Ong Ye Kung: Deepening the skills of the local employees will help to overcome future challenges
23 Aug 2016
Lianhe Zaobao, 23 Aug 2016 - Article featured the official launch of the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme (ELP) for the Energy and Chemicals Sector by Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung at Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd, Pulau Bukom. He shared the importance of the SkillsFuture movement as well as the importance of the Energy and Chemicals Sector to the economy. To illustrate the importance of introducing new technology to improve productivity, he mentioned how Shell is using automation in its inspection procedures so as to save manpower. Participants of the ELP will undergo on-campus training at SP, along with structured on-the-job training and mentorship with their employers, which include leading firms in the industry such as Shell Eastern Petroleum Pte Ltd, Hyflux and Glaxo Wellcome Manufacturing. The minimum starting salary for the job component of the programme is between $1,400 and S2,000 with a shift allowance of $800 to $1,100, and participants may also receive wage increments or promotions based on their performance. The article mentioned that 26 participants from different polytechnics have been placed in eight companies since May 2016. These participants will be trained in areas such as process principles, design, optimisation and safety, and assessed by industry practitioners from the sector. Graduates who successfully complete the programme will receive an Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering from SP, and will have the opportunity to pursue a related degree in the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Technology-Newcastle University with exemptions in selected modules. Kimberly Siar, SP’s Diploma in Chemical Engineering graduate from the class of 2016 and a staff of Hyflux under the ELP, opined on the reasons for joining the ELP and how she has benefitted from the on-the-job training. Article also mentioned that the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) has launched 37 ELPs in 22 sectors and plans to increase to 40 ELPs by end of this year. Photo used in the story featured SP’s Diploma in Chemical Engineering graduate and current ELP participant Masyitah Hasunah giving a demonstration to Acting Minister Ong. Similar story was reported in Berita Harian, myPaper and Capital 95.8.
