Signs of cooling labour demand persist even as employment numbers rise
The overall demand for labour continues to show signs of cooling, with job vacancies declining even as growth sectors such as healthcare and financial services have helped push up employment numbers for its residents.
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) data for the third quarter of 2023 showed the number of job vacancies at 78,400 in September. This marks a decline for the sixth consecutive quarter from the peak of 126,000 in March 2022.
The ministry said the ratio of job vacancies to unemployed people stood at 1.58 in September 2023, adding that the ratio is down from 1.94 in June 2023.
ICA inspector allegedly received sexual favours from six men
An Immigration and Checkpoints Authority inspector accused of obtaining sexual favours from six men in exchange for helping them with their visit pass applications has been charged in court.
Kannan Morice Rajagopal Jayaram, a 53-year-old Singaporean, faces six corruption charges.
He is said to have obtained sex acts from the men between 2022 and February 2023, as an inducement for helping them to remain in Singapore.
Driver arrested after dragging officer with car at Woodlands Checkpoint
A Singaporean motorist was stopped at Woodlands Checkpoint on Dec 12 for allegedly breaching the three-quarter tank rule for vehicles leaving Singapore.
But when an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer instructed the driver to hand over his passport and park the car, he refused to comply. Instead, the driver accelerated, dragging the officer several metres.
“As a result of the incident, the ICA officer suffered bodily pain and was taken conscious to the hospital,” said the police.
Serial voyeur who filmed more than 51 women sentenced to three years’ jail
A serial voyeur who preyed on women for more than 18 years has been sentenced to three years’ jail, in what the prosecution described as an extraordinary case deserving of an extraordinary sentence.
Lee Lien Shuan, an IT director of a firm in the construction industry, took compromising photos and videos of more than 51 women, and attached photos of his victims’ faces to his collection.
The 49-year-old was on Dec 14 convicted of 10 charges of voyeurism. Another 42 similar charges were taken into account for his sentencing.
Panel proposes limiting mobility scooters to those with difficulty walking
Only people who are certified to have walking difficulties or medical needs should be allowed to use personal mobility aids, a review panel has proposed.
In its proposal submitted to the Ministry of Transport on Dec 14, the Active Mobility Advisory Panel said that in recent years, there have been concerns that able-bodied people have been misusing mobility aids, particularly mobility scooters.
These include concerns over dangerous riding, speeding and overly large mobility aids.
First job support hub opens in Jurong to train, employ people with disabilities
People with disabilities living in the west will get more training and job support nearer their homes, thanks to a new space that opened in Jurong West.
Set up by SG Enable, the first Enabling Business Hub, located next to Lakeside MRT station, will create job opportunities for people with various disabilities.
The hub rents out office space to inclusive employers such as Bizlink Centre and Superduper, and has a realistic e-commerce and logistics fulfilment environment set up to prepare persons with disabilities to work in the logistics sector.
