SINGAPORE: Helping low-wage workers do better and earn more is a multi-faceted challenge, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Hawazi Daipi.
Speaking in Parliament on efforts to level-up low-wage workers, he explained that based on the 2010 Singapore Labour Force survey, at least 22 per cent of the total resident labour workforce had below secondary school qualification.
"One of our priorities is promoting training for low-wage workers, which will enable them to become more productive and take on higher value jobs over time," Mr Hawazi said.
"The government has made a major commitment to the upgrading of low-wage workers with the launch of the Workfare Training Support (WTS) Scheme in July last year.
"WTS consists of three components to support training for low-wage workers. First, the "Employer Grant" provides up to 95 per cent of course fees and absentee payroll support to encourage employers to send workers for training.
"Second, the "Training Commitment Award" rewards workers up to S$400 a year to encourage them to complete their training as they work.
"Third, the "Workfare-Skill Up" programme provides a holistic training roadmap with customised classes to help low-wage workers overcome training barriers, attain literacy and workplace skills and find suitable jobs.
"As of February 2011, more than 34,000 workers have benefited from the scheme. Specifically, over 11,000 workers and 1,300 employers have benefited from the WTS-Employer Grant".
A new programme will be launched to enhance their competency in English with the training made more accessible.
It's called "The English @ Workplace scheme", which encourages companies to provide English training at the workplace.
This will make such training more accessible to workers and the courses more relevant to their work.
Mr Hawazi explained that under the scheme, companies will receive additional development grants to offset cost incurred in training, curriculum development and the adoption of other innovative design and delivery methods for Workplace English training.
These development grants are over and above what the companies already enjoy in course fee funding and absentee payroll under WDA's existing programmes, including the Workfare Training Support (WTS) programme for low-wage workers.
The English @ Workplace Scheme offers companies' two different options to better meet their needs when it comes to developing their in-house English training programmes.
Companies can engage one of WDA's Workplace Literacy CET centres to design customised programmes and to conduct training at the companies' premises.
For companies that already have in-house training capability or are looking to establish their own in-house English training programmes, they can become an in-house provider and deliver their own English training.
Mr Hawazi also stressed that the ministry is stepping up its enforcement against errant employers.
He said the Manpower Ministry will provide information for buyers of services, employees and consumers, on individual companies that have infringed employment-related laws.
It will start by publishing online a list of employers convicted under the Employment Act and Workplace Safety and Health Act from April this year.
