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The mission of MOM is to achieve a globally competitive workforce
and great workplace, for a cohesive society and a secure economic
future for all Singaporeans. The desired outcomes are as follows:
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Global Workforce sustaining Industry & National
Competitiveness;
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Lifelong Employability providing Economic Security;
and
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Building Great Places to Work.
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In view of the weaker labour market, many of MOM’s
funding initiatives for FY2004 will be directed at helping
Singaporeans tackle the challenges in the labour market and
cope with economic restructuring. The new Singapore Workforce
Development Agency (WDA), set up on 1 September 2003, reflects
the Government’s commitment to help Singaporeans find
and keep jobs. WDA aims to develop this capability in our
workforce through promoting and facilitating lifelong learning
among Singaporeans.
Including the Lifelong Learning Fund’s budget of $62
million, a total $274 million has been allocated in FY2004
to achieve MOM’s mission and desired outcomes. The initiatives
and programmes managed by WDA on behalf of MOM to help Singaporeans
tackle the employment challenge and cope with economic restructuring
are highlighted below.
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$33 million for the MDAS, which targets to provide:
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About $20 million to support 20,000 training
places under the Skills Redevelopment Programme
(SRP). The SRP is a programme which provides incentives,
including course fee support and absentee payroll,
to encourage employers to send their workers for
skills training;
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100,000 assessments under the National Skills
Recognition System (NSRS) in FY 2004. The NSRS
is a national framework for establishing work
performance standards, identifying job competencies
and certifying skills acquisition. More than $7
million has been set aside for this item;
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Funding to develop manpower capability in strategic
industries under the Strategic Manpower Conversion
Programme. The programme seeks to facilitate the
training of skilled workers and executives to
embark on new careers in strategic sectors such
as Healthcare and Internationalisation;
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Support for curriculum development to meet the
need for worker training in growth sectors and
new skill areas, which will enhance worker and
enterprise competitiveness; and
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Funding for training infrastructure development
to facilitate the setting up of industry training
centres and programmes.
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$62 million from the LLF to enhance the employability
of Singaporeans by:
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Providing training and placement services for
the local job seekers and unemployed. Through
a systematic client profiling process, the Distributed
Careerlink Network (DCN) partner organisations
(eg CDCs and Self-Help Groups) will determine
the needs of job seekers and target training and
placement services accordingly. The 3 main job
assistance and related services provided at the
DCN career centres are:
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Core – which provides general job
matching and employment liaising services;
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Intensive – which focuses specially
on those unemployed for at least 6 months
or on 3-month social assistance; and
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Training Advisory/Sponsorship.
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Leveraging on the existing investments in manpower
and infrastructure for Pre-Employment Training
(PET) to provide Continuing Education and Training
(CET) for the Singapore workforce. LLF helps workers
to continuously upgrade their skills to meet the
challenges of the knowledge-based economy by subsidising
courses in the Post-Secondary Educational Institutions
(PSEIs) for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents;
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Promoting the importance of lifelong learning
for employability under the annual Singapore Learning
Festival event. Activities will be organised all
year round with the climax at the annual Singapore
Learning Festival, which comprises the Learning
Expo and other activities;
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Providing financial incentives to encourage
companies to recruit and train local workers and
to encourage locals to take up jobs in industries
which may be perceived as less attractive due
to low wages, working environment or industry
image; and
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Financing the training of individuals in low
income families with the aim of upgrading the
socio-economic and educational status of such
individuals.
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$19 million to continue the People for Jobs Traineeship
Programme, which provides incentives to employers to
hire locals who are unemployed, aged 40 years and above,
and prepared to make a career switch across sectors.
The Programme targets to benefit a further 8,500 job
seekers for the period from November 2003 to December
2004.
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