SG Talk

Applications for the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme are now open.




Lower- and middle-income workers who are involuntarily unemployed can complete activities and earn points to receive payouts of up to $6,000 over 6 months. https://str.sg/pncF

Here are some potential "bullshit" or questionable aspects of the article about the **SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme**:  

### 1. **"Up to $6,000" Misleading Promise**  
   - The headline emphasizes **"up to $6,000"**, but this is likely the **maximum** payout, not what most people will receive.  
   - Many applicants may only qualify for partial amounts after jumping through bureaucratic hoops.  

### 2. **"Involuntarily Unemployed" – Who Really Qualifies?**  
   - The term **"involuntarily unemployed"** is vague. Does it include gig workers, contract workers, or only full-time employees?  
   - Government schemes often have **strict eligibility criteria** that exclude many struggling jobseekers.  

### 3. **"Complete Activities and Earn Points" – Bureaucratic Hurdles**  
   - The requirement to **"complete activities"** (likely training courses, job applications, or interviews) sounds like **busywork** rather than real help.  
   - If the process is too cumbersome, many who need help might give up before receiving any payout.  

### 4. **Only for "Lower- and Middle-Income" Workers**  
   - What defines "middle-income"? If the cutoff is too low, many who are struggling but slightly above the threshold get **excluded**.  
   - Meanwhile, **high-income professionals** who lose jobs may have better safety nets anyway.  

### 5. **6-Month Limitation – Is It Enough?**  
   - Unemployment can last much longer than 6 months, especially in a bad economy.  
   - The temporary nature of the payout may not address **long-term unemployment struggles**.  

### 6. **Is This Just a Way to Boost SkillsFuture Numbers?**  
   - The government may be **padding stats** to show "more people engaged in upskilling" rather than actually solving unemployment.  
   - Forcing jobseekers into **pre-selected courses** may not align with real job market needs.  

### **Conclusion:**  
While the scheme **sounds helpful on paper**, the devil is in the details. Many such programs end up being **more about optics than real support**, with **too many conditions** and **too little actual payout** for those who need it most.  

Would you trust this to actually help the unemployed, or is it just another **half-measure**? 🚬