A recent article by the States Times Review (STR) made several erroneous claims, following the latest release of employment figures[1] by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
MOM debunks the incorrect claims and clarifies the facts.
1. Are foreigners taking away jobs of Singaporeans?
STR claims:
MOM clarifies:
2. Do the official unemployment figures omit the numbers of certain groups of people?
STR claims:
The unemployment figures excluded:
MOM clarifies:
You are considered unemployed if you are:
This is regardless of demographic characteristics, including age, gender and marital status.
Hence, “housewives” and “retirees” who are looking for and available for work, as well as the long-term unemployed, are included in the unemployed figures.
Full-time national servicemen are not included because the nature of their NS obligation means they cannot be actively seeking work nor be available for work.
3. Do the employment figures leave out data on income?
STR claims:
MOM clarifies:
4. Did the Government doctor the unemployment figures?
STR claims:
The compilation of unemployment statistics in Singapore adheres strictly to international standards set by:
- International Labour Organisation (ILO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
IMF regularly monitors observance of the requirements and any discrepancy or non-adherence will be highlighted.
The IMF has never highlighted any doubts about the labour statistics released by Singapore.
This article is accurate as of August 2018.
[1] Labour Market Advance Release Second Quarter 2018
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