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SINGAPORE : Productivity in Singapore's retail industry lags other international cities like New York. So the city-state has developed a new programme to help retailers boost their workers' productivity to stay competitive.
Regional cities like Hong Kong pose an increasing competition to Singapore's retail sector.
Singapore's retail productivity is only 66 per cent that of Hong Kong's and 44 per cent that of New York's.
This is according to a recent poll by Global Language Monitor, which also ranked Singapore as 15th on the list of 20 fashion capitals of the world.
To ensure that the industry does not lose out, the government sees the need to help retail staff become more productive.
Companies can upgrade their workers' skills through an eight-day Certified Productivity Practitioner training programme.
Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, S Iswaran, said: "Participants will learn to identify and analyse productivity issues affecting their companies, develop solutions and implement strategies that will address these issues.
"They will also be equipped with tools and systems that will help the company develop a productive sales team and grow its top-line."
Mr Iswaran explained that raising retail workers' productivity is critical because it now stands at S$37,000. That contributes only 40 per cent of the whole economy.
Industry watchers have welcomed a structured programme to help the over 100,000 retail workers in Singapore.
The industry sees about 19,000 establishments and its workers make up some 4 per cent of Singapore's total workforce.
Jannie Tay, president, Singapore Retailers Association, said: "There has been a tremendous dilution of our skilled staff where more stores have opened and the trained and skilled staff are less. So training and productivity is the key."
The retail industry's sales revenue came in at some S$26.2 billion in 2008, generating S$3.8 billion.
This accounted for 1.4 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product. - CNA/ms
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