2024年9月9日，新加坡人力部長陳詩龍醫生在國會答覆武吉班讓單選區議員連榮華、哥本峇魯單選區議員郭獻川等關於技能創前程求職援助計劃（SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme）的基礎和申請考慮因素。

以下內容為新加坡眼根據國會英文資料翻譯整理：

9連榮華（武吉班讓單選區議員）先生詢問人力部長：

(a) 技能創前程求職援助計劃的設計依據和考慮因素是什麼？

(b) 如何評估申請該計劃的個人是否符合所需條件？

(c) 是否有上訴途徑？

10郭獻川（哥本峇魯單選區議員）先生詢問人力部長：技能創前程求職援助計劃的受助人會否獲得社會及家庭發展部或選區層面提供的其他形式的短期財政援助？

陳詩龍醫生（人力部長)：議長先生，請允許我回答今天（9月9日）的第9號和第10號口頭問題。此外，我還將回答定於明天（2024年9月10日）會議上提出的三個口頭問題。

議長：請開始。

陳詩龍醫生：議員們已提交這些與技能創前程求職援助計劃有關的議會問題 (PQ)。我將一起回答這五個問題，以便能夠給出更全面的答覆。

連榮華先生詢問了該計劃設計的基礎和考慮因素。總理和我分享了政府在設計求職援助計劃時的考慮因素。讓我重申一下要點。

首先，我們希望創造一種比失業保險更好的替代方案。我們從其他國家看到，失業保險如何使個人更願意繼續失業。我們還聽到了僱主對企業成本上升的反饋，我們不希望僱主通過削減工資或停止發放裁員補貼的做法來抵消保險計劃的成本。

這就是為什麼我們要尋找更好的替代方案，以儘量減少我們在其他地方看到的負面結果。我們的目標是支持非自願失業者重新找到更適合他們技能和經驗的工作，而不是因為經濟壓力而急於從事不適合的工作。

但與此同時，從「新加坡攜手前進」（Forward Singapore）活動中，我們聽到新加坡人分享說，個人責任應該仍然是我們社會契約的基石。因此，這項計劃應儘量減少潛在的道德風險，支持求職者重新就業，而不是繼續失業。求職者需要發揮自己的作用，對自己的行為負責，努力重新就業。就政府而言，我們將繼續通過就業促進和培訓計劃，大力支持求職者。

接下來，我將回答有關誰有資格參加求職援助計劃的問題。對於潘群勤（非選區議員）女士提出的問題，我們已將該計劃的目標人群定位為非自願失業前每月收入不超過 5,000 新元的中低收入職工。這略高於公民職工的月收入中位數，這個組別人士也是最有可能面臨一些財務壓力的群體。根據這一收入標準，超過六成的非自願失業公民可以從該計劃中受益。

葉漢榮先生詢問「居住在年值25,000新元的房產中」這一條件是如何確定的。政府的各種向經濟能力較低的個人或家庭提供較高福利的援助計劃，住房年值是用來確定家庭財富的代用指標。求職援助計劃的25,000新元門檻與其他計劃（如消費稅補助券計劃）保持一致。這涵蓋了約75%的住宅物業，包括所有組屋單位（HDB）。

連榮華先生詢問了如何評估申請人的資格。所有求職援助申請都將通過一個系統進行評估，該系統包括利用現有政府數據進行自動檢查以及由專門的勞動力發展局 (WSG) 團隊進行的進一步核實檢查。對於不符合資格標準的個人，將根據具體情況評估上訴。

潘群勤（非選區議員）女士還詢問為什麼永久居民 (PR) 與新加坡公民 (SC) 都有資格參加該計劃。這與其他就業促進計劃沒有區別。例如，新加坡公民和永久居民在勞動力發展局 (WSG)計劃下獲得相同的支持，例如職業配對服務和職業轉換計劃。

