I refer to “Govt determined to tackle problems & improve workers’ lives: PM Lee“.
In the article, he mentioned “For older workers for example, he hinted at how the government may progressively do more to encourage the employment of this group.”
I would like PM Lee to walk the walk and talk the talk too.
In 2009, the Mini-Bonds and Barings financial crisis led many PMETs to be unemployed. One of my neighbour was retrenched. He was working in Jones-Lang and the real estate market took a turn and he was retrenched. He was a MBA holder.
He then took a temporary job in IRAS. IRAS, as you know, always need a lot of temporary staff to do data entry. He was posted to Level 1 lobby of IRAS to handle customers who have problems with the electronic transactions.
For a few months, he harboured hopes of getting a permanent job in IRAS so he worked diligently. During the first few months, he got to know the inside-out of the organisation and most of the permanent staff job scope.
In fact, he told me that if he were a perm staff, he would excel because as a temp staff, he handles almost the same job duties as a perm staff.
However, I advised him to look for a perm job as I think that perm job may not materialise.
A few months, he talked to his supervisor but his supervisor was unable to put him up for recommendation to HR. For some reasons, he also didn’t know but below is my breakdown.
Most HR personnel go strictly by-the-book.
My neighbour was already 34 years old when he was retrenched by Jones-Lang. If HR were to offer him a perm job, they would have to consider if he would be able to fit into the organisation.
At 34 years old, most HR personnel would want my neighbour to go for managerial or director level positions. However, the truth is, there are so few managerial or director level jobs available in IRAS.
IRAS has many jobs offered to fresh graduates at entry level and diploma level. If they offer my
neighbour these entry level jobs, HR may get into trouble as they disregarded his working experience and his MBA educational level. In addition, most entry level jobs are staffed by young people. At 34, my neighbour will have difficulty gelling with these young people and HR would be very apprehensive about hiring a mature worker with a lot of baggage.
That to me, is another form of age discrimination.
Many times, our politicians preach to us about Yellow Ribbon Campaign and being more compassionate about those with mental problems or physical challenges. However, to my knowledge, most government bodies have not employed ex-offenders.
When I go for job interviews, sometimes, HR will tell me that they will send my particulars to ICA as they need security clearance.
How do you think private sector can be more compassionate towards ex-offenders when the public sector refuses to walk the walk but just talk the talk?
CJ