Singapore to Launch 800 Govt-Sponsored Graduate Traineeships

• GRIT program to offer 3–6 month traineeships with S$1,800–S$2,400 stipend.
• 70% of costs covered by the government, the rest by host organizations.
• Roles in finance, ICT, manufacturing, trade; big firms and the public sector on board.

Singapore will introduce up to 800 government-sponsored traineeships starting in October to assist new graduates in acquiring industry experience during times of economic unpredictability, as reported by CNA.

The GRIT (Graduate Industry Traineeships) program will offer trainees monthly payments ranging from S$1,800 to S$2,400, with 70 percent covered by the government and the rest by host organizations, according to CNA.

Every placement will last between three to six months. The report indicates that there will be opportunities in expanding sectors such as financial services, information and communications technology, manufacturing, and wholesale trade.

An independent GRIT@Gov initiative, managed by the Public Service Division, will provide traineeships in public sector agencies.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng stated that the initiative seeks to tackle the issue of employers looking for experienced applicants even for beginner positions. “This will help graduates gain valuable skills and workplace exposure so they can better compete for full-time positions,” he was quoted saying.

The initiative comes after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's statement at his National Day Rally earlier this month, where he committed to providing focused assistance for graduates facing challenges in finding jobs, with the possibility of extending the program if economic situations decline.

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Under GRIT, trainees will not be classified as employees, and employers are not mandated to contribute to the Central Provident Fund, although they may offer extra benefits if they choose, CNA reported.

The program is based on the SGUnited Traineeships initiated during the Covid-19 crisis, which engaged over 12,500 participants from June 2020 to March 2022, with many moving into permanent jobs.

CNA reported that large firms such as Grab, Micron, OCBC, ST Engineering, and Sea Limited have committed to take part. The public sector is providing approximately 2,400 immediate job openings for recent graduates in areas such as data, technology, and digital services via Careers@Gov.