News regarding labour in Singapore this month included:
News regarding labour in Singapore this month included:
– According to a new study by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and National University of Singapore economist Jessica Pan, released on Thursday (Jan 9), the adjusted gender pay gap was 6% in 2018. The gap narrowed by 2.8% from 8.8 per cent in 2002. The report went on to speculate regarding the causes.
– The Economic Development Board (EDB) shared at its year-in-review that Singapore has far exceeded its forecast for investment commitments last year. It secured $15.2 billion in foreign investment this year, 39% more than in 2018. This feat is even more exceptional given that the investment took place during a challenging year weighed down by global economic uncertainties.
– A survey conducted by the five polytechnics showed that polytechnic graduates in 2019 had better job prospects and salaries than in 2018. 90.7% of graduates found employment in 2019, a 1.2% increase from 89.5% in 2018. Health sciences graduates continued to earn the highest median gross monthly pay at $2,600/month, with engineering graduates at the second highest earning $2,470/month.
– Singapore has embarked on an all-out push to get ready for the new digital reality, which is set to add as much as $13.5 billion to Singapore’s GDP. However, it also signals a job-and-skills mismatch in parts of the workforce, as some jobs will be rendered obsolete by technology and others created. Thus, improving our workforce’s digital capabilities is imperative in order to keep up with the future.
– The Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep), has updated its guidelines last month to remove all declarations on mental health condition from job application forms. This is so that employers may recruit and select on merit. Tafep added that if an employer fails to do so, Tafep may refer the case to the Ministry of Manpower for enforcement actions on the grounds of discrimination.
– There have been three workplace deaths since the start of 2020. The first worker was crushed by a toppled pallet of gas cylinders; the second worker was hit by a runner that fell from a formwork structure; and the third worker had fallen from a tugboat into the sea. It is possible this was the result of companies rushing to meet Chinese New Year deadlines.
Link: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/manpower/3-workplace-deaths-in-2020-so-far-mom
– The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) released a statement on 21 January 2020, putting the spotlight on manpower costs and revenue generation as the top challenges for businesses today. Its recommendations moving forward included more funding help for companies in their intellectual property filing in global markets, as well as increased support for companies in hiring older workers.
– The size of the local Youtube industry is huge and only set to get bigger. Several homegrown YouTubers have managed to break out to build thriving businesses with million-dollar revenues and dozens of employees
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