| 32. |
Fifth, we will do more to help
the unemployed. Unemployment numbers may go
up for the next 6 months, even though the
economy is showing signs of recovery. Beyond
that, unemployment should start to come down,
but with restructuring continuing, we cannot
expect to go back to the 1% unemployment that
we enjoyed before the Asian Crisis, when our
economy was growing rapidly, and restructuring
was not yet a problem. |
| |
|
| 33. |
Mr Ang Mong Seng suggested a
$2,000 unemployment benefit. I am sure unemployed
workers will welcome this, but the danger,
of course, is that it will encourage many
more people to become unemployed and collect
the $2,000! The Government has to take a different,
more practical, approach: we will go the extra
mile to help you, but only if you are prepared
to help yourself by getting a job and improving
your skills. |
| |
|
| 34. |
We have been providing help
through the Community Development Councils
(CDCs). The CDCs provide short-term relief
to individuals and families in temporary hardship,
such as when their sole bread winner is retrenched.
The CDCs administer an interim financial assistance
scheme, which has been quite successful. They
have the sensitivity and flexibility to personalise
and customise the assistance, so as to distinguish
those who really deserve help from those who
should be able to fend for themselves. In
FY02, the CDCs together spent $3.3 million
helping some 10,000 people under this scheme.
Within 6 months, 97% of the recipients no
longer needed assistance. |
| |
|
| 35. |
To strengthen their efforts
to help the unemployed, the CDCs will launch
a new Work Assistance Programme (WAP). This
will provide financial assistance to unemployed
Singaporeans and at the same time help them
find jobs. |
| |
|
| 36. |
The Work Assistance
Programme will integrate employment assistance
with the current interim assistance scheme
administered by the CDCs. It will focus on
low-income individuals who are fit to work.
The amount of assistance will vary depending
on each applicant's circumstances, but generally
will not exceed $400 per month. Besides cash,
the family may also receive targeted support,
for example, schooling assistance for the
children or a utilities grant. Such targeted
support will address the most pressing needs
of the family, and ensure that the assistance
is put to good use. |
| |
|
| 37. |
In return for the
assistance, beneficiaries will have to fulfil
specific conditions. They must actively seek
work. They must attend all job interviews
arranged for them, undergo training to acquire
new skills and accept any reasonable job offer.
If they fail to secure jobs within 3 months,
they will be assigned a case manager, who
will provide more intensive career counselling
and help them overcome any impediments to
securing a job. The financial help will last
for 3 to 6 months, because most recipients
should be able to get back to work within
that time. |
| |
|
| 38. |
Sometimes an individual
may fulfil his obligations and cooperate with
his case manager and yet not get a job. For
such exceptional cases, the CDCs may consider
extending the assistance beyond 6 months.
We need to focus our help on those who are
doing their best to help themselves, and not
allow the scheme to become an automatic handout
from the Government. |
| |
|
| 39. |
Some Singaporeans
are unfit to work because of illnesses or
disabilities. The CDCs will also continue
to give them assistance. |
| |
|
| 40. |
If unemployment goes
up over the next few months, more unemployed
workers will need help. Therefore the Government
will help the CDCs expand their Work Assistance
Programme. We will allocate $40 million for
this purpose. However, the most important
thing is for those who find themselves out
of a job not to lose heart, but to try to
get back to work as quickly as possible. |
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|
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