Courses fostering family-friendly businesses to be launched

SINGAPORE — In a push to help businesses become more family-friendly, two first-of-their-kind training courses will be introduced by the end of this year, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) announced yesterday.

The courses, which will come with Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications certificates, are catered to frontline service staff and those in managerial or leadership positions.

For example, receptionists and general retail sales associate can learn how to provide better service to families with young children or senior citizens, as well as to people with disabilities.

Managers and corporate leaders, on the other hand, will be trained in providing family-friendly strategies and plans for their companies.

Registration will be open at the end of this year, and course fees are estimated to range from S$200 to S$500.

“We want to build strong families, and building strong families is not just about having programmes and events, but looking at how we can extend the experience and infrastructure that a family has at home to that of the facilities and the services we have beyond the home,” said Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.