By Sue-Ann Chia, Senior Political Correspondent

WORKERS celebrating May Day amid the economic downturn had reason to cheer yesterday as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced new help measures, especially for white-collar workers and companies, in the fight to save jobs.

'We will do more for middle-income earners. Many are PMETs who are also affected by this crisis,' he said, referring to the category of professionals, managers, executives and technicians who are bearing the brunt of the job losses here.

As such employees' salaries are higher, employers will receive more money when they send them for training under the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (Spur) which subsidises training.

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.