Longer-term Paid Internship or Apprenticeship Programmes for Fresh Graduates in Sectors Affected by AI Adoption
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the Ministry of Manpower would collaborate with employers to develop longer-term paid internship or apprenticeship programmes for fresh graduates in sectors affected by workforce restructuring and AI adoption. Acting Minister for Manpower Ms Jasmin Lau stated that the Ministry will continue to review its support measures to help fresh graduates gain meaningful work experience and improve their employability. In a supplementary question, Mr Yip Hon Weng enquired if the Ministry would publish post-traineeship employment conversion, wage, and job relevance data for the GRaduate Industry Traineeship programme (GRIT), which has seen over 550 graduates enter. He also asked what outcome metrics would justify transitioning towards longer apprenticeship programmes. Acting Minister for Manpower Ms Jasmin Lau replied that many participants are still completing their traineeships, but the Ministry will share the outcomes with the public at a suitable juncture.
Transcript
The following question stood in the name of Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry –
18 To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower in light of the recent workforce restructuring across industries and the growing adoption of AI, whether the Ministry will consider working with employers to develop longer-term paid internship or apprenticeship programmes for fresh graduates in affected sectors to help them gain meaningful initial work experience.
Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang): Question No 18.
The Acting Minister for Manpower (Ms Jasmin Lau): This question has been addressed by the reply to Question No 59 on the Order Paper for 4 August 2026. We will continue to review our suite of support for fresh graduates to gain meaningful work experience and improve their employability.
Mr Speaker: Mr Yip.
Mr Yip Hon Weng: I thank the Acting Minister for the reply. Just a short supplementary question. My supplementary question is on apprenticeships, and it is about the GRaduate Industry Traineeship programme (GRIT). More than 550 graduates have entered GRIT, which is encouraging. As the first cohort completes their traineeships, will the Ministry of Manpower publish their permanent employment conversion, wage, job relevance outcomes at the six- or 12 month marks, and explain which results will justify moving towards longer apprenticeships?
Ms Jasmin Lau: I thank the Member for his question. There are still many GRIT trainees in the process of completing their traineeships. I think at a suitable juncture we will definitely share the outcomes with the public.