for more than a few good men - and women.

SINGAPORE: The Manpower Ministry is conducting a Labour Force Survey from February 23 to April 7.

PRODUCTION operator Tan Teck Eng will receive $144 in cash next month as part of a special Workfare payment to help older low-wage workers in the downturn.

AT AGE 63, administrative assistant Jenny Pow went back to school earlier this month.                                                                                 

SINGAPORE should brace itself for record highs in the unemployment rate and job losses this year, given current global trends.

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Manpower Ministry (MOM) has spelt out a three-pronged strategy to help workers and companies weather the downturn and emerge stronger.

SINGAPORE : The Manpower Ministry and its industry stakeholders are now drafting a new national plan for workplace safety and health known as WSH 2018.

SINGAPORE : Professionals who have lost their jobs in the current economic environment are being urged to consider becoming entrepreneurs.

THE Government will tighten the criteria for semi-skilled foreign workers coming to Singapore under s pass and employment pass.                                                                           

WORKERS will benefit from the Jobs Credit scheme in two ways and yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted them when he responded to its critics in Parliament.

IS IT time to take Singaporeans out of the comfort zone?

In a press statement on Singapore public holidays for 2009 released on 21 February 2008, the Ministry of Manpower announced that Deepavali would fall on 15 November 2009 (Sunday), subject to confirmation when the Indian Almanac becomes available.

SINGAPORE : Employers should adopt fair employment practices, in good times and bad.

SINGAPORE: The South East Community Development Council (South East CDC) is responding to calls for a more concerted and quicker response to tackle the problem of jobless professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs).

SINGAPORE must continue to welcome 'suitable' foreign talent, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said yesterday.

SINGAPORE: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is expecting more retrenchments in the electronics sector after the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year.

SINGAPORE: Companies in Singapore laid off 7,000 workers in the last three months of 2008, as the economy slipped deeper into recession, the government said Friday.

Employment growth slowed significantly in the fourth quarter of 2008, as the economic environment worsened.

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Community Development Councils (CDCs) have been seeing an increase in the number of people seeking job help and social assistance over the last few months.

SINGAPORE: Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced some measures to enhance the cash—flow of businesses on Thursday during his Budget Speech.

SINGAPORE: The government will introduce a Jobs Credit which will encourage businesses to preserve jobs as much as possible in the downturn, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in his Budget Speech to Parliament on Thursday.

SINGAPORE, Jan 20, 2009 (AFP) - Tiny Singapore's population is expected to decline by 200,000 as companies lay off a massive number of foreign workers during a worsening recession, Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse said.

SINGAPORE: Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has said the unemployment rate due to the current recession in Singapore could reach the levels recorded during the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and the economic downturn in 2001.

SINGAPORE: When it comes to job fairs, there are the impressive turnouts far surpassing the number of vacancies available — and then there are the humbler rates of successful job matches.

SINGAPORE: The number of workers going on shorter work weeks or temporary layoffs continues to rise.

SINGAPORE: Two non—governmental organizations (NGOs) have urged more steps be taken for foreign workers affected by the economic crisis to be adequately compensated.

Response to Media Queries on Arrests of Two Singaporeans who Staged a Protest in MOM

SINGAPORE: United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries, or UWEEI, is expecting another 2,000 to be laid off in the first quarter of this year alone. The union said that in comparison, about 2,300 workers in the unionised electronic sector lost their jobs over the whole of last year.

SINGAPORE : The Manpower Ministry (MOM) will be prosecuting Tipper Corporation for failing to pay the salaries of its workers on time.

Employers to Pay Salaries on Time; Provide Proper Accommodation and Upkeep Workers to Report Arrears Early; Allow Time for Claims Resolution

SINGAPORE: Singapore will need to develop new arrangements to help the elderly work as long as they can.

Survey shows 3 in 10 expect to retire at age 65 or older

SINGAPORE: As many as 15,000 unionised workers are now working shorter hours and work weeks since November last year.

SINGAPORE : The Manpower Ministry (MOM) has said that more retrenchments are expected at the end of the month, and it will be white-collar workers or PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) who will take the biggest hit.

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said it has resolved the employment disputes involving some 200 People's Republic of China (PRC) workers and their employers.

Between January and November 2008, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) inspected 661 premises to ensure that foreign workers are housed in acceptable conditions. Inspections conducted at 281 foreign workers' quarters within the Dengue/Chikungunya clusters and at factory premises illegally converted into dormitories found that there were overcrowding issues at these premises, which pose public health and fire safety risks. Arising from MOM's inspections, 1,370 foreign workers have since been relocated to approved accommodation1 by their employers.

