Skills Future / PMEs / Economic Restructuring of Singapore / Structural Unemployment

In the recent past, there have been news reports of how the Skills Future endeavor will help PMEs to upgrade their skills as the economy restructures. I feel it prudent to point out that these training courses might help when an employee is trying to move into a new role within his or her current organization where he or she has built up sufficient trust capital with colleagues or bosses. Perhaps, even the boss might recommend that she take on certain courses to be prepared for an upcoming role change. But what if the company folds due to competition from cheaper sources of production - Singapore's electronics manufacturing industry being an example.

The Skills Future scheme will not help when a person has been rendered unemployed due to such structural or cyclical changes in the economy when the demand in a particular industry has crashed. The only criteria that prospective employers are looking at are whether the candidate has got the relevant experience to take on a new role among other factors such as cultural fit and candidate's personal goals vis-a-vis the companies'. Even if one has the relevant training / qualification as requested in the job profile, he or she will not be considered, let alone be called for an interview.

Singapore being a small market that is dependent of external demand with limited number of jobs on offer, it then becomes a difficult task to gain employment as the Government has recently noted (less than 40% of PMEs getting hired back within 6 months). While Skills Future is a good initiative to re-tool the local population for the jobs in the future, it has to be complemented by an incentive to private industry to essentially hire new employees who might have transferable skills from other industries but will nevertheless require some on-the-job mentoring / training before they can fully contribute to the role. This could be in some form of grant to the private enterprise to offset the lower productivity in the initial months. Nevertheless, it is imperative that this loop be closed for the Government's objective of having a productive labor force (as against re-skilled but unemployed) come to fruition as the economy continually restructures to maintain its competitive advantage. It would be a win-win where the Government will also benefit from lower unemployment rates and a cross-trained local workforce that can contribute in multiple industries. 

Medishield Life premiums applicable to overseas Singaporeans and PRs as well

When Medishield Life kicks in, a family of four with the parents in their mid or late thirties will be paying around or more than S$1000 annually in just Medishield premiums, much higher if they have opted for IP plans. This is fine - after all the government is giving additional coverage and risk pooling the entire population. As long as you are in Singapore, you will be the beneficiary of the cover if and when you are hospitalized.

However, why should Singaporeans and PRs living overseas have to pay these premiums? What benefit do they get when they are hospitalized in the country they are living and working in. They, after all, will have to take a local health cover wherever they are residing. Medishield Life, too, is a local health insurance policy applicable only within the boundaries of Singapore. A better policy would be that these citizens and PRs be charged the annual premiums only when they move back to Singapore and that is when they would benefit from the coverage .

When I enquired about it, I was informed that Singaporeans can make use of the cover if they return to Singapore for some treatment (doesn't quite sound a convincing response to me!). Even if this reasoning were accepted, what reason would a first generation citizen or PR have to come to Singapore for treatment? Such a person will have no base in Singapore if he is working overseas. No parents, no relatives as a support mechanism while he is getting treated. Will his family also relocate for his treatment and set up camp in a hotel during the whole period (the assumption being a short term period)? I feel the policy makers should give this due consideration when Medhishield Life kicks in at the end of the year. After all, the population nos we are talking about is quite a small percentage (only 212,200 overseas Singaporeans as of last year) of the population base. But for them, the premiums would be an additional (and possibly substantial) burden on their finances with no apparent benefit.

How to avoid thumb sucking in infants and toddlers

Ishita started sucking her right thumb when she was a few months old. We did not actively try to discourage it cos it was cute to see her slowly guide her hand to her face and then find this innovative use for her thumb. Soon, she discovered she had two thumbs which she could use interchangeably depending on her position / which side she was lying on / or when her parents removed a thumb which she was putting to good use and now was quite addicted to.

That was four and a half years back and the habit continues. Not sure when she will grow out of it. Dear Ishita, if and when you find this post and if you want to prevent your offspring from taking after you, the best preventive remedy is the humble pacifier! We did not use it on you as we felt it was a cruel way to shut little kids up - as if putting scotch tape on their mouths. But we learnt our lesson quickly and used it with great effect on your little brother who has avoided your habit and has a perfect set of even teeth and a disarming smile.

Think about the benefits of preventing thumb sucking in your child:

1. Less exposure to all the germs that you pick up around you and ingest while you go about your business. And all the medicines, doctors' visits, missed school days and parents having to take leave that accompany an infection.
2. Do away with smelly hands and mouth - eeww!
3. Avoid protruding and damaged teeth and the costly outlay to a dentist for braces in the future.

How totally avoidable - all these difficulties and costs - if only...

Parents, take my word for it, it pays to prevent thumb sucking in your children at the expense of some minor irritation for your little one. You will thank yourself in the times to come.