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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. - CNA/vm
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