SINGAPORE: The declining economic numbers are worrying, say labour leaders. And they are concerned about the severe fallout that the downturn will have on job losses this year.

SINGAPORE: The labour movement will focus on three core priorities this year to help Singapore pull through the economic crisis.

SINGAPORE: A foreign worker has been found dead in his dormitory at Tagore Lane.Police and paramedics arrived at around noon on Sunday and found the 28-year-old worker on his bed. They said Mohd Kamaluddin had chickenpox-like rash on his body.

Many employers are going beyond the basic statutory requirements to provide various family-friendly leave benefits. The use of flexible working arrangements has also increased though they are still not widely prevalent in Singapore. These are the key findings from the "Conditions of Employment, 2008" report by the Ministry of Manpower's Research and Statistics Department on the results of the Labour Market Survey conducted in mid 2008.

To help companies and workers manage the economic downturn and build stronger manpower capabilities for the recovery, Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong, together with Secretary-General Lim Swee Say of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Mr Stephen Lee, President of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), announced details of a new tripartite programme - the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR).

The National Wages Council (NWC) will reconvene in early January 2009 to review its Guidelines issued in May this year.

Labour Market Shows Signs of Softening

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has resolved the salary claims involving 48 Bangladeshi workers from San's Marine Engineering Service, Han's Marine Pte Ltd and K7 Engineering Pte Ltd.

Supported by gains in employment rate for females, the proportion of residents in employment reached another new high.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is prosecuting Sambnani Anil Pritamdas, owner of Spize - the Makan Place, for making false declarations in 15 Work Pass applications from February 2007 to March 2008.

To help companies and workers manage the economic downturn and build stronger manpower capabilities for the recovery, Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong, together with Secretary-General Lim Swee Say of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Mr Stephen Lee, President of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), announced details of a new tripartite programme - the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR).

To help companies and workers cope with the impact of the sharp economic downturn, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) together with its tripartite partners, Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) have released a revised set of Tripartite Guidelines on Managing Excess Manpower

The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is conducting the Labour Force Survey from 22 November 2008 to 7 January 2009 on a sample of 8,500 households.

Between January and November 2008, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) inspected 661 premises to ensure that foreign workers are housed in acceptable conditions.

Panel commends Singapore for good progress over past two years 

Preliminary estimates show that employment grew by 57,800 in the third quarter this year. This was lower than the gains of 71,400 in the preceding quarter and 58,600 in the third quarter of 2007.

The International Advisory Panel (IAP) for Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) will convene its second meeting on 30 - 31 October 2008. 

ASEAN Labour Ministers who are in Singapore to attend the ASEAN Human Resource Summit called on Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Istana this afternoon.

Over 700 delegates comprising 34.8% C-suite executives are attending the inaugural Singapore Human Capital Summit 2008 to discuss the latest trends, leading ideas and practices in effective people strategies for Asia.

The Ministry's Employment Pass Online (EPOL) has bagged two prestigious awards:

A study by Mercer, a leading global provider of consulting, outsourcing, and investment services, has made the following

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has prosecuted two cleaning companies – Sparkle System Cleaning Services and Sun City Maintenance Pte Ltd – and their sole proprietor and managing director respectively for failing to provide statutory employment benefits to their employees.

The Ministry of Manpower would like to remind the public that Deepavali will fall on 27 October 2008 (Monday) instead of 28 October 2008 (Tuesday).

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower, will be attending the Second Conference of the ASEM Labour and Employment Ministers in Bali, Indonesia from 13 to 15 October 2008.

In response to recent media reports of foreign workers not being given work and not receiving pay, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) would like to clarify that employers must pay the salaries of their workers, regardless of whether the workers have work, or cannot be deployed temporarily due to lack of required skills or qualifications.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has successfully conciliated the employment dispute involving 186 workers from Ssangyong Engineering & Construction Company.

From 1 Nov 2008, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will make changes to the Factory Registration system.

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower, will be attending the Second Annual Meeting of the New Champions, “Summer Davos”, in Tianjin, People's Republic of China from 26 to 28 September 2008.

Employment growth remains strong with retrenchment down but unemployment continues to rise

Time to define new ways of developing the Asian business leader

Singapore will be honouring Mr Ratan N. Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons Ltd, and Tan Sri Frank Tsao Wen-King, Senior Chairman of IMC Group, with the 2007 Honorary Citizen Award for their valuable contributions to the country.

