Government's focus to look after interest of working Singaporeans

Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin says the government's focus is to look after the interest of all working Singaporeans. 

He outlined two broad issues for his Ministry to tackle in the long term. 

Firstly, how to raise the capabilities of Singaporeans. 

And secondly, how the country calibrates its work pass framework to ensure that foreign workers compliment and not just substitute Singaporeans. 

Mr Tan was responding in Parliament to a question filed by MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Yeo Guat Kwang. 

Mr Yeo asked what the government was doing to ensure that the Singaporean core will not be eroded during an economic downturn, or during significant downsizing of companies. 

Mr Tan said in previous downturns, employers have cut back more sharply on foreign manpower, compared to local manpower. 

He added the government has also started programmes like the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience and the Jobs Credit Scheme to help workers stay employed.