我想強調的是，新加坡人將始終是政府政策的核心，同時我們也歡迎那些能夠為新加坡做出承諾和貢獻的人。我們的公民在住房、醫療保健、教育和養育子女等多個領域獲得了最多的援助和福利。但是，永久居民表達了他們對新加坡的承諾，並為我們的社會和經濟實力做出了貢獻。因此，同樣地，我們也應該支持陷入困境的新加坡永久居民找到好工作，使他們能夠養活自己，並為我們的經濟做出貢獻。

現在我將回答有關發放款項的問題。符合資格的申請人只要積極尋找工作，便可在六個月內獲發最高6,000新元的援助金。潘勤群女士詢問為什麼發放金額會隨著時間的推移而遞減。我們設計了了一個放款時間表，在前幾個月發放較高的金額，以便為求職者提供更多的前期保證。這些款項從第二個月開始逐漸減少，以鼓勵求職者在找到合適的工作後儘早開始工作。我們不希望他們推遲重返工作崗位，因為這會降低他們的就業能力。此外，由於該計劃旨在鼓勵個人找到合適的工作並留在工作崗位上，因此那些已獲發放補助金的求職者，在上次獲得補助金後的三年內，將不能再次提出申請。

我必須強調，我們不應孤立地看待總額高達6,000新元的補助金。它實際上是對政府更廣泛的支持生態系統的補充。

郭獻川先生曾詢問該計劃的受益人是否還可以從其他經濟援助計劃中受益。答案是肯定的。雖然求職援助計劃並非為有更大經濟需求的家庭提供社會援助，但受益人仍然有權在符合條件的情況下從政府的社會援助計劃中獲得支持，如社區關懷計劃（ComCare）中短期援助和消費稅補助券計劃。

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與顏添寶先生提出的問題類似，只要符合所有這些計劃的資格標準，求職援助計劃的受益人可以同時獲得技能創前程進階計劃（SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme）的資助，該計劃旨在支持職業中期人士進行實質性的技能提升和再培訓。因此，我們鼓勵求職者積極探索提升技能和重新掌握技能的方法，以便重新找到更好的工作。

最後，議長先生，求職援助計劃標誌著政府模式的轉變，它反映了我們的承諾，即我們將始終幫助那些站出來想為自己做更多事情的人提供資源。總理曾表示，在我們規劃新加坡的前進道路時，需要進行一次重大調整。

這是政府政策的重新調整，同樣重要的是，也是新加坡人觀點和態度的重新調整。我們將定期審查該計劃，以確保我們為非自願失業人士提供必要的支持。

議長先生： 有請連榮華先生。

連榮華先生（武吉班讓單選區議員）：議長先生，我有兩個補充問題要問部長。議長先生，多年來，人民行動黨國會議員和勞工運動一直要求為求職者提供支持援助。我記得在我首次出任國會議員時，也曾提出過這個問題。因此，我很高興政府終於採取了行動。我想請問部長，為什麼是現在？

第二個問題是：根據該計劃，標準規定非常嚴格，例如工資上限為5,000新元，房屋年值不超過25,000新元，財政救濟也最多為6個月。那麼，我能否請問部長，該部是如何確定該計劃是否足以幫助求職者，以及它能否實現我們所設定的目標？

陳詩龍醫生：感謝連榮華先生提出的兩個補充問題。為什麼現在推出該計劃？我們在幾年前就開始研究這個問題，在「新加坡攜手前進」（Forward Singapore）活動對話中，我們還就該計劃的設計徵求了許多新加坡同胞的意見。我們向許多其他國家學習，了解他們為本國公民提供的失業救濟金。我們最終確定了求職援助計劃，這實際上也是在更新和刷新社會契約。展望未來，變革和混亂的步伐只會加快。我們可能會看到，由於個人無法控制的因素，甚至在個人職業生涯健康發展的過程中，失業率會更高。

