By Shukry Rashid
Featured Photo: Tom Wang/Shutterstock.com
Enterprise Singapore has launched three new initiatives to help companies in Singapore improve their human resource (HR) systems, processes and deliveries.
The HR Portal, HR Shared Services and HR Tech were announced by Second Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo on 6 April 2018 during the Institute of Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) graduation and office opening ceremony held at the Lifelong Learning Institute.
HR Portal
The HR Portal, which went live in March 2018, is an online self-help HR resource portal for companies. It is a collaboration between Enterprise Singapore, NTUC LearningHub and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Resources include process frameworks, checklists, toolkits, templates, videos and podcasts. Bite-sized e-learning materials will also be made available, including interactive HR topics relevant to businesses.
Mrs Teo said the initiative can be beneficial for small start-ups, where “the boss is often also the HR manager and everything in between.” She added: “The portal could therefore help flag out common HR issues start-up owners may face and provide relevant resources to resolve issues.”
For more information, visit the HR Portal.
HR Shared Services
The HR Shared Services (HRSS), another initiative by Enterprise Singapore, helps companies to outsource some of their manual and operational HR functions such as payroll processing and employee data administration.
Twenty-two HR service providers has been appointed to help companies with basic HR operations and provide HR advisory and shared HR information systems.
HRSS also aims to enable companies to focus on their core business functions and other HR areas such as talent management and succession planning.
Interested companies can approach any of the 22 HR service providers and receive funding support of up to 70 per cent through the Capability Development Grant. For more information, visit the HRSS webpage.
HR Tech
The HR Tech initiative, also by Enterprise Singapore, aims to encourage businesses to adopt innovative HR technologies such as automating employee surveys and benefits administration.
Enterprise Singapore has appointed seven technology providers to help companies with these implementations.
Interested companies can approach any of the seven technology providers and receive funding support of up to 50 per cent through the Capability Development Grant. For more information, visit the HR Tech webpage.
Added Help for SMEs
Human Capital (Singapore) (HCS) said that it welcomes the launch of these initiatives.
It said: “They [the initiatives] serve to provide a wealth of practical knowledge and tools for businesses, especially for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help them better manage their respective HR and people management issues.”
HCS also said the initiatives help to enhance company branding, which contribute to attracting and retaining talent.
Grooming HR Professionals
Since the launch of IHRP in May 2017 by the tripartite partners, 400 HR professionals have been certified. While 400 is a good start, Mrs Teo said this pool of HR professionals has to grow “by many folds” to support the economic transformation plans.
Mrs Teo added: “IHRP is working closely with tripartite partners to reach out to more companies and HR leaders to certify their HR teams. Singapore National Employers Federation and NTUC are committed to drive adoption of IHRP certification among their companies and members.”
She said that starting from this year, over 100 HR professionals in the public sector will undergo IHRP certification every year.
Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) said that it has been actively involved since 2015 with the Ministry of Manpower in the deliberation of the national certification by IHRP.
It added: “The initiatives [by IHRP] are in line with our mission. SHRI has revised its professional membership categories to accept IHRP Certified professionals.”
