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Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Over 1,000 job seekers can start earning points to qualify for payouts
More than 1,000 applicants have already been approved, noted WSG, without revealing the total number of applications. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE Over 1,000 job seekers can start earning points to qualify for payouts SINGAPORE – There has been a solid take-up rate for the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support (JS) scheme launched on April 15. More than 1,000 applicants have already been approved, noted Workforce Singapore (WSG), without revealing the total number of applications. The resident unemployment rate came in at 2.9 per cent in the first quarter, up slightly from 2.8 per cent in December 2024. Successful applicants in the scheme can receive up to $1,500 in the first month, $1,250 in the second, $1,000 in the third and then $750 a month for the remaining three months. The payouts are capped at a job seeker's past average gross monthly income. So if the person earned an average of $900 a month, the monthly payout under the scheme will not exceed that amount. Applicants must earn at least 10 points a month for the first three months and five points a month for the next three months to remain in the scheme, which is open to lower- and middle-income adult Singaporeans who have lost jobs their due to retrenchment, business closure, illness or other reasons beyond their control. Points can be earned by completing some of these activities: Plan a career path using WSG's CareersFinder tool Browse or subscribe to career-related content Update resume online Attend a career coaching session or a career-related event, workshop or seminar Network with an industry professional Complete a skills and training advisory or attend the SkillsFuture Advice workshop Points for each activity differ, with those requiring more time and commitment worth more. Proper documents needed Applicants must submit documentation showing they were involuntarily unemployed by their previous company, said WSG. Job seekers from age 21 who have been unemployed for at least one month from the last day of employment can apply. They must also have been employed in Singapore for at least six months in the past 12 months, but a one-off concession is given to those who lost their jobs on or after April 1, 2024 – if they meet all other criteria and submit their applications by June 15. They must also have earned $5,000 or less a month on average for the duration of their previous employment within the last 12 months. They cannot live in a property with an annual value of more than $31,000. The annual value of a property is the estimated gross annual rent if it were to be rented out. 'This could be in the form of formal termination letters or e-mail exchanges (showing) the ending of employment was initiated by the employer,' said a WSG spokesperson. Resignation letters, payslips or a Central Provident Fund transaction history without supporting evidence of involuntary unemployment are 'insufficient' for approval. Employers are encouraged to provide valid correspondence to former employees and to respond promptly to WSG requests for clarifications when receiving applications from job seekers. Ms Syikin (not her real name), is participating in the scheme. She has been undertaking job search activities and racked up 10 points in the first month by attending career events for networking purposes and exploring job opportunities. She is now waiting for a payout of up to $1,500. Ms Dyana Nusantry Jumadi, a successful applicant who had started attending career coaching sessions with a WSG coach, has just secured a job at a built environment company. When she was retrenched in July 2024, she began to apply for a new job, but to no avail. She took on several Workforce Skills Qualifications courses to upgrade herself and was referred to NTUC's e2i's career coach by her social worker in February 2025 before applying to the JS scheme in April. While she has started completing job search activities and clocking points, she was not eligible for the payout as she had already landed a job. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
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CNA
18-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Work It - Retrenched? Here's how the new jobs support scheme can help you
Work It Play The recently launched SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme aims to help those who have been retrenched with tiered monthly cash payments. Lynn Ng, assistant chief executive of Workforce Singapore, explains how to tap into scheme.
