2024年9月9日，新加坡人力部长陈诗龙医生在国会答复非选区议员潘群勤、杨厝港单选区议员叶汉荣、阿裕尼集选区议员严燕松、先锋单选区议员郑德源等关于技能创前程求职援助计划（SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme）的基础和申请考虑因素。
以下内容为新加坡眼根据国会英文资料翻译整理：
议长：有请潘勤群女士。
潘勤群女士（非选区议员）：感谢部长回答我的问题。我有几个后续问题。部长表示，在这种情况下，他们决定将同样的福利扩大到永久居民和公民，并列举了一些例子，说明这两个群体也享有同样的福利。但与此同时，我们确实有区分这两个群体的计划。那么，政府如何决定哪个计划将为新加坡公民和永久居民提供相同的福利，哪些计划将有所区别？
其次，要求申请人在过去三年内不得接受过这种援助。在某些行业，变化和中断的速度更快，这些行业的工人可能比其他行业的工人更频繁地遭遇裁员。那么，部长是否也会根据具体情况考虑这个问题？
陈诗龙医生（人力部长）：我感谢潘勤群女士的补充问题。关于她提出的第一点，即永久居民获得与公民类似的待遇和福利数量，我希望各位议员明白，这是一项求职援助计划，目的是鼓励求职者积极参加面试、更新履历、修读课程，以提升自己，重新就业。因此，在这种情况下，永久居民也能获得相同的待遇和福利，因为如果我们支持这些计划，他们将能够保持就业能力，继续为新加坡的经济做出贡献。这也鼓励个人对自己的退休生活和收入保障负责。最终，我们希望他们不会成为我们社会的负担，因为他们有收入可赚的就业。
至于为期 3 年的窗口期，这是为了推动和鼓励我们的求职者利用这项求职援助计划找到更合适的工作，而不是急于从事一份不合适的工作，以免在短时间内被裁员、 流离失所或失业。尽管如此，正如潘勤群女士所说，中断和变化的速度确实都在加快。对于那些因不可抗因素而非自愿失业的人，我们准备逐案审查。我希望这能解决这位议员的担忧。
议长：有请叶汉荣先生。
叶汉荣先生（杨厝港单选区议员）：议长，我感谢部长对此作出回应。在技能创前程求职援助计划的受助人可能面临紧急财务困难的情况下，人力部为何决定不将短期经济支助与该计划合并？此外，人力部 (MOM) 是否会与社会及家庭发展部 (MSF) 和社会服务中心（SSOs）合作，将求职援助计划与其他财务援助计划一起处理？
陈诗龙医生（人力部长）：感谢叶汉荣先生的补充提问。正如我所提到的，求职援助计划不是社会援助计划。它旨在推动我国居民采取积极的行为，确保他们不会继续被剥夺权利，而是积极寻找工作。这是在社会及家庭发展部和政府其他机构 管理的其他社会援助计划之上的。
除此之外，对于已经参加技能创前程升级计划的40岁及以上的成熟工人居民，也可以享受这项福利。或许我可以用这个例子来说明。对于一名目前正在修读技能创前程升级课程的成熟工人，培训津贴上限为每月3,000新元。如果他的薪水为5,000 新元，并且他正在参加技能创前程进阶课程，他每月可获得2,500新元的津贴。
如果他非自愿失业，他将有资格享受求职援助计划。因此，在这六个月的时间里，他除了可以从求职援助计划中获得最多6,000新元的津贴外，还可以再获得2,500新元乘以六个月，即大约15,000新元的 “技能创前程 ”升级培训津贴。这样，在6个月的时间里，他可以获得高达21,000新元的补贴。我想通过这个例子来向叶先生说明，一个积极参与的成熟求职者，同时也在提升自己的技能，将能够通过政府提供的这些补助金获得多少潜在收入。
议长：有请郑德源先生。
郑德源先生（先锋单选区）：议长先生，我想感谢总理和部长，以及人力部官员，他们在听取全国职工总会（National Trades Union Congress）和劳工运动的呼吁后，提出了这项计划，为我们的工人提供某种形式的失业援助。我只想补充两个问题。首先，如果各位议员能看一下过去几年的劳动力市场报告，特别是过去五年，我认为受裁员和非自愿失业影响的人中，专业人士、经理和执行员(PME) 越来越多。因此，我的观点是，既然我们已经设定了 5,000新元和年值25,000新元的金额，那么人力部如何确保这些专业人士、经理和执行员(PME) （如果他们确实经济拮据）不会被遗漏，并能够重新开始下一份工作。
