Tripartite makes efforts to build a strong and skilled Singaporean Core for the hotel industry. Along with tripartite partners, they organised the first hotel day at the Suntec Convention Centre on September 23.
Supporting the transformation goals of the hotel industry and to help benefit more Singaporeans from this growth, Lim Swee Say launched two “double first” initiatives – Skills Framework for Hotels and Accommodation Services (HAS), and Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) for Professional Executives. The hotel industry will be the first sector to offer this new PCP for Professional Executives.
On the occasion of launch of two first-time initiatives in Singapore on the Hotel Day to support growth of the hotel industry, Minister of Manpower, Lim Swee Say said, “Today, the hotel industry provides employment for about 35,000 individuals. One key challenge faced by the industry is the shortage of manpower. With more hotels opening in the coming years, the manpower situation will only get tighter.”
The Skills Framework for HAS is the first Sectoral Skills Framework to be launched among more than 20 sectors that have formulated or are formulating their industry transformation and manpower development plans. Jointly developed by the WDA and STB, in close partnership with industry leaders and associations, unions and training providers, the Skills Framework has been validated by the industry and stakeholders.
This will provide a common reference for skills and competencies. Employers will now be able to recognise and invest in skills training for their employees. They can also develop vertical and horizontal career pathways for their employees to progress in their organisations and the industry.
Employers who adopt progressive HR practices can likewise refer to the Skills Framework to multi-skill their employees for greater exposure and faster career advancement. Another first is the introduction of a new PCP to help local PMETs build horizontal careers in sales, project management and administrative roles across various vertical industries.
For a start, it will focus on attracting and grooming Sales Executives or Assistant Sales Managers – two key roles for the industry. With this new PCP in place, local and mid-career PMETs from any other sectors will have a smoother transition into the hotel industry. They will be provided with training and job opportunities to adapt and grow in their next careers.
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The Singapore government will further provide training subsidies of up to 70% wage support during the period of training. After the training (about 3 months), they can qualify for the Career Support Scheme where the employees will be provide wage support for salary ranges between $4,000 to $7,000.
There will be a mix of institutional training at SHATEC, as well as structured On-the-Job-Training in the hotels. 18 hotels have already committed to join this new PCP.
“In the face of keener competition and to overcome the shortage of manpower, the industry is transforming and reinventing itself to be more productive, innovative and manpower lean. For example, check-in, check-out or room service used to be handled manually by front office executives. Now, with mobile technology, more hotels in Singapore are meeting new lifestyle preferences by introducing e-concierge for quick and easy check in and out.”
Staff can now take on higher-level job functions such as guest service ambassadors to provide more personalised and customised services to hotel guests. The hotel industry has witnessed deployment of various lean solutions such as:
Lim firmly believes, “These solutions will only help Singapore become more manpower-lean and not manpower less.” Human staff will be needed to do more creative and value adding work. Indeed, the quality of jobs and careers in the hotel industry has improved through time and will continue to improve in the country.
Lim stated, “Even though Singaporean Core in the hotel industry is healthy today, we want to attract even more locals into this industry. There are now more than 2,000 job vacancies in the hotel and accommodation services industry, with 40% of these jobs for PMETs.”
As the country grows to witness major transformations in the hotel industry, the profile of jobs offered will change for the better. You will be seeing more PMET jobs being created for Singaporean local talent.
Through introduction of these new first time initiatives in the country, Lim hopes to strengthen Singaporean core in the hotel industry by creating a win-win situation for both employers and job seekers.
Next read: Unemployment Rises, MOM Expects Redundancies to Increase Further in 2016
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