In Your Opinion

Listen to our news commentary podcasts on the go every week.

Podcasts have become part of the global media landscape these days. The audio-on-demand format allows many listeners to often do other chores or hobbies, while hearing the shows in the background over headphones or bluetooth speakers

Almost every weekday, check out our discussions on Singapore current affairs and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, personal finance and career.

Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST’s app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.

Trailer narrated by: Podcast editor Ernest Luis ([email protected]); edited by: Elsa Goh

---

Discover more ST podcast channels:

'All-in-one' ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Headstart On Record: https://str.sg/wB2m

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Wheel Insights: https://str.sg/iTtE

ST Podcasts website: https://www.straitstimes.com/st-podcasts

(*New) The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Special edition series:

Green Trails (4 eps): https://str.sg/bMyx

This series clinched the gold award for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Asia 2025 on April 23, organised by the World Association of News Publishers (Wan-Ifra).

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

This series clinched the gold award for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Asia 2024 in April, and third place for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2024, both organised by Wan-Ifra.

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

This series also won The Best Podcast/Digital Audio Project category at the 2022 Digital Media Awards Asia, organised by Wan-Ifra.

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

#stpodcasttr

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four cat deaths recently have re-ignited calls for tougher enforcement against animal abusers.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Just before the crack of dawn in early May, the mutilated carcass of a community cat was discovered on a road in Yishun.

In the days that followed, three more cats were reported to have been seriously injured or found dead in housing estates around Singapore, stoking fears of animal abusers at large. 

While three of the cases have since been attributed to road traffic accidents rather than deliberate acts of cruelty, they have re-ignited calls for tougher enforcement against animal abusers.

In this episode, correspondent Ang Qing unpacks the psyche of an animal abuser in Singapore with psychiatrist Lim Boon Leng and criminal lawyer Josephus Tan.

They discuss the gaps in Singapore’s animal protection system, how to fix them, as well as why society’s failure to protect vulnerable creatures can have worrying consequences for the nation as a whole.

Highlights (click/tap above): 

1:45 Inside an animal abuser’s mind

5:29 Understanding psychopathy and spotting red flags

10:19 Gaps in enforcement and how criminals exploit them

15:30 Do some abusers have a sadistic desire to get caught?

18:58 What animal abuse says about Singapore and its people

24:06 Can tougher laws and caning make a difference

32:59 What the ordinary citizen should or shouldn’t do

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Ang Qing ([email protected]) 

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent ST-Milieu survey has found some striking similarities Gen Zs and their parents have, in the way they view their life priorities and challenges.

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

In this episode, we’ll revisit the old stereotype that the younger generation has it all too good, that they’ve gone soft and are not resilient enough to withstand hardships or even hard work. 

Young adults on the other hand, often lament that their parents don’t understand them enough. But how true are any of these often-held views? 

A recent survey commissioned by The Straits Times found that Gen Zs, like their parents before them, feel disheartened and frustrated when they cannot find work.

This generational gap is also reflected in the findings of an online survey, conducted by Milieu Insight for ST. 

In October and November 2024, the poll of 800 Gen Zs between ages 16 and 27, and 600 parents of Gen Zs explored the two generations’ views on goals, stress, money, self-esteem and joblessness. The parents were asked to answer based on recollections of their views when they were in their 20s.

But there are slight differences between how they approach work and gain wealth, and we discuss this with a father-son pair in this episode. 

Lawyer Michael Han, 55, is an occasional columnist. He is joined by his son Jazer Han, 22, now an economics undergraduate at the Singapore Management University (SMU). 

Highlights (click/tap above): 

5:22 Mr Han on sacrificing work-life balance for career growth? 

10:35 Mr Han: Not about generational gaps; more like different seasons in life

14:05 Jazer on time outside of 'school and work', extra commitments, fulfilment

16:15 Jazer's view on urgency to complete tasks

26:20 How Jezer got scammed $15,000 from his savings? 

38:29 Is the younger generation really 'strawberry' or 'snowflake'? 

Read ST’s article on how Gen Zs and their parents approach work and life differently: https://str.sg/FCkq

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Lynda Hong ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Success used to mean good grades, and then landing a good job. But is this changing?

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests. 

In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience - two youths share their experiences in starting up a business, and whether school grades would determine success at the workplace. 

