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MEDIA RELEASE
MORE JOB AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCALS IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR Despite the gloomy economic outlook, the construction sector, with the
surge in construction projects these two years, will still be recruiting construction
personnel across professional, technical, supervisory and tradesmen levels. To
enhance the employability of more locals in the industry, the Building and
Construction Authority (BCA) is targeting three key areas: job availability, career
promotion and training opportunities.
2. Job Availability in Construction Sector. Since last year, the construction
sector has been enjoying strong growth and development. The construction
demand in 2007 was $24.5bil, a sharp increase from the $16.8bil in 2006. This
year, it is expected to go even higher and hit about $30bil. This high volume of
contracts awarded in the past 2 years will translate to a sustained volume of
construction work over the next 2 years that opens up job opportunities in the
sector. Other than Professionals, Managerial, Executive and Technical (PMET)
personnel, the industry will need additional construction tradesmen and foremen.
With the current economic downturn which is beginning to hit the job market, more
locals could consider taking up careers in the construction sector, in particular as
supervisory personnel and tradesmen in the higher value-add construction trades
that include construction plant operation, electrical wiring installation and plumbing.
New local entrants who join the industry can look forward to starting monthly
salaries of S$1,400 to S$1,700 at tradesmen level, and up to $3,500 at PMET
level. From their entry positions, these new entrants can move up the career
progression paths within the industry through accumulation of experience and
upgrading of capabilities. (See Annex A for more details on career and training
progression pathways in the construction sector.)
3. BCA’s Career Promotion Efforts. BCA has been actively engaging in public
outreach programmes to promote careers in the built environment. To further
BCA’s career promotion efforts, the Senior Minister of State for National
Development and Education, Ms. Grace Fu, will be launching BCA’s new Building
Careers website (www.buildingcareers.sg) at the BCA Academy Graduation
Ceremony today, which sees the graduation of 490 Academy’s students from its
certificate, diploma and specialist diploma programmes. This website will not only
serve to reach out and attract potential candidates to take up careers in the built
environment, but also act as a platform for job seekers to search for recruitment
opportunities in the industry. In addition, BCA will be organizing a Built
Environment Scholarship, Training & Career Fair and BCA Academy Open
House in January next year. This event will see BCA’s concerted partnership with
industry firms, other relevant government agencies and Institutes of Higher
Learning (IHL) in attracting and recruiting talents into the industry. (See Annex B
for more details of the website and fair.)
4. Despite the current economic situation, the construction sector, which is
outperforming many other sectors, will continue to offer good prospects to local
job-seekers. With adequate training opportunities, new entrants will be able to
enjoy rewarding advancements in career progression. “It is timely for locals to
consider construction-related job opportunities and contribute to the development
of an excellent built environment. BCA is working closely with the Singapore
Workforce Development Agency (WDA) in providing funding schemes to train and
enhance the employability of more locals in the construction sector as well as to
chart their career progression in the industry. Going forward, these efforts will go a
long way in building up a core group of locals, who will lead and advance the
construction workforce for the future development of Singapore’s built
environment.” said Mr. Lam Siew Wah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of BCA.
5. Training Opportunities and Incentive Schemes Available. To bring more
locals into the construction industry, BCA has been working closely with NTUC and
WDA through the Job Recreation Programmes to match locals to suitable jobs
available in the industry. Various funding schemes have also been put in place to
help defray the training costs for new local entrants in built environment courses at
the BCA Academy. A wide range of courses are available for both new entrants
and existing personnel to upgrade. These courses are structured at 4 levels from
tradesman, junior supervisor, supervisor and professional levels to provide a
comprehensive progression pathway. BCA Academy provides an alternative route
in getting trained and qualified for a career in the construction industry. (See
Annex C for available training schemes)
6. Recognising the need to develop a competent and progressive
construction workforce, the Construction Re-skilling for Employment (CORE) Plus
Programmes have been incorporated into the Skills Programme for Upgrading
and Resilience (SPUR), the recently launched $600m government programme to
upgrade the manpower capabilities of both companies and workers. “Specialist
tradesmen are highly regarded in the construction industry. They also have good
job prospects. By including the courses under SPUR, we hope more companies
can scale up the skill profile of their workers and build a competitive edge. Job
seekers should also consider the training and employment opportunities in the
industry. The training programmes can help them become more job-ready so that
they can contribute immediately at the workplace." said Mr. Chan Heng Kee,
Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
Issued by the Building and Construction Authority on 5 December, 2008
ANNEX A
CAREER PROGRESSION PATHWAYS
1 To facilitate learning and make skills upgrading more accessible to the
workforce in the construction industry, a comprehensive set of career progression
pathways has been drawn up by BCA as shown in the chart attached. There are 4
levels in the progression pathways:
Monthly Salary (Locals)
(without overtime pay) Level
Profession/ Occupation with Job Opportunities for Locals
New Entrants Experienced Personnel
(About 3 yrs)
a. Tradesmen
• Crane operators
• Operators of other types of construction plants (Eg. excavators, bulldozers, track shovels)
• Tradesmen in:
- Architectural trades (Eg. Painting, cladding installation)
- Building Services (Eg. Electrical wiring installation, plumbing, lift installation)
- Civil & Structural trades (Eg. Pre-stressing, welding)
$1,400 to $1,700 $1,900 to $2,800
b. Junior
Supervisor $1,600 to $2,200
c. Supervisor
• Resident Technical Officer
• Site supervisor
• Safety Officer/ Safety Supervisor
$1,800 to $2,500
$3,000 to $4,000
Monthly Salary (Locals)
(without overtime pay) Level
Profession/ Occupation with Job Opportunities for Locals
New Entrants Experienced Personnel
(About 3 yrs)
d. Professional
• Project Manager
• Design/ Project Architect
• Design/ Project Engineer (Civil and Structural)
• Resident Engineer (Civil and Structural)
• Design/ Project Engineer (Mechanical)
• Design/ Project Engineer (Electrical)
• Quantity Surveyor
$2,500 to $3,500 $4,500 to $5,500
2 The pathways provide:
a. An alternative route for Pre-Employment Training (PET) route for
school leavers.
