In his 45 years of working in the steel industry, NatSteel Employees’ Union (NEU) President Chew Chee Leong has always taken it upon himself to upgrade and upskill.
He joined NatSteel in 1971 at age of 19 as an electrician. Now at 64 , Mr Chew has seen how the industry has evolved over the years with the introduction of new technology and with it, a pressing need to keep up.
“I was trained as an electrician when I went to vocational school. It was all about wires and electricity. But now, we integrate information and technology along with automation. Times have changed a lot. So when there is new technology, I would do my best to learn how they are implemented and the new skills that are needed,” said Mr Chew, who is today an assistant manager.
Never Ending Journey
To gain more knowledge, he started out with courses at the National Productivity Board, which is today’s SPRING Singapore, and the Singapore Technical Institute in 1974. He has continued his upgrading journey ever since.
Away from the classroom, he also approaches one of the younger engineers to train him on the job, especially when it comes to computer technology, software and information technology.
He now hopes his members, many of whom are above the ages of 50, become proactive in upgrading to stay relevant.
He said: “In today’s day and age, it is very important for workers, especially those my age, to upgrade and upskill. We cannot be left behind just because we are complacent. This is one of my biggest worries for my members.”
