Even the effort from a "Grass Root" Organisation - NORTH WEST
CDC is facing difficulties in "job matching" those
unemployed.
The telling part is that "job matching" only go so far as to find
the first available job for an OVER QUALIFIED jobless person to
find some miserable pay to tide over the period.
How long more does a Singaporean Jobless Person need to hang on to
such an unchallenging and unrewarding job before one is truly
GAINFULLY EMPLOYED ?
$40m plan to
help jobless, but where are the jobs?
Today
October 2, 2003
SINGAPORE
By Teo Hwee Nak
RIDING on the catchy slogan Get a job quickly the North West
Community Development Council yesterday, Oct 1, kicked off the
scheme that many Singaporeans are counting on to clamber out of the
depressing maze of joblessness.
Backed with a $40 million war-chest, schemes to counsel and
job-match and even an unprecedented, three-month financial
assistance, the Work Assistance Programme still faces some daunting
odds and unresolved issues.
That much became obvious even as the gritty counsellors from the
North West CDC converted their Woodlands head office into an
interview room, opening as many as 14 counters. Within three hours,
the crowd of job seekers had swelled to more than 70, with more
streaming in during the lunch hours.
The determination was obvious both on part of the job-matchers
and those seeking one. But money and determination cannot always
change the face of a job market.
The numbers from North West CDC, which has been trying to job-match
its residents for two years, showed what it must grapple with. And
the Mayor of North West District, Dr Teo Ho Pin, only confirmed
what many have feared.
Since November 2001, some 10,500 job seekers have sought the CDC's
assistance.
Only 3800 have been successfully placed while some 3000 have waited
in vain for more than six months.
"The supply of jobs is a problem. We can't find many jobs suitable
for our residents. Seventy-five per cent of them have below
secondary education but were used to earning $1700 to $2000. It's
very tough to expect them to take up a $600 job overnight," said Dr
Teo.
Some, like 40-year-old Mohd Noor Mohd Dimen, were game even for
that. The former front-desk hotel receptionist, who
has not been able to find a permanent job
for three years, has resorted to odd jobs that pay as little
as $480 a month. Saying he felt "demoralised" and "rejected" he was
at the CDC office yesterday to try his luck again.
But what do you do when no jobs are available? There are already
6600 job seekers on CDC's list and more are streaming in. In
contrast, the number of jobs in its database stands at 1700.
Dr Teo, aware of the situation, was not immediately willing to
commit to a targeted success rate with the new scheme. "The take-up
rate is not dependent on me, but on the employers and the job
seekers," Dr Teo explained.
Then he added: "Let's just say that if I get 500 of them a job,
I'll be very happy. That's the challenge I'm prepared to
take."
Analysts have observed that the new scheme, which includes a
monthly allowance of up to $400, would force some job seekers to be
less fussy.
After all, as part of the package, the job seekers would have to
accept any reasonable job offer that came their way.
Dr Teo said the CDC would not be too tough on those who have turned
down job offers as most people were now sincere about finding
work.
More surprisingly, he revealed that although the assistance
comes with a three-month cap, those who
find a job within the first month would continue to get their
allowance for the next two.
But why
continue to pay people who had already secured a monthly salary
instead of using the money to help the
jobless?
"So be it lah. Don't be too calculating," said Dr Teo.
In any case, it appeared that this would be a happy problem, since
the bigger worry was that there were simply no job openings.
For example, 51-year-old Tan Kok Seng, who has been unemployed
since his retail business folded 10 months ago, turned up for the
interview with his wife. For months, the CDC has been writing to
him about job fairs, but that has not helped.
"At my age and without a skill, it's very hard for me to find a
job," he said with an air of resignation. "I want to go for
training but I don't know what courses to take. I'm willing to
accept any salary, but no employers want me. I don't know if this
new scheme will make any difference."
http://www.singapore-window.org/sw03/031002to.htm
