Many mid-career citizens are unemployed because of the mismatch of skill to potential jobs. Low-interest loans would enable this lot to upgrade. For example, they could use the loan to get a driving or motorcycle licence or take up ITE courses. These loans can also be used to start businesses such as bus stop kiosks. Many are now hesitant to take up training courses as they need money for daily expenses.

To ensure that they do not default on their loans, the Government could be empowered to recover any bad debt from their CPF balances which can be topped up again once they have repaid their debt.

Lim Yao Ho