Retrain and prepare for a different world

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PM Lee's May Day Message

AMID the uncertainty over when the United States can pull itself out of recession and what measures will help boost economies around the world, one thing is sure: Singaporeans must seize this time to "mount a major effort" in worker training and skills upgrading, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday in his May Day message.

While noting that Singaporeans have "reason to be quietly confident" given that the nation's economy has important strengths and "few countries are in as a secure position", Mr Lee also warned them to brace for "a prolonged difficult period".

"I urge workers to go for training, to up-skill and re-skill yourselves. If you are seeking a new job, do take up one of the many jobs still available, even if it is not your first choice," said Mr Lee.

"Have realistic salary expectations, and be willing to learn new things and adapt to different working conditions."

If global demand continues to be weak, Singaporeans can expect more job losses, despite measures announced in the Budget.

"In some sectors, things will get worse before they get better," said Mr Lee. "In the worst case, if troubled banks are not put right, the problems can drag on for several years."

He also cautioned that the Republic's access to foreign markets could become more difficult, if governments, under political pressure to help domestic producers, were forced to raise protectionist barriers.

Singapore, however, will not follow this route. "The basic strategy for Singapore must still be to stay open and linked to the world. We prosper by servicing the region, Asia and the world, and by being equal to the best in niche areas," said Mr Lee.

Singapore will continue to develop new markets, such as Latin America and Africa, and its wide network of free trade agreements with major trading partners will prove "invaluable", he added.

The country will also remain a major financial centre, especially in areas such as fund management or global treasury business.

And precisely because Singapore is an open economy, the key to being globally competitive, said Mr Lee was to "gather talent from all over the world to strengthen the Singapore team" and for the local workforce to upgrade their skills.

Mr Lee said he also expected employers to play their part.

"Think of all possible ways to save costs, and consider retrenchment only as a last resort. Make full use of government programmes and work closely with the unions. For any cost-cutting measures, management should lead by example," he added.

Singaporeans have reason to be quietly confident

Most importantly, though, "everyone must be mentally prepared, and be ready for sacrifices in these difficult times".

Nonetheless, on a more upbeat note, Mr Lee noted: "Our economy has important strengths. Our banks are sound, our industries are competitive, our wage systems are flexible, and many good jobs are still available ... Few countries are in as secure a position as Singapore."

Mr Lee summed up his message this year with the future firmly in mind.

"We must use this crisis to prepare for a different, more competitive world when the storm passes.

"We must build resilience in a new generation of Singaporeans, and strengthen their bonds with a new team of leaders. Most of all, we must unite as a nation, keep our calm, unflinching spirit and emerge stronger from the crisis," he said.

Derrick A Paulo

From TODAY, News – Friday, 01-May-2009

Second act

CHANNEL NEWSASIA

The Primetime morning interview

Jennifer Alejandro, jennifer@channelnewsasia.com

"I was past being angry. I was emotionally drained."

Thum Cheng Cheong, 46, received his biggest career blow last November. He was laid off from a European bank where he was the chief of legal and credit administration.

It happened so fast, he was shocked. He got the notice midday, putting an abrupt stop to a 16-year career in the banking.

At first he thought it was good to spend more time with his family. "It seemed like a good opportunity to rest and relax, because when would you get such a long break from work?"

But the worry set in fairly quickly, once Thum realised his job search was not yielding results. The worry was compounded by the knowledge that Singapore was caught in the midst of a global recession.

For help, he decided to turn to his passion for mind-mapping, and it turned out to be the answer he had hoped for.

Thum, a regular at mind-mapping workshops conducted by international author Tony Buzan since 2004, remembers thinking, "There were no jobs in banking at my level so I might as well take a risk. I have been assisting mind-mapping seminars for a couple of years now, so I asked myself, why not make my hobby a full time job?"

In January, the former banker and lawyer called up the local office of the Tony Buzan Learning Centre. With his track record, he was hired almost immediately as a mind-mapping trainer and in-house legal counsel.