因此，通過多次對話，我們聽到了新加坡人要求在處理非自願失業問題時提供更大保障的呼聲。所以，正如我所提到的，現在是時候重新開始了。這項計劃標誌著政府模式的轉變。我們花了不少時間仔細研究這項計劃，以確保我們避免海外失業保險計劃的弊端，因為海外的失業保險計劃可能會誘使個人產生虛假的安全感，使他們更願意繼續失業。在最終設計該計劃時，我們聽取了三方合作夥伴、企業和公眾的不同反饋意見。儘管如此，我們保證我們將繼續審查該計劃的參數。在確定該計劃的規模時，我們將該計劃的目標人群定位為每月收入不超過5,000 新元的中低收入階層工人。我們的月工資中位數約為4,500新元以上。

因此，我們將該計劃的目標群體定位於非自願失業前月收入不超過 5,000 元的中低收入工人。因此，我們將其定在略高於居民工人月收入中位數的水平，因為這一群體更有可能面臨一定的經濟壓力。

我們還使用住宅物業的年值作為確定家庭財富的指標，因為這也與政府的其他援助計劃類似，這些計劃為收入較低的個人或家庭提供更高的福利。求職援助計劃的門檻為25,000新元，與其他計劃（例如 GST 補助券計劃）一致，涵蓋約75%的住宅物業，包括所有組屋。正如我所說的，我們認為六個月的補助金髮放期限內，足以保證求職者找到合適的工作，同時鼓勵他們及時重返職場。

所以，這是第一步。我想重申，我們將定期審查該計劃，以確保能為非自願失業的居民提供必要和需要的支持。

議長：有請郭獻川先生。

郭獻川先生（哥本峇魯單選區議員）：議長先生，我感謝部長的答覆。我讚賞 技能創前程求職援助計劃（SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme）的設計，因為我國人民無需支付保險費即可從中受益。我還注意到，許多新加坡人的家庭成員都是永久居民，他們將從中受益。

我想問一個補充問題。儘管我們在推行這一具有里程碑意義的計劃時必須嚴格控制標準，但政府能否考慮為居住在私人住宅區的新加坡人提出申請，這些人的情況值得考慮，例如那些居住在人均收入較低的家庭（我是指大家庭）的人，那些住房資產有限的人，以及那些並不擁有其所居住的私人住宅的人？

陳詩龍醫生：感謝郭先生的補充問題。我想再次向議員保證，我們將根據具體情況考慮不符合資格標準的個人。正如我之前所分享的，我們會根據所掌握的政府數據，自動進行第一部分的資格審查。但對於那些想要上訴的人，我們將根據具體情況予以考慮。

以下是英文質詢內容：

BASIS OF SKILLSFUTURE JOBSEEKER SUPPORT SCHEME AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR APPLICATIONS（1）

9Mr Liang Eng Hwaasked the Minister for Manpower (a) what are the bases and considerations in the design of the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme; (b) how will the assessment be done as to whether individuals applying to the scheme meet the conditions required; and (c) whether there will be avenues for appeals.

10Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henryasked the Minister for Manpower whether recipients under the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will benefit from other forms of short-term financial assistance from the Ministry of Social and Family Development or that provided at the constituency level.

The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to address oral Question Nos 9 and 10 for today, 9 September. In addition, I will address three oral questions scheduled for the Sitting tomorrow, 10 September 2024.

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Mr Speaker: Please proceed.

Dr Tan See Leng: Members have filed these Parliamentary Questions (PQs) relating to the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme. I will respond to these five questions together so that I can give and provide a more holistic reply.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked about the bases and the considerations in the design of the scheme. The Prime Minister and I have shared the Government’s considerations in designing the Jobseeker Support scheme. Let me reiterate the key points.

First, we wanted to create a better alternative to unemployment insurance. We have seen from other countries how unemployment insurance can make it more attractive for individuals to stay unemployed. We have also heard feedback from employers about rising business costs and we do not want employers to offset the costs of an insurance scheme by cutting wages or by stopping the practice of retrenchment benefit.

That is why we searched for a better alternative to minimise the negative outcomes that we have seen elsewhere. Our objective is to support involuntarily unemployed individuals to rebound into jobs that better match and fit their skills and experience, instead of rushing into ill-fitting jobs due to financial pressures.