The Government has decided to extend the qualifying date for the Baby Bonus and other measures in the enhanced Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Package to 17 Aug 2008, the date of Prime Minister Lee's announcement at the National Day Rally.

The Government has decided to extend the qualifying date for the Baby Bonus and other measures in the enhanced Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Package to 17 Aug 2008, the date of Prime Minister Lee's announcement at the National Day Rally. 

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, Minister-In-Charge of Population Issues and Chairman of the National Population Committee (NPC), announced the details of the enhanced 2008 Marriage and Parenthood (M&P) Package today.

The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower is conducting the Labour Force Survey from 22 Aug to 7 Oct 2008 on a sample of 8,500 households.

Cherie Hearts Co-Founder and Permanent Secretary of Public Service Division receive top honours together with 60 winning organisations.

Hewitt Associates Study Identifies Three Critical Talent Challenges that Organisations in Asia Need to Overcome

Hewitt Associates Study Identifies Three Critical Talent Challenges that Organisations in Asia Need to Overcome

Employment

Record High Proportion of Older Residents Working in June 2007

Singapore will introduce a new Long Term Pass (LTP) card to all foreigners residing in Singapore on Student's Pass (STP), long term visit pass, Employment Pass (EP) and Dependant's Pass as part of the Government's initiative to enhance the national security of Singapore.

Reflecting the premium on skills and knowledge, jobs requiring professional and specialised training continued to command higher salaries in 2007.

Top business leaders and human capital thought leaders to share insights on people strategies and talent management practices in Asia.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will be introducing new Work Permit1 and S Pass conditions to prohibit employers from receiving payment as consideration for employing foreign workers, and recovering employment-related costs from foreign workers.

Yeo Tian Ming Benedict, the director of International Cuisine Association of Singapore (ICAS), was convicted of 14 charges under the Employment of Foreign Workers Act (EFWA) and fined $87,360 for abetting the illegal employment of 42 foreign students.

The Government has accepted the National Wages Council (NWC)'s guidelines for 2008/2009.

The National Wages Council (NWC) has completed its deliberations on wage and wage-related guidelines for 2008/2009.

The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is conducting the mid-year Labour Force Survey from 23 May to 31 July 2008 on a sample of 33,000 households.

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower, is leading a tripartite delegation to attend the 97th Session of the International Labour Conference from 9 to 11 June 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower, will attend the 20th ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting (ALMM) in Bangkok, Thailand, from 7 - 8 May 2008.  

Employment growth remains strong; Unemployment up; Retrenchments unchanged

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is committed to ensuring that the interests and welfare of all foreign workers, including foreign domestic workers (FDWs), are safeguarded while working in Singapore.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng, officially launched the new Contact Singapore today.

In a press statement on Singapore public holidays for 2008 released on 29 March 2007, the Ministry of Manpower announced that Deepavali would fall on 28 October 2008 (Tuesday).

The Tripartite Implementation Workgroup (TIWG) has released a Tripartite Advisory on the Re-employment of Older Workers to help companies adopt re-employment early, ahead of its legislation by 2012

Two security agencies were prosecuted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for violating the Employment Act (EA).

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has prosecuted two Indian nationals, Ramasamy Alagu Pandian and his wife Alagu Pandian Latha for falsely declaring their educational qualifications in their Employment Pass (EP) applications.

Programme-based Engagement (ProBE) is a key Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) initiative by the Ministry of Manpower and the Workplace Safety and Health Advisory Committee (WSHAC).

The Government will make the second Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) payment to employees on 1 April 20081, disbursing a total of $149 million.

Another record-breaking year for job creation

Tripartite Advisory on Responsible Outsourcing Practices provides tips on ensuring workers' entitlement to basic employment terms and conditions

A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in 2007 found that more than half of the former students of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) surveyed had upgraded or were upgrading to higher qualifications within 5 to 10 years of completing their ITE course, with almost two-thirds attaining Diploma qualifications.

Jointly released by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)

Preliminary investigations into the collapse of a tower crane on 22 Feb 2008 revealed that the four anchors located at the base of the crane had failed structurally.

The dates for the eleven specified public holidays for 2009

WSHAC provides guidelines for employers and educational materials for employees

Zubaidah Bte Sanluan, employer of a foreign domestic worker (FDW), was convicted and fined $4,500 in Court on 11 February 2008 for failing to pay the salary of her FDW; and for making a false declaration to the Controller of Work Permits.Zubaidah will also be barred from employing another FDW.

