SINGAPORE SEVEN OUT OF TEN OF OVER ONE MILLION FOREIGN WORKERS ARE WORK PERMIT HOLDERS BUT DOES NOT HAVE CURRENTLY NO STRUCTURED SKILLS QUALIFICATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS PROGRAM TAILORED FOR THEM 19TH JANUARY 2014 SINGAPORE: The Migrant Workers Centre (MWC) is calling for a structured skills qualification framework for foreign workers in Singapore. In an exclusive interview with Channel NewsAsia, its chairman said that the aim is to enhance the quality of migrant workers in the country. About seven in 10 of the over one million foreign workers in Singapore are work permit holders and there is currently no structured skills qualification or certification programme tailored for them. MWC said such an initiative can help to enhance the quality and skills of foreign workers, which could then be tied to the renewal of their work permits. Yeo Guat Kwang, chairman of MWC, said: We have to help the employers keep the better migrant workers, for any worker who may want to continue to work here after the two-year work permit term. They should show proof that they have upped their skills and they have better skills certification. Employers Channel NewsAsia spoke with said there should be more incentives to train foreign workers. The construction and marine sectors enjoy levy concessions for work permit holders who possess relevant skills and certificates. The Environmental Management Association of Singapore (EMAS), which oversees the cleaning industry - a sector heavily reliant on foreign workers - wants to see such an arrangement expanded. Its president Milton Ng said: “Foreign workers are still the backbone of our environmental hygiene sector. To raise the professionalism of industry, all workers should be trained regardless of nationality. “EMAS’ recommendation to overcome this is by lowering foreign workers levy once they are trained and skilled. Companies will then invest in foreign workers training as the lower levy will assist in defraying training cost. Skilled foreign workers can also contribute to increasing productivity.” MWC is also pushing for a standard contract, between employment agencies, the foreign worker and employers. It is like the standard contract for foreign domestic workers, which outlines service agreements and employment terms.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 03:32:10 +0000
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