Train & Upgrade – A brighter path to success for SMEs!
7 October 2006
Media Release
Training and upgrading the skills of employees can help to enhance the competitiveness of the company. A structured training programme is especially important to a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), as it will help the company compete in a highly competitive global market.
Indeed, four SMEs saw the benefits that they can reap through an effective training programme. With the help of Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU) and Skills Development Department of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), these four SMEs will be the pioneers in encouraging other SMEs to improve their business competitiveness through structured training for their employees.
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony held this morning, 11 unionised branches under SMMWU signed a training MOU which displayed their commitment to training. Training opportunities will be identified so that the SMEs can send their workers for courses relevant to the workers and the company. In total, 3,701 employees will benefit from the training programmes under this MOU.
Mr Lim Swee Say, Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC, and Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, is the Guest of Honour for this event. He said,” SMEs play an important role in our Singapore economy. They account for about one-third of our GDP and about half of total employment in Singapore. With rapid pace of globalization and restructuring, SMEs need to ensure that their workers are equipped with updated skills to stay competitive. In this regard, the unions, NTUC and WDA can support them with funding schemes and training programmes that suit their needs.”
The four SMEs that committed to enhanced training for their employees are Multi-Co, NSS Engineering Services Pte Ltd, Halcon Primo Logistics Pte Ltd and Diners Club. In total, 231 workers in these four SMEs will benefit from the Skills Redevelopment Programme (SRP) which includes training on providing GEMS (Go the Extra Miles) services, workplace skills services, communication and negotiation skills etc.
Besides these four SMEs who showed support for training, seven other companies who are unionized under SMMWU are also strong advocates of training for their employees. They include MINDS, Canon (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Automobile Association of Singapore, Metro (Private) Ltd, Unicom Databank Pte Ltd, BHG (Singapore) Pte Ltd – Seiyu and ST Kinetics.
3,470 employees in these larger enterprises will receive training in various aspects related to their job scope. Most of the employees who will benefit from the training are rank & file workers. However, middle management employees such as Managers, Engineers and School Principals will also receive training in leadership, management and development courses.
Mr John De Payva, Secretary-General of SMMWU commented, “It is heartening to know that more and more companies are providing training opportunities for the white collar workers too. Skills upgrading is applicable to all, regardless of the job you do, or the position you hold.”
In conjunction with the MOU signing ceremony, SMMWU also organized a training fair which featured 8 training providers. The theme of the training fair is “Train and Upgrade for a better future”. About 1,000 SMMWU members attended the training fair to find out what are the training opportunities available to them.
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For media queries, please contact:
Chong Yan Cheng (Ms)
Consultant
Corporate Communications Department
National Trades Union Congress
DID 6213 8190
HP 9797 8985
Fax 6327 3749
About National Trades Union Congress
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national federation of trade unions of workers in the industrial, service and public sectors representing more than 460,000 workers in Singapore. It has 64 trade unions and six associations affiliated to it. NTUC’s objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and workers to remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of workers and to build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement.
About Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union
The Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union is a General Union affiliated to the NTUC. Established in 1959, It is the largest union in Singapore, representing more than 70,000 workers in some 230 companies, mostly in the services and industrial sectors. SMMWU works closely with NTUC to take a proactive role to help their members adapt to the rapid changes in the work environment through programmes and courses to inculcate a learning culture.
