Employment in Singapore

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Employment in Singapore, including the development and planning of Singapore workforce to achieve "globally competitive workforce in a sustainable manner," is managed under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Manpower. Other aspects of employment related functions as International Talent Promotion, Labour Relations, Management of Foreign Manpower, Labour Welfare and Services, are also covered by the ministry. [1]

Contents

Singapore, with total land area of 719.1 square kilometers, has total population of 5.535 million as of 2015. The population consists of 3.902 million residents (Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents) and the remaining are non-residents. [2] Singapore has a population density of 7,697 people per square kilometer, making it the third most densely populated country in the world, after Monaco and Macau. [3]

Legislation

Basic terms and conditions of employers-employees relations in Singapore are covered by law in the Employment Act. All employees, both Singaporeans and foreigners, who enter into a contract of service with employers are covered by the act. [4] There are some exceptions for managers and executives, who are not covered by Part IV, which provides for rest days, hours of work, annual leave and other conditions of service. For managers and executives, these conditions vary according to what is agreed in their individual employment contract. [5] Workforce Singapore, a statute board under the ministry, also launched the Adapt and Grow Initiative in 2016. The program helps match individuals to career opportunities, with 17,000 matchings in the first half of 2018. [6]

Employment Data

Employment level in Singapore has been constantly increasing each year in the past decade, as reported in 2015. [7] Latest employment level as of 3rd quarter of 2015 was reported at 3.640 million, with gains led by the Services sector. In the first three quarters of 2015, total employment level grew by 16,200. [8]

In December 2020, the unemployment rate is 3.2 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. [9]

As of November 2022, unemployment rate is 1.9 per cent with Singapore resident unemployment rate at 2.8 and Singapore citizen unemployment rate at 2.9 percent. [10]

The long-term unemployment rate for Singapore residents was 0.8 per cent as of March in 2017, up from 0.7 per cent a year earlier. [11]

Underemployment

In a 2018 survey conducted jointly by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute, about 4.31% of the degree holders are drawing less than S$2,000 a month on a full-time job. [12] [9]

Working condition

According to a study conducted by recruitment consultancy Morgan McKinley, an average worker in Singapore clocked 2371 hours in 2016, the longest hours in the world. [13]

Amid the tight labour market and on-going initiatives that support work-life harmony, the proportion of establishments which provided at least one formal flexible work arrangement (FWA) improved steadily from 38% in 2011 to 47% in 2014. [8]

Foreign competition

On 22 January 2018, Managing Director of Monetary Authority of Singapore, Ravi Menon gave a speech at an IPS conference advocating Singapore to employ more foreign PMETs. "The trend of improving quality in our foreign workforce has already begun," he said. "The proportion of work permit holders has declined by about 10 percentage points over last 10 years, while the proportion of S-Pass and employment pass holders has increased by around 10 percentage points." [14]

Mandatory savings scheme

Singaporean and Singapore PR (SPR) employees are required to set aside part of the earnings and contribute to Central Provident Fund. [15] The employers are also required to contribute proportion of the earnings paid to their Singaporean and SPR employees to the fund. The contribution rates to CPF vary depending on income range and age bracket.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Singapore</span>

As of June 2021, the population of Singapore stands at 5.45 million. Of these 5.45 million people, 4 million are residents, consisting of 3.5 million citizens and 500,000 permanent residents (PRs). The remaining 1.45 million people living in Singapore are classed as non-residents, a group consisting mainly of foreign students and individuals on work passes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unemployment</span> People without work and actively seeking work

Unemployment, according to the OECD, is people above a specified age not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for work during the reference period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Singapore</span> National economy of Singapore

The economy of Singapore is a highly developed free-market economy with dirigiste characteristics. Singapore's economy has been previously ranked as the most open in the world, the joint 4th-least corrupt, and the most pro-business. Singapore has low tax-rates and the second-highest per-capita GDP in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is headquartered in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Underemployment</span> Underutilization of workers talents or skills in employment

Underemployment is the underuse of a worker because a job does not use the worker's skills, is part-time, or leaves the worker idle. Examples include holding a part-time job despite desiring full-time work, and overqualification, in which the employee has education, experience, or skills beyond the requirements of the job.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Provident Fund</span> Statutory board administering national savings and pension plan

