Hougang resident Ho Siew Wah, 54, has been looking for a part-time job for the past few months. Her husband works as an administrative clerk earning around $2,000 a month, and she hopes to work in the mornings so she can contribute to the family income while spending time with her 14-year-old son in the afternoons.
She may get her wish after applying for positions at a recruitment drive organised by the North East Community Development Council (CDC) yesterday. The one-day event, believed to be the first job fair here to help heartland merchants find workers, was aimed at matching 11 small businesses, looking to fill 226 positions, with job-seekers living in the area.
"It's more convenient since the job is nearby," said Madam Ho, who applied for cashier and shop assistant positions at YES Supermarket.
Mr Kwek Hong Lim, managing director of the supermarket, said he hopes to hire as many workers as possible for the chain's six outlets - one in Hougang and five in Tampines.
"In order to retain staff, we are very open to flexi-hours, and we want to fit them within 15 to 30 minutes of travel time from their homes so they can benefit from the shorter working hours," he said.
Several of the merchants at the fair at Hougang Central Court were coffee shop or hawker centre stall owners.
North East District Mayor Teo Ser Luck, who attended the event, said: "Coffee shops are a very important part of our society and community and it's important for them to be able to find workers.
"(They) find it very hard to find labour nowadays, and within the community there's a lot of job-seekers in my database as well."
He encouraged coffee shops to try hiring elderly residents and providing flexible working hours.
During a dialogue with merchants, Mr Teo, who is also Minister of State for Trade and Industry, was told of issues such as high rental costs and how to enter or exit the market.
"I'm trying to understand the problems they have and I'm going to surface these issues as well," said Mr Teo, who chairs the government-led Small and Medium Enterprises Workgroup.
Around 60 people had applied for jobs by the end of the day. At least two more heartland merchant recruitment drives will be held this year - in Tampines and Pasir Ris-Punggol - and more than 20 merchant associations in the district have expressed interest.
One of them is the Kaki Bukit 511 Merchants' Association, whose treasurer Tan Poh Chye said workers such as dishwashers and plate collectors are much needed in the hawker centre.
"When we place an advertisement in the newspaper, it's only for one job, and maybe a few people will come the next day, then that's all. This kind of event is better," he said.
This article was published on April 17 in The Straits Times.
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