b. Continuing Education and Training (CET) opportunities for continual
upgrading of the existing workforce to enhance their skills and
knowledge.
c. Conversion training for Professionals, Managers, Executives and
Technical personnel (PMET) from other sectors who wants to cross
over to the construction industry.
3 The entry level is dependent on relevant prior experience and qualifications
of the applicant. Opportunities for specialization in selected niche areas are
also available.
CoreTrade
4 In addition, BCA will be introducing the Construction Registration of
Tradesmen (CoreTrade) scheme this month. Under this new scheme,
experienced and skilled tradesmen and foremen in key construction trades
could register with BCA. From around middle of next year, Licensed
Builders undertaking construction works above S$20 million will be required
to deploy a minimum number of registered CoreTrade personnel in their
projects.
5 This scheme was introduced to allow the construction industry to build up its
core group of competent and experienced workforce. CoreTrade provides a
platform to retain the better and more experienced workers by providing a
clear career progression path and giving them due recognition. It will allow
one to move from a general worker, to a registered CoreTrade tradesman
specializing in specific trades, and eventually become a registered
CoreTrade trade foreman. The development of a core group of construction
personnel will support the industry’s role in shaping our built environment,
supporting Singapore’s economic growth and enhancing the quality of life of
our people.
6 The key construction trades involved in the scheme are tabulated in the
table below:
TRADE FOREMEN TRADESMEN
Electrical Works Electrical Works
Plumbing and Piping Works Plumbing & Piping Works
Tiling and Stone Laying Tiling & Stone Laying
Waterproofing Works Construction Plant Operation
Reinforced Concrete Works
Structural Steel Works
Career and Training Progression Paths
List of Training Programmes offered at BCA Academy
Programmes (A)Professional Level
Specialist Diploma in Construction Quality, Environmental, Occupational Health and Safety Management Specialist Diploma in Facility & Energy Management Specialist Diploma in Interior and Landscape Design Specialist Diploma in M&E Co-ordination Specialist Diploma in Building Cost Management Specialist Diploma in Informatics for Construction Management (B) Supervisor Level
Diploma in Construction Engineering Part-time Certificate in Interior Finishing Co-ordination Certificate in Pavement Construction & Maintenance Certificate in Precast Concrete Construction Supervision Certificate in Waterproofing Supervision Safety Co-ordinators Training Course (C) Junior Supervisor Level
Trade Diploma in Structural Steel Work Trade Diploma in Reinforced Concrete Construction Trade Diploma in Electrical Technology Trade Diploma in Plumbing & Pipefitting Trade Diploma in Waterproofing Installation Trade Diploma in Tiling & Stone Laying
National Building Qualifications
National Building Qualification (NBQ) in Project Supervision Higher National Building Qualification (H.NBQ) in Project Supervision Advanced National Building Qualification (A.NBQ) in Project Supervision
Safety Courses
Building Construction Supervisors Safety Course Formwork Safety Course For Supervisors Recognising Hazards in Deep Excavation for Temporary Retaining Structures For Supervisors Supervision of Metal Scaffold Erection
Certification Courses (Supervisor/Technician)
Builder Certificate in Plumbing & Pipefitting Certificate in Building Measurement Certificate in Geotechnical Instrumentation for Supervisors Certificate in Levelling & Setting Out (D) Tradesmen Level
Saddle Jib Tower Crane Luffing Jib Tower Crane Crawler Crane Truck-Mounted Mobile Crane Excavator & Telescopic Handler Plumbing & Pipefitting Electrical Wiring Installation Tiling & Stone Laying Fire Sprinkler Installation Suspended Ceiling Installation Plastering Timber doors & Windows Installation Painting Air Con Ducting Installation
ANNEX B BCA’S NEW INITIATIVES FOR CAREER PROMOTION 1) Building Careers website (www.buildingcareers.sg)
This new website will be a 3-in-1 Integrated Portal for the Built Environment. It aims to:
• Guide the user to a whole range of interesting courses related the built environment offered by BCA Academy and the Institutions of Higher Learning (under Build
Knowledge) • Share with the user tips and advice from BCA-Industry Built Environment scholars and
young successful professionals involved in iconic projects like the Sentosa IR, as well as information on the job scope and training routes for the various professions (under Build Careers); and
• Provide exciting career opportunities offered by reputable industry firms with the click of
a button, where job seekers can even upload video clips to introduce themselves to their prospective employers (under Build Jobs).
