NURSING CARE TRAINING FOR QUALIFIED FOREIGNERS

NURSING CARE TRAINING FOR QUALIFIED FOREIGNERS

40.

Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for Health whether the Government will consider encouraging and incentivising manpower agencies to set up training centres to train suitably qualified foreigners in the provision of nursing care at home for the aged sick.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: As we expand nursing homes and home healthcare, we will need to train more staff, whether locals or foreigners. This is part and parcel of preparing Singapore for the further ageing of its population.

There are a number of training centres in Singapore that train workers to provide care services for the elderly. This includes the Institute of Technical Education that offers "ITE Skills Certificate in Health Care" which aims to train both locals and foreigners to provide care for the elderly in a nursing home and in a home environment.

About 30 nursing homes and home care institutions are accredited as Approved Training Centres for this ITE course. This is currently the main platform where foreign workers are trained as care staff in the long-term care sector. Feedback suggests that this system is satisfactory as the workers are trained by qualified and experienced nurses as well as the more senior nursing aides and healthcare attendants. There is some financial incentive for the long-term care providers to make use of this training programme as they can subsequently enjoy a reduction in their foreign worker’s levy.

For employers who need their foreign domestic maids to take care of the seniors at home, there are other training centres run by VWOs which provide subsidised training for these maids. This includes the Hua Mei Training Academy and the AWWA (Asian Women’s Welfare Association) Centre for Caregivers.

In addition, my Ministry is working with the Workforce Development Agency to upgrade the skills of staff working in the long-term care sector under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications Framework. This is to ensure that the skills of the staff remain relevant and in pace with medical advancement.

We are open to other suggestions, including the idea as proposed by Mr Sin Boon Ann, provided they are more cost effective and there is a market demand for such options.

Column: 1081