The continuing education and training provider will work with seven leading organisations in the retail sector.
NTUC LearningHub (LHUB) launched on 19 June 2023 a retail institute to uplift Singapore’s retail sector and help the industry retain and attract talent.
The institute will provide better support to the retail workforce and businesses through skills training in productivity and standards.
Through the institute, NTUC LHUB will also aggregate emerging trends and skills, and curate relevant training and curricula to help the retail sector stay ahead of the technological changes and evolving consumer preferences.
The launch of the NTUC LHUB Retail Institute comes after the announcement by Workforce Singapore on the Job Transformation Map and the Job-Skills Integrator for Retail, which NTUC LHUB is a training provider.
Speaking as guest of honour during the launch at the Lifelong Learning Institute, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said the institute addresses what workers have told NTUC about the challenges in the industry, such as the lack of resources by companies and lack of time for workers to go for training.
The retail institute also builds on the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for Retail Sector, launched in September 2022.
NTUC LHUB Chief Sector Skills Officer Tay Ee Learn said the retail institute complements the PWM so that workers can build on the foundational skills they have obtained through the PWM.
Mr Tay added that the retail institute hopes to transform retail workers into a “complete package”, one with service skills and other skills such as digital marketing and data analytics.
Photo Credit: NTUC LearningHub
NTUC LHUB also signed agreements with seven leading organisations in Singapore’s retail sector to establish cooperation and develop an industry-recognised Career Development Plan to attract, nurture and retain talent.
The organisations include ABC Bargain Centre Pte Ltd, DD Pte Ltd (owner of Valu$ stores), OG Pte Ltd, DFI Retail Group, FairPrice Group, Sheng Siong Group and Capitaland.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by Mr Ng, and representatives from The Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union, the Singapore Industrial and Services Employees’ Union and the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union.
Together with the retail partners, the NTUC LHUB Retail Institute will partner with the Job-Skills Integrator for Retail and NTUC Training & Placement ecosystem to develop progressive career development pathways.
Retail workers can look forward to high-quality, industry-relevant curricula such as stackable WSQ courses and industry study trips.
Those interested in joining the sector can also expect support in career transition through placement initiatives for redesigned and emerging job roles.
Mr Tay added that while seven retail organisations have signed the agreement, NTUC LHUB has about 100 retail companies in its client list that it hopes to work with, along with other unionised companies.
He said: “We look forward to working with the NTUC Industry Training and Transformation, Company Training Committees and unions to see who else we can bring to this partnership because this [initial] partnership must be a magnet to attract more partners to join.”
Click here for more information on the NTUC LearningHub Retail Institute.
