aranda chalet

05 JULY 2015
60 CENTS
MCI (P) 044/12/2014
We show you places you can
go to and things you can do
to stay cool this hot season.
Enabling Positive Outcomes
Find out how NTUC’s e2i is toughening up its role as an enabler to help employees
and employers. Plus, we bring you a listing of career and training fairs and lunch talks
taking place over the month of July for the Employability Fair 2015.
<<p07
2 BEAT THE HEAT NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
It’s going to be
hot, hot, hot in
the Lion City
over the next few
weeks. So we’ve
put together
some cool ideas
to help you get
out of the heat.
By Shukry Rashid
COOL
ESCAPES
D’RESORT LAUNCH
Have you heard about the latest chill-out place to hang out at? Make
a beeline for the D’Resort @ Downtown East – NTUC Club’s all-new,
Singapore’s first nature-inspired resort with an integrated waterpark
experience. Featuring a total of nine room types and complimentary
entrance to Wild Wild Wet, D’Resort promises a whole new experience to
Photo by Shukry Rashid
those looking to get away from the city’s heat and hurry.
NTUC Club’s D’Resort @ Downtown East opening on 1 July 2015 marked
the completion of Phase One of the $200 million Refreshing Downtown
East redevelopment project first announced in 2012. Here are some classy
interiors to cool down in while soaking up relaxation.
Photo by Shukry Rashid
Photo by Shukry Rashid
The 117 Rainforest-themed rooms
come in five room types. The two
designs of one queen-sized bed
and a bunk bed are perfect for the
whole family.
Mr Andy Ng and his family enjoying the newly launched chalet at D’Resort.
My first impression is that it’s quite
nice and cosy, my son is enjoying
it. We’re preparing to go to Wild Wild Wet
and the nearby movie theatre later, and
tonight we’ll be having a barbeque at
the barbeque pit.”
– Mr Andy Ng, 35 (pictured above), one of the first guests of the
newly launched D’Resort.
WHERE TO FIND ME
A total of 270 chalet rooms also await to welcome guests, decorated with
soothing scenic shots taken by union members. For added convenience, the
chalet rooms are located adjacent to the barbeque pits.
D’Resort @ Downtown East, 1 Pasir Ris Close. For more information
and bookings, call 6589 1865 or visit www.dresort.com.sg.
NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
BEAT THE HEAT
SPLASHING GOOD TIME
Situated at Downtown East, NTUC Club’s Wild Wild Wet
is one of the most popular family attractions in Singapore.
From thrilling rides to relaxing and gentle ones, the
family is guaranteed a day out filled with fun cool dips.
From the adrenaline-pumping rapids down the Ular-lah
to the stations of water cannons and fountains at the
Professor’s Playground. With a total of nine rides, there is
something for visitors of all ages.
WHERE TO FIND ME
1 Pasir Ris Close. Prices start from $14; toddlers below
the age of three, U Live members and the Pioneer
Generation enter for free. For more information, visit
www.wildwildwet.com.
COUNTRY CLUB GETAWAY
Celebrate SG50 in sheer comfort and style
tucked away in the East! Aranda Country
Club is offering NTUC members a special
booking rate for their Executive Suites
from now till 30 September 2015. Enjoy
the first night at $240+ and get 50 per
cent off the second night! Guests are more
than welcomed to use the complimentary
barbeque pits included in the package.
Complimentary barbeque pits are included in the package.
Offer valid for off-peak, excluding school
holidays, stays till 30 September 2015. Terms
and conditions apply, subject to availability.
Present NTUC membership card when
making booking and during check-in.
WHERE TO FIND ME
60 Pasir Ris Drive 3. For more information, call
6584 6811 or email amy_ong@arandaclub.
org.sg.
3
4 BEAT THE HEAT NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
CHILL OUT
Beat the outdoor
sweat by either
heading up to
the cool hills or
retreat into some
shady spots.
Here are a few
union members’
deals you and the
family can enjoy.
By Shukry Rashid
WILD NIGHT
Want to do something different with the family while escaping the
heat in the day? No, we are not talking about hiding in air-conditioned
shopping malls. How about heading down to Night Safari Singapore for
a chance to enjoy the night’s chill amidst lush vegetation while taking in
sights of nocturnal animals out on the prowl in guarded enclaves.
Enjoy 5 per cent off prevailing admission rate for NTUC members.
Terms and Conditions:
† The discount is based on the prevailing admission rates in force.
† Each NTUC member is allowed to purchase a maximum of five single park
admission tickets per card per transaction in a day.
† Child admission ticket is valid for children aged 3–12 years old.
† NTUC card must be produced by the cardholder at the time of purchase.
† Offer valid till 31 Dec 2015.
WHERE TO FIND ME
80 Mandai Lake Road. For more information, call 6269 3411.
HIGHLANDS HIDEAWAY
Head up to the hills at Cameron
Highlands to soak in refrigerator-like
temperatures for a refreshing, good
time! The best part is the family doesn’t
have to travel too far, plus there’s a deal
awaiting union members. Famed for its tea and strawberry
plantations, as well as the resorts and the numerous floral
species, it is an ideal destination to spend a short holiday
in. Organised by Aranda Country Club (ACC), the trip
includes a visit to the plantations and a night market, and a
chance to savour delightful dishes.
When: 7–9 August 2015, assemble at ACC Lobby, 6.00am.
