SINGAPORE – Tourism and lifestyle service sectors severely affected by the pandemic are getting help with recovery. 18 more career conversion programs have been launched since January last year.
These help equip employees with digital and technical skills and seize new opportunities, announced the Ministry of Labor (MOM) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) on Wednesday (August 25).
From January last year to mid-August this year, more than 3,100 employees from over 200 companies took part in the programs – compared to 110 employees from 40 companies in 2019.
The programs will benefit an additional 1,400 workers from this month to December next year.
MOM and WSG said companies in the industry had to accelerate their digitization plans due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
These included leveraging technology to host virtual or hybrid events and meetings, offering virtual tours for consumers to explore travel destinations amid border restrictions, and providing contactless services at physical attractions.
Labor Minister Tan See Leng said: “As a result, companies have also had to redesign their work opportunities to support some of these transformation initiatives, particularly in the area of ​​digitization.”
He delivered the 24th job status report on Wednesday on the sidelines of a media visit to the Singapore Zoo.
MOM and WSG found that as the tourism and lifestyle services sector transforms, both new and existing workers will need skills such as e-commerce, data analytics, and digital sales and marketing.
Dr. Tan See Leng delivers the 24th job status report on August 25, 2021 on the sidelines of a media visit to the Singapore Zoo. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Companies that want to redesign their business models and job roles can access the Service Industry Transformation Program, which offers instructions on processes, products or services.
Since the program started in September 2019, around 60 companies have redesigned their process and job roles to be more productive and work-efficient, said MOM and WSG.
One of the tasks of a waiter who traditionally takes orders manually today, for example, is to guide customers to self-ordering kiosks and to offer tailor-made product recommendations.
Businesses can also take other measures taken by government agencies to transform themselves. The Singapore Tourism Board and Enterprise Singapore offer grants, funds and bridging loans.
