By Shukry Rashid
The Building and Construction Authority announced on 22 January 2016 its Sectoral Manpower Plan (SMP) to build up a strong core of local talent and meet the future manpower needs of the built environment sector*.
Outlining three key strategies, the SMP will focus on attracting and retaining local talents, creating high quality job development pathways, and deepening the skills of workers in the built environment sector.
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and Building Construction And Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU) Executive Secretary Zainal Sapari welcomed the move and said that it is timely as it looks to develop a Singaporean core in this sector.
“This sector has a lot of potential in attracting and retaining local talent because it can provide good career prospects. Moreover, there is a lot of scope for this SMP to identify relevant and future skills required to meet the evolving needs of the construction sector given the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation and scarcity of land,” he added.
Future-ready Skills
Initiatives under the SMP include scholarship and sponsorship programmes, structured internships, SkillsFuture Study Awards and the Earn and Learn Programme for Diploma and ITE graduates.
These SMP initiatives will look to equip about 3,000 students and working professionals with future-ready skills in the next three years to build up capabilities in growth areas such as green building developments and productive technologies.
Good to know
For more information on BCA’s scholarship and sponsorship programmes, visit www.buildingcareers.sg.
*Built environment refers to the human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity, such as buildings and parks to neighbourhoods and cities.
Source: NTUC This Week
