25 April 2006
WDA AND HOSPITALITY ALLIANCE SINGAPORE JOIN HANDS TO PROMOTE THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AS A CHOICE CAREER
WDA and Hospitality Alliance Singapore (HAS) sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to leverage on job redesign and build a pipeline of skilled workers to support this growth industry
To raise public awareness of the great job and career opportunities that the hospitality industry offers and shape Singaporeans’ job and career expectations, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the seven hospitality associations under the Hospitality Alliance Singapore (HAS) are collaborating to promote the industry as a choice career. In formalising their collaboration through an MOU, WDA and HAS have identified professionalising the image of the hospitality industry as key to changing public perception of hospitality careers.
2. The MOU between WDA and HAS signifies the government’s commitment to partner industry to build a pipeline of skilled workers that support industry growth. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang, at the opening ceremony for Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) 2006. The FHA is the largest exhibition and conference for Food & Beverage (F&B), hotel, restaurant, bakery and food service equipment, supplies and services sectors.
3. WDA will harness the knowledge of HAS’ seven hospitality associations to improve two key areas – enhancing the image of the industry and skills upgrading as well as job redesign. This is to ensure that Singaporean workers are ready to take on frontline hospitality jobs with the highest projected growth such as housekeeping, concierge/front desk, chefs, servers and bartenders.
4. To professionalise the image of the hospitality industry, WDA will be working with HAS to increase the worth of hospitality jobs so that workers can enjoy better pay and companies see increased productivity levels at the workplace. This will also help the hospitality industry to mitigate the prevailing problem of Singaporeans shunning hospitality jobs because of poor awareness and industry image, as well as low salaries. WDA has already started work with the Singapore Chefs’ Association to remake culinary jobs and increase their appeal to younger workers.
5. WDA will also skill up existing workers in the industry by drawing on the upcoming Tourism framework that has been developed under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system. The Tourism WSQ, announced on 24 April 2006, spells out the training pathways tourism workers can take to skill up and boost their capabilities systematically. WDA is also in the midst of developing a WSQ framework for F&B industry, which will build the skills of both service and production personnel for a good F&B experience.
6. The first initiative under the MOU is a special radio programme to feature key jobs in the hospitality industry. Selected deejays will share their insights gleaned from participating in job trials, where they will be put on a tourism job each week to uncover the challenges and perks of working in the industry. At the same time, we are exploring the possibility of attaching teachers to hospitality companies. The teachers will gain first-hand experience of what working in the industry is like, bring back their insights to the classroom and share them with their students.
7. WDA’s Chief Executive Ong Ye Kung, said, “The MOU is an important step for WDA in engaging industries and assuring them that we are 100% behind them in building a pipeline of skilled local workers. This will spur industry growth and move our companies up to the next rung of competitiveness. To bring workers and job seekers on board this enterprise, we will embark on outreach efforts to arm them with valuable information about the hospitality jobs and opportunities available and encourage.them to join the industry.”
8. Mr Cheong Hai Poh, President of the Food and Beverage Managers’ Association and a member of the HAS, said, “The Hospitality Alliance is happy to work with WDA to enhance the skills standards and image of the hospitality industry. The signing of this MOU is an important milestone for the hospitality industry as it signifies the close collaboration between the industry and government to enhance industry competitiveness through job redesign and skills upgrading. We are excited about this MOU and are confident that this industry-driven initiative with the support of WDA will be a successful one.”
9. With the tourism industry set to be a key engine of growth, WDA and HAS will jointly roll out more initiatives and programmes to help both employers and workers under the MOU. Through these programmes, WDA and HAS will work together to build a pipeline of skilled local workers to meet current and future needs of the industry.
About the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (www.wda.gov.sg)
The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
WDA leads and drives workforce development in Singapore. Its mission is to enhance the employability and competitiveness of employees and jobseekers, thereby building a workforce that meets the changing needs of Singapore’s economy.
The agency works closely with industries to identify skills gaps, and develop continuing education and training (CET) programmes to address the manpower needs of the industries. WDA’s CET programmes place a strong focus on building competencies that are relevant to industries and will enhance employability. It works with training providers in developing curriculum and building up their capabilities and training standards. It promotes its programmes to industries as well as job seekers, and works with the unions and CDCs to help job seekers find jobs, and acquire the right skills for the jobs.
For more information, please visit http://www.wda.gov.sg
About the Hospitality Alliance Singapore
The Hospitality Alliance Singapore (HAS) aims at providing strong networking opportunities as well as exchanging valuable knowledge and information in order to promote highest professional standards of management, education and recruitment in the hospitality industry for the benefit of the seven associations and their members. We are the voice of the hospitality industry in Singapore. In recognition of our common interests and issues, we are aligned as partners to serve hospitality industry in Singapore.
As HAS partners – the Association of Singapore Housekeepers, Hospitality Purchasing Association Singapore, Food and Beverage Managers’ Association, Association Rooms Division Executives, The Society of The Golden Keys Singapore, Singapore Chefs’ Association and Association of Bartenders, Singapore – work together to develop and sustain a hospitality industry-friendly business environment in Singapore, ensuring the best possible opportunity for Singapore’s hotel and restaurant operations to flourish. This is accomplished by providing access to members’ education and training programmes, negotiating value-added supplier discounts and developing industry communication and networking opportunities for its members.
For media queries, please contact:
Singapore Workforce Development Agency
Ms Chong Wan Yieng
Senior Manager
Corporate and Marketing Communications Division
Tel: 6512 1244
Fax: 6512 1325
Email: chong_wan_yieng@wda.gov.sg
Hospitality Alliance Singapore
Mr Cheong Hai Poh
President, Food and Beverage Managers’ Association (Member of HAS)
Tel: 6432 7450
Fax: 6432 7196/7
Email: hp.cheong@conradhotels.com