第二个补充问题是，关于求职援助计划，人力部是否会采取某种形式的监督和执法措施，以确保那些目前已在雇佣合同或者集体协议中以遣散费方案提供裁员补偿的雇主不会利用该计划，从而削减或减少那些其他付款？
陈诗龙医生：感谢郑德源先生的补充问题。感谢多位议员提出该项计划。我回顾了所有的文件，我认为它最早可以追溯到2014年，大约十年前。因此，感谢我们的许多工会议员和各位在场议员，其中一些人不在这里。之前有一位阿兹蒙.艾哈迈德（Azmoon Ahmad）先生也提出了这一计划。我要感谢他们的提议。
事实上，我们在制定该计划时，就希望能够惠及中低收入群体。我们承认该计划并不能覆盖所有人。但首先，当我们把计划的规模扩大到略高于中位数时，也就是扩大到5,000新元，它将覆盖并惠及大约60%非自愿失业工人。
我们将继续完善这个计划。我们的出发点是努力支持中低收入工人，他们可能面临更大的经济压力。虽然我们承认一些较高级别的专业人士、经理和执行员与技师(PMET) 也可能面临压力，但考虑到他们的跑道，考虑到他们拥有的缓冲，首先，我认为与这群中低收入工人相比，他们的缓冲略好一些。
因此，我们希望确保该计划有一个良好的开端。如果继续实施这项计划，我们每年将花费约2亿新元。正如我所说，我们将继续审查该计划，并研究如何能照顾更多工人的需求。
关于议员的第二点，即我们如何确保雇主不会削减或减少裁员补贴，我们必须与劳工运动和我们的三方合作伙伴密切合作，以确保这并不违背我们希望帮助工人重新振作起来的精神。迄今为止，我们在确保公平对待所有工人方面所取得的良好势头，将继续得到尊重和贯彻。我希望这能回答这位议员的问题。
议长先生：有请严燕松先生。
严燕松先生（阿裕尼集选区议员）：谢谢议长先生。部长先生，我了解到 技能创use程求职援助计划预计每年将花费2亿新元。请问这项计划的经费来源？
例如，是否需要为此增加税收？政府是否考虑过将其作为一项失业保险计划，使其在财政上更具长期可持续性？这正是工人党（WP）在我们的裁员保险计划版本中所建议的。
陈诗龙医生：我想重申，这并非失业保险计划。因此，它与工人党的建议非常不同。我们进行了多次对话。我们与企业进行了接触。我们与雇主进行了接触。我们也听取了工人的反馈。
我们得到的反馈是，企业和工人都面临着成本压力，他们希望能够获得更多的实得收入。因此，当我们纵观整个形势，并研究其他国家的经验后，首先，我们认为这是最细致入微的前进方式——由政府承担起责任，为这些积极寻找工作的求职者提供援助，帮助他们度过这一特殊时期。
根据该计划的规模，60%的非自愿失业工人将从中受益。目前，约有近 60% 的工人在非自愿失业6个月内重新找到工作。通过该计划，我们相信将有更高比例的工人能够受益，并更快地重新找到一份好工作。
这项计划的资金来源是什么？它将由政府运营预算提供资金。根据该计划的进展情况，我们将继续审查各项参数，以确保该计划能够支持并敏锐地满足非自愿失业居民的需求。
以下是英文质询内容：
Dr Tan See Leng: I thank Mr Henry Kwek for his supplementary questions. I want to reassure the Member that we will consider individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria on a case-by-case basis. The first part on eligibility checks, as I have shared earlier on, based on whatever Government data we have, will be automatic. But for those who want to appeal, we will consider them on a case-by-case basis.
