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Jobs, support for families top concerns for Singaporeans: Pre-Budget survey

SINGAPORE — An environment more conducive to raising families and job security were among the top concerns to emerge in a feedback exercise conducted ahead of the Budget statement, to be delivered next Monday (Feb 20).

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SINGAPORE — An environment more conducive to raising families and job security were among the top concerns to emerge in a feedback exercise conducted ahead of the Budget statement, to be delivered next Monday (Feb 20). 

Worried about the high cost of living being a deterrent to starting families, some Singaporeans said the Government could introduce more parenthood incentives, promote work-life balance and make housing more affordable, even as they acknowledged that efforts have already been made in these areas, said government feedback unit Reach in a media release on Monday (Feb 13).

The slowing economy, meanwhile, had some concerned about job security, with older workers worried about remaining employable, while younger Singaporeans fretted over securing a job upon graduation and a lack of opportunities given the unpredictable future economy.

The annual pre-Budget feedback exercise was organised by Reach and the Ministry of Finance. Nearly 8,000 pieces of feedback were shared by Singaporeans between Dec 5 and Jan 13 across Reach’s online platforms and face-to-face engagement sessions. About 96 per cent of the feedback was received through the face-to-face sessions.

On the issue of supporting families, suggestions to incentivise parenthood included increasing maternity and paternity leave, baby bonuses and childcare leave. There was a suggestion to grant Central Provident Fund (CPF) top-ups to women after giving birth. 

A “significant number” asked for more financial assistance for low-income families and the elderly, such as higher childcare and health subsidies and utility rebates, or direct subsidies for groceries and daily necessities for low-income families. There were also calls not to forget the “sandwiched middle-class”.

On the employment front, some noted the job-skills mismatch among Singaporeans, particularly in the IT sector, with some feeling that Singaporeans were being “choosy”. But others felt the education system’s emphasis on rote learning and the lack of technical skills was the cause of the mismatch. 

Training was cited as a solution, with some calling for increasing the SkillsFuture Credit amount, and for the variety and quality of courses to be improved. There were also calls for the Government to ensure training companies conduct relevant and proper training, said Reach.

Some felt employers need to adjust their attitudes and be more supportive of employee training, with one suggestion being to mandate a minimum number of training hours annually. 

After the Budget statement is delivered, the public can submit their views, such as through the Singapore Budget website (www.singaporebudget.gov.sg) and Reach’s Budget microsite (www.reach.gov.sg/budget2017) and social media channels. The public can also contact Reach through email (reach [at] reach.gov.sg) or at 1800-353-5555.

There will also be a post-Budget forum on Feb 23, a “live” chat on the Reach Facebook page on Feb 27, and Reach listening points at various locations between Feb 22 and 26. 

For updates on Reach’s events, visit www.reach.gov.sg/budget2017.

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