The CPF LIFE Scheme will be introduced as a major new plank to assure Singaporeans of a stream of income for as long as they live.

The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower is conducting the Labour Force Survey from 22 February to 7 April 2008.

New category honours individual leadership in championing Work-Life initiatives

Employment creation hits another record high, bringing unemployment rate down to its lowest in a decade

 The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) now offers a new composite skills assessment under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system to help experienced and competent workers gain a recognised national credential of their current skills set.

Improved Job Opportunities In a Wide Range of Occupations, Providing Good Prospects for Job Seekers of All Educational Levels

From 1 February 2008, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will no longer issue Professional Visit Passes (PVP) to foreigners working in Singapore on short term assignments. 

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence, will be attending the fourth Ministerial Consultations on Overseas Employment and Contractual Labour for Countries of Origin in Asia, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from 21 to 22 January 2008. 

The Government will make the first payment of the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme on 1 Jan 2008. About 287,000 workers will receive a total of $146 million in WIS benefits, for work done in the first half of 2007.

Unemployment fell to pre-Asian crisis level

Director also convicted for hampering MOM investigations

To meet strong labour market demand

Record Employment, Higher Wages & Fewer Low-Wage Workers

The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower is conducting the Labour Force Survey from 23 Nov 2007 to 7 Jan 2008.

In line with the revision of Annual Values (AV) of properties from 1 January 2008, the AV criterion for older low-wage workers to qualify for the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme (WIS) will also be adjusted.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has prosecuted Mr Lim Meng Eng, the general manager of Starprint Production Pte Ltd, for making false declarations of salaries while applying for S Passes1.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has revoked the licences and forfeited the security deposits of three employment agencies (EA) - Ms Bushra Employment Agency, CM Manpower Centre Pte Ltd and Angel Maids Agency.

A Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) employer, Tang Cheong Kim, was convicted and fined $4,000 in Court on 6 November 2007 for failing to provide a safe working environment for her FDW.

The Government is introducing the Medisave Contribution Draw (MCD) to encourage low-income self-employed persons (SEPs) and informal workers to contribute to their Medisave accounts. 

The Strong Labour Market Performance Last Year has Continued into the First Half of this Year

The Ministry of Manpower will require employers to purchase and maintain insurance for the medical expenses of foreign workers from 1 January 2008.

Employers Continued to Achieve Tangible Benefits from Training

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has prosecuted a company and its general manager for illegal employment and illegal deployment of foreigners to the conservancy sector.

Mr Tan Pheng Hock, currently the Deputy Chairman of the WDA Board, will succeed Ms Yong Ying-I as Chairman of the Board from 1 September 2007.

The Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme was announced by the Government in February 2007 to encourage older low-wage workers to remain employed and improve their retirement adequacy.

Many significant changes to the CPF system have been announced. Today, I will reiterate and clarify changes and answer queries but more importantly, I wish to explain how the changes will help elderly Singaporeans.

The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower is conducting the Labour Force Survey from 24 August 2007 to 07 October 2007.

Petra Security Agency Pte Ltd, a security guard agency, was fined a total of $11,000 on 3 August 07 for 22 charges under the Employment Act. Another 17 charges were taken into consideration during sentencing.

The Ministry of Manpower has stepped up enforcement to deter abuse of the workmen's compensation system. This year, four workers were prosecuted for making fraudulent claims under the Workmen's Compensation Act (WCA).

Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Manpower and Education is leading a delegation to attend the International Labour Organisation Asian Regional Forum (ILO ARF) on Growth, Employment and Decent Work in Beijing, China from 13 to 15 August 2007.

Continued Record Employment Growth with Sharp Fall in Unemployment

A key finding of the Ministry's `Report on Wages in Singapore, 2006' is that jobs requiring professional and specialised training continued to command higher starting salaries in 2006.

Maint-Kleen Pte Ltd was convicted and fined a total of $7,500 in Court on 26 June 2007 for failing to provide acceptable accommodation for their foreign workers.

The Ministry of Manpower has formed a "Tripartite Committee on CPF and Work Related Benefits for Low-wage Workers" (TriCom).

The Labour Market Continues to Tighten as Demand for Manpower Rises. Employment prospects continued to strengthen, attracting more people to enter the labour market which in turn resulted in a rise in unemployment.

The last day for declaration of income to qualify for the second and final portion of the Workfare Bonus Scheme (WBS 2007), for work done in 2006, is 30 June 2007.

