Clarification by Minister for Manpower
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This clarification concerns factual corrections made by Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng regarding employment outcomes and support discussed during a previous parliamentary sitting. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng clarified that the proportion of job vacancies unfilled for six months or more was 27% in 2020, rather than the 57% previously cited. He further noted that while nine in 10 individuals placed through Career Conversion Programmes remained employed after 24 months, this was not necessarily with the same company. Additionally, a correction was made to specify that resident unemployment levels were closing down to, rather than already at, pre-COVID-19 levels. These adjustments ensure the accuracy of the official record concerning long-term unemployment and the effectiveness of various manpower placement initiatives.
Transcript
Mr Speaker: Dr Tan See Leng, you have some clarifications.
The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): Mr Speaker, with your leave, I would like to make a clarification with respect to my response to Ms Hany Soh's supplementary question on employment outcomes. Ms Hany Soh had said earlier that 57% percent of job vacancies were unfilled for six months or more. I would just like to clarify that based on the latest available data from 2020, the proportion of job vacancies unfilled for six months or more was 27%, not 57%.
Earlier, I also said that nine in 10 people placed through the Career Conversion Programmes (CCPs) remained employed in the same company after 24 months. I wish to clarify that nine in 10 people placed through the CCPs remained employed after 24 months but not necessarily with the same company. Thank you.
Mr Speaker: Thank you. The Clerk will proceed to read the Orders of the day.
The following statements were in the reply given by the Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng) during Question Time for the combined reply to Parliamentary Questions on employment outcomes and support at the Sitting of 5 October 2021:
The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): If you look at the headline numbers, our long-term unemployment continues to remain one of the lowest and even for our resident unemployment today, the numbers are, even though they are not at zero, it will never be at zero, but I think they are at a level that is round about pre-COVID-19 time. [Please refer to “Measures to Assist Employees Affected by COVID-19 and Digital Disruptions”, Official Report, 5 October 2021, Vol 95, Issue No 40, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
Written statement by Dr Tan See Leng circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5):
I wish to make the following factual correction to the reply given during Question Time for the combined reply to Parliamentary Questions on employment outcomes and support at the Sitting of 5 October 2021. My reply should read as follows:
The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): If you look at the headline numbers, our long-term unemployment continues to remain one of the lowest and even for our resident unemployment today, the numbers are, even though they are not at zero, it will never be at zero, but I think they are at a level that is closing down to pre-COVID-19 time.