2) Built Environment Scholarship, Training and Career Fair 2009 This dedicated event for the built environment will be held at BCA Academy on 17 January
2009, and aims to achieve the following 3 objectives:
• To attract top talents to take up scholarships offered by built environment government agencies as well as industry firms to build up a pool of young professionals for future leadership renewal;
• To showcase courses and training programmes in the built environment offered by
BCA Academy, polytechnics and universities. WDA and NTUC will also participate in this event to promote their schemes such as JRP and SDF schemes; and
• To bring together all players in the built environment, both public and private, in a
coordinated manner showcasing the range of exciting jobs available in the industry BCA Academy will also be having its open house on the same day, so visitors to the Fair will be able to visit the BCA Gallery and Sensory Garden, and find out more about the training programmes and courses offered by Academy.
ANNEX C TRAINING SCHEMES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR BACKGROUND Job Recreation Programme (JRP) A JRP taskforce was formed in March 2005 to co-ordinate efforts for the construction sector. BCA was appointed as the champion for construction sector JRP and our roles include the following; a. To reclaim jobs of higher value in the construction industry for locals b. To identify and re-train unemployed locals for reclaimed jobs c. To identify job opportunities and match them to re-trained locals For the construction sector, the Construction Re-Skilling for Employment (CORE) programme was developed, in which jobseekers are matched with potential employers and sent to attend trade diploma courses (for entry at junior supervisor level) at BCA Academy. An enhanced version, COREPlus programme, was later developed as an extension of the CORE programme, for new entrants at tradesmen level. FUNDING SCHEMES There are currently various funding schemes that have been put in place to support the training schemes above and help defray the training costs for new local entrants in built environment courses at the BCA Academy. In addition, WDA has recently announced the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR), which is a new 2-year programme by the tripartite partners to help companies and workers manage the economic downturn and invest in skills for the recovery. It will be funded by the Government at a cost of $600 million over 2 years. The objectives of SPUR are:
(i) Cut Costs and Save Jobs - Help companies to manage excess manpower and reduce retrenchment;
(ii) Reskill and Upskill - Help local workers including those retrenched, upgrade skills and convert to new jobs; and
(iii) Build Capabilities for Recovery - Strengthen our manpower capabilities to better position our workforce for the upturn
SPUR will help employers to manage their manpower costs and save jobs with enhanced support for course fee subsidies and higher absentee payroll for their local workers sent for training at Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centres. SPUR for workers will help unemployed workers redeploy to new jobs
and help in-employment workers to upgrade their skills. These measures will better prepare our workforce to seize new opportunities in the economic recovery and strengthen Singapore’s competitive advantage. The key features of the different levels of funding schemes are summarized in the table below:
Category
Employee age 40 and above with
‘A’ Level qualifications Others
Funding
Scheme Course Fee
Absentee Payroll
Course Fee Absentee
Payroll
Level 1 - SDF
Training
Assistance Scheme
90% of course fee, up to $11 per
trainee-hour
90% of hourly basic salary
(capped at $4.50 per trainee-hour)
80% of course fee, up to $7 per
trainee-hour
80% of hourly basic salary
(capped at $4.00 per trainee-hour)
Level 2 – Enhanced
with outcome
(Outcome being
placement, retention
or salary Increment)
90% of course fee, up to $16 per
trainee-hour
90% of hourly basic salary
(capped at $4.50 per trainee-hour)
80% of course fee, up to $11 per
trainee-hour
80% of hourly basic salary
(capped at $4.00 per trainee-hour)
Level 3 - SPUR 90% of course
fee
90% of hourly basic salary
(capped at $6.80 per trainee-hour)
80% of course fee
80% of hourly basic salary
(capped at $6.00 per trainee-hour)
Currently, there are 5 crane-related training programmes that fall under the SPUR framework. BCA and BCA Academy are working with WDA to include more Academy courses under SPUR so that locals, both new entrants and existing workforce, can enjoy greater funding support for training.