CDCs looking into strengthening social safety net
Written by Writer on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
CDCs looking into strengthening social safety net
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 12 November 2008
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Community Development Councils (CDCs) are looking into ways to strengthen the country’s social safety net, with measures to help residents cope in the event of a prolonged recession.
The Northwest CDC has seen a 10 per cent increase in the number of job seekers knocking on its doors for assistance.
Northwest CDC mayor, Dr Teo Ho Pin, said an immediate priority for the councils is to ensure that those who have lost their jobs, especially the sole breadwinners, could get another job as quickly as possible.
For this, the CDC will also help in funding their training programmes to increase the workers’ employability. Help for their family members is also on the cards.
Dr Teo said: “We want to make sure that during the downturn, the family is not adversely affected. We have prepared ourselves to provide more food rations, assistance for the children and if necessary, even medical assistance for the elderly.”
Meanwhile, the councils have been holding job fairs focusing on growth sectors such as the cleaning and conservancy sector where 300 jobs are on offer.
“With the IRs and a lot of condominiums coming up, they need high quality, highly trained cleaners and machine operators to keep the environment clean.
“I think the town councils can provide that platform to let the residents learn basic skills,” said Dr Teo.
The CDC also has a trial, train and transit programme where job seekers undergo a trial to experience the new work environment before deciding to take up the job. - CNA/so
News Topics Related Posts :
- Downturn will not affect planning of S’pore’s policies on ageing (Saturday, November 22, 2008)
- Organisers plan to widen Singapore F1 race track in 2009 (Saturday, November 22, 2008)
- Chinese university graduates feel pains of global financial crisis (Friday, November 21, 2008)
- Protectionist measures may aggravate global economic problems (Friday, November 14, 2008)
- Malaysian worker dies after being attacked by white tigers at zoo (Friday, November 14, 2008)
- More flights operating out of Changi Airport despite economic slowdown (Friday, November 14, 2008)
- Retiree wins top prize in NEA’s 10% Energy Challenge (Friday, November 14, 2008)
- World Bank to form 3 bil. dollars fund to boost poor nations (Friday, November 14, 2008)
- SCB, Bank Darah anjur kempen derma darah 13 Nov (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)
- Sesi dialog dan muzakarah di Mukim Batu Apoi (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)
- Singapore not granted additional places for Haj (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)
- Wildlife centre contractor granted discharge not amounting to acquittal (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)
- Las Vegas Sands secures US$2b capital funding, remains committed to S’pore project (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
- SingTel says its Asian mobile users exceed 216 million (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
- Building of Jurong General Hospital brought forward as construction prices fall (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
- Man’s attempt to rob UOB branch at City Plaza foiled (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
- Experts call for clearer difference between euthanasia and AMD (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
- Resorts World at Sentosa starts hiring for Universal Studios (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
- Trade and Industry Minister Lim to visit Mexico, Panama ahead of APEC (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
- Charities feel impact of financial downturn in different ways (Tuesday, November 11, 2008)
News Topics : 12 November, Cdc, Channel Newsasia, Community Development Councils, Downturn, Food Rations, Growth Sectors, Irs, Job Fairs, Job Seekers, Machine Operators, Medical Assistance, Northwest Cdc, S Ramesh, Safety Net, Singapore Singapore, Social Safety, Sole Breadwinners, Teo Ho Pin, Town Councils
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 and is filed under
Singapore News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the
RSS 2.0 feed.
You can
leave a response, or
trackback from your own site.