THE precision engineering industry suffers from a serious image
problem.
Singaporeans see it as a dirty and smelly business and are avoiding
it in droves.
So despite creating about 2,000 jobs each year in the last two
years, only about one in three has been taken up.
Precision engineering, or PE, includes metal stamping and machining
parts for the semiconductor, aerospace and automotive
industries.
'The situation is very bad. Almost half of the industry's workforce
of 50,000 is made up of foreigners,' said Dr Moh Chong Tau,
chairman of the PE Industry Skills Training Council, set up by
employers to provide training.
'Young Singaporeans, even the engineers, prefer to work in the city
and dress smartly. It's also very hard to attract them because of
the misconceptions and myths of this industry.'
This is happening despite a higher entry-level salary for the PE
industry.
A tool and die maker with GCE O levels, for example, can earn
between $1,700 and $2,302 a month. In comparison, a customer
service clerk with GCE A levels takes in just between $1,200 and
$1,550.
The difference is largely because a PE worker gets more training,
both before and on the job, said the Workforce Development Agency
(WDA).
However, the popular picture of the PE worker is not an attractive
one. 'The perception is that he is dirty, smelly, works on a lathe
all day, grinding away at metal pieces,' said WDA director
(manufacturing and construction division) Jeffrey Lam.
Worse, most people perceive the work as being done in hot and humid
workshops.
This is no longer accurate as many companies have air-conditioned
their work areas. Said Dr Moh: 'The environment is actually very
clean and fully automated.
'We use a lot of computers. If you are good at playing computer
games, you'd have no problem doing the work.'
The industry generated an output of $20 billion in 2005, a figure
that should reach $28 billion by 2018.
But the labour shortage is worrying because of its direct impact on
other sectors, in particular, manufacturing.
Said Mr Lam: 'Some people call the PE industry the mother of
manufacturing industries. It produces the tools, moulds,
components, and machinery to support other manufacturing activities
including electronics, pharmaceuticals, aerospace.'
For example, in aerospace, PE is needed to produce landing gear and
engine cases.
If the labour problem persists, PE companies here would migrate to
countries like China, where manpower is in abundance, said Dr Moh,
who is also president of PE company Makino Asia.
To attract more Singaporeans, the WDA is developing a nationally
recognised training programme for the industry.
The Workforce Skills Qualifications, or WSQ, helps upgrade workers
by developing career paths and giving them structured
training.
It may also be packaged into apprenticeship or scholarship
schemes.
Straits times 22 Mar
