The Singapore Plumbing Society (SPS) will work with NTUC, PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency (PUB) and Public Utilities Board Employees Union (PUBEU) to develop a sectorial Operation & Technology Roadmap (OTR) to explore ways of uplifting the plumbing sector.
The move came after SPS and seven of its SME members signed an agreement with NTUC U SME to upskill and drive transformation in the plumbing industry on 24 March 2021.
NTUC Secretary-General NG Chee Meng and Deputy Secretary-General Koh Poh Koon witnessed the signing of the agreement.
The partnership aims to professionalise the sector, grow the sector’s workforce, attract, and retain new and younger entrants into the industry. It also aims to support the growth and professionalisation of companies.
The roadmap’s objectives include manpower development and education to build the workforce sustainability.
Mr Ng said: “With the career dependent plans put in place, what it means is that it enables workers to be workers 4.0, utilising new technologies to do their work even better, and have viable businesses in our new economy.
“We bring the OTR to them [SMEs] so that they can think about how to pivot their business model, and really understand how technology can help them and go beyond just the buzzword of digitalisation.”
Mr Ng also said that he was pleased to know that NTUC is now a connector for so many different parties in Singapore, and that this connecting aspect of NTUC is very little known.
He said: “I am happy that the SPS has come on board, and now we are an ecosystem connected by a common interest of doing better for our country, doing better for our businesses, and importantly in this case, doing better for our brother and sisters who are plumbers.”
An Opportunity to Transform Workers
SPS President Tan Wee Teck said: “This OTR is a timely boost for SPS as it helps identify transformation opportunities for our industry and its workers.
“As owners of the roadmap, SPS plans to work with the various partners and stakeholders to develop the plumbing industry for the next 10 years, strengthen the voice for this profession and step-up initiatives to promote Singapore plumbing both locally and abroad.”
NTUC U SME Director Yeo Wan Ling shared that every industry and sector needs a champion like SPS to keep the industry moving and to continuously elevate the workforce’s skills and jobs.
“NTUC U SME will partner trade associations like SPS to build a strong a sustainable workforce. We look forward to linking up with more trade associations to help them map out visible pathways for businesses of all sizes, and activate the appropriate assistance from NTUC and our partner stakeholders, to help their workforce transform with their companies,” she said.
