Grassroots Volunteers to Be Better Equpped to Help Residents Adapt to Career Changes and Grow Their Employability at the People’S Association Kopi Talk

PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION

9, King George’s Avenue Singapore 208582 Tel: (65) 6340 5430/5454/432/231 Fax: (65) 6348 5977 Website: www.pa.gov.sg

EMBARGOED UNTIL 5 April 2017, 9PM

4 April 2017

GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEERS TO BE BETTER EQUPPED TO HELP RESIDENTS ADAPT TO CAREER CHANGES AND GROW THEIR EMPLOYABILITY AT THE PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION KOPI TALK

Against the backdrop of slowing economic and job growth, Singapore is undergoing a rapid transformation to continue growing the economy. To help heighten awareness among Singaporeans of the importance of re-skilling for lifelong employability, the People’s Association (PA), Ministry of Manpower and Workforce Singapore will be jointly organising the PA Kopi Talk on Adapt and Grow: Good Jobs, Betters Careers For All” on Wednesday, 5 April 2017. Minister for Manpower, Mr Lim Swee Say will join 250 grassroots volunteers, community partners and PA staff at the dialogue session, where they will update themselves with information to help Singaporeans continue to adapt and learn new skills for their career.

2 The PA Kopi Talk on Adapt and Grow: Good Jobs, Betters Careers For All is a series of dialogues aimed to better equip grassroots volunteers to share with residents on how the local job seekers may move into new careers, and the resources and support schemes under the enhanced Adapt and Grow initiative.

3 Minister Lim will take media interviews at the session and share more on the upcoming series of PA Kopi Talks sessions on “Adapt and Grow: Good Jobs, Better Careers For All” which will be held in vernacular languages in April and May, targeting grassroots volunteers who regularly engage residents through the use of Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. More information on the sessions can be found in Annex C.

4 Additionally, from May 2017, Ministers of State for Manpower, Sam Tan and Teo Ser Luck, will separately be reaching out to more grassroots members on the resources and enhanced support schemes under the Adapt and Grow initiative through various grassroots constituency talks.

5 Your journalists and photographers are cordially invited to join us at the PA Kopi Talk on "Adapt & Grow: Good Jobs, Better Careers For All" on Wednesday, 5 April 2017 at 7pm at The Grassroots’ Club, Multi-Purpose Hall, Level 1, 190 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, Singapore 568046. The programme and location map for PA Kopi Talk are attached at Annexes A and B. Please RSVP your attendance with the media contact person listed below by 5 April, 12pm. Please note that the dialogue is open to media coverage but the Chatham House rule applies.

Contact persons : Keith Tey Head (Corporate Communications Division) People’s Association Contact number: 9824 1287 Email: [email protected]

Ms Suzanne Walker Senior Assistant Director (Media Relations) Ministry of Manpower Contact number: 6499 6262 Email: [email protected]

Issued by : Communications Cluster 2

People’s Association Tel: 6340 5430/432/516/158

About People’s Association

The People’s Association (PA) is a statutory board established on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion, and to act as a bridge between the Government and the people. We offer a wide range of community programmes and volunteering opportunities for Singaporeans from all walks of life. Our network includes more than 1,800 grassroots organisations (GROs), over 100 Community Clubs, five Community Development Councils, National Community Leadership Institute and Water-Venture. More information at www.pa.gov.sg.

About PA Kopi Talk

The PA Kopi Talk is a refreshed series of dialogues that brings together Political Office Holders, government officials and grassroots leaders (GRLs) to discuss “life”-related policies (e.g. those related to healthcare, cost of living, retirement, housing, transport and education) and current affairs. The dialogues support PA’s and the grassroots movement’s role in surfacing the voice of the people and communicating government policies to the people.

ANNEX A

PA KOPI TALK ON “ADAPT AND GROW: GOOD JOBS, BETTER CAREERS FOR ALL” WEDNESDAY, 5 APRIL 2017, 7PM – 9.30PM THE GRASSROOTS’ CLUB, MULTI-PURPOSE HALL

Time Programme 7.00pm - Arrival of media

7.25pm - Arrival of Mr Lim Swee Say Minister for Manpower

7.30pm - Presentation on “Adapt and Grow: Good Jobs, Better Careers for All” by Minister Lim Swee Say

Sharing by Career Coach

8.30pm - Dialogue with Minister Lim Swee Say

9.30pm - End of PA Kopi Talk/Media doorstop with Minister Lim Swee Say

ANNEX B

LOCATION MAP The Grassroots’ Club, Multi-Purpose Hall, Level 1 190 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, Singapore 568046.

Driving Instruction

 Head northwest on Central expressway  Take exit 12B unto Ang Mo Kio Ave 5  Turn right at Ang Mo Kio Ave 8  Turn right into The Grassroots Club

Public Transport

MRT – Yio Chu Kang MRT Station Bus – 13,70,72,76,162,852

ANNEX C

PA KOPI TALK ON “ADAPT AND GROW: GOOD JOBS, BETTER CAREERS FOR ALL” (VERNACULAR SESSIONS)

Language Date/Time Venue medium Mandarin Tue, 11 Apr The Grassroots’ Club, Banquet 7pm to 9.30pm Hall

– Minister Lim Swee Say & MOS Sam Tan Malay Wed, 3 May The Grassroots’ Club, Banquet 7pm to 9.30pm Hall

Tamil Tue, 30 May The Grassroots’ Club, Banquet 7pm to 9.30pm Hall