Singapore's labour market soars with 11,300 new jobs in Q2; Circle Line services disrupted for second day in a row: Singapore live news
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Singapore's labour market expanded significantly in the second quarter of 2024, adding 11,300 jobs, primarily through non-resident employment in construction and manufacturing. Unemployment rates improved, even with a slight rise in retrenchments. (Photo: Getty Images)
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Singapore's employment rose by 11,300 in the second quarter of 2024, more than double the prior quarter's growth according to a report by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Non-resident jobs surged, especially in construction, while resident employment saw minor declines. The unemployment rate dropped to 2.0 per cent, and job vacancies remained high, exceeding the number of job seekers. While retrenchments rose slightly, many workers found new jobs quickly. Here's the latest on Singapore's labour market.
A fire at Kim Chuan Depot on Wednesday (18 Sept) disrupted Circle Line services in Singapore for the second day in a row, following a previous power fault. SMRT restored power quickly, but commuters faced delays and discomfort. Investigations are underway to determine the causes of both incidents, amid concerns about the Circle Line's reliability. More on the Circle Line's disruption here.
Fasten your seatbelts! Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices for larger cars in Singapore are skyrocketing, hitting record highs in the latest bidding exercise. The recent COE bidding saw significant price jumps, particularly for larger vehicles. The latest COE prices are listed here.
Singapore's Ministry of Education (MOE) has refreshed guidelines to enhance collaboration between parents and teachers, emphasising respectful communication and boundaries. Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing said the initiative aims to strengthen parent-child relationships and support mental well-being. Measures to reduce teacher workloads and streamline administrative tasks have been introduced, alongside a commitment to fostering a supportive educational environment. Read on MOE's move to enhance parent-teacher collaboration here.
As Typhoon Yagi's wrath leaves Southeast Asia reeling, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is gearing up to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid. With the death toll surpassing 500, Singapore is stepping up to assist its neighbours Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam with critical supplies in the aftermath of the deadly typhoon. Read more on SAF's relief efforts in Southeast Asia here.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has flagged four food products containing banned substances linked to health risks. These products, marketed as weight loss aids, have been removed from local e-commerce platforms. The agency warns consumers against using these products and emphasises the legal consequences for sellers of unsafe food. Find out more about the SFA's recent food alert here.
The United States government has filed a lawsuit against Singapore companies Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine, seeking over $130 million (US$100 million) for their alleged negligence leading to the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse. The Dali, a Singaporean-flagged cargo ship, was poorly maintained and suffered electrical failures before colliding with the bridge, resulting in six deaths. The lawsuit emphasises the companies’ cost-cutting measures and the disabled safety features that contributed to the disaster. More on the US government's pursuit for damages against two Singapore firms here.
Is YouTube the future of online shopping in Singapore?
A silhouette of a mobile user is seen next to a screen projection of Youtube logo with the Shopee logo in the background in this picture illustration. (Photos: Getty Images; REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
YouTube has partnered with Shopee to launch an online shopping service in Indonesia, aiming to tap into the fast-growing e-commerce market in Southeast Asia.
This initiative is part of YouTube's strategy to enhance its shopping features, following similar services already active in South Korea and the United States.
The partnership comes as competition heats up in the region.
YouTube sees Indonesia's vibrant online shopping environment as a promising opportunity for growth.
While specific financial details of the partnership have not been disclosed, it marks a strategic move for Shopee to maintain its leadership amid increasing competition from other platforms like Lazada, Amazon and newer entrants.
The plan is to expand YouTube Shopping beyond Indonesia to Thailand and Vietnam shortly.
Singaporeans are already heavy consumers of online content and shopping, making it an ideal market for this service.
The integration of shopping features in videos could attract both local content creators and businesses, allowing them to showcase products effectively while tapping into Singapore's robust consumer base.
Furthermore, YouTube Shopping could leverage Singapore's strategic position in Southeast Asia to enhance connectivity in e-commerce with neighbouring count.
Job vacancies outnumber unemployed in Singapore's tight labour market
Singapore's labour market boomed in the second quarter of 2024 with 11,300 new jobs, a drop in unemployment to 2.0 per cent, and sustained growth expected. Can this trend continue amid rising retrenchments? (Photo by Nicky Loh/Getty Images)
Singapore's labour market saw significant growth in the second quarter of 2024, with total employment increasing by 11,300 jobs, more than double the previous quarter's figure.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reported that this surge was largely driven by non-resident employment, particularly in construction and manufacturing sectors, while resident employment saw a slight decline due to seasonal layoffs in retail and support services.
The overall employment growth for the first half of 2024 reached 16,000, indicating a resilient labour market amid economic recovery.
Despite a rise in retrenchments to 3,270 in the second quarter from 3,030 in the first quarter, unemployment rates improved, with the overall rate dropping to 2.0 per cent.
The resident long-term unemployment rate remained low at 0.8 per cent, and the number of job vacancies was stable, exceeding the number of unemployed persons.
This trend reflects a tight labor market where job vacancies outnumber unemployed individuals, increasing the job vacancy-to-unemployed ratio to 1.67 in June.
The MOM's report highlighted that while overall retrenchments are low, many firms are reorganising due to business restructuring rather than economic downturns.
More than half of retrenched residents managed to secure new jobs within six months, although this re-entry rate saw a slight decline compared to the previous quarter.
