Budget 2015: Mindset change, rigorous training, needed for SkillsFuture to take flight

SINGAPORE — On the first day of parliamentary debates on the Budget Statement, Members of Parliament (MP) welcomed the move to upskill Singaporeans and nurture an environment of lifelong learning. They noted, however, that changes in employers’ mindsets – particularly towards investing in training resources and employing older workers – are essential for the SkillsFuture initiative to take flight.

MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Liang Eng Hwa said employers must see the “higher purpose” of training their employees, for the overall industry development and growth. He added that it will alleviate the need for high numbers of foreign labour in the long run.

Calling on the Government and industry to increase efforts to turnaround the Republic’s negative labour productivity growth rate pattern, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How said labour productivity is directly proportional to real wage growth.

More resources must be devoted to redesigning jobs across industries, especially in light of an ageing workforce, he said.

“At the same time, we must make sure workers are able to take on these higher value-added jobs,” he noted, urging organisations to appreciate and invest in training of older workers.

“I call on all employers and the human resource profession to play their part, especially given the strong funding by the Government, to continue to invest in the training and updating of their mature workers as a key and lasting part of their workforce,” he said.

Marine Parade GRC MP Tin Pei Ling called for a wider selection of courses, such as Master's degree programmes, to be included under the SkillsFuture Credit scheme, which offers cash credits to upgrade the skills of those already in the workforce. The scheme is presently available only to a selection of courses approved by the Ministry of Education and Workforce Development Agency.

“The SkillsFuture Credit is about empowerment and giving Singaporeans autonomy…over their personal development and career progression…Hence, why not broaden the selection of courses for Singaporeans to decide for themselves?” she asked.

Workers’ Party chairperson Sylvia Lim said SkillsFuture courses must be rigorous, and the training sector must have the capacity and quality to deliver good skills training. She added that the SkillsFuture initiative and Silver Support scheme are important Budget initiatives as they have the potential to foster social solidarity and mitigate inequality in Singapore.