MPs seek deeper support for S’porean workers and local businesses

Al traineeships, developing high-value, local base of companies among proposals

- Chin Soo Fang

Strengthening Singapore’s workforce and supporting local enterprises was a theme shared by several of the 12 MPs who spoke on Sept 26, the final day of the debate on the President’s Address.

Proposals to help the Republic’s job seekers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rounded out five days of debate, which saw 81 MPs join the week-long discussion on the Government’s upcoming plans. Those who had spoken included all 32 new MPs.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong said at the close of the debate that MPs had put forth many suggestions, covering issues that matter to Singaporeans.

“Stewarding Singapore is a sacred duty, and I am encouraged to see our freshmen MPs speaking out on issues close to their hearts,” he said in a Facebook post.

MPs who spoke up for young workers included Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West) and Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim (East Coast GRC).

Ms Poh proposed a new artificial intelligence (AI) traineeship scheme, where NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) works with training firms to run courses for job seekers.

After two to four weeks of picking up AI tools, e2i can match these “Al change agents” with SMEs keen to automate their business processes.