But at the same time, from the Forward Singapore exercise, we have heard Singaporeans share that personal responsibility should remain a cornerstone in our social compact. Hence, the scheme should minimise the potential moral hazard by supporting jobseekers to regain employment and not continued unemployment. Jobseekers will need to play their part, to take responsibility for their actions and make an effort to bounce back into work. On the Government’s part, we will continue to strongly support jobseekers through employment facilitation and training programmes.

I will next answer questions on who will qualify for the Jobseeker Support scheme. To Ms Hazel Poa’s question, we have targeted the scheme at the lower- to-middle-income worker earning up to $5,000 per month before becoming involuntarily unemployed. This is slightly above the median monthly income of resident workers and it is the group that is more likely to face some financial pressures. With this income criterion, more than six in 10 residents who are involuntarily unemployed can benefit from the scheme.

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked how the condition 「residing in a property with an annual value of $25,000」 was determined. Annual value is used as a proxy to determine households』 wealth for various Government support schemes that provide higher benefits to individuals or households with lower means. The threshold of $25,000 for the Jobseeker Support scheme is aligned with other schemes, such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Voucher scheme. This covers about 75% of residential properties, including all Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats.

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Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked how applicants』 eligibility will be assessed. All Jobseeker Support applications will be assessed via a system that comprises automated checks using available Government data and further verification checks done by a dedicated Workforce Singapore (WSG) team. For individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria, appeals will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Ms Hazel Poa also asked why Permanent Residents (PRs) are eligible for the scheme alongside Singapore Citizens (SCs). This is no different from other employment facilitation programmes. For example, SCs and PRs receive the same support under WSG programmes, such as career matching services and Career Conversion Programmes.

I want to stress that Singaporeans will always be at the heart of Government policies, even while we welcome those who can commit and contribute to Singapore. Our citizens receive the most support and benefit in several areas, including housing, healthcare, education and parenthood. But PRs have expressed their commitment to Singapore and contribute to our strengths as a society and economy. So, likewise, we should also support our PRs who fall onto hard times to get into good jobs so that they can support themselves and contribute to our economy.

I will now move on to questions about the payouts. The payout quantum of up to $6,000 over six months is provided to eligible applicants who have demonstrated active job search efforts. Ms Hazel Poa asked why the payments are stepped down with time. We have designed the payout schedule to provide a higher payout in the earlier months to provide greater upfront assurance to jobseekers. These payouts are gradually reduced from the second month onwards to incentivise jobseekers to start work earlier if they find and land on a good-fitting job. We do not want them to delay their return into the workforce as it will diminish their employability. In addition, as the scheme is designed to encourage individuals to find a job with good fit and be retained in the job, those who have received payouts will not be able to make another application within three years of their last payout.

I must emphasise that the total payout of up to $6,000 should not be viewed in isolation. It actually complements the Government’s broader ecosystem of support.

Mr Henry Kwek had asked about whether beneficiaries of the scheme can also benefit from other financial assistance schemes. The answer is yes. While the Jobseeker Support scheme is not designed as a form of social assistance for households with greater financial needs, beneficiaries are still entitled to receive support from the Government’s social assistance schemes where eligible, such as ComCare Short-to-Medium Term Assistance and the GST Voucher scheme.

Similarly to Mr Gan Thiam Poh's question, beneficiaries of the Jobseeker Support scheme can concurrently qualify for the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme that supports mid-career individuals to pursue substantive upskilling and reskilling, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria for all of these respective schemes. So, we encourage jobseekers to actively explore ways to upskill, to reskill themselves to bounce back into better jobs.

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To conclude, Mr Speaker, Sir, the Jobseeker Support scheme marks a paradigm shift for the Government and it reflects our commitment that we will always help and provide resources for those who step up and want to do more for themselves. The Prime Minister had said that a major reset is needed as we chart Singapore's way forward.