$290 (union member), $265 (union member’s child, 3–12
years old); $295 (guest), $270 (guest’s child). Minimum of
30 persons required, apply before 24 July 2015.
WHERE TO FIND ME
For more information, call 6584 6811 or email to
[email protected].
DATE WITH NATURE
Dare the outdoors with the family this hot season with a trip to the shade-rich Gardens by
the Bay. While there are numerous attractions to keep everyone entertained, there’s one
you should not miss to stay chilled – a trip through the Cloud Forest conservatory, lined
with flora and fauna from regions between 1,000 to 3,500 metres above sea level.
NTUC members enjoy 10 per cent off admission to the conservatories at Gardens by the
Bay. Present NTUC card before payment to enjoy the privileges. Terms and Conditions
apply, valid till 31 Dec 2015 except on eve of public holidays.
NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
BEAT THE HEAT
COLD AS ICE
Bring down the searing temperatures
with these all-time chilled delights.
By Shukry Rashid
The ‘Creatures of the Night Show’ will showcase an array of nocturnal
animals for your enjoyment.
ICE COLD DESSERTS
Head to the closest NTUC Foodfare to simmer down the heat with a bite
into these local favourites. Nothing beats a serve of these ice cold desserts
on a scorching day. The aromatic and creamy
chendol will cool you down and dry that sweat
in no time! A little health-conscious? Then
one of the fruit smoothies like a mashup of
carrot and orange will do the trick just as
well. For other luscious options, try cheng tng
or ice kacang. Desserts available at NTUC
Foodfare outlets islandwide.
MAKE YOUR OWN ICE CREAM
Go guilt-free with Yonanas ice cream maker! Enjoy your own
ice cream creation with this fun kitchen appliance that churns
up delicious, creamy, low-cost and healthy treats from frozen
fruits. Looks and tastes like soft serve ice cream.
Purchase it at a promotional price in the month of
July for only $59. Available at selected FairPrice
Xtra stores and Warehouse Club.
These pyro warriors in the ‘Thumbuakar Performance’ will get you into the
groove with their lively display of cultural dance moves.
WHERE TO FIND ME
18 Marina Gardens Drive. For more information, visit
www.gardensbythebay.com.sg.
SWEET TREATS
Here’s another treat for those with a sweet tooth.
Milk and Honey – Artisan Yogurt & Dessert Bar
is offering 10 per cent off the total bill for NTUC
members – all the more reason to grab your
favourite yogurt flavour to beat the heat. Plus,
you can also enjoy one-for-one deals on your
birthday month!
Available at all Milk and Honey – Artisan
Yogurt & Dessert Bar outlets. Offer valid till
30 June 2016. One-for-one deals are valid for
birthday month only. Present NTUC card before
payment to enjoy the privileges.
SUNDAE TEMPTATIONS
Swensen’s is a name synonymous with delicious
ice cream most Singaporeans can relate to. Treat
yourself to a creamy and icy indulgence with
Swensen’s 50 per cent off Chocoholic Cravings Sundae
with a minimum spend of $50.
Offer valid till 31 Dec 2015 except on eve of public
holidays, public holidays and special occasions.
Present NTUC card to enjoy the privilege. Limited to
one redemption per bill per table. Valid for dine-in
only at all Swensen’s outlets islandwide, while
stocks last.
5
6 EMPLOYMENT & EMPLOYABILITY NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
Keeping Singapore
Competitive
Manpower Minister addresses concerns of tightened
foreign labour supply at this year’s employability fair.
By Fawwaz Baktee
Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say
addresses the concerns of many
business owners on tightened
foreign labour supply.
S
peaking at this year’s first employability
fair event held on 1 July 2015 at Devan
Nair Institute for Employment and
Employability, Manpower Minister Lim Swee
Say reiterated the need to tighten the supply
of foreign workers in order to maintain a
Singaporean core in the workforce.
“The ratio of foreign workers to local
workers used to be one is to four. In recent
years, the ratio has closed down to one foreign
worker to two local workers. If we were to
continue our policies of the last 10 years into
the next 10 years, we would see this ratio drop
to become one local worker to one foreign
worker and eventually Singaporeans will be the
minority … there would be a lot of implications
in terms of how Singaporeans would feel going
to work knowing that they are the minority,”
said Minister Lim.
He continued on to say that it would
take Singapore “a long time to unwind” the
situation.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH
Minister Lim then went on to address the
slowing of growth in Singapore’s workforce,
citing reasons such as Singapore’s low fertility
rate and ageing population.
“In the last 10 years, we have been growing
our economy based on the formula of 3 per cent
growth in our workforce along with 1 per cent
improvement in productivity. That would give us
4 per cent growth in our economy.
“… The 3 per cent growth in our workforce
will eventually slow down to 1 per cent. In the
next 10 years, we are working towards a 1 per
cent growth in the workforce along with 2 per
cent improvement in productivity.
“This would give us a 3 per cent in economic
growth. It will be lower than the 4 per cent
economic growth of the last 10 years, but we
believe that the growth will be of better quality
that is driven by productivity and less reliant
on manpower. It will be more sustainable,” said
Minister Lim.
LOOKING AHEAD
Minister Lim said that the Government and its
tripartite partners have identified four areas of
priority to help achieve sustainable economic
growth – making the workforce more manpower
lean, where businesses operate as efficiently as
possible through technology; strengthening of
the Singaporean core; ensuring that the foreign
workforce is of good quality; and maintaining
Singapore’s global competitiveness.
