During the Budget debate on February 27, 2024, Members of Parliament (MPs) in Singapore proposed various initiatives aimed at improving support for different groups of workers, including older and younger employees, freelancers, lower-wage workers, and individuals with disabilities. The discussions highlighted the need for comprehensive unemployment support and adjustments to the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, with an emphasis on the impact of technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), on workforce competitiveness.

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) deputy secretary-general Heng Chee How noted the significant effects of AI on work processes, urging a proactive approach to address these challenges.

Patrick Tay, a key labor movement MP, outlined five principles for the anticipated unemployment support scheme:

Financial assistance should target a wider range of affected workers, not limited to those below the median wage.
The support amount should be “sufficient” based on reasonable societal standards.
Workers should have adequate time to reskill and transition to new jobs.
Job seekers must actively pursue employment and participate in training programs.
Access to support should be straightforward and efficient.
Tay also proposed extending the S$4,000 SkillsFuture Credit top-up to vulnerable groups, including the retrenched and freelancers. MPs requested further clarification on the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme’s structure and the criteria for course selection.

A recurring theme was the need for better tracking of outcomes related to training initiatives, with Workers’ Party (WP) MP He Ting Ru emphasizing the importance of transparency in government policies. WP MPs raised concerns about the low uptake of SkillsFuture Credit and suggested expanding course offerings to include hands-on training in emerging fields like AI.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat acknowledged the suggestions while emphasizing the existing variety of courses available. In response to concerns about the tight labor market, MP Edward Chia recommended converting full-time diploma programs to part-time formats to facilitate continued employment for participants.

The debate also addressed age-related issues. NTUC’s Heng advocated for an early announcement regarding the increase of retirement and re-employment ages, aiming for implementation by 2026. WP MP Sylvia Lim called for measures against age discrimination, including potential bans on asking job candidates about their age.

For younger workers, Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo proposed subsidies for students pursuing education in key industries and career trial opportunities.

Freelancer support was discussed by Nominated MP Jean See, who suggested implementing tripartite standards for government contractors working with freelancers, along with guidelines on remuneration.

Lower-wage workers also received attention, with calls for annual reviews of the Workfare Income Supplement scheme and adjustments to local qualifying salaries for hiring foreign workers. MPs urged the expansion of the Progressive Wage Model to additional sectors, including pest management and facilities management.

For individuals with disabilities, MPs emphasized the need for training providers to offer reasonable accommodations and suggested incentives for companies practicing inclusive hiring, such as tax rebates and increased foreign worker quotas.

NTUC deputy secretary-general Desmond Tan provided updates on the Company Training Committees (CTC) initiative, reporting that over 1,900 committees had been established since 2019, benefiting thousands of workers through career development and wage increases.

From April 1, 2024, NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute will assume control of designated Career Centres and Job and Skills Centres, with more details to follow.