About 100 people attended two recordings at indie cinema The Projector at Golden Mile Tower on the evening of April 15.

The special live recording was organised in partnership with the National Youth Council (NYC), in support of the SG Youth Plan – an action blueprint created by youths, for youths and the world that they will lead.

Hosted by ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong, this episode features two young entrepreneurs - Ms Adella Yeo and Mr Nabill Shukry. 

Currently an account manager at a software company, Ms Adella Yeo Rae-Nyse had co-founded MatcHub, a startup that matched fellow NUS students to find suitable job roles based on their personality. 

A part-time student with SUSS studying marketing, Nabill Shukry Johary juggles school with a business he started up in 2021 with his father - Cheekies, a home-based delivery service of healthy meals for the Muslim market - in a bid to help his family move out of their one-room rental apartment in Tampines. 

Is Singapore ready for diverse pathways to success so that young people can feel accomplished in their own ways?

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:00 Journey to entrepreneurship

7:39 The point of going to university is not just for the paper qualifications 

10:32 How academic grades play a part post-school

16:19 Challenge the conventions of success  

27:14 Advice for youths to forge their own success

Every voice matters, and if you want to share ideas and have your voice heard, you can do your bit in the SG Youth Plan Quest at: https://go.gov.sg/sgyp-mc

Find out more about NYC’s upcoming engagement sessions: https://www.YouthPlan.gov.sg

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) 

Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How younger social workers and social service entrepreneurs are exploring the use of music in the eldercare space. 

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at social issues of the day with guests.

In this special edition of In Your Opinion - filmed in front of a live audience at The Foundry - a social service entrepreneur and social worker share how music can transform the eldercare space.

Be it for their loved ones or as part of their advocacy, youths can now find more avenues to reach out to seniors, using the powerful tool in music. 

When it comes to engaging the elderly, music can reinvigorate and empower them - all while closing the gap between different generations. 

Studies have shown that music can amplify connections between the brain’s auditory and emotional regions, encouraging memory encoding and recall. 

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - STNow reporter Christie Chiu - speak with two guests who are harnessing the power of music to transform eldercare in Singapore. 

The two guests are: SanCare Asia founder Johnson Soh, who uses music-based technologies and services to help dementia patients; and Fei Yue Community Services programme executive Amanda Soon, who taps on music to get seniors more involved in their communities.

Having studied in the UK and worked in the film industry there before returning to Singapore, Amanda now uses her creative skills to empower seniors and youths. At Fei Yue, she uses music to pilot various programmes and workshops with youth volunteers, youths and seniors.

After working in the music industry for almost 30 years, Johnson founded SanCare Asia in 2016. The first elder-care service in Asia to offer person-centered reminiscence music programmes came about when Johnson's father developed dementia. 

"I actually used my dad as a guinea pig," he said, adding that he put together a playlist of songs which would resonate with him, songs which he grew up with during his formative years.

"And yeah, it worked wonders, you know, to see him light up, to see him in a different mood just gave me the impetus to start the company."

Over the years, Johnson has used reminiscence music to develop various programs as well. With his extensive research and deep music expertise, Johnson developed many programmes including Strike A Note©, a proprietary personalised music playlist programme for seniors. He also launched Return To The Tea Dance©, a silent disco-inspired music and movement programme, which became a  finalist at the 2020 Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards.

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:41 How Fei Yue creates community for seniors by reviving lost dreams

7:20 How Fei Yue youth volunteers bring energy and ideas to do community work with seniors

9:03 Bridging inter-generational gaps through SanCare Asia’s person-centred care, creating a personalised music playlist for each senior

12:06 When music can also elicit adverse reactions; a delicate task for youth volunteers with seniors

15:50 Return to the Tea Dance, a silent disco programme for dementia seniors

22:41 Youth volunteers, social services and social enterprises empowering each other

25:20 How the Crdl can help the less-functioning dementia seniors

Find out more about: 

SanCare Asia: https://str.sg/kEvE

Fei Yue Community Services: https://str.sg/sAxH

Listen to the other filmed live podcast at The Foundry:

Saving our old buildings from obscurity: What can young people do? - https://str.sg/FKRb

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Christie Chiu’s articles: https://str.sg/3ESxU

Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Christie Chiu ([email protected])

Produced by: ST Podcast Team & ST Outreach & Engagement Team

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times’ app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are some Singapore companies willing to bear the expense to implement pet-care leave as a form of benefit?