Employability Pledge
NTUC’s e2i (Employment and
Employability Institute) unveiled
on 1 July 2015 the Employability
Pledge structure at the Devan
Nair Institute for Employment
and Employability by worker,
employer, and training provider
representatives. The unveiling
was witnessed by Manpower
Minister Lim Swee Say and e2i
CEO Gilbert Tan. The structure
will remain at the institute
throughout the remaining of
2015 to symbolise the important
role everyone plays in helping
employees become better
workers and employers create
better jobs.
To pledge for the cause, visit
www.ipledge.com.sg.
The employability pledge structure
symbolises the important role everyone
plays in helping to create a better workforce
and better jobs.
NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
SKILLS UPGRADING
Enabling
Positive
Outcomes
NTUC’s e2i is toughening up its role as
an enabler to help employees become
better workers and employers create
better jobs.
By Fawwaz Baktee
N
TUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) CEO Gilbert
Tan said in a media sharing on 1 July 2015 that the organisation
aims to continue in its role as an enabler to help workers attain
better skills and employment, and offer employers the expertise to redesign
and create higher value jobs.
It will also continue to coordinate and develop structured training
programmes and career pathways to help build a strong Singaporean core
across the industries.
In a media release, e2i said that there are already tools and support in
place to help workers become better workers, and to help employers create
better jobs for their workers. e2i also stressed that it is important that
employers and employees are pointed to the right direction in order for
them to access resources.
The resources available to employers and workers include training
programmes through providers, funding through government agencies, and
industry solutions through vendors.
“If you look at what we’ve been doing since 2008, it really is about
enabling the workers to understand where the jobs and training
programmes are, and about enabling employers to help them understand
where the jobseekers are ... For a successful labour ecosystem, government
agencies, training and solution providers also play an important role,” said
Mr Tan.
ENABLING WORKERS
According to e2i, it has been enabling workers by offering career coaching to
help them better understand different industries and allowing them access
to a variety of quality training programmes, depending on the needs and
demands of industries.
Through e2i’s job matching services and place-and-train programmes,
workers can also connect with employers who are looking to hire.
Moving forward, e2i said that it will continue to “work alongside
employers, unions, and training providers to push for more structured
career progression pathways across different industries and inculcate
the importance of lifelong learning, skills upgrading and deepening of
competencies among workers.”
ENABLING EMPLOYERS
Apart from providing a link to government agencies to give employers
access to funding support for training and productivity projects, e2i has also
been helping employers develop and coordinate training programmes, and
connect with potential employees.
Since 2008, e2i has been an enabler to:
†
†
†
more than 300,000 workers
2,000 industry associations, training partners and companies
40 industry sectors and professions.
e2i CEO Gilbert Tan shares e2i’s
aim to continue to enable both
employers and workers.
Connecting For Success
Helping workers become better workers,
helping companies to create better jobs.
TRAINING PARTNERS
VENDORS
• Deliver classes
• Assess and test
• Development
of productivity
solutions
e2i acts as an enabler
between the Government,
employers, workers,
training providers and
vendors.
GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES
EMPLOYERS
e2i provides
employers with:
• Job-ready
candidates
(place-and-train
programmes)
• Productivity
solutions (Inclusive
Growth Programme)
WORKERS
e2i provides workers with:
• Employment Opportunities
- Job Fairs
• Employability Programmes
- Employability Camps
- Employability Workshops and
Courses
• Career Coaching
• Professional Development
Programmes
• Set training
standards
• Qualify training
centres
• Provide Funding
• Influence through
policy
7
8 EMPLOYMENT & EMPLOYABILITY NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
Employability Fair 2015
e2i brings together workers,
employers and training providers at
the third employability fair.
By Fawwaz Baktee
CAREER FAIRS
(6–12 July 2015)
† Marine Industry Career Fair
8 July 2015, 10.00am–4.00pm, Hall 1-2
† PME Career Fair
9 July 2015, 2.00pm–6.00pm, Level 1 Registration Hub
† ISS Recruitment Drive
9 July 2015, 9.00am–5.00pm, Level 1, Room 01–07/08
† Job Fair for Transport & Logistics Industry
10 July 2015, 9.00am–12.00pm, Level 1 Registration Hub
(13–19 July 2015)
† Job Fair for Permanent Part-Time Positions
14 July 2015, 10.00am–4.00pm, Level 1 Registration Hub
† ISS Recruitment Drive
16 July 2015, 9.00am–5.00pm, Level 1 Room 01-04/05
(20–26 July 2015)
† Healthcare Job Fair
20 July 2015, 10.00am–4.00pm, Level 1 Registration Hub
† Better Skills Better Jobs Roadshow @ Yew Tee
25–26 July 2015, 10.00am–6.00pm, Open Space outside Yew
Tee MRT Station
† ISS Recruitment Drive
23 July 2015, 9.00am–5.00pm, Level 1 Room 01–04/05
† Career Fair for Infocomm Media
25 July 2015, 9.00am–2.00pm, Level 1 Registration Hub
(27–31 July 2015)
† Community Job Fair
27-28 July 2015, 10.00am–4.00pm, Level 1 Registration Hub
† Early Childhood and Education Job Fair
28 July 2015, 10.00am, Level 1 Registration Hub
LUNCH TALKS
(6–12 July 2015)
† 3 Strategies to Be Happier at Work by SeraphCorp
7 July 2015, 12.00pm–1.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-05
† Writing Made Easy by Kaplan
9 July 2015, 12.00pm–1.30pm, Kaplan, #06-02
(13–19 July 2015)
† The Art of Face Reading by Kaplan
13 July 2015, 12.00pm–1.30pm, Kaplan, #06-02
† Understanding Your Employment Rights by U Care Centre
14 July 2015, 12.00pm–1.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-08
† Bridging the Generation Gap at Workplace by SeraphCorp
16 July 2015, 12.00pm–1.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-08
(20–26 July 2015)
† Personal Branding & Professional Image by DSI Academy
20 July 2015, 12.00pm–1.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-04
† Success @ Work with Numerology by Kaplan
23 July 2015, 12pm–1.30pm, Kaplan #06-02
† Employment Contracts – What You Need to Know by NTUC PMEU
24 July 2015, 12pm–1.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-04
(27–31 July 2015)
† Ace Your Appraisal by Kaplan
30 July 2015, 12.00pm–1.30pm, Kaplan #06-02
I
nto its third year, the month-long Employability Fair 2015 was
launched on 1 July 2015, bringing together workers, training
providers and employers onto a common platform to exchange skills
and productivity improvements.
