The Singapore Institute of Management Group (SIM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 5 January 2022 with the Supply Chain Employees' Union (SCEU) and Tech Talent Assembly (TTAB) to collaborate on a series of initiatives under its SGUnited Skills Logistics Programme, as part of its efforts to provide further impetus to mid-career professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) who are looking to build up their skills and capabilities to take on job opportunities in the logistics sector. SCEU and TTAB are affiliates of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
The strategic partnership will see the three parties collaborating to enhance the work prospects of individuals seeking a career in the logistics sector. The joint efforts that will be embarked on include actively reaching out to potential trainees to facilitate their enrolment in SIM’s SGUnited Skills Logistics Programme, and encouraging employers to recruit trained individuals. Trainees who have completed the programme will receive job placement assistance. As a value add to trainees, SIM, SCEU and TTAB will also co-curate and deliver programmes and events such as career talks and industry-related seminars.
The MOU was signed by Mr Seah Chin Siong, President and Chief Executive Officer, SIM; Mr Fahmi Aliman, Executive Secretary, SCEU; and Mr Ng Tiong Gee, President, TTAB. Mr Chee Hong Tat, Deputy Secretary-General, NTUC cum Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport was present to witness the signing of the MOU.
The logistics industry is a key pillar of Singapore’s economy which “contributed a value-add of $6.8 billion (amounting to 1.4% of GDP) and employs more than 86,000 workers across more than 5,300 unique entities in 2019”. This sector is also “one of the most welcoming of mid-career switchers”, offering “more than 2,100 available openings” as at end-September 2020, of which more than 60% were jobs1.
“SIM is excited to partner SCEU and TTAB to help mid-career job seekers who are interested in job opportunities in the logistics sector during this continuing pandemic situation. Our focus is to help PMETs close their gaps between skills and employability and prepare them for the future of work. Together with SCEU and TTAB as well as our industry partners, we aim to have our trainees be reskilled and upskilled effectively, and be able to tap on job opportunities in this important sector of our economy,” said Mr Seah Chin Siong, President and Chief Executive Officer, SIM.
Added Mr Fahmi Aliman, Executive Secretary, SCEU: “Our logistics sector is growing and concurrently undergoing digital transformation. Logistics companies are always looking for talents with the right skill sets to join the sector. Through this collaboration, SCEU union leaders and unionised companies provided input on relevant technical and technological skills for the logistics sector so that trained individuals can land on jobs quicker with relevant skill sets. We are also bringing in both interested learners and unionised companies for programme placement and job placement opportunities so that companies can hire the right people and our workers can find jobs soon. This is in line with our commitment to secure better wages and better career prospects for our workers.”
“TTAB is excited to collaborate with SIM and SCEU on initiatives that address the digital and technology needs of the different sub-sectors in the economy. The SGUnited Skills Logistics Programme complements TTAB’s aim as a tech association to nurture tech talents with future-ready skills. As the logistics sector shifts to embrace more digital capabilities, it is critical to equip workers, such as mid-career professionals, with the relevant digital and technological skills required by employers so that they are better equipped to take on changing demands,” said Mr Ng Tiong Gee, President, TTAB.
According to the Ministry of Manpower’s Jobs Situation Report (28th Edition)2, out of 56 job roles studied in the logistics sector, 54% of them – which account for about 36,000 workers – will experience at least a "medium degree of change in job tasks, which will require job redesign or undergo displacement”. Upskilling and reskilling of workers in this industry will have to be a “sustained and continuous effort”.
SIM’s SGUnited Skills Logistics Programme is expected to reskill and upskill more than 500 mid-career PMETs to undertake managerial roles in the logistics sector. It is offered through the Professional Development and Enterprise Learning arm of SIM. Trainees will undergo a six-month full-time programme consisting of professional career coaching and 372 hours of market-relevant training courses to pick up the latest practical skill sets sought after by employers. They will also undertake a capstone project that will allow them to apply their newly acquired skills. Upon completion of the programme, those who have not found a job will receive job placement facilitation.
The programme offers two specialty tracks – Digital Logistics and Workforce Talent Specialist. Each track ensures trainees are adequately trained for specific high-demand job roles, such as in eCommerce and systems implementation for the former, and in recruitment and workforce development for the latter. In addition to SCEU and TTAB, SIM is collaborating with two learning partners to co-deliver the training, and nine recruitment partners to facilitate job placement opportunities.
The full programme fee is $500 nett, which can be offset with SkillsFuture Credit. Trainees will receive a monthly allowance of $1,200 throughout the programme to help cover their basic expenses.
Application for SIM’s SGUnited Skills Logistics Programme is now open and ongoing. A series of online preview talks will be held in conjunction with the enrolment period, starting from 6 January 2022.
1 Jobs Situation Report (11th Edition) by the Ministry of Manpower
2 Jobs Situation Report (28th Edition) by the Ministry of Manpower