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

While fewer people are keen on having children, more are becoming pet owners, based on statistics from the Animal and Veterinary Service and an Euromonitor International report.

But what happens if you have a full-time job and your pet is sick? 

Instead of requiring their employees to take urgent leave, some firms in Singapore have begun rolling out pet care leave, for "pawrents" who need to take their furkids to the vet.

Only a small number of firms have started implementing it, but the response from employees has so far been overwhelmingly positive. 

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - journalist Aqil Hamzah - ask their two guests whether having a separate leave category the caring of pets is ultimately a good thing, and whether it’d affect the morale of those without pets. 

The two guests are: Emilyn Ang, founder of public relations and marketing agency Brave Communications, which provides three days of “pawrental” leave a year; and Diane Lee, a senior HR business partner for South-east Asia at recruitment firm Robert Walters.

Highlights (click/tap above):

01:34  Considerations behind implementing pet care leave

06:45  Advantages of having pet care leave

09:12  Why employees with no pets shouldn’t feel resentment

14:30 Leave days as an expense, and how firms can balance out the cost

17:30 Are more Singapore firms ready to roll out pet care leave  

Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Aqil Hamzah’s articles: https://str.sg/Cc85

Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Aqil Hamzah

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcasts website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can stereotypes of male pre-school teachers be reduced to ease more men into the profession that is seeing shortage in Singapore?

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

There is less than one man for every 10 early childhood educators in Singapore - surprising given that the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) estimates the need for another 1,500 more educators to support the sector’s expansion in the coming years. 

As male pre-school teachers conventionally face more scrutiny, could MSF’s new set of guidelines spelling out appropriate boundaries help ease tensions? 

The new set of guidelines for primary caregivers include expression affection, bathing practices and exposure to nudity. 

Amid a spate of abuse cases at various pre-schools in Singapore being reported in 2024, these guidelines could help pre-school teachers and parents set their mind at ease, especially when it comes to male pre-school teachers, said guests in this episode. 

The two guests are: Sajit Sesikumar, 30, a senior English pre-school teacher, who shares his six-year experience at MindChamps Preschool; and Yeo Shufang, 42, a mother of four kids, with her youngest attending preschool at age 4.

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and her co-host - STNow reporter Christie Chiu - ask their two guests whether setting guidelines can ease the tensions male pre-school teachers have to navigate at work, and encourage more to the early childhood education profession. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

6:50 How pre-schoolers can learn better from a diversity of teachers

11:24 How MSF’s healthy family guidelines can ease the work of pre-school teachers 

13:25 How Sajid deals with physical affection from students  

16:37 How Shufang teaches her children about personal boundaries

21:28 Is Singapore ready to normalise male preschool teachers and how can stereotypes be reduced?

Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Christie Chiu’s articles: https://str.sg/LfQG 

Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Christie Chiu 

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is safer to live near a nuclear power plant than to ride a plane, says an expert. Do we have a Not In My Backyard (Nimby) syndrome?

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Nuclear energy: Why not? That is the response from an expert on why Singapore is exploring it. 

The radioactive release from the Fukushima meltdown in 2011 did not kill anyone, but thousands of workers at coal mines die every year, says Dr Alvin Chew, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in NTU. 

Dr Chew’s research focuses on the usage of civilian nuclear energy. He was previously with the civil service, working on energy security and energy transition issues.

“When you compare the (nuclear sector) to airline industries, there are more airline crashes and lives being lost. But yet, people are still flying,” he adds.

Still, the horrors of nuclear disasters such as the meltdowns in Chernobyl and Fukushima appear to have scarred mankind. To go nuclear or not is a highly polarising topic in many countries. 

To gain the public’s trust on nuclear energy in Singapore, Dr Chew emphasises the importance for authorities to explain a country’s need for nuclear energy, educate the people about radiation safety, and also ensure the population is prepared for a worst-case scenario.

Most of the time, the best form of protection is to stay at home, shut the windows and wait for the authorities’ instructions, he adds. 

Singapore, like several other countries mired by the triple threat of climate change, energy security and rising electricity costs, is taking a hard look at a controversial energy source – nuclear power.

The authorities have been exploring advanced nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), that are promised to be safer.

In this episode, Lynda Hong and co-host Shabana Begum find out what drives the fear of nuclear power. Will Singapore residents allow a nuclear plant to be built in their 'backyard'? 