Organised by NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute),
the fair will feature some 100 events including lunchtime talks and
networking events, and 500 employers offering about 5,000 job
vacancies in industries such as banking, maritime, and healthcare.
For full descriptions of each event, visit www.e2i.com.sg/EF2015.
Also, events listed are held at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment
and Employability, unless specified otherwise.
TRAINING FAIRS
(6–12 July 2015)
† *Employability Camp
6–7 July 2015, 9.30am–6.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-01
† +Participate In Negotiations
6–7 July 2015, 8.30am–6.00pm, SeraphCorp #06-01
† +Enable People
6–8 July 2015, 8.30am–6.00pm, SeraphCorp #06-01
† *Employability Camp Plus
7–14 July 2015, 9.00am–6.00pm, Level 1 Room 01-03
† *Executive Workshop
8–9 July 2015, 9.00am–6.00pm, Level 1 Room 01-02
† Develop Personal Effectiveness at Operational Level
8–9 July 2015, 8.30am–5.30pm, Kaplan #06-02
† Perform Spreadsheet Functions (Excel)
8–10 July 2015, 8.30am–5.30pm, Kaplan #06-02
† NASM Certified Personal Trainer Certification
10–12 July 2015, 9.00am–5.00pm, DSI Academy #04-03C
† Jobs Bank Connect Workshop
10 July 2015, 9.00am–1.00pm, Level 1 Room 01- 02
(13–19 July 2015)
† *Employability Camp
13–14 July 2015, 9.30am–6.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-01
† +Lead Team
13–14 July 2015, 8.30am–6.00pm, SeraphCorp #06-01
† +Manage and Implement Business Continuity Plans
13–14 July 2015, 8.30am–6.00pm, SeraphCorp #06-01
† Perform Presentation Functions by Kaplan
13–15 July 2015, 8.30am–5.30pm, Kaplan #06-02
† *Executive Workshop
15–16 July 2015, 9am–6.00pm, Level 1 Room 01-01
(20–26 July 2015)
† +Strategic Leadership
20–21 July 2015, 8.30am–6.00pm, SeraphCorp #06-01
† Executive Workshop
22–23 July 2015, 9.00am–6.00pm, Level 1 Room 01-02
† +Build Team Relationships
23–24 July 2015, 8.30am–6.00pm, SeraphCorp #06-01
† *Employability Camp
23–24 July 2015, 9.30am–6.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-01
(27–31 July 2015)
† *Employability Camp (Mandarin)
27–28 July 2015, 9.30am–6.30pm, Level 1 Room 01-01
† +Manage Self
27–29 July 2015, 8.30am–6.00pm, SeraphCorp #06-01
† *Executive Workshop
29–30 July 2015, 9.00am–6.00pm, Level 1 Room 01-02
† +Implement Change
30–31 July 2015, 8.30am–6.00pm, SeraphCorp #06-01
+ Course fees apply
* Participants must sign up through the Employability Coaches at
the e2i Career Services Centre
NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
SMRT representative giving
Senior Minister of State
Josephine Teo a tour of training
facilities at SMRT BTEC.
SKILLS UPGRADING
Driving Up
Professionalism
State-of-the-art bus training and evaluation centre opens at the Devan Nair
Institute for Employment and Employability.
By Fawwaz Baktee
S
ingapore’s first team-based bus training
centre, SMRT Corporation’s Bus Training
and Evaluation Centre (SMRT BTEC), was
declared opened on 2 July 2015.
The training centre, located at the
Devan Nair Institute for Employment and
Employability, offers simulator training for bus
captains and staff who manage bus operations
from the command centre.
Set up by SMRT in collaboration with
NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability
Institute) and the National Transport Workers’
Union (NTWU), SMRT BTEC comes nine
months following the signing of a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) as part of an initiative
to increase professionalism in the bus industry.
The MOU was also in support of the
SkillsFuture initiative, which pushes for lifelong
learning for workers in various industries.
“At the heart of SkillsFuture is the desire to
provide opportunities for every Singaporean
to learn and develop throughout life … These
individuals include our bus captains. The Public
Transport Tripartite Cluster is committed to
doing our part of professionalising bus careers
as a means of strengthening the Singaporean
core in the public transport workforce,” said
Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo, who
graced the training centre’s opening as guest of
honour.
