By Fawwaz Baktee
It is imperative for landscape companies to comply with the training requirements for their workers before the landscape industry’s Progressive Wage Model (PWM) takes into effect on 30 June this year.
The call was made on 3 March 2016 by the Tripartite Cluster for Landscape Industry (TCL) at a learning journey to the National University of Singapore’s University Town.
To obtain registration under the Landscape Company Register (LCR) and bid for government landscape service tenders, companies must send half of their resident landscape maintenance workers for training under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) for Landscape before the PWM comes into effect this year. The next half of their workers will have need to meet the training requirements by June 2017.
In addition, companies must ensure that their resident landscape maintenance workers’ wages are in line with or higher than the recommended base amount under the model.
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Zainal Sapari, who also chairs the TCL, said: “The TCL is pleased to note that our tripartite efforts to improve the jobs of our landscape workers are bearing some fruit, as evidenced by early adopters. We hope to see quicker progress in terms of training so that more workers can benefit earlier form better jobs and better wages.”
Win-Win Outcome
As of January 2016, about 151 landscape companies have sent and committed their landscape maintenance workers for training as stipulated in the model.
Of the 3,000 resident landscape maintenance workers in Singapore, more than 1,300 will meet the training requirements by June 2016, according to the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE).
WDA and CUGE have also been working together to increase training capacity and tailor training delivery to meet demands.
Minister of State for Manpower and Prime Minister’s Office Sam Tan said: “It is encouraging to see that many companies have sent their landscape workers for training ahead of the implementation of the PWM. These companies are now benefiting from higher productivity with better skilled employees. Their landscape workers are also receiving better wages that commensurate with their skills.
“It is a win-win outcome for both the companies and their workers. We strongly urge companies that have yet to send their workers for training to do so soon.”
Learning Journey
The learning journey saw landscape company Swee Bee Contractor share how PWM has benefited its workers through training and productivity measures.
The company has sent 52 per cent of its resident landscape workers to obtain the necessary training requirements under the PWM.
Swee Bee Contractor Director Ivan Heng said that the company is targeting for all its landscape workers to obtain the necessary training by November this year.
“Implementing the Progressive Wage model has helped us to raise the skills of our workers. This has increased the productivity of our company as the workers are better equipped to handle new technology in the landscape industry,” said Mr Heng.
Source: NTUC This Week