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:32 No deaths from Fukushima meltdown itself, but more deaths from coal-mining

7:34 Evacuation is not the best protection from radiation leaks

9:36 Why small modular reactors (SMRs) are suitable for Singapore

17:00 Nuclear and the 'Nimby' syndrome

26:02 How nuclear waste becomes a social issue  

Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Shabana Begum’s articles:https://str.sg/LfQG 

Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Shabana Begum ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

 ---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Singapore intends to settle noise disputes more effectively.

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

Settling noise disputes will be easier with mandatory mediation as the Community Disputes Management Framework (CDMF) is enhanced, under the Community Disputes Resolution (Amendment) Bill. 

Involved with how the framework can be enhanced is grassroots leader Raymond Poh.

In this episode, Lynda Hong and co-host Christie Chiu speak with him to hear about his 14 years of experience in dealing with noise disputes, and how mediation has been effective in resolving disputes between neighbours (with an 80 per cent success rate with voluntary mediation cases).

Mr Poh also shares how the Community Advisory Panel’s (CAP) recommendations, along with the proposed CDMF enhancements, may help neighbours better understand one another and find middle ground. 

If the dispute remains unresolved after mediation with the Community Mediation Centre (CMC), neighbours may consider approaching the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT) to file a claim as a last resort. This is equivalent to taking legal action against your neighbour, and parties involved are required to attempt mediation before filing a CDRT claim.

The new laws will also mean that officers under the new Community Relations Unit (CRU) have powers to investigate and take action in disputes where a neighbour severely disrupts the peace, such as cases where the neighbour deliberately makes loud noise throughout the day.

Officers can investigate, such as taking statements from neighbours, and with the resident’s consent, install noise sensors in homes to collect evidence.

The authorities also intend to allow the Housing Board to consider compulsory acquisition of flats as a deterrent and “the absolute last resort for severe, recalcitrant nuisance-making”.

This measure will be considered only when all other levers have failed, and acquisition is needed to protect the interests of other residents, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and the Ministry of Law and Ministry of National Development said in a joint statement in August, adding that this will be similar to how HDB can consider compulsory acquisition of flats for those convicted of throwing killer litter under the Penal Code.

This podcast is brought to you by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY): https://www.mccy.gov.sg

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:25 CCTVs, house visits and detective work - a memorable dispute that Mr Poh had mediated 

7:38 Different forms of mediation

8:17 The difference between the Community Mediation Centre (CMC) and the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals (CDRT)

11:37 Why settling neighbour disputes amicably is still a priority over mandatory mediation

12:40 How simple 'give and take' neighbourly acts can help avoid mediation as much as possible

More on the Community Disputes Management Framework: https://go.gov.sg/cdmf-enhancements

Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Christie Chiu’s articles: https://str.sg/3ESxU

Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Christie Chiu ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The SkillsFuture JobSeeker Support aims to help the retrenched tide over financially, while between jobs, after tough talks with unions, employers and the Government. 

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

As the global economy changes more rapidly and unpredictably, workers may face more risk from job loss despite best efforts. 

Yet, going out of a job can pose a hit to household finances. In an era of rising cost of living, lower- and middle-income workers are more likely to jump on the first job offer without considering their aptitudes. 

To give these workers more time to find the ‘right’ job for them, the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme will be launched in April 2025, with financial support structured to spur an active job search without incentivising prolonged unemployment. 

The scheme, estimated to cost the Government $200 million every year, comes as a result of tough talks among employers, unions and the Government. 

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong and journalist Tay Hong Yi host Manpower minister Tan See Leng to learn how the scheme has taken shape behind the scenes.

Highlights (click/tap above):

5:38 On the Government relooking its position on financial support for those who have lost jobs

11:11 On the scheme’s gestation: What took place behind the scenes

17:51 What are the safeguards in place for the scheme and why?

21:48 Eligibility criteria: Too complex to understand for job seekers?

25:36 Will the scheme help workers at higher risk?

28:58 How does this scheme reflect the 4G leadership’s approach to policymaking?

Read ST's Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Read Tay Hong Yi’s articles: https://str.sg/dSAE

Hosts: Lynda Hong ([email protected]) and Tay Hong Yi ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Studio+65 and Hadyu Rahim

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

Feedback to: [email protected]

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#inyouropinion

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.