TRAINING FACILITIES
The training centre uses a first of its kind
Integrated Driving and Service Control (iDSC)
simulator that enables networked training
amongst bus captains and service controllers,
developing team-based competency that will
improve bus service reliability.
SMRT BTEC also uses a software system
called Professional Learning Management
System (PRO-LEARN) which employs data
analytics to constantly monitor driving
performance to help bus captains improve their
driving competency. The 6,300-sq-ft training
centre houses a total of 16 simulators – eight
full cabin simulators and eight bus simulator
trainers – that will help improve training quality
and safety.
The bus simulator trainer offers drivers safe and effective training
without compromising driving performance and experience.
ACCESS TO TRAINING
The training centre is open to both public
and private bus operators in Singapore and
has the capacity to train more than 8,000 bus
professionals in a year.
“The bus transport industry is growing and
changing to respond to the needs of commuters,
and bus professionals need to constantly deepen
their skills to provide better service. To this end,
e2i is glad to partner SMRT in the roll out of
BTEC, which uses state-of-the-art technology
to enhance training effectiveness for future job
entrants as well as existing bus professionals.
“As an enabler, e2i will link workers, bus
companies, and training providers to help grow
bus professionals as an attractive career choice,”
said e2i CEO Gilbert Tan.
SAFER TRAINING
One bus captain who has undergone the
simulation training is 60-year-old Ramli Kamis.
“I’ve been driving buses for 17 years now.
Before this training centre, bus drivers had to
take the bus out to the road to learn new routes.
We couldn’t make mistakes as doing so could
be very dangerous. But with the simulation,
we can learn at our own pace. A mistake made
while training on the roads could be fatal, but a
mistake made at the training centre is a learning
opportunity,” he said.
9
10 FUTURE LEADERS NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
Future Leaders
Summit Returns
5
MINUTES
WITH…
The third edition of the upcoming
Future Leaders Summit will feature
speakers offering insights to the
next wave of leaders.
ROGER
CHANG
With the Future Leaders
Summit (FLS) around the
corner, NTUC This Week
catches up with Pirate3D CEO
Roger Chang, who gives a
glimpse of what you can expect
from his session at the event.
By Ryan Chan
T
he Future Leaders Summit (FLS) is back this year, after its first two
editions received resounding feedback from participants. Designed to
address the issue of future-readiness of Professionals, Managers and
Executives (PMEs) in Singapore, the Summit will feature seasoned experts and
industry heavyweights. They will share tips on the road to success and how PMEs
can become the leaders of tomorrow.
STEP UP TO SUCCEED
The Summit is part of the three-tier Future
Leaders Programme that will also consist of
the Future Leader Series, featuring industryspecific dialogue sessions, and the Future
Leaders Mentorship, where PMEs can receive
further guidance from industry leaders.
Among the speakers for
FLS this year are LinkedIn
Head of Marketing
Solutions Olivier Legrand
(for the Industry Leaders
Olivier Legrand
Saiyidah Aisyah
track), professional athlete
Saiyidah Aisyah (Inspiration) and Pirate3D CEO Roger Chang (Technology, see
interview on the right).
Mr Vivek Kumar, director of NTUC U Associate and Future Leaders
Programme said: “The Future Leaders Programme is emerging as a catalyst of
progression for over 15,000 PMEs since 2013.
“With the world around us changing so fast, it is no longer just enough to
have the skillsets as it is also critical to apply them in different contexts. This
blueprint will serve to cultivate a dynamic environment for our PMEs to learn
and grow.”
By Ryan Chan
R
oger Chang will be one of the speakers under the
technology track of this year’s FLS come 24 July.
With 3D printing relatively new to the market,
he will talk about how he used crowdfunding through
Kickstarter to build Pirate3D to the success it is today.
Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter involve appealing to
the public for funds to kickstart projects.
ROGER CHANG’S 3 SIMPLE STEPS TO CAREER
SUCCESS
Less is more. Less development of your product
means you get to market yourself faster. It is also
less complex and helps you to place more focus on
your product. This helps your product to become
better, instead of a bloated, unfocused offering on the
market.
Have a ‘challenger mentality’. Things are moving
faster than ever before. When you compare 1985 to
2015, they are worlds apart. The rate of change is
accelerating and we have to ask ourselves if we are
ready for what is to come.
Read more. Books like Zero to One and The Hard Thing
About Hard Things teach you what running a business
entails and how. Books may not have everything you
need, but they will always have something you can
learn from.
1
TAKE CHARGE TODAY!
2
3
Want to learn more on how to take charge of your career? Then
sign up for FLS 2015 today!
DATE: 24 JULY 2015
For enquiries, please visit www.futureleadersummit.sg. For
corporate bulk purchases, please call 6213 8810 or email: fls@ntuc.
org.sg.
NTUC THIS WEEK
MANAGING EDITOR
SHONA TAN-JAMES [email protected]
EDITOR
NICOLETTE YEO [email protected]
SUB EDITOR
GURMEET SINGH [email protected]
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
MARCUS LIN [email protected]
SENIOR WRITER
GERALDINE PETERS [email protected]
SUBSCRIPTION
JENNY LIAU [email protected]
WRITERS
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NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
LOW-WAGE WORKERS
Increasing Outreach
NTUC U Care Centre partners Enhanced Mosque Clusters and Mendaki SENSE
to reach out to a target of 10,000 low-wage workers.
