Know of a Singaporean PMET member who has been actively looking for a job for six months or more? Or one who has been made redundant for the same time period?
If you have had no luck helping through the usual avenues like checking job ads or attending job fairs, then the Career Support Programme (CSP) may be worth looking at.
The CSP, a salary support scheme, is targeted at long term unemployed people.
This scheme could be useful for management partners looking to hire as it helps to defray some of the costs of the wage bill, especially those who have been trying to build a Singaporean core workforce and fill up vacancies with local PMETs looking for a job.
Here’s more about the CSP to share with members and management partners alike.
What is CSP?
It is a salary support programme offered by Workforce Singapore (WSG) and NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) to encourage employers to hire eligible Singapore citizen PMETs. Singaporean PMET jobseekers can look forward to taking on new jobs paying a gross monthly salary of at least $4,000.
Who can apply for the CSP?
Two groups of jobseekers qualify to apply for the CSP – Singapore citizens aged 40 years old and above who are unemployed and have been actively looking for jobs for six months or more or Singapore citizens aged below 40 years old who have been made redundant for six months or more.
How will the CSP benefit employers?
Employers can receive salary support of up to a maximum of 18 months for every eligible Singapore citizen PMET employed. This will help defray a portion of their salary bill as employers tap on the pool of experienced and skilled PMETs.
Hopefully this could encourage more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to come on board.
How many times can an individual apply for CSP?
There is no limit to the number of times an individual can participate in CSP as long as the individual fulfills the eligibility criteria each time.
What’s the take up rate so far?
Second Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo gave an update about the CSP in Parliament during the recent Budget debate.
“The CSP provides a wage subsidy that helps to close the gap between what PMET jobseekers expect and what employers are prepared to offer,” explained Ms Teo.
She added that with the enhanced wage support under CSP, job placements have gone up four times from about 260 in 2016 to over 1,100 in 2017.
Among the CSP placements, more than 80 per cent were long-term unemployed.
The number of PMETs staying on the job after they have been placed has also been encouraging.
Within 12 months of placement, about 70 per cent of those placed in 2015 and 2016 have remained in employment.
Where can I get more information about the CSP?
Employers and jobseekers can call WSG at 68835885 or email WSG_Programmes@wsg.gov.sg.
They can also contact NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) at 64740606 or email followup@e2i.com.sg
SUCCESS STORY
Here is a success story of an NTUC member who has taken advantage of CSP to land a job.
Lawrence Teo Kok Keong, 47, was working as a support delivery manager from July 2015 to March 2017.
After leaving his job, he got to know about U PME Centre and decided to make an appointment with them to look for new opportunities.
On top of being guided on his resume writing, Lawrence was also sent for an executive workshop course for two days in May 2017 to enhance his employability. The workshop covered topics like how to maintain a positive mindset and be agile and adaptable.
After the workshop, his U PME Centre coach contacted him frequently and shared information with him about career fairs and NTUC networking and industry events.
Lawrence also met with an e2i employability coach and indicated that he was open to try other job opportunities beyond the ICT sector. Separately, the e2i coach referred Lawrence to CCRManager (a subsidiary of Tin Hill Capital Pte Ltd).
The company is on the CSP and decided to hire Lawrence as they felt he had useful work experiences.
He successfully landed a job with the fintech company in September 2017 as a software developer. His employer has since given feedback that he is working well with the team.