New accreditation to recognise employers that support NS

SINGAPORE — The NS Mark, which was launched at the annual Total Defence Awards (TDA) on Friday (Aug 26), is an accreditation scheme to recognise employers and organisations that support National Service (NS).

The mark is one of 30 proposals put forward by the Committee to Strengthen National Service, which was set up to look into ways to boost the NS system and enhance public support for it.

The accreditation, which is valid for three years, consists of two levels — the NS Mark and the NS Mark (Gold).

The NS Mark only requires organisations to sign a declaration of support for NS and Total Defence (TD). The NS Mark (Gold) will see accreditation based on the extent and effectiveness of the organisations’ support and advocacy efforts for NS and TD.

Organisations can submit their applications to www.NSmark.sg, which will be reviewed by a team from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef).

While incentives offered by organisations to their employees, such as additional days-off for reservist training and rewards based on the NSmen’s Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) results, will be considered, Mindef declined to share the exact assessment process.

Recipients of the NS Advocate Award at last year’s and this year’s TDA will be automatically certified with the NS Mark (Gold). In a media briefing on Thursday, Colonel (NS) Simon Lim, Mindef’s director of National Service Affairs, said the NS Mark will help in the sharing of NS-friendly practices among businesses and employers.

Mr Tony Chew, the co-chairperson of Employers and Business Council for the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence, said Singapore’s reputation as a safe business hub is also dependent on its strong national security and NS policies.

As such, while businesses would want their employees “to be around all the time”, they also know that they have to contribute to the country’s stability by supporting policies related to National Service, he added.

Sakae Holdings, one of the companies recognised with the NS Mark (Gold) after receiving the NS Advocate Award last year, provides one-day’s leave for NSmen taking their IPPT, and offers monetary incentives for their IPPT results.

Employees are also granted a half-day leave at the end of their reservist training to allow them to recuperate.

Mr Calvin Lee Chong Loon, a 25-year-old marketing executive for Sakae Holdings and radar specialist for the Air Force, said due to his company’s support, he is assured that his colleagues would help him with his office projects when he is away for reservist training.