N
TUC U Care Centre (UCC) targets to
reach out to 10,000 low-wage workers
in the Malay-Muslim community this
year through active engagement with Enhanced
Mosque Clusters (EMC) and Mendaki SENSE.
This was announced by Minister for
Communications and Information and
Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob
Ibrahim at the UCC Iftar event held on 23 June
2015 at The Grassroots’ Club.
This comes after UCC found that more can
be made aware of their employment rights and
opportunities to earn better income through
training.
According to UCC Director Zainal
Sapari, less than 10 per cent of participants
at employment seminars and roadshows
organised by UCC are attended by workers from
the Malay-Muslim community.
“We want to be able to benefit as many
local low-wage workers across all sectors and
communities. UCC is looking at enhancing its
efforts to do more for these workers and is
keen to make breakthroughs in un-ventured
avenues. Working with EMCs and Mendaki
SENSE to impact more workers in the MalayMuslim community is one of our strategies,”
said Mr Zainal.
MEETING DIFFERENT NEEDS
Working with the EMCs to engage low-income
Malay-Muslim families, including zakat
(annual payment made by muslims used for
charitable and religious purposes) recipients
and low-income beneficiaries of the mosques’
programmes, UCC said that it will customise
programmes and workshops to meet the
clusters’ different needs.
These programmes will include seminars
that are packaged with information on
employment rights.
There have also been discussions to hold
quarterly sessions where consultants are
stationed onsite at the various mosques to
provide workplace advisory services based on
By Fawwaz Baktee
NTUC UCC Director Zainal Sapari giving away green packets to low-wage workers at the iftar event.
the needs of individual clusters.
UCC also hopes to further extend its
outreach by equipping befrienders of the
Mosque Befrienders Scheme and youth
volunteers with knowledge of UCC’s services
and basic employments rights for them to share
when visiting low-income families.
Groundwork for UCC’s outreach efforts in
the mosque clusters started in November last
year where it reached out to 2,000 befrienders
and zakat beneficiaries in the southwest and
northwest EMCs.
WORKING WITH MENDAKI SENSE
UCC will also tap on Mendaki SENSE’s
signature events such as roadshows and trade
exhibitions that focus on educating low-
income workers and enable them to explore
opportunities to upskill and earn a higher
income.
Addressing some 300 low-wage workers
and their families at the iftar event, Dr Yaacob
said: “I hope more of you here will make full use
of these opportunities that UCC offers. With
UCC’s help you can upgrade yourselves, be more
informed of your employment rights, and at
the end of the day, lead better lives with better
income.”
One guest present at the event was
48-year-old part-time cleaner Zainah Rasif,
who said that she didn’t know much about her
employment rights before she attended a threemonth training course provided by NTUC.
“At the course, I learned that workers can
voice out their concerns and if we have any
problems such as pay matters, we can go to UCC
for help,” said Ms Zainah in Malay.
GOOD TO KNOW
U Care Centre (UCC)
was set up by NTUC
to support low-wage
workers in Singapore.
As a one-stop centre,
UCC provides these
workers with guidance on work-related
issues and opportunities to help them
earn a better living.
Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (centre) hopes more low-wage workers lead better lives by making full use of opportunities that UCC offers.
11
12 HOSPITALITY CLUSTER NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
Making
Work
Easier
Bosses take on
housekeeping duties
to raise awareness
on challenges and
solutions.
By Geraldine Peters
Mr Gilbert Tan rises to the occasion as a Room Attendant and changes bed linen at the Grand Park City Hall Hotel.
T
he Hands-On Boss @ Housekeeping
Department event held at the Grand
Park City Hall Hotel last month saw
NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability
Institute) CEO Gilbert Tan and the hotel’s
General Manager Cheong Hai Poh take on the
duties assigned to Room Attendants. The aim:
to experience the challenges when prepping a
room for guests.
SAFER WORK
Challenges included cleaning and prepping a
room manually. Following that, the Ezi-Maid was
showcased to show how attendant’s job can be
safer, as the invention lifts the entire bed frame
for easier cleaning of the floor. The machine also
helps prevent straining of the back.
The hotel also utilises the Triton Hotel
Management System which has since digitised
attendants’ clocking in and out of each room, so
as to evaluate and improve timing. The system
can also be used to report defects and works on
android mobile phones.
There is a range of technology and systems
that hotels can adopt, with up to 50 per cent
funding help through e2i’s Inclusive Growth
Programme (IGP).
INDUSTRY INTEREST
“Housekeeping plays a very crucial role in
Hospitality. Guests will only feel comfortable
in an environment which is clean and tidy and
Mr Cheong Hai Poh (left) and
Mr Gilbert Tan (right) assisting in
making a bed in the hotel’s suite.
these are essential for health as well as the
well-being of all our guests,” said Mr Cheong.
The industry has been experiencing a
manpower crunch due to declining interest
from locals as some perceive it to be labourintensive.
In an effort to combat this, the Association
of Singapore Housekeepers (ASH) and e2i
have been working together to create learning
modules to upskill and upgrade Room
Attendants so as to help them achieve career
progression.
Current programmes available include
Grand Park’s very own Hotel Operations
Specialist Team Programme (HOST) that
allows locals interested in the hospitality line
to be multi-skilled in three departments in the
first year or so of training.
These include skills in Food and Beverage,
Housekeeping and Front Office. Launched
in 2010, the programme has since seen a 50
percent increase in applicants.
e2i offers the Service Executive
Apprenticeship (SEA) currently, with up to 70
per cent funding for companies that take up
the programme.