CNA
18-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Work It Podcast: Retrenched? Here's how the new jobs support scheme can help you
The recently launched SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme aims to help those who have been retrenched with tiered monthly cash payments. Lynn Ng, assistant chief executive of Workforce Singapore, explains how to tap into the scheme. Here's an excerpt from the conversation: Gerald Tan, host: One of the things that I often face when I share about the (SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support) Scheme with our podcast guests, (they will) say: 'I don't qualify because my salary is beyond that S$5,000 mark.' But I know of some other people who said: 'You know what? I feel like I've been involuntarily let go, but it was not official.' They were maybe asked to quit, or were told of the (retrenchment), and then they were given the option to resign on their own because they said that the company is not doing well ... And then they did that, (but) they don't have that official retrenchment letter per se. So for these groups of people, would there be a possibility that the scheme could include such cases in future or even now? Lynn Ng, assistant chief executive of Workforce Singapore (WSG): So Gerald has pointed out a very key implementation issue that we face as well, which is that some individuals are unable to show proof that they have been involuntarily let go. For example, their contract was terminated, it was not renewed by the employer, even though the employer had promised that the contract would be renewed. So in these instances, we are very flexible in our implementation, even if there is no official letter. If there is some form of exchange, whether it's text or email, we are prepared to accept that it can just be a screenshot. It doesn't always have to be an official letter. It can also be a conversation that they have had with the HR, which they said had taken place. And if they provide us with the details of the HR or supervisor whom they have spoken with, we could do a verification with them that it was indeed the intent of the individual to stay on, but the company could not continue to provide the employment. Yes, we would accept the individual into the scheme. So we are very flexible with it. We are fully aware that there are practical challenges and official letters are not always possible to get. But the basic requirements that we will need is some form of contact from the applicant about who we can verify the information with. Otherwise, if there's absolutely no documentation at all, we will not be able to distinguish between those who have resigned on their own and those who have resigned against their wishes.
Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Feeling stuck in your career? Join the conversation on how to level up with ST Podcasts on June 3
ST Engineering telecommunications system engineer Noel Png (centre) and Workforce Singapore senior career coach Parameswari Seenivasan (right) will chat with Headstart on Record host Tay Hong Yi about how to build a meaningful career and stay relevant amid changes in the job landscape at Rasa at Republic Plaza on June 3. ST GRAPHIC: AMIRUL KARIM Feeling stuck in your career? Join the conversation on how to level up with ST Podcasts on June 3 SINGAPORE – Is your career failing its health check? Wondering how to pivot, grow or stay ahead in a constantly changing world? Join a discussion and learn practical strategies on how to build a meaningful and rewarding career during the upcoming ST Podcasts Live event on June 3, at Raffles Place's new hangout space Rasa. Titled 'How to build a career for the ages', the dialogue is part of The Straits Times' Headstart On Record podcast, which aims to help young listeners level up their careers and personal finances. ST correspondent Tay Hong Yi, who co-hosts the podcast, will be speaking with Mr Noel Png, a telecommunications system engineer at ST Engineering, and Ms Parameswari Seenivasan, a senior career coach with Workforce Singapore (WSG). Having transitioned from engineering to sales before returning to engineering, Mr Png, who is in his early 30s, was able to tap his transferrable skills to manoeuvre through different industries in a strategic manner and eventually find his purpose. He also has experience working in Europe, spending four years there before returning to Singapore in 2024 . Meanwhile, Ms Seenivasan brings with her more than 15 years of career coaching expertise, and she believes in helping individuals align their career choices with their personal values and long-term objectives. The Headstart On Record podcast airs every first and third Monday of the month. The live recording on June 3 is organised in partnership with WSG in support of Career Health, a SkillsFuture initiative that aims to empower Singaporeans to develop resilient and fulfilling careers. The ST Podcasts Live recording on June 3 will take place at Rasa at Republic Plaza. PHOTO: MARTIN YEOH Following that dialogue, a second podcast recording will take place. The Music Lab podcast will be hosted by ST music correspondent Eddino Abdul Hadi, who will be interviewing award-winning music director and producer Evan Low on how he built a music career in Singapore, scoring big projects such as composing National Day Parade songs and touring with regional stars. The audience will be able to pose their burning questions to the panellists during the question-and-answer session after each podcast. Those who are interested in attending the podcast discussions can sign up at The first ST Podcasts Live event took place on Feb 12 at social impact hub The Foundry, kicking off The Straits Times' 180th-year celebrations. This was followed by the second podcast event on April 15 at The Projector, with about 100 people attending the recording. ST Podcasts Live at Rasa Where: Rasa, 9 Raffles Place, Republic Plaza Tower 1, #02-01/02, Singapore 048619 When: 6.30pm to 9pm on June 3, 2025 Topics: (Headstart On Record podcast) How to build a career for the ages; (Music Lab podcast) How I make a living out of music – interview with Evan Low How to sign up:
