New WDA programme to give wage support for firms hiring mature Singaporean PMEs

COME Oct 1, 2015, the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will pilot a new career support programme (CSP) which aims to assist mature Singaporean professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) who may face greater challenges in securing a job.

Under the CSP, employers will be given wage support if they employ mature workers, who have been looking for jobs for at least six months, in mid-level jobs that pay at least S$4,000.

For PMEs aged 50 and above, the wage support for the first six months will comprise 40 per cent of the employee's gross monthly salary, capped at S$2,800 a month. For the next six months, wage support will be reduced to 20 per cent, capped at S$1,400 a month.

For younger PMEs aged between 40 and 50, wage support will also be available - albeit at a lesser rate. For the first six months, this will be at 20 per cent of the employee's gross monthly salary, capped at S$1,400 a month; for the next six months, the figure will be brought down to 10 per cent, capped at S$700 per month.

The CSP will be piloted for two years starting in October, for eligible PMEs who register with WDA Career Centres and e2i.

The new programme is one of several measures announced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Wednesday, which aim to strengthen the Singaporean core of PMEs.

Also from Oct 1, 2015, firms will be required to publish salary ranges of job vacancies in Jobs Bank, to comply with the Fair Consideration Framework's advertising requirement.

"Employers who apply for employment passes where the job advertisement did not state a salary range will have their applications rejected. This enhancement will make the job terms clearer to Singaporean job seekers and improve labour market transparency," said MOM.

Other measures announced on Wednesday include initiatives to enhance the quality assessment of foreign PME applicants, and expand the coverage of dispute resolution for Singaporean PMEs.

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