MP for Nee Soon GRC Patrick Tay said employers play a crucial role in supporting this spirit of lifelong learning and should proactively send workers for training and upgrading.

SINGAPORE: Employers should lead by example and support the programmes and internships that will be offered under the SkillsFuture initiative, said MP for Nee Soon GRC Patrick Tay during the Budget debate in Parliament on Wednesday (Mar 4).

Mr Tay said employers play a crucial role in supporting this spirit of lifelong learning and should proactively send workers for training and upgrading.

Starting next year, Singaporeans aged 25 years old and above will receive an initial SkillsFuture Credit of S$500 to be used for a broad range of courses. He noted that training support and funding is at an all-time high and employers should not use lack of resources as an excuse.

Said Mr Tay: “As Singaporeans embark on individual initiated training and on tapping on their SkillsFuture credits come next year – to undergo training and upgrading – I urge employers to give the much needed support, encouragement and even time-off from their work. This is especially so when some of these individual initiated training and their practicums and exams may be conducted during working hours.”