The Central Provident Fund Board (CPFB), commonly known as the CPF Board or simply the Central Provident Fund (CPF), is a compulsory comprehensive savings and pension plan for working Singaporeans and permanent residents primarily to fund their retirement, healthcare, education and housing needs in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Registration Identity Card</span> National identity card of Singapore

The National Registration Identity Card (NRIC), colloquially known as "IC" is the compulsory identity document issued to citizens and permanent residents of Singapore. People must register for an NRIC within one year of attaining the age of 15, or upon becoming a citizen or permanent resident. Re-registrations are required for persons attaining the ages of 30 and 55, unless the person has been issued with an NRIC within ten years prior to the re-registration ages.

Graduate unemployment, or educated unemployment, is unemployment among people with an academic degree.

Immigration to Singapore is the process by which people migrate to Singapore for the purpose of residing there—and where a majority go on to become permanent residents and Singaporean citizens. Singapore is an attractive destination especially in the region as it is a country with a strong currency that offers high living standards, including in education, work, wages and safety as well as an overall far higher quality of life compared to its neighbours. High-net-worth or skilled immigrants worldwide are also attracted to Singapore's low tax rates and ease of doing business.

A work permit or work visa is the permission to take a job within a foreign country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Manpower (Singapore)</span>

The Ministry of Manpower is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies related to the workforce in Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crime in Singapore</span>

Crime rates in Singapore are some of the lowest in the world, with petty crimes such as pickpocketing and street theft rarely occurring, and violent crime being extremely rare. Penalties for drug offences such as trafficking in Singapore are severe, and include the death penalty.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unemployment in the United Kingdom</span> Overview of unemployment in the United Kingdom

Unemployment in the United Kingdom is measured by the Office for National Statistics.

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) spearheads the labour movement of Singapore, which represents almost a million workers in the country across more than 70 unions, affiliated associations and related organisations. Singapore runs on a tripartism model which aims to offers competitive advantages for the country by promoting economic competitiveness, harmonious government-labour-management relations and the overall progress of the nation.

Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) is a guideline announced by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower that requires employers to consider Singaporeans fairly for all job opportunities before hiring Employment Pass (EP) holders. The FCF was announced on 23 September 2013 and was a result from the feedback received through MOM's "Our Singapore Conversation" sessions, employer groups and key stakeholders such as the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

Labour rights in New Zealand are largely covered by both statute, particularly the Employment Relations Act 2000, and common law. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment carries out most of the day to day administrative functions surrounding labour rights and their practical application in the state.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unemployment in South Korea</span> Overview of unemployment in South Korea

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Chinese nationals in Singapore refers to Chinese people who are of Chinese nationality residing in Singapore. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the community had a population of 451,481 in 2019, with 52,516 originating from Hong Kong and 18,820 from Macau, the 2 special administrative regions of China. The community of Chinese nationals are the 2nd largest foreign community in Singapore, constituting 18% of the country's foreign-born population.

References

  1. ↑ "Ministry of Manpower". Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "Statistics Singapore Latest Data". Archived from the original on 29 November 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "World Bank: Population Density". data.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 16 May 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Employment Act - Singapore". Asiapedia. Dezan Shira and Associates. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Employment Act: who it covers". Ministry of Manpower Singapore. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  6. ↑ "Employment in Singapore". Careers Future. Workforce Singapore. Retrieved 9 November 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ "Summary Table: Employment". stats.mom.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 "LABOUR MARKET THIRD QUARTER 2015" (PDF). stats.mom.gov.sg. December 2005. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  9. 1 2 See, Sharon (9 February 2021). "Underemployment a bigger issue than unemployment: economists". Business Times . Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  10. ↑ cue (9 January 2023). "Singapore unemployment rates stay low in November: MOM | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "Fewer workers laid off in Q1, but no improvement to long-term unemployment rate: MOM figures". The Straits Times. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "Commentary: Help our 'graduate poor' break out of the underemployment trap". CNA. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Are we working too much? Singaporeans at risk of developing health problems due to long hours". AsiaOne. 28 July 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  14. ↑ Low, Vincent. "ST says more openings for PMETs but MAS MD wants more foreign PMETs to be hired". The Online Citizen. Archived from the original on 10 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  15. ↑ "More employees in Singapore working beyond retirement age". HRM Asia. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
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