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence, is leading a tripartite delegation to attend the 96th Session of the International Labour Conference from 12 - 14 June 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Attesting to the importance of continual education and training, mature workers in their 40s and 50s remain employable mainly due to their relevant skills and work experience.

 The United Nations (UN) has conferred the 2007 United Nations Public Service Award for "Improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness in the Public Service" to the Singapore agencies responsible for delivering the Progress Package.

 The Government has accepted the National Wages Council (NWC)'s wage recommendations for 2007/2008.

Economic and Labour Market Performance in 2006In 2006, the economy grew strongly by 7.9%, up from 6.6% in 2005.

 The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will introduce a Work Holiday Programme (WHP) from 1 December 2007 to allow undergraduates and graduates from overseas to experience living and working in Singapore for a short period.

 The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has prosecuted a Bangladesh national, Abul Basher Md Khabiruddin for abetting the illegal employment and deployment of foreign workers.

Tripartite Committee Recommends Extensive Package of Measures to Intensify Efforts to Enhance Employability of Older Workers

 The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower is conducting the Labour Force Survey from 21 May 2007 to 31 Jul 2007. 

Driven by gains in SMEs and non-unionised establishments, wage restructuring made further progress in 2006.

With effect from 1 July 2007, the training and certification requirements for workers in the construction, ship-building and ship-repairing industries will be revised.

The Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC), together with the Austrian Business Association (ABA) welcomed the STF leaders for a luncheon and dialogue session on 4 May at the Orchard Hotel.

The TAFEP has issued the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices that identify fair and progressive HR practices in areas such as job applications, interviews, progression, grievance handling, and so forth.

The economy continued to grow at a healthy pace, generating strong employment gains in the first quarter this year. 

The re-employment prospects of retrenched residents improved to a nine-year high in 2006, amid increased job opportunities available.

Fifty-nine Ministries and Statutory Boards gathered to sign the Employers' Pledge of Fair Employment Practices on 12 April 2007.

A'Land Express Pte Ltd was convicted and fined in Court on 25 Jan 07 and 6 Mar 07, for failing to pay salaries to 7 of its workers, totaling some $26,232 in arrears. 

The National Wages Council (NWC) chaired by Prof Lim Pin, Professor of Medicine at the National University of Singapore, will commence its deliberations on wage and wage-related guidelines for 2007/2008 in mid-April 2007. 

The date, 28th October 2008, for Deepavali needs to be checked against the Indian Almanacs when they become available towards the end of 2007.

 The strong economy generated record employment gains which led to an improvement in the unemployment rate to an eight-year low in 2006. 

Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence, is visiting Vietnam from 14 to 17 March 2007.

Unique Security Services Pte Ltd, a security guard agency, was convicted and fined $27,000 on 22 February 2007 for multiple offences under the Employment Act.

Singapore will be honouring Mr Lee R. Raymond, Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon Mobil Corporation; and Dr Heinrich von Pierer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Siemens AG, with the 2006 Honorary Citizen Award for their valuable contributions to Singapore.

Benefiting from the strong economic performance, a record high proportion of the older population are in the labour force and in employment. 

MOM restructures the CPF system and institutionalises Workfare to enable all Singaporeans to benefit from economic growth

 The Manpower Research and Statistics Department of the Ministry of Manpower is conducting the Labour Force Survey from 23 Feb 2007 to 7 April 2007. 

Disregard for worker safety and health in spite of repeated warnings at two Greatearth Construction worksites has led the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to freeze its Man-Year Entitlements (MYE)1 for access to foreign construction workers.

Unemployment Rate Dropped to Pre-Asian Crisis Level Amid Continued Strong Employment Creation

Employment The strong economy continued to generate record employment gains. Preliminary estimates show that total employment grew by 48,800 in the fourth quarter of 2006, considerably higher than the gains of 35,300 in the same period a year ago, and up from 43,000 in the third quarter of 2006.

The Workfare Bonus Scheme (WBS), to be given out in two portions, was part of the Progress Package announced by the Government in 2006.

Amid the robust economic expansion over the past two years, the labour force expanded by 5.2% p.a. from June 2004 to 2.59 million in June 2006, well above the average growth of 2.5% p.a. over the decade. 

The rate of return for tertiary education tends to be higher compared to non-tertiary education.  Professional and more technical fields of study at university degree level also have higher rates of returns than less technical ones. 

"Work-Life Work$", a documentary series featuring award-winning companies and their Work-Life initiatives, will premiere this Thursday evening (11 Jan) at 8.30pm.