SKILLS LEVEL OF THE FOREIGN CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the scheme to raise the skills level of the foreign construction workforce will similarly apply to Singaporeans; and (b) how can we ensure that this sector of the economy will increasingly attract local participation.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: The objective of the new multi-skill scheme is to raise the overall skill level of the foreign construction workforce and reduce its reliance on foreign workers. This does not apply to local workers. Only foreign workers attract the levy.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is working towards raising the skills level of Singaporeans in the construction sector and attracting more local participation in the sector. It aims to transform the industry from a dirty, demanding and dangerous industry to a professional, productive and progressive industry. The new measures to upgrade the skills of foreign workers would help in this transformation. There are also opportunities for Singaporeans to take up higher value-added jobs such as professional, supervisory and technical positions in the industry. In addition, BCA conducts talks in schools to encourage students to consider a career in the construction industry and offers scholarships to groom talents. For existing local workers, the Construction Industry Training Institute (CITI) and other institutes of higher learning offer a wide range of construction-related training courses to upgrade their skills. Many of such courses are subsidised by the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and Skills Redevelopment Programme (SRP).