He now moderates three workshops a week and does administrative legal work for the learning centre. He earns only half of his old salary but Thum said: "I'm happy that I could get this chance to tell people my story and do something I love."

I learned about Thum's story while researching for a series. Many have shared wonderful and touching stories with me. I remember a 51-year-old man who was retrenched by a local bank in November after 29 years in its customer service department. For almost two months, he attended job fairs and consulted agencies for assistance.

As luck would have it, a surprise came just in time for the New Year. Through a friend, he landed an interview at a secondary school and was hired as a teacher.

These are real-life survivors — people open to trying something they might never have considered, who had the courage to face up to change. After all, many of life's "second acts" begin only after a crisis.

We are looking for people who have re-invented themselves and got the better of retrenchment. If you have a story to tell, email second_act@channelnewsasia.com. Turn that page. Everybody deserves a second chance.

From TODAY, Plus – Weekend, 25/56-April-2009

Any job should do...

COPING WITH THE RECESSION

Flexibility will impress future employers, Gan tells youth who raise discrimination concerns

ESTHER NG, estherng@mediacorp.com.sg

AS A fresh graduate, do I really have to accept a blue-collar job?

This plaintive question — sent via SMS by a participant in the audience, who worried that it would affect one’s shot at a PMET job after the economy recovers — drew some laughter as it was read aloud.

But Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong was in earnest as he advised this participant, and the other 80 or so youthful participants at the dialogue session with Young NTUC, to be flexible when jobhunting in a downturn. He urged them to “take up any job that is available”, as there would always be “opportunities to upgrade later on”.

Say an employer asks why you’ve not been working for the past one year — do you answer that there were “no jobs available”?

“Employers will not believe because there are always jobs available,” said Mr Gan. “Employers will think ... if in a crisis situation you’re willing to sit at home and do nothing, it means that you’re not flexible.”

For instance, Mr Gan revealed his “dream job” had been to teach, but the closest he got to it was as Minister of State for Education.

“The important thing is not to look for things we like to do, but to like the things that you’re doing”, he stressed, reiterating that many jobs are available in the fields of early childhood education, tourism, science and technology.

The two-hour forum at NTUC Centre yesterday involved mostly young unionists, and the issues they raised centred on the recession and other hurdles for graduates in the job market.

One asked: Are there enough training places for everyone, and should they look to upgrade their skills in an area they like — or train for where there is a market need?

Giving his assurance of sufficient training resources and capacity, Mr Gan advised job-seekers to approach the Employment and Employability Institute or Community Development Councils, where “career consultants” will help match their abilities with “market needs”. Training comes in where there is a mismatch, he said.

Ms Joyce Wong, 21, wondered if local graduates with degrees from private institutions enjoy equal job prospects as graduates from the three local universities.

Ms Mabel Siew, 23, wanted to know why applicants are compelled to disclose whether they are bankrupt and their medical conditions. Should they answer truthfully? “Because if you do, chances are you may not get the job,” she told Today later.

Both were hoping for some form of anti-discrimination legislation, but were not surprised when Mr Gan said the Government would “rather not legislate because the employer can get information through other means”.

He advised job applicants to be “honest” and, if they encounter discrimination, to approach the Tripartite Centre for Fair Employment.

On recognition of degrees, he said: “Even if you put up legislation, when you apply, (employers) can choose not to accept.” Rather, it’s up to private education providers to market themselves — like UniSIM, which has “built up its reputation” and “companies are happy with their graduates”, said Mr Gan.

The question about a CPF cut also cropped up. Mr Gan’s reply: There would not be one “for the time being”.

“Let’s focus on pushing ahead with Spur (Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience) and Jobs Credit.

“I think Jobs Credit has been very effective in helping companies manage their cost of employing local workers... We also have Workfare Income Supplement and so on — we need to get these implemented,” he said.

From TODAY – 20-April-2009