The Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS) and NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) are cooking up something special for 2014.
The two organisations announced the launch of the first-ever training programme for non-officer seamen on April.
Trainees under this new Place-and-Train Programme will be given theopportunity to work as qualified cooks, and as ordinary seamen on board vessels.
A Certificate for the Culinary Training from SHATEC will also be awarded to successful trainees giving them a chance to upgrade to a Diploma Course. This also opens up the possibility for them to work onshore in the hospitality or F&B industry, should they wish to.
Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin, who was Guest-of-Honour at SOS and Seacare Co-operative Ltd’s Lunar New Year Cocktail Reception said that such initiatives are important means in ensuring workers, especially the locals, remain relevant and employable.
“With the strong support of our tripartite partners, we are confident that this training programme will provide a good opportunity for more Singaporeans to embark on a maritime career,” Mr Tan added.
Currently, SOS’s plans include engaging the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), shipping companies and training providers to support the new initiative to engage locals as cooks on board Singapore merchant vessels.
Original article written by Naseema Banu Maideen, and can be found in NTUC This Week (9 February 2014)
