# Longer-term Paid Internship or Apprenticeship Programmes for Fresh Graduates in Sectors Affected by AI Adoption

- Date: 2026-09-09
- Added: 2026-09-26
- Who: Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry · Mr Yip Hon Weng · Ms Jasmin Lau
- Source: https://sprs.parl.gov.sg/search/#/sprs3topic?reportid=oral-answer-4201
- sgai: https://sgai.md/debates/oral-answer-4201/
- License: sgai-authored content (summaries, translations, analysis) is CC BY 4.0 — attribute and link to sgai.md. Verbatim source text (Hansard, speeches, transcripts, policy documents) remains © its original rights holders and is reproduced for reference only. Terms: https://github.com/meltflake/sgai/blob/main/DATA-LICENSE.md

## Why it matters

More than 550 graduates have entered the GRIT traineeship, and MOM committed to sharing the outcomes publicly at a suitable juncture.

## Summary

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked the Acting Minister for Manpower whether, given recent workforce restructuring and growing AI adoption, MOM would work with employers to develop longer-term paid internship or apprenticeship programmes for fresh graduates in affected sectors. Mr Yip Hon Weng raised the question in the House. Acting Minister Ms Jasmin Lau said it had been addressed by her reply to Question No 59 on 4 August 2026, and that MOM would keep reviewing its support for fresh graduates to gain meaningful work experience. In a supplementary, Mr Yip noted that more than 550 graduates have entered the GRaduate Industry Traineeship programme (GRIT) and asked whether MOM would publish the first cohort's permanent conversion, wage and job relevance outcomes at six or 12 months, and what results would justify longer apprenticeships. Ms Lau said many trainees are still completing their traineeships and the outcomes will be shared with the public at a suitable juncture.

## Key points

- The question stood in the name of Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry and was raised in the House by Mr Yip Hon Weng
- Ms Lau said it had been addressed by the reply to Question No 59 on 4 August 2026
- MOM will continue to review its support for fresh graduates to gain meaningful work experience and improve employability
- Mr Yip noted more than 550 graduates have entered GRIT and asked MOM to publish the first cohort's permanent conversion, wage and job relevance outcomes at six or 12 months, and what results would justify longer apprenticeships
- Ms Lau said many GRIT trainees are still completing their traineeships and outcomes will be shared with the public at a suitable juncture

## Full text

© Parliament of Singapore — reproduced for reference only.

The following question stood in the name of Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry –

18 To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower in light of the recent workforce restructuring across industries and the growing adoption of AI, whether the Ministry will consider working with employers to develop longer-term paid internship or apprenticeship programmes for fresh graduates in affected sectors to help them gain meaningful initial work experience.

Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) : Question No 18.

The Acting Minister for Manpower (Ms Jasmin Lau) : This question has been addressed by the reply to Question No 59 on the Order Paper for 4 August 2026. [ Please refer to " Availability of Entry-level Job Positions for Fresh Graduates and Expansion of GRIT Programme ", Official Report, 4 August 2026, Vol 96, Issue 33, Written Answers to Questions for Oral Answer not Answered by End of Question Time section. ]

We will continue to review our suite of support for fresh graduates to gain meaningful work experience and improve their employability.

Mr Speaker : Mr Yip.

Mr Yip Hon Weng : I thank the Acting Minister for the reply. Just a short supplementary question. My supplementary question is on apprenticeships, and it is about the GRaduate Industry Traineeship programme (GRIT). More than 550 graduates have entered GRIT, which is encouraging. As the first cohort completes their traineeships, will the Ministry of Manpower publish their permanent employment conversion, wage, job relevance outcomes at the six- or 12 month marks, and explain which results will justify moving towards longer apprenticeships?

Ms Jasmin Lau : I thank the Member for his question. There are still many GRIT trainees in the process of completing their traineeships. I think at a suitable juncture we will definitely share the outcomes with the public.