PMETs to get more training, job support with launch of Skills Framework for the logistics industry
29 September 2017 | 06:36 PM
SINGAPORE — The Government launched the Skills Framework for the Logistics sector on Friday (Sep 22) aimed at accelerating industry transformation with a focus on guiding local talent with employment, career pathways, job roles, skills, competencies and training programmes related to the sector.
The announcement was made at the opening of the Supply Chain City by YCH attended by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The new S$200 million Asia Supply Chain facility at Jurong Innovation District is seen as a new benchmark in the supply chain and logistics industry, supporting Singapore’s key growth areas like urban solutions, smart logistics and robotics.
The logistics industry will achieve a value-add of S$8.3 billion and create 2,000 new jobs for professionals, managers, executives and technicians by 2020, Mr Lee noted.
“Some of these jobs will demand different and deeper skills from today, as new technologies and new ways of working become mainstream. Hence, our companies must also invest in people, to develop talent, retrain their staff and nurture deep knowledge and soft skills. The Government will play its part to attract, nurture and retain a strong Singaporean core of talent for the logistics industry,” Mr Lee said.
The Government will train more people ahead of demand, through universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education. Support for mid-career professional conversion programmes to augment the talent pipeline will also be provided, he said.
“Together, we can maintain our status as Asia’s leading global logistics hub,” he added.
Highlighting how homegrown logistics company YCH has stayed ahead of competition by adapting and innovating, and investing in new technologies and people, Mr Lee outlined the importance of productivity and innovation in catalysing the overall growth of the industry.
The Skills Framework for Logistics sector was launched against the backdrop of the Logistics Industry Transformation Map (ITM) announced in November last year. The sector ITM was collectively crafted by agencies including International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), Spring Singapore and Workforce Singapore (WSG).
He noted that logistics is an important and promising sector for Singapore contributing over 7 per cent to the nation’s gross domestic product and employed over 200,000 workers. Singapore’s well-connected airport and sea ports enable logistics companies to serve the whole region efficiently from Singapore, he added.
“E-commerce in particular is growing rapidly. Supplanting traditional retail in many cases and the last mile of e-commerce, that is, delivery to the customer, is where technology and innovation can really make a difference,” he added.
To develop a strong pool of local talent to support growth of industry, the Skills Framework for Logistics identifies job roles, career pathways, and existing and emerging skills required for the logistics sector. Workforce programmes under WSG’s Adapt and Grow initiative, such as the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCP) as well as the PCP Attach and Train, also support the transformation of the logistics sector.
