SINGAPORE: The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is launching initiatives to attract locals to join the construction sector and to strengthen skills at all levels of the sector's workforce.

These initiatives are part of a masterplan that is being drafted to build a competent, productive and progressive labour force for the local construction industry.

Announcing the masterplan on Friday at a BCA Academy graduation event, Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu said Singapore's construction sector is holding up under the effects of the current economic slowdown.

The sector is expected to hit S$30 billion in value by the end of this year – up by some 10 per cent on-year.

But she said construction demand is expected to come down in the next two years and the industry must make adjustments to adapt.

One of the key initiatives will see the BCA working with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and the Work Development Agency (WDA) to reclaim suitable jobs in the industry for locals.

"Having more locals to anchor the largely transient workforce in our industry will enable us to sustain and continually improve our skills and knowledge base. Now is a crucial time for the industry to attract and retain the core group of local workforce," said Ms Fu.

In particular, the Construction Re-Skilling for Employment (CORE) scheme will subsidise skills training for new local entrants in key construction trades.

Another new scheme called CoreTrade will also be launched next year to build up a core pool of competent and experienced tradesmen and foremen to help construction workers progress into supervisory positions.

Lam Siew Wah, deputy CEO, Industry and Corporate Development, BCA, said: "There is still a need for manpower at all levels. There are many opportunities in the industry for locals who want to take up jobs at the trade level, at the foreman level, as well as at the supervisory level."


- CNA/so