By Sue-Ann Chia, Senior Political Correspondent

IN CRAFTING the Budget this year, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam had one thing in mind - getting 'maximum bang for the buck'.

And he believes the $4.5 billion Jobs Credit scheme surpasses that goal, by giving the economy a big fiscal boost as well as enhancing job security for locals.

'What we are essentially doing is injecting $4.5 billion into the economy in a way that will not only have a significant multiplier effect but will help preserve the interests of Singapore workers,' Mr Tharman said yesterday in his wrap-up of the three-day Parliament debate on the Budget Statement.

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