NTUC Makes Four Key Recommendations to Address Local PMEs’ Concerns

NTUC is pushing for four key areas to be addressed in the NTUC-SNEF (Singapore National Employers Federation) PME Taskforce list of recommendations.

They include addressing workplace discrimination due to ageism; providing support to those involuntarily unemployed, particularly the older workers; ensuring more hiring opportunities for mature workers; and supporting PMEs with skills upgrading to help them progress in their careers.

NTUC Secretary-General Patrick Tay shared these recommendations with the media on 26 August 2021.

The focus areas were developed based on findings from engagements that NTUC conducted with over 9,000 PMEs since October 2020.

Mr Tay, who is the co-chair of the taskforce, shared that PMEs are most concerned with the lack of job security and employability. This was especially so with the on-going pandemic, where the challenges have been “accelerated, accentuated and aggravated” across many sectors.

The taskforce was formed in late 2020.

“Through various engagements and surveys, we hear and understand that the economic, business and employment disruptions have caused fears and anxieties among our Singaporean PMEs. These challenges were further amplified due to Covid-19. This is especially so for mature PMEs, as they faced increased competition for jobs and employment,” he said.

Workplace Discrimination Due to Ageism

In one survey conducted with some 1,000 PMEs in April 2021, many mature PMEs attributed their age as a disadvantage when compared to their younger counterparts. Only 67 per cent of mature workers, aged between 41 to 60, felt that there were career opportunities out there for them compared to 85 per cent of those aged between 20 to 40.

In a separate survey conducted on 1,000 mature PMEs in July 2021, 67 per cent of them felt that companies were not open to hiring workers aged 40 years and above, with some 24 per cent saying that they experienced discrimination when applying for jobs.

As a result, Mr Tay said that there was a general sense of fear and anxiety for mature workers.

“I think there's a general sense of anxiety over the future of whether they [mature workers] have a job and whether they can continue to be relevant in a very heavily disrupted and digitalised environment,” he said.

Unemployment Support for Mature PMEs

Mr Tay added that mature PMEs take a longer time to rejoin the workforce should they be unemployed, even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost half of mature PMEs believe that it would take them more than six months to secure another job if they were to be unemployed, according to a separate survey.

Mr Tay said: “Some of them [mature workers] may be sole breadwinners, so therefore some form of support will be important.”

Hiring Opportunities and Skills Upgrading

Mr Tay also hoped that more could be done in terms of hiring opportunities and skills upgrading, especially for mature PMEs

Of the 1,000 mature PMEs surveyed, 85 per cent felt that it was difficult for them to find another job that matched their skills or interests, with 67 per cent of them feeling that companies were not open to hiring mature workers.

Mr Tay said: “NTUC has consistently advocated for a strong Singaporean Core and we will continue to champion for our workers’ interests to ensure that there must be fairness and zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind at the workplace.

“It is also crucial to level the playing field for our Singaporean PMEs, including mature PMEs, so they are adequately protected, have access to good jobs and are equipped with the relevant skills to prepare for future economy.”

The NTUC-SNEF Taskforce will release its full set of recommendations in the last quarter of this year.