MOM looking at widening support for mid-career and senior workers, expanding protections for PMETs

The Singapore Manpower Ministry (MOM) is exploring ways to expand support for mid-career and senior workers amid shifting job market dynamics. Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau indicated that the age bands for affected workers are expanding, with more individuals in their 30s experiencing restructurings. Many existing schemes, like the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, are limited by age-based eligibility criteria, which MOM aims to adjust.

This programme, launched in 2024, currently targets Singaporeans aged 40 and above, but MOM intends to broaden its reach to better support workers in the 30s. The widening age range is partly due to the lengthening job search durations faced by many, as well as the decreasing rate of finding new positions. In addition to expanding the eligibility criteria for existing schemes, MOM plans to provide more extensive support for professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs) in middle-income brackets.

These workers often face higher rates of retrenchment and wage drops when switching industries. MOM acknowledges that the current level of support may not adequately address the financial burdens these workers face while balancing family responsibilities, mortgages, and other obligations. To address this, MOM is considering increasing the support levels provided by schemes like the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support, which currently offers up to $6,000 over six months to unemployed workers earning up to $5,000 per month.

Furthermore, MOM is exploring potential legal protections for PMETs under the Employment Act, which currently prioritizes blue-collar workers. The Government is also considering raising the income eligibility ceiling for these protections to align with the median PMET wage, approximately $7,600. MOM is committed to enhancing support for senior workers as well, with plans to raise the retirement age to 65 and the re-employment age to 70 by 2029, as recommended by a tripartite workgroup on senior employment.

This adjustment aims to provide senior workers with the stability needed to continue contributing to the workforce while accommodating changing health conditions and longer lifespans.