Aimed at grooming Singaporeans and
Permanent Residents to become Management
Trainees within the Service Sector, it is a
customised 12-month course inclusive of onthe-job training and mentorship guidance. e2i
will be offering more similar programmes in
the second half of this year.
NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
HOSPITALITY CLUSTER
A Day In The Life Of…
NTUC This Week’s writer Geraldine Peters finds out
that there’s more to a Room Attendant’s job than just
cleaning rooms and making beds. There’s a whole lot
of passion involved too.
T
he work assignment: Meet Mdm
Judy Tan Lee Kim, 56, an Executive
Housekeeper at Singapore Marriott
Hotel Tang Plaza Hotel who was going to show
me what it meant to be a Room Attendant. She
wasted no time in introducing me to Mdm Low
Lai Kin, 56, a Room Attendant for 18 years.
The 60 person-strong Housekeeping
Department functions on a buddy system that
allows for faster learning and better productivity
where a trainee is paired up with a veteran for
around two to three weeks. Donning my trainee
tag, Mdm Judy Tan, Mdm Low and I take the
elevator to the first room. It was going to be a
busy day ahead indeed – clean and tidy up to 16
rooms in 20 to 30 minutes each.
THE RIGHT ROUTINE
Our first room was a junior suite on the 23rd
floor. While I was awestruck by its interior, I was
quickly catapulted back to reality when Mdm
Judy Tan pointed to specks of illuminated dust.
Citing the reputation of the hotel and
customer satisfaction as motivations, Mdm Low
sprang into action using various potions and
tools from her housekeeping trolley to clean
NTUC This Week Writer Geraldine Peters (right) goes through the agenda for the day with Mdm Judy Tan.
The Writer folding bed linen alongside fellow worker and “buddy” Mdm Low Lai Kin.
every inch of the room.
Moving onto the bed, she motioned me to
stand at the side of the frame as she changed the
sheets, needing my assistance to smoothen out
the surface when tucking in the corners.
“I learned this when I started as a Room
Attendant myself, some 35 years back and that
is to think of your arm as an iron. You need to
smooth out any fold or wrinkle you see,” said
Mdm Judy Tan.
Before I had time to wrap my head around
the advice given, the room was pristine and
Mdm Low was packing up to get to room
number two.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Feeling the burn by my third room as I wiped
the exterior of the cabinets clean, I asked Mdm
Judy Tan what the hotel offered as training.
She mentioned Marriott’s Passports to Success
programme which provides On-Job-Training
that includes work orientation and procedures.
This month-long programme is compulsory for
all who join Marriott.
The hotel has also tapped on NTUC’s e2i’s
(Employment and Employability Institute)
Inclusive Growth Programme when it brought
in the Karcher Professional Machine that makes
vacuuming carpeted floors faster.
After completing my fourth room, I felt the
opposite of all that I heard of the occupation
- that it would be labourious and to an extent,
not that rewarding. As contented as I was with
my work though, Mdm Low, laughed at my
sloppy effort, and said: “As long as you’re happy,
like me, if you are not, then there is no point
anymore.”
13
14 YOUNG WORKERS NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
Spurring
Entrepreneurship
Youths get a headstart in fulfilling their business
dreams with YES.
By Shukry Rashid
T
he eighth instalment of nEbO’s Youth
Entrepreneurship Symposium (YES)
on 17–19 June 2015 at the National
University of Singapore attracted some 450
participants.
Organised by youths from five local
polytechnics, the three-day symposium
imparted the spirit of entrepreneurship while
empowering participants to ‘Get Inspired, Get
Skilled, and Get Started’.
Initially conceived for Junior College
students to discover more about
entrepreneurship, YES has progressed from
business workshops to providing templates and
mentorship, attracting more than double the
participants from various polytechnics, Institute
of Technical Educations (ITEs), and overseas
undergraduates compared to the first YES.
she attended in 2013, she managed to learn a
few tips for her business BackAlley Tees, which
she co-founded this year.
nEbO also provided the platform and
networking opportunities for her to explore her
passion for entrepreneurship. With a spirit for
entrepreneurship since young, she even started
her own blogshop when she was 14 years old.
She is so passionate about entrepreneurship
that she returned in 2014 as the Chief
Operating Officer
of the organising
team.
“You can
be successful
without
knowing
what you are
FUTURE-READY
The Labour Movement gives high regard to
future-readiness for all collars of workers,
including students. YES allows participants to
learn skills like being resilient and how to grow
a sustainable start-up.
NTUC Club Director for Community
Engagement & Membership Lim Kay Min
said: “At YES, we bring together youths and
successful businesspeople passionate about
entrepreneurship, to share their passion, skills
and experiences.
“Beyond inspiring our young people, we
want to give them the right start-up skills and
template needed to go forth and start their own
dream business.”
YES has inspired Chin Chan Kai to start up his own business.
doing, you can be successful without having
any challenge, but you can never be successful
at anything without taking the action …
BackAlley Tees is one of the projects that I’m
embarking on,” said Jolyn.
BUILDING PASSION
Another entrepreneur who was inspired to
start his own business after attending YES
is 21-year-old Chin Chan Kai. Having joined
nEbO and YES in 2011, he subsequently
became a member in the organising committee
for YES 2012.
