Having worked before in a company that conducts training courses, I am sceptical about the benefit of classroom training. It is very expensive but with very little tangible benefits. And employers know it.

One possible solution is to redesign jobs for older workers. Mechanise processes, so there isn’t so much carrying of heavy stuff. Or simple things like having computer monitors with extra large fonts. Work redesign should receive more govt subsidies.

There should be more funding for on-the-job training (OJT) rather than classroom training. Give subsidies to companies to take in lower-skilled workers and invest time and money to train them on the job. This is far more effective and productive than sending them to classes to learn theory.

We should also study the possibility of introducing anti-discrimination legislation. From my house visits, I gather there are many older people and minorities who complain of discrimination based on age or race. It’s no point ‘encouraging’ employers to do the right thing. It might well be that introducing an anti-discrimination law could eliminate a reasonably large percentage of discrimination cases.

I will elaborate more on my solutions in a later post. In the meantime, feel free to critique my solutions so far.

Lucky – Hazel Poa from Reform Party had a good post on housing prices and affordability: http://hazelpoa.blogspot.com/2010/04/housing-prices-vs-household-income.html

Yes, this blog post is by no means a research study, although your research idea sounds good. Let me ask around. If you know of anyone interested to take up this research, do let me know too.

George – You’re right. Singaporeans need to want change before we can have change.

question – It seems the PAP wants everyone to have competition, except themselves. I’d like to see Lee Hsien Loong compete against Bill Clinton and see who wins.

however, having such liberal labour policy has caused much hardships to the average sigaporeans. those reside in the ivory tower don’t face such pressure. it is a huge cost to pay for inorder to maintain competitive. why should the pap be so selfish and short-sighted? policies can be implemented over a long period so that the citizens can absorbed the stress gradually. why should pap turn on the fire so drastically?