SINGAPORE — Queuing for funeral services such as embalming or wake arrangements could become the norm only 10 years down the road if Singaporeans continue to shun work in the industry, Mr Ang Ziqian, Executive Director of Ang Chin Moh (ACM) Casket, said yesterday.

Hoping to change this, the ACM Foundation, formed last year by the 101-year-old company, will be committing S$1 million to enhance “the perception of death and bereavement” among the public and raise the image of the deathcare profession.

Deathcare refers to the provision of services and products related to death, such as funerals, cremations, burials and memorials.

Speaking at a media conference, Mr Ang, 32, who took over the reins from his father 10 years ago, cited the example of Hong Kong, which has a demographic similar to Singapore and a death rate three times higher.

The shortage of crematoriums and the lack of locations there to hold funerals and wakes have already led to waiting times of up to weeks.

The culture of holding ceremonies at auspicious timings also contributes to the wait, he said.

Last year, there were 18,027 deaths in Singapore and funerals are usually held immediately after death occurs. The number increases by about 2 or 3 per cent each year, Mr Ang said.

There are currently about 300 funeral professionals in the industry here and they are between 50 and 60 years of age on average.

“To support our ageing population, Singapore needs to inject new life into the deathcare industry ... At the present rate of attrition, due to high turnover and retirement, there will be a severe manpower shortage in 10 years.

“This crunch will stagnate the sector and result in a longer wait for funeral services, a situation which we all wish to avoid,” Mr Ang said.

To alleviate the situation, negative perceptions about jobs in the industry must change by way of education and professionalising the industry, he added.

The foundation plans to establish a deathcare and bereavement academy, and will be launching initiatives to raise productivity. There are also plans to have professional accreditation to raise standards and raise confidence among the public.

Besides funeral professionals like embalmists, funeral directors and operations executives, the industry needs professionals such as accountants, auditors and lawyers — but many who join it leave when their family express discomfort at their choice of industry, Mr Ang said.

ACM has also partnered the Lien Foundation to champion its cause. In February, the two foundations, together with the National Funeral Directors Association, held an international competition for designers to “re-imagine and re-design” deathcare. It drew some 700 entries.

The winning teams, announced yesterday, come from France, the United States, Lithuania and Greece.

The foundations have each pledged S$600,000 to work on three initiatives which include redesigning the in-patient concept in hospices and an arts engagement programme that will be rolled out later this year.