WSQ System well received amongst employers, workers:
WDA
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Workforce Skills Qualifications
System is bringing about dividends for both workers and their
companies.
According to a recent survey of workers and companies, 90 per cent
of those polled experienced better work performance after
training.
The Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) System was introduced in
2005. Since then 390,000 workers have obtained some form of
certification to improve their skills levels.
Of these, some 3,000 workers were surveyed between July and October
last year. Among the key findings, 93 per cent of trainees were
able to apply the skills acquired at work and said they could
perform better at work.
14 per cent got a pay rise, while another 12 per cent received a
promotion. Five per cent of those surveyed moved to another company
within the same industry with the skills training they
received.
The WSQ training also had a positive impact on companies. 62 per
cent of the 572 companies surveyed experienced improvements in the
area of work productivity.
Minister of State for Manpower, Lee Yi Shyan, said: "Higher
productivity in a process plant means minimum shutdown and quick
turnaround.
"We also want to urge employers and companies to fully support this
programme because once they are able to train their workers
consistently and be sure that their workers have the skills that
are bringing about productivity increase at the plant and industry
level, they will see the benefits."
"The survey also showed that half of them get bigger jobs and
better responsibilities and I think up to 12 per cent have a pay
rise immediately. This is a very good encouragement for workers
that if they acquire new skills, the company will put them to good
use and the companies will appreciate them."
In line with calls to enhance productivity at all levels of the
Singapore workforce, the Workforce Skills Qualifications System is
being expanded into new areas.
One of them is in the chemicals industry. The Workforce Development
Agency said this sector alone employs nearly 23,000 workers and
continuing education and training is something which is
indispensable for the chemicals sector.
Among those who trained such workers to enhance their skills is a
71-year-old former mechanical engineer. He had worked in Exxon
Mobil for 30 years.
Goh Kok Kheng, trainer, Petrofac Training, said: "I do training on
pump operations and maintenance and I also look after the
maintenance in the live plant. They are very interested in my
experience and training which I provide. This is the advantage I
have."
85 per cent of the companies surveyed have indicated that they will
continue to send their employees for WSQ courses, and a majority of
the trainees said that they would recommend the courses to their
friends.
There is also greater awareness and adoption of WSQ by companies.
The top sectors with the highest WSQ adoption rates are security,
aerospace and tourism.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1036635/1/.html