Schemes unveiled to recognise job skills, not just certificates

Workers in two more sectors can soon seek accreditation as chartered technologists

- Tay Hong Yi

The intensifying push to recognise skills on the job and not just academic credentials took centre stage at a training conference on Aug 21, with a range of new and expanded schemes unveiled to keen employer interest.

For one thing, workers in the built environment sector as well as infrastructure with at least six years of relevant experience will, from the first quarter of 2025, get to pursue accreditation as chartered engineering technologists from the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES).

This brings the number of sectors covered by this skills-based pathway to three, following the land transport sector in 2021.

The move was among several announcements Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang made at the SkillsFuture Human Capital Conference held at Suntec City Convention Centre.

The conference, which was organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) and supported by Skills Future Singapore and the Lifelong Learning Institute, caps off the six-week SkillsFuture Festival 2024 that began on July 9.

Ms Gan told the event that she hoped the changes would not just ensure Singaporean workers stay competitive, but also realise their aspirations in time to come.

She also outlined the role of employers, intermediaries like industry bodies, as well as human resource practitioners, in working towards the goal of spurring training that is relevant to industry needs.