Currently the co-founder and director of
The Marketplace Ministry, Chan Kai said: “The
skills that I picked up in YES and the business
mentors that I got while sharing in the
symposium helped me grow the company.
“YES was the event that made me find
and discover my passion in entrepreneurship.
Before YES, I had no passion, no clue what
entrepreneurship was.”
Subsequently, Chan Kai continued to
deepen his business relationships with
business leaders whom he had invited to YES,
and sparked many business opportunities as a
result of the extensive network he built.
TAKING ACTION
When 19-year-old Jolyn Moh wanted to start
her own business a few years ago, she had no one
to turn to for guidance. But thanks to YES which
Jolyn Moh gained a few tips from YES to start her own
business called BackAlley Tees.
YES 2015 attracted some 450 participants this year, more than double the number that came to the first YES.
NTUC This Week 05 JULY 2015
NATIONAL DAY FOCUS
Time To Bond
NTUC National Day marchers take time off
the field to bond and build up rapport.
By Sathish Naidu Manager, U Sports Community Engagement &
Membership Department
A
s part of the preparations and engagement with the NTUC
Marching Contingent as well as the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF), NTUC held its very first NTUC NDP2015 (National Day
Parade) Gathering this year on 10 June at the Union Square.
This is a tradition started four years ago by U Sports to build closer ties
with the SAF as well as develop a rapport with the marchers. What made
this gathering even more special was that the NTUC contingent will be
leading the parade this year.
More than 90 percent of the NTUC Marching Contingent participants
turned up for the occasion, with SAF Chief Trainer Encik Nagaratnam and
his team present too. As an honorary touch, the Chief Parade Regimental
Sergeant Major (RSM) Chua Hock Guan and the Chairman of the SAF
NTUC contingent marchers get to spend some quality time with their SAF buddies.
Engagement P&C Committee Joseph Pereira were present with their key
appointment holders as well.
Chief Parade RSM Chua paid a glowing tribute to NTUC, saying that
he had not seen any other organisation that works and plays as hard as
NTUC and that there is true team spirit and good leadership from top
to bottom. He ended by saying that as the leading front contingent, he
knows that NTUC will do the nation and its union members proud on 9
Aug at The Padang.
At The NDP Rehearsals
Our NTUC contingent marchers
have been hard at work behind
the scenes at Downtown East and
Nee Soon Camp to prepare for
their big day on the field.
The marchers here are seen wearing uniform they donned at last year’s National Day
Parade. They will be wearing new colours at this year’s parade. Keep a lookout for them!
15
2015年7月5日
售价 60c
MCI (P) 044/12/2014
提高巴士业的专业水平
设备先进的“巴士培训与检讨中心”已于日前
在蒂凡那就业与职能培训中心投入运作。
我国首个团队化巴士培训与检讨中心在2015
理系统，可分析数据和持续监控受训者的驾驶表
年7月2日举行开幕式了。
现，提高巴士司机的驾驶能力。训练中心占地6300
新设立的训练中心设于蒂凡那就业与职能中
平方英尺，备有16台模拟器，其中包括8个客座模拟
心内，备有驾驶模拟器供司机和服务监控员在控制
器和8个驾驶模拟器，有利于提高培训的质量和安
舱室内学习操作巴士等相关技术。
全性。
巴士培训与检讨中心是SMRT企业有限公
司、全国职工总会就业与职能培训中心，以及全国
安全培训
交通工友联合会的合作成果。有关三方是在9个月
巴士培训与检讨中心向公众和我国私人巴士业者开
前签订合作项目谅解备忘录，目的为提高我国巴士
放，每一年可培训8000多名学员。
行业的专业水平。
合作三方签订谅解备忘录得到未来技术计
示：
“由于巴士行业随着乘客的需求不断发展和变
划的支持。未来技术计划的推出，旨在各行业推动
化，巴士服务人员就须要不间断地深入掌握技术，
工友从事终身学习。
以便提供良好的服务。在这方面，职总就业与职能
交通部兼财政部高级政务部长杨莉明昨日
培训中心很高兴能和SMRT企业有限公司合作设立
为巴士培训与检讨中心主持开幕。她在赞扬中心
巴士培训与检讨中心，采用先进技术，提高培训效
之余表示：
“设立未来技术中心的用意是向全体国
率，造福未来的和现有的巴士业人员。而作为项目
人，包括巴士司机在内，提供终身学习和发展的机
的推动方，职总就业与职能培训中心将联合工友、
会……对于公共交通劳资政集群来说，我们的职责
巴士和培训业者，协助提升巴士服务业的专业水
是促使巴士服务专业化，从而强化我国工友在公共
平，使之成为吸引人的行业。”
交通业内的核心地位。”
职 总 就 业与 职 能 培 训中 心总 裁 陈 财 喜表
培训设施
培训设施
今年60岁的巴士司机蓝立卡密思参加了模拟训练之
巴士培训与检讨中心采用最新研发的综合驾驶与
后表示：
“我驾驶巴士至今已有17年了。过去必须亲
服务监控模拟器，通过网络化系统，培训巴士司机
自驾驶巴士在公路上熟悉新路段，而且绝不能犯错，
和服务监控员，加强他们的团队工作能力,进而提高
因为那样太危险了。但有了模拟器就大不相同，我们
巴士服务的可靠性。
可以按照自己的节奏学习技术。在公路上犯错误可
能致命，但在中心学习，犯错是一次学习机会。”
巴士培训与检讨中心安装一套专业学习管
D’
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