Media Release
Growing The Singapore Core In Oil, Petrochemical, Energy & Chemical Sectors
~ $13 million set aside to attract locals, up-skill and train 1,000 technicians and engineers ~
Singapore, 7 November 2012 - The National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) Oil, Petrochemical, Energy & Chemical (OPEC) Cluster1 will move the OPEC sectors towards progressively higher wages by setting aside a $13 million funding for training and skills upgrading so as to grow the Singaporean Core. The OPEC sectors have been facing the key challenges of an ageing Singaporean Core in the technical professional workforce and attracting new entrants, despite competitive pay and prospects.
2. Mr K Karthikeyan, Chairman of NTUC’s OPEC Cluster said, “We have committed to this initiative to highlight that our Progressive Wage Model (PWM) (Annex A) is a model for all levels of workers. It aims to help them earn higher pay progressively throughout their careers, even in industries where salaries are relatively better. The Cluster and NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) will continue to work with our companies to tap on the funding to develop more structured approaches towards training for better jobs and good career progression for all Singaporeans.”
3. Singapore Power (SP), a leading energy utility company in the Asia Pacific, is a prime example of a company which has spearheaded efforts in concert with the Labour Movement. Aligned with the Cluster’s objectives of achieving better wages and strengthening the Singaporean Core in the OPEC sector, the Cluster joined hands with SP to organise a comprehensive Learning Journey (LJ) today. SP presented its career progression track, development programmes and new technologies that have helped workers enhance their skills and job scopes, resulting in higher productivity and wages.
4. To augment the Labour Movement’s commitment towards enhancing the skills of workers, the OPEC Cluster, in close partnership and funding support from the e2i and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), will set aside $13 million over the next three years to benefit 1,000 technical professionals (i.e. technicians and engineers). The Cluster will work with companies in the sectors to cultivate T-shaped2 capabilities for more locals to enhance the Singaporean Core.
5. Mr Ang Chai Soon, Director of Manufacturing & Construction Division, WDA, said: “WDA and e2i are pleased to work with the OPEC Cluster and the industry on Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) training programmes and traineeships to help attract locals to join the sectors and develop strong technical expertise for them. The presence of a structured career progression and development pathway will enable companies to plan and develop their workforce capabilities for growth and expansion.”
Career uplifting for technical professionals
6. The OPEC Cluster and tripartite partners aim to help 1,000 workers achieve progressively higher wages through various strategies (Annex B), namely:
a. Allowances and subsidies for companies to attract and upgrade the Singaporean Core
b. Developing and structuring the companies’ training and development frameworks
c. Enhancing employee progression from technical to engineering positions
1 The NTUC Oil, Petrochemical, Energy and Chemical Cluster comprise seven unions representing workers from the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Energy, Chemicals and Biomedical sectors. They include the Chemical Industries Employees’ Union (CIEU), ExxonMobil Singapore Employees Union (EMSEU), Singapore Refining Company Employees Union (SRCEU), United Workers of Petroleum Industry (UWPI), Union Of Power and Gas Employees (UPAGE), Singapore Shell Employees Union (SSEU-SHELL) and the the Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees (AUSBE).
2 T-shaped capabilities refers to employees’ in-depth specialised expertise (vertical bar), whereas the horizontal bar is the ability to collaborate across disciplines with experts in other areas and to apply knowledge in areas of expertise other than one's own.
Career Progression Path – The Singapore Power (SP) Way
- As more businesses progress to strengthen the core of Singaporean workers, raise productivity and enhance job and wage progression, there are companies who have made good inroads in these areas.
- SP is a unionised company under the Union of Power and Gas Employees (UPAGE). At today’s Learning Journey, the company shared its career progression pathway. SP has put in place a structured path for Technicians to progress to Senior Technician, and thereafter to Technical Officer, Senior Technical Officer and Engineer.
- SP invests in the training and upgrading of workers to help them develop their potential and advance to higher responsibilities. One such example is Mr Abdul Rahman bin Suthamoo who joined SP as a Technician Apprentice. He underwent structured training and within 3 years, he became a fully qualified Technician. Last year, he completed his diploma through SP’s sponsorship and is now a Technical Officer. Another example is Mr Murugaiah Selvam who made the leap from Technical Officer to Engineer when he completed a degree course fully sponsored by SP. (See Annex C for the detailed profiles of Mr Selvam, Mr Rahman and two other workers who are now enjoying better jobs and wages through their respective career progressions).
- Mr Wong Kim Yin, Group Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Power, explained, "We want to equip our staff with the right skills, tools and support to do their jobs well and take care of their families. Through continuous learning, as they advance to each stage of their career, they can look forward to upgrading their skills, improving productivity and attaining higher wages in a progressive manner."
- RKS Nachiappan, General Secretary of the Union Of Power and Gas Employees (UPAGE) commended the move, “UPAGE and Singapore Power have worked hard over many years to cultivate an excellent working relationship. We are united in our journey towards creating “Better Jobs for All”. Through this partnership, we hope to promote inclusive growth for all workers, strengthen the Singaporean core, and implement productivity measures to create higher value jobs.”
- In summary, what this means for:
The Oil, Petrochemical, Energy & Chemical (OPEC) Cluster
- Support to address challenges of ageing workforce and attracting young entrants
- Grow the Singaporean Core
The Employers – Companies and service providers
- Funding for companies to attract and upgrade the Singaporean Core
- Structuring of training and development frameworks
The Employees – Technicians and Engineers
- More opportunities to develop T-shaped capabilities and advance in career
- Better clarity on upgrading opportunities and career prospects
Consumers and Service Buyers
- Assurance of higher quality and reliability