I REFER to the reports, '210m jobless by end of 2009' (my paper, Oct 22), and 'Why the ILO changed its mind' (The Straits Times,Oct 25).

According to officials from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the estimated figure for worldwide unemployment will hit 210 million by the end of next year.

The impact of the financial crisis on Singapore's economy has been unavoidable.

In order to ride out this time of economic gloom, the Government, trade unions, employers and employees should join forces to find ways to help restore confidence, create more opportunities and help workers to secure jobs, so that a win-win situation can be achieved.

The following suggestions might help workers keep their jobs:

• Financial institutions should moderate their clients' credit applications, and should assess, examine and carefully consider borrowers' intentions and their ability to service their loans.

  This will help local small and medium enterprises continue to do business as usual. In return, employers can either offer more jobs or keep workers' rice bowls intact.

• The Government should consider spending more on construction and infrastructure projects, which will help stimulate the economy.

  Singapore's experience with tripartism has been a good one, and it has worked well in maintaining relations between employers, workers and the Government, and has helped stabilise economic progress and helped workers secure jobs.

• Local businesses in different industries should integrate and restrategise, and make plans to invest abroad, especially in the emerging economies of China and India, thus creating more jobs for Singaporeans.
• Regardless of their age, employees should continually upgrade themselves by attending courses, seminars and forums to learn skills and updating themselves on knowledge and technology, so that they can stay competitive and work at optimum levels of efficiency.
• The Workforce Development Agency should consider granting a higher subsidy through the Skills Development Fund to sponsor more workers for courses.

  These funds can be distributed through the National Trades Union Congress' Surrogate Employer or Skills Redevelopment Programmes if workers are not be able to secure study sponsorships or loans from their employers.

Mr Teo Kueh Liang

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