Mr Speaker: Ms Hazel Poa.
Ms Hazel Poa (Non-Constituency Member): I thank the Minister for answering my PQ. I have a couple of follow-up questions. The Minister has said that in this case, they have decided to extend the same benefits to PRs and SCs and quoted a few examples where it is also same benefits for both groups. But at the same time, we do have schemes that differentiate between these two groups. So, how does the Government decide which scheme will give the same benefits for SCs and PRs and which will be differentiated?
Secondly, it is about the requirement that the applicant must not have received this assistance in the past three years. In certain industries, where the pace of change and disruption is more frequent, the workers in those industries may experience retrenchment more frequently than those in other industries. So, would the Minister also consider this on a case-by-case basis?
Dr Tan See Leng: I thank Ms Hazel Poa for her supplementary questions. For her first point on PRs receiving similar treatment and quantum of benefits as SCs, I hope that the Member appreciates the fact that this is a Jobseeker Support scheme. It is to incentivise the jobseeker to actively go for interviews, update their resumes and go for courses to upgrade themselves to get employed back into the workforce. So, in such circumstance, PRs can receive the same treatment and quantum of benefits because such schemes, if we support them, it will enable them to stay employable and continue to contribute to Singapore economically. And it also encourages the individuals to take responsibility for their own retirement adequacy and their own income security and, with them gainfully employed, ultimately, we hope that they will also not burden the rest of us as a society.
For the three-year window, this is to nudge and encourage our jobseekers to use this Jobseeker Support scheme to find better fitting jobs, and not rush into an ill-fitting job so as to get retrenched, displaced or unemployed within a short period of time. But having said that, exactly to Ms Poa’s point, the pace of disruptions and change, indeed, they are both accelerating. For those who are involuntarily unemployed as a result of circumstances beyond their control, we are prepared to look at it on a case-by-case basis. I hope that addresses the Member’s concerns.
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip Hon Weng.
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister for his response. In instances where recipients of the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme may face immediate financial difficulties, why did the Ministry decide not to streamline short-term financial support with the scheme? Also, will the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) work with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the SSOs to process the Jobseeker Support scheme together with other financial assistance schemes?
Dr Tan See Leng: I thank Mr Yip Hon Weng for his supplementary question. As I have alluded to, the Jobseeker Support scheme is not a social assistance scheme. It is meant to nudge our residents towards a positive behaviour of ensuring that they continue not to be disenfranchised, but to actively seek out a job. And this sits on top of other social assistance schemes that are administered by MSF and a host of other agencies that the Government has.
On top of that, for residents who are mature workers aged 40 and above, who are already on the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, this sits on top of it. Perhaps I can use this as an illustration. For a mature worker who is now undergoing the SkillsFuture Level-Up course, the training allowance cap is up to $3,000 per month. If he is drawing a salary of $5,000 and he is on this SkillsFuture Level-Up course, he draws an allowance of $2,500 a month.
If he gets involuntarily unemployed, the Jobseeker Support scheme will be eligible for him. So, over that six-month horizon, he could, on top of getting up to $6,000 from the Jobseeker Support scheme, he could add on another $2,500 times six months, which is about $15,000 of the SkillsFuture Level-Up training allowance. And that comes up to an amount of up to, potentially, $21,000 over the six-month period. I wanted to give that archetype to illustrate to Mr Yip the potential amounts that an actively engaged mature jobseeker who is also upgrading himself will be able to access via these grants from the Government.
Mr Speaker: Mr Patrick Tay.
Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan (Pioneer): Sir, I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the Minister, as well as the MOM officers for coming up with this scheme on hearing the National Trades Union Congress and Labour Movement’s call to introduce some form of unemployment support for our workers. Just two supplementary questions. Firstly, if Members could look at the last couple of years of labour market reports, particularly the last five years, I think more and more of those affected by retrenchments and involuntary unemployment are professionals, managers and executives (PMEs). So, therefore, my point is, now that we have set the $5,000 and the annual value of $25,000, how can MOM ensure that these PMEs, if they are really financially strapped, are not left out and will be able to bounce back and go into the next job.
The second supplementary question is with regard to the JobSeeker Support Scheme, whether MOM will have some form of monitoring and enforcement to make sure that employers who already currently provide retrenchment benefits in severance packages in their employment contracts or even in their collective agreements, do not exploit this scheme and, therefore, cut back or reduce those other payments?
Dr Tan See Leng: I thank Mr Patrick Tay for the supplementary question. We acknowledge many Members in the House for putting up the scheme. I was looking back at all the notes, I think it went back to as early as 2014, about a decade ago. So, thank you to many of our labour MPs and Members of this House, some of whom are not here. There was a Mr Azmoon Ahmad, from before, who also proposed the scheme. And I want to thank them for proposing this.
Indeed, when we sized up the scheme, we wanted to try to reach out to the lower- and middle-income group. We acknowledged the fact that the scheme does not cover everyone. But for starters, when we sized this to go up to just slightly above median, that means up to the $5,000 mark, it would reach and it would benefit about six in 10 workers who are involuntarily unemployed.
We will continue to refine the scheme. Our starting point is to try to support the lower- and middle-income workers, who may face more financial pressures. While we acknowledge that some PMETs at the higher level could also face pressures as well, given their runway, given the buffer that they have, for a start, I think that they have a slightly better buffer compared to this group of lower- and middle-income workers.
So, we want to make sure that the scheme gets off to a good footing. This will already cost us about $200 million a year to continue to run this. Like I said, we will continue to review it and to see how we can be even more sensitive to the needs of more workers.
With regard to the Member’s second point about how we ensure that employers do not then roll back or dial back on the retrenchment benefit, we have to work very closely with the Labour Movement and with our tripartite partners to make sure that this is not against the spirit of wanting to help our workers to bounce back. The good momentum that we have achieved thus far, in ensuring that there is a fair treatment for all workers, will continue to be honoured and followed through. I hope that addresses the Member’s question.
Mr Speaker: Mr Gerald Giam.
Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Sir, I understand the SkillsFuture JobSeeker Support Scheme is expected to cost $200 million yearly. How will this be funded? For example, will any tax increases be needed for this? Did the Government consider making this an unemployment insurance scheme so that it is more fiscally sustainable over the long term? That is what the Workers’ Party (WP) proposed in our version of the redundancy insurance scheme.
Dr Tan See Leng: I want to reiterate that this is not an unemployment insurance scheme. So, it is very different from what the WP has suggested. We have undergone numerous dialogues. We have engaged businesses. We have engaged employers. We have also taken feedback from our workers.
The feedback that we have obtained is that there are cost pressures that are experienced by businesses and workers wanting to be able to have more take-home earnings. So, when we looked at the entire landscape and we also studied other countries’ experiences, for a start, we felt that this is the most nuanced way forward – with the Government taking the burden of providing these jobseekers, who actively want to look for jobs, with the assistance to tide them over this particular period.
The way the scheme has been sized up, 60% of the involuntarily unemployed workers will benefit. Today, about close to 60% of workers get back into a job within six months of being involuntarily unemployed. With the scheme, we believe that an even higher proportion of workers will be able to benefit and get back into a good job faster.
How is this going to be funded? It will be funded through the Government operating budget. Depending on how the scheme continues to evolve, we will continue to review the parameters to make sure that it supports and it is sensitive to the needs of residents who are involuntarily unemployed.
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