Dr Tan said the quantum of the monthly payouts is higher at the start to provide “greater peace of mind” immediately after unemployment.
“It will gradually be reduced from the second month onwards, to maintain the tempo, to maintain the incentive for jobseekers to start work earlier if they can find a good-fitting job.”
The minister said the scheme is not a social assistance scheme.
“I want to emphasise that the total payout of up to S$6,000 over a six-month period should not be viewed in isolation … The scheme itself is not a social assistance scheme, and the quantum that we’ve sized is to provide added assurance during your job search efforts,” he added.
CAN BE STACKED ON TOP OF OTHER SCHEMES
Households facing financial distress can get support from other schemes, such as ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance and Goods and Services Tax Voucher scheme.
Those who enrol in eligible full-time, long-form training programmes under the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, or company attachments under WSG’s Mid-Career Pathways Programme, may receive training allowances in addition to the jobseeker support scheme payouts, if they meet the eligibility criteria for the respective schemes.
Under the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, Singaporeans aged 40 and above can get a monthly training allowance of up to S$3,000 for up to 24 months if they enrol in selected full-time, long-form courses.
The allowance will be based on 50 per cent of the person’s average income over the latest available 12-month period.
Under the Mid-Career Pathways Programme, Singaporeans and PRs aged 40 and above can receive a training allowance of up to S$3,800 a month for the duration of an attachment lasting between four and six months.
For example, a displaced mature worker earning S$5,000 a month can be eligible for payouts under the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme and an allowance under the SkillsFuture Level-up Programme.
Over a six-month period, he would receive up to S$21,000, consisting of about S$15,000 of training allowance, and S$6,000 of jobseeker support payouts.
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said on Tuesday that the jobseeker support scheme is a “good first step” in supporting workers.
“NTUC has been advocating for unemployment support for workers for many years. Truth be told, there were disagreements in NTUC’s early negotiations with MOM,” Mr Ng said.
“We had deep discussions with MOM and we didn’t see eye-to-eye. It took us 10 years.
“I appreciate very much the government’s willingness to reset their approach and design this new policy.”
NTUC assistant secretary-general Patrick Tay, who is also a Member of Parliament for Pioneer SMC, said he has made “repeated calls in and out of parliament for the past decade for some form of unemployment support to help workers”.
“I thank Minister Tan and MOM for listening to some of NTUC’s suggestions and proposals for the scheme,” he added.
“The scheme marks a first step in the right direction to support involuntarily unemployed persons with financial support, as they would take time to bounce back from employment setbacks.”
From: channelnewsasia
Business News
