SINGAPORE – Plumbers, electricians and air-conditioner technicians are set to get expanded job opportunities, as the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) strives to ensure a steady supply of local workers into these trades.

To further protect the rights and interests of workers, NTUC will look into broadening job opportunities, providing support for vulnerable workers and providing training to help employees stay competitive, said Mr Desmond Tan (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), who is a deputy secretary-general of NTUC.

Speaking at the Parliament debate on Monday on the motion of thanks for the President’s Address, he highlighted three areas of focus for NTUC.

The first is expanding job opportunities, said Mr Tan, who is also Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.

He highlighted workers in skilled essential trades and younger workers as the two groups that are NTUC’s priority in this area.

“There is a growing concern of a ‘skilled trades gap’ as the older generation retires, coupled with the lack of qualified candidates to take on these jobs,” he said.

In February, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng mooted the Career Progression Model as part of the union’s efforts to create clear career ladders and uplift the wages of tradesmen.

Mr Tan said the union will prioritise plumbers, electricians and air-con technicians – the three essential trades that have a direct impact on the daily lives of Singaporeans.

NTUC also plans to leverage its networks to link up young people with internship opportunities and career mentors across different sectors.

This is to help them take the first steps in their careers amid a more competitive job market, said Mr Tan.

NTUC’s second area of focus is to enhance career support and protection.

The union will help workers deal with issues such as the higher cost of living, and address mid- to longer-term issues like job security, unemployment support, retirement adequacy and caregiving support.

The labour movement has been actively pushing for more workers to be covered under the Progressive Wage Model.

The union is also continuing to advocate for income support for those who lose their jobs – this is tied to active job seeking and reskilling, in order to help mid-career workers who are more vulnerable to industry disruptions amid restructuring.

Said Mr Tan: “These workers are in a particularly precarious position should they lose their jobs, as they generally have more dependants and financial responsibilities.”

To better protect freelance and self-employed workers, including platform workers, Mr Tan said NTUC will continue to work with the tripartite partners on tasks such as implementing work injury compensation, improving housing and retirement adequacy.

In its third area of focus, NTUC will support workers to handle career changes in the evolving job market, by developing new and deepening existing skills to stay relevant and competitive, said Mr Tan.

He will also continue to call on all employers to work with NTUC to form company training committees (CTCs).

“With the acceleration of the digital and green economy, it is imperative for companies to plan ahead, capitalise on key trends, and transform their businesses,” he added.

“Through CTCs, NTUC will support companies to do all that, plus redesign jobs, upskill and reskill workers and collectively achieve greater business and workers’ outcomes.”

NTUC assistant secretary-general Desmond Choo (Tampines GRC) said that with the global economic outlook being more volatile and uncertain, some skills may become obsolete faster than others, putting some segments of Singapore’s workforce in greater danger.

He added that Singapore needs to concentrate on improving social safety nets, especially for Singaporeans born in the 1960s and 1970s, self-employed persons and older workers.

Some suggestions he gave were: reskilling, absentee payroll funding and unemployment support.

Absentee payroll funding is a government grant to offset the manpower costs incurred by employers when they send staff for certifiable skills training during working hours.

Mr Fahmi Aliman (Marine Parade GRC), operations and mobilisation director at NTUC, emphasised the importance of building a resilient society by supporting vulnerable workers.

He brought up the Focus Area 4 (FA4) Workgroup as an example of an initiative for vulnerable workers.

The initiative provides employment support for vulnerable groups in the Malay/Muslim community, including platform workers, women looking to re-enter the workforce, mature workers, and young people.

Ms Yeo Wan Ling (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), who is director of NTUC’s small and medium-sized enterprises unit, as well as its women and family unit, advocated support for adults with special needs and their caregivers, working women doubling as caregivers, and freelancers and platform workers.