Circle Line commuters suffer through disruptions for the second day running
A fire at Kim Chuan Depot on Wednesday, 18 September caused a second disruption to Circle Line services in Singapore within two days. (Photo: Facebook/Chee Hong Tat)
A fire erupted in a power cubicle at the Kim Chuan Depot on Wednesday (18 Sept), causing disruption to the Circle Line in Singapore for the second day in a row.
The incident occurred around 8pm and led to stalled trains and affected lighting.
SMRT engineers quickly managed to extinguish the fire and restored power within minutes, allowing normal service to resume shortly thereafter.
This incident followed a similar power fault on 17 Sept, where multiple trains stalled during peak hours due to a power trip.
Although power was restored relatively quickly, passengers experienced significant discomfort due to the loss of air-conditioning.
SMRT is currently collaborating with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and equipment manufacturers to investigate both incidents, assessing if they are linked.
The affected power cubicle has been isolated to prevent further issues.
Passengers have expressed dissatisfaction with the frequency of disruptions and the communication from SMRT.
While some commuters were informed through transport apps, others were caught off guard by the sudden outages.
The Circle Line has been labelled the least reliable MRT line in Singapore, with reliability expected to improve upon completion of upgrade projects in 2026.
US sues 2 Singapore companies over deadly bridge collapse
In this aerial image released by the Maryland National Guard, the cargo ship Dali is stuck under part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Baltimore. (Maryland National Guard via AP)
The US government is suing the Singapore owners of the cargo ship Dali, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
The US Justice Department seeks to recover over $130 million (US$100 million) for costs associated with the disaster and debris removal.
The Dali, a Singaporean-flagged vessel, suffered from significant mechanical issues that were ignored, resulting in a power failure just before the collision.
This lack of maintenance is said to have left the crew ill-prepared and the ship unseaworthy.
Investigations revealed that critical safety features were disabled, which would have otherwise allowed the crew to regain control in time to prevent the crash.
The companies involved have sought to limit their liability, but the US government asserts that such attempts lack legal merit.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) warned the public against consuming four weight loss products due to the presence of banned substances. The identified products were Sausando Slimming Coffee (top left), Sausando Slimming Tea (top right), Unique Good Morning Candies (bottom left) and Unique Good Night Candies. (Photos: SFA)
These products were marketed as effective weight-loss aids but have been found to contain dangerous ingredients like sibutramine, which can lead to severe health issues.
Following this discovery, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) worked with e-commerce platforms to remove these products and warned sellers to halt sales immediately.
Consumers are advised not to consume these items and to seek medical attention if they have already done so.
The SFA underscored the legal repercussions for selling unsafe food, with fines and potential imprisonment for offenders.
They also encourage the public to report any suspicious food products to help maintain safety standards in Singapore.
SAF rises to the challenge with humanitarian aid to Typhoon Yagi-hit Southeast Asia
Personnel from the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (Changi RHCC) and representatives from the Singapore Red Cross taking stock of the humanitarian aid supplies. (Photo: MINDEF)
Teachers can now focus on teaching, not after-hour messages: MOE
Singapore's Minister of Education Chan Chun Sing said that the Ministry of Education (MOE) has set new boundaries to protect educators while enhancing parent-teacher collaboration. (Photo: Chan Chun Sing/Facebook and Google Street Maps)
Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing emphasised the importance of collaboration between parents and teachers to enhance children’s development at the Schools Work Plan Seminar on Wednesday (18 Sept).
To support this, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has refreshed the Guidelines for School-Home Partnership and introduced a new initiative called Parenting for Wellness, aiming to strengthen parent-child relationships and promote mental well-being.
The updated guidelines were created through discussions with over 300 teachers and parents.
They focus on respectful communication and clear boundaries for teachers, allowing them to manage their time effectively without the pressure of after-hours communications, except in emergencies.
Teachers are encouraged to use official channels for communication to maintain professionalism and protect their personal time.
MOE is also taking steps to alleviate teacher workloads.
Starting in 2026, schools will have more autonomy in choosing whether to implement the Applied Learning Programme or the Learning for Life Programme, thus allowing better resource management.
A pilot program will also allow parents to submit absence documents electronically to streamline administrative tasks.
Singapore's latest Certificate of Entitlement (COE) bidding results show significant price increases, especially for larger vehicles. Category B COEs rose to $110,001, while Open category COEs reached $113,104, both marking yearly highs. Category A premiums also increased to $98,524. (Photo: Getty Images)
The Certificate of Entitlement (COE) bidding exercise on Wednesday (18 Sept) revealed a significant jump in prices for larger vehicles in Singapore.
Premiums for Category B cars, which include larger and more powerful vehicles, rose to $110,001 from $106,300.
The Open category COE, which is primarily used for large cars, also saw an increase, reaching $113,104 from $106,901, marking the highest price this year for that category.
Smaller car premiums under Category A, which includes vehicles with engine capacities of 1,600cc and below, climbed to $98,524, up from $96,490 in the previous bidding.
Meanwhile motorcycle COE prices increased slightly to $9,900, compared to $9,801 previously.
Notably, commercial vehicle COEs remained stable, decreasing only marginally to S$74,000.
The recent bidding exercise attracted 3,593 bids, but only 2,567 COEs were available, indicating strong demand despite rising prices.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced an overall increase in COE supply for the August to October period, with adjustments in quotas across categories.
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