New schemes to nurture talent in maritime sector
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — To attract, develop and retain local talent in the maritime sector, the Government will set aside S$12 million over the next two years to roll out a series of manpower schemes.
The schemes, set to be implemented progressively from May 1, are expected to benefit about 5,000 individuals.
Among the initiatives is the Maritime Career Conversion Scheme (MCCS), which will help Singaporeans and permanent residents to re-skill and obtain jobs in the maritime sector.
Under the scheme, fresh graduates and mid-career entrants with no background in maritime work will attend a structured training programme, co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), which will raise their employability for selected jobs in the port, shipping and maritime services sectors.
The MPA will also co-fund up to half of each employee’s salary for the first six months – capped at S$1,650 per month – after they complete training, to nudge companies to hire employees through the scheme. This move is expected to benefit between 100 and 120 individuals over two years.
A scheme aimed at encouraging maritime businesses to continue offering internships to students will also be launched. Called the Internship Reimbursement Scheme (IRS), it will see the MPA co-fund 50 per cent of a student’s internship allowance, with a cap of S$400 a month per student.
The IRS is expected to benefit up to 1,600 students, over two years, reading selected maritime courses at the Institute of Technical Education colleges, polytechnics and local universities who take up internships made available through the scheme.
The MPA will also step up co-funding under the Maritime Cluster Fund for Manpower Development (MCF-MD). It will co-fund as much as 90 per cent of the costs for selected short courses and certifiable programmes, to spur maritime firms to continue upskilling their staff.
The wider training opportunities that this enables will benefit more than 3,000 Singaporeans and permanent residents over the next two years.
In addition, the MCF-MD will be tapped to roll out the MCCS and IRS.
Since 2007, S$115 million has been pumped into the fund to nurture manpower for the maritime industry, the MPA said.
“These schemes, taken together with the other existing initiatives, will equip Singaporeans to take advantage of the many exciting career opportunities in the maritime sector,” it added.
MPA chief executive Andrew Tan said the agency will continue to devote resources to attract and nurture local talent in the maritime industry.
“The introduction of the various manpower schemes … reaffirms MPA’s commitment to developing a quality maritime workforce and ensuring that Singapore remains well-positioned when we emerge from the shipping downturn,” he added.
