Speech by Ms Low Yen Ling, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry for Trade and Industry, During the Committee of Supply Debate under Head V

​SPEECH BY MS LOW YEN LING, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY DURING THE COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY DEBATE UNDER HEAD V ON FRIDAY, 3 MARCH 2017

“Equipping our people, enabling our companies, and expanding our horizons to access opportunities”

A. INTRODUCTION

1.           Chairman, the Ministers for Trade and Industry have spoken about the political developments, economic trends, and technological changes that will have an impact on our economy. Singaporeans are naturally concerned about jobs, and whether their skills will continue to be relevant.

2.           We would like to assure Singaporeans that we are doing our utmost to empower every Singaporean with the capabilities to make a good living. We will equip our people with skills; enable companies to develop their employees; and expand our people’s horizons to access opportunities.

B. Equipping our people with skills

3.           I agree with Mr Saktiandi Supaat that continuous education should be purposeful. With the Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs), the Government will collaborate with industry partners, Trade Associations and Chambers, as well as unions to prepare our companies and people for the challenges and opportunities of each of the 23 industries. Possible career pathways and occupations are being charted out even as industries and jobs transform. Singaporeans have a diversity of initiatives under SkillsFuture to stay equipped and relevant.

4.           Let me now share how this integrated approach will prepare our people to access new opportunities. Firstly, we identify the key industry trends, and gear up Singaporeans with the relevant skillsets.

5.           Secondly, we identify the kind of skills that are relevant within a cluster of industries as this improves skills portability. For example, Mr Suresh Dakshnamoorthy started his career in a Marine & Offshore company providing quality control of electrical equipment. Six years ago, he made the career switch to Thales, an aerospace company. Although Suresh was unfamiliar with the aviation industry, Thales recognised his skills in electrical inspection as well as his familiarity with quality control tools. Suresh is now a Cell Leader in charge of planning production flows to meet his team’s weekly targets. So as we can see from Suresh’s example, when we identify common or complementary skillsets within a cluster of industries, we can help our people, our Singaporeans to take advantage of adjacent employment opportunities.

6.           Third, we will build up a pipeline of local talent to access growth opportunities overseas. Mr Supaat asked how we can help our local businesses tap on infrastructure-related opportunities in Asia. The Minister for Industry has announced how we will improve companies’ access to private cross-border project financing. These initiatives will be complemented by the launch of a new Professional Conversion Programme for Global-Ready Infrastructure Talent (GRIT). We target to place and train 300 individuals over the next 5 years to develop a pipeline of talent in infrastructure project development. These candidates will receive on-the-job training up to 18 months, and they will gain valuable exposure to regional infrastructure projects. The programme will subsidise a part of the participants’ salary. More details will be made known in the next quarter of this year.

C. ENABLING COMPANIES TO DEVELOP OUR PEOPLE

7.           Besides equipping our workforce, we will continue to enable companies to actively develop their workers’ capabilities and skills. This will in turn better support their business objectives, be it to improve productivity, go digital or expand overseas.

8.           Companies have several avenues to tap on. The Government’s SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) offers support to companies that institutionalise programmes to build up leadership capabilities of Singaporeans, to develop our local bench strength and groom the next generation of Singaporean business leaders. Through this programme, promising individuals gain exposure to key overseas markets and critical business functions.

9.           Chairman, please allow me to continue in Mandarin.

10.    贸工部意识到，我们的中小企业在开发人力资源和培训人才方面，可能还需要更多的援助。在这方面，中小型可以善用“技能创前程中小企业导师计划”(SkillsFuture SME Mentors Programme)。中小企业导师可以帮助建立系统化的“学习与发展计划”(L&D)，帮助提升公司在培训员工方面的成效，也让企业更有能力的为本地年轻人制造更多在职培训和实习的机会。

11.  陈慧玲国会议员提到，微型企业因为能力和资源有限，要安排让员工接受培训并不容易。我们也了解到微型企业的难处。所以精深技能发展局 (精深局)正在和大专教育机构和培训业者合作，探讨如何为我们在职员工提供更灵活、更小规模的培训模式，方便我们员工接受培训。那让我简单举一个例子。新加坡零售管理学院就提供了一个可以在营业时间内、在工作地点实地展开的小型培训模式，同时也为我们微型企业开办各种电子商务培训和项目。

12.  我也同意陈慧玲国会议员对资深专业人士、经理及执行人员(PME)的肯定。他们拥有非常丰富的工作经验，可以协助公司和个人建立起培训实力。目前，“技能创前程中小企业导师计划”旗下的导师团队共有116位，他们都是来自不同行业,身经百战的资深业界人士。他们的丰富的行业知识和成熟的人事管理技巧肯定能够帮助我们的中小型企业加强培训能力。在此我们要鼓励想要往这方面发展的资深专业人士、经理及执行人员，加入“技能创前程中小企业导师计划”成为中小型企业的导师。

D. EXPANDING HORIZONS TO SEIZE opportunities now and beyond

13.       Ministers, SMS and MOS have touched on the need for companies to look for opportunities beyond our shores. And I agree with Dr Tan Wu Meng and Ms Sun Xueling that apart from deep industry skills, our people need to have a global mindset to grasp emerging opportunities.

14.       To nurture this global outlook, the Government is increasing the opportunities for Singaporeans to gain overseas exposure at different stages of their careers. For working adults, the SkillsFuture Study Award for International Business will enable them to acquire the skillsets needed to navigate the complexities of overseas markets. For our youths, we have the SkillsFuture Young Talent Programme (YTP) that offers overseas internships and work-study programmes. And we are pleased to report that as of end-2016, over 500 students have benefited from the YTP international experience. 

15.       Exposure is but one aspect of the expanded horizons that we are all trying to cultivate. I agree with Ms Sun that the ability to speak the native languages of emerging and growing markets is a definite asset. The knowledge of our mother tongue languages has proven to be very useful in building our business and cultural relations in Asia and the neighbouring markets. For those wishing to brush up on mother tongue languages, or to pick up new ones like Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese or Korean, SkillsFuture has various language courses to choose from, and you know what, these can be paid with your SkillsFuture Credit.

E. Conclusion

16.       In conclusion, even as our economy and industries transform to meet the challenges change brings, what remains unchanged is the constant effort of the Government to ensure that our people, our companies are equipped, enabled and given the opportunities to expand the horizons so that we can stay agile, astute and relevant.

17.       However, the Government cannot do this alone. We need the industries and unions to work hand in hand with us, as we support our companies and people on this journey of lifelong learning, training and development, to stay ahead for the future.

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