THE job market, already beset by worries over the economy, could turn worse over the next few months, resulting in more Singaporeans losing their jobs.
This is because employers could turn more cautious as a global slowdown takes hold, said Acting Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong yesterday.
Speaking after the Singapore Hotel Association's (SHA) annual awards ceremony held at the National University of Singapore Cultural Centre, Mr Gan said: 'I think, overall, the job market will continue to weaken towards the end of the year as businessmen turn more cautious.
'In hiring practices, they will be more cautious so job creation will slow down, there could also be higher retrenchment.'
His warning comes on the back of a Manpower Ministry report last week which showed that the job market was weakening.
The report said 2,000 workers were retrenched in the third quarter of the year, up from 1,798 in the previous quarter. Although unemployment was unchanged at 2.2 per cent, the report noted that 13,600 fewer jobs were added in the three months ending Sept 30.
The outlook may be bleak, Mr Gan noted, but he gave this assurance to workers: The Government, unions and Singapore National Employer's Federation are prepared, and they are ready to help those affected.
Workers will get training and upgrading opportunities, and will also be helped to acquire new skills so they can get jobs in sectors less affected by the downturn, he said.
He gave the example of manufacturing workers switching to the service sector, and said: 'We are looking at how to help them find jobs, match them with new jobs that are still being created.'
Yesterday, Mr Gan also had words of advice for the tourism sector, which has seen arrivals decline for four straight months.
Though the short-term outlook for the industry is shaky, he said tourism workers should strive to uphold high standards.
In a downturn, he explained, people are more likely to take short trips, so this means regional travel would help prop up the sector.
Looking down the road, he said things are much more rosy, with big events such as the Volvo Ocean Race early next year and the opening of the two Integrated Resorts in a few years on the calendar.
This means the industry should 'continue to train manpower so it can capitalise on the growth opportunities' later, he added.
At yesterday's ceremony, 1,928 service staff, ranging from junior sous-chefs to bell-hops, received Excellent Service Awards - an annual national prize which was launched in 1994 to recognise individuals who have delivered outstanding service.
Among those honoured yesterday was Mr Mohamad Yusoff bin Mohd Shah, 26, who started working in the service industry when he was 16, serving guests at Chinese weddings for $5 an hour.
Since then, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) drop-out has relied on elbow grease to climb the rungs in the industry, and now runs Orchard Hotel's lounge bar.
Said the first-time winner, who has had praise lavished on him by many hotel guests: 'I feel great for being recognised for working so hard from the bottom. There was once I worked 24 hours at a stretch.
'It is all about passion. Have that, and it will overcome every obstacle. That, and a big smile on your face always.'
This article was first published in The Straits Times on November 04, 2008.
