SPWU is all poised to embrace new challenges and help workers adapt to a job landscape that is changing fast.
SPWU was the first trade union to be registered in Singapore in 1946 under the name Singapore Harbour Board Staff Association.
SPWU President Joseph Wang said the union’s core mission is to ensure that its members are equipped with the skills of tomorrow to operate the future port in Tuas.
A Singapore Icon
“With rapid breakthroughs in digital and robotic technologies, the challenge for our workers lies in embracing and equipping ourselves to cope with the changes,” added Mr Wang.
Both the union and PSA management are working hand in hand to identify the skills gaps and to plug them through upskilling workers.
Tomorrow’s Jobs
SPWU General Secretary and NTUC Central Committee member Arasu Duraisamy shared some examples of the jobs of the future in the new port development.
One of them is the automated rail mounted gantry cranes (ARMG) which allows cranes to operate without any operators.
There are sophisticated optical systems on the cranes which recognise containers. Crane specialists will monitor the operations and intervene when necessary.
Another example is the shift from twin lift operations to tandem mode operations.
Under the twin lift operations, the ship-to-shore cranes are able to lift two 20 foot containers at one go.
Under the new tandem mode operations, the ship-to-shore cranes are able to lift four 20 foot containers or two 40 foot containers at one go.
These moves will greatly help in improving the productivity of port workers and maintain the port’s competitiveness.
“As the Tuas port will be nearly fully automated, it will be a totally new working environment… we have been engaging the company on the manpower deployment and expected jobs at the new terminals,” said Mr Arasu.
Source: NTUC This Week
