Ex-offenders Who Secured Employment and Key Challenges Faced
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns an inquiry by Mr Desmond Choo regarding ex-offender employment rates and support measures, to which Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam noted that 68% secured CPF-contributing jobs within six months. To support hiring, the Uplifting Employment Credit provides wage offsets of up to $600 for nine months, while Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) encourages inclusive workplace practices among employers. Inmates receive vocational training through the TAP and Grow initiative in sectors like Precision Engineering and Food Services to improve their employability during and after incarceration. Furthermore, YRSG provides career retention support via career coaches who assist ex-offenders for up to 12 months post-release to ensure job stability. These collaborative efforts between the Singapore Prison Service and industry partners aim to enhance employment opportunities and facilitate successful reintegration into society.
Transcript
69 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) over the last five years, what is the proportion of ex-offenders who secured employment; (b) what are the key challenges faced in finding suitable employment for ex-offenders; and (c) what are the Ministry’s plans and support measures to enhance employment opportunities for them.
Mr K Shanmugam: In the last five years, based on Central Provident Fund (CPF) data, an average of 68% of ex-offenders secured employment within six months of release. This figure does not include ex-offenders who took on "gig" jobs such as food delivery, freelance work or other jobs that do not make CPF contributions.
Yellow Ribbon Singapore (YRSG) engages employers to encourage them to give ex-offenders a second chance, as well as promote inclusive workplace practices. Employers are also supported by the Uplifting Employment Credit, which provides wage offsets of up to $600 for each ex-offender that they hire, for the first nine months of employment. These initiatives have seen some success as more employers have approached YRSG to explore hiring of ex-offenders.
To improve the employability of ex-offenders, YRSG works closely with the Singapore Prison Service to provide inmates with training and skills upgrading during their incarceration and supervision period in the community. These include the TAP and Grow initiative where YRSG works with industry partners to train inmates and help them secure employment in the Precision Engineering, Media, Logistics and Food Services sectors.
To help ex-offenders stay on the job, YRSG also provides career retention support, where career coaches support ex-offenders at work for up to 12 months after release.