Committee of Supply 2025 debate, Day 5: Foo Mee Har on SkillsFuture 2.0

SkillsFuture was established to ensure that Singaporeans can thrive and seize new opportunities in an evolving economy, said MP Foo Mee Har, who noted that the initiative has been enhanced over the years. Speaking in parliament on Thursday (May 6), she pointed out that despite this, the training participation rate declined to 40.7 per cent in 2024 - the lowest in nine years, leading many to question whether SkillsFuture is delivering on its full potential. Highlighting Switzerland’s Federal Act on Continuing Education and Training (CET), Ms Foo noted that its CET establishes a structured framework to ensure high-quality, industry-relevant training. Switzerland’s CET also counts towards formal qualifications that are integrated into hiring and career progression, ensuring that training translates into tangible employment outcomes, she said. Ms Foo called on SkillsFuture to focus on enhancing two key areas to strengthen the CET framework, drawing lessons from Switzerland.