This is a reset in the Government's policies and, just as importantly, a reset of Singaporeans' views and attitudes. We will regularly review the scheme to ensure that we provide necessary support to the involuntarily unemployed.

Mr Speaker: Mr Liang Eng Hwa.

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang): Mr Speaker, there are two supplementary questions for the Minister. Sir, for many years, the People's Action Party (PAP) Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Labour Movement have asked for support assistance for the jobseekers. I remember even during my first term as an MP in this House, this was also raised. So, I am glad that the Government has finally made the move. Can I ask the Minister, why now?

The second question is: under this scheme, the criteria have been tightly structured, such as with the salary cap of $5,000, the annual value of not more than $25,000, the financial relief is also for a maximum of six months. So, can I ask the Minister how the Ministry determines the sufficiency of this scheme to help jobseekers and whether it will achieve the outcomes that we have set out to achieve?

Dr Tan See Leng: I thank Mr Liang Eng Hwa for his two supplementary questions. Why is the scheme being introduced now? We started looking at it a number of years ago and, as a result of our Forward Singapore conversations, we have also sought feedback from many of our fellow Singaporeans on the design of the scheme. We have also learnt from many other countries, in terms of their own unemployment benefits for their respective citizens. And we eventually sized up the Jobseeker Support scheme, which is really about also renewing and refreshing the social compact. If we look ahead, the pace of change and disruptions will only accelerate. We may see a higher incidence of job displacements due to factors beyond an individual's control and even as they build their career health.

So, because of the multiple dialogues we have had, we have heard calls from Singaporeans for greater assurance in dealing with involuntary job loss. So, the reset, as I have mentioned, is now. The scheme marks a paradigm shift for the Government. We have taken the time to study the scheme carefully to ensure that we avoid the pitfalls seen in unemployment insurance schemes overseas where it can lull individuals into a false sense of security by making it more attractive for them to stay unemployed. We took in the different feedback from our tripartite partners, businesses and the public in the eventual design of the scheme. And having said that, our assurance is that we will continue to review the parameters of the scheme. In our sizing of this scheme itself, we have targeted the scheme at the lower- to middle-income worker earning up to $5,000 per month. Our median monthly wage is about $4,500-plus.

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So, we have sized it for the lower- to middle-income worker earning up to $5,000 per month before becoming involuntarily unemployed. So, this is sized at just above the median monthly income of resident workers, as this is the group that is more likely to face some financial pressure.

We also used the annual value of residential property as a proxy to determine households' wealth because this is, again, similar to other Government support schemes that provide higher benefits to individuals or households with lower means. This threshold of $25,000 for the Jobseeker Support scheme is aligned with other schemes, such as the GST Voucher scheme, and it covers about 75% of residential properties, including all HDB flats. And as I have said, for the six-month duration of payouts, we think it provides sufficient assurance for jobseekers to find good fitting jobs and at the same time, it encourages them to re-enter the workforce in a timely manner.

So, this is the first step. I want to reiterate that we will regularly review the scheme to ensure that we provide the necessary and needed support for the involuntarily unemployed residents.

Mr Speaker: Mr Henry Kwek.

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Kebun Baru): Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister for his response. I appreciate the design of the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme as our people need not pay an insurance premium to benefit from it. I also note that many Singaporeans have family members who are PRs and they will benefit.

I would like to ask a supplementary question. Notwithstanding the fact that we have to tightly control the criteria as we roll this landmark programme out, can the Government consider appeals for Singaporeans in private estates, with deserving circumstances, such as those living in households with a low per capita income – large households, I mean – those with limited housing equity and those who do not own the private housing that they live in?

Dr Tan See Leng: I thank Mr Henry Kwek for his supplementary questions. I want to reassure the Member that we will consider individuals who do not meet the eligibility criteria on a case-by-case basis. The first part on eligibility checks, as I have shared earlier on, based on whatever Government data we have, will be automatic. But for those who want to appeal, we will consider them on a case-by-case basis.

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