MURATA Electronics is the first unionised company in Singapore to send its workers for training under a new government-sponsored programme.

The first 50 of 200 workers of the Japanese company began their lessons on Monday under the Skills Programme and Upgrading and Resilience (Spur) programme.

Introduced on Dec 1, the $600 million Spur scheme will pay for part of the workers wages while they are on training. The aim is to encourage employers to send their workers for retraining, rather than retrenching them.

For Murata, Spur will save the company about $143,875 in wage costs while they are on training for three and a half months.

Workers will get a NITEC qualification in Mechatronics after they have completed the training, which will also see them learn about teamwork and communication at the workplace.

National Trades Union Congress Deputy Secretary General Halimah Yacob praised Murata and the workers for their pioneering role and urged other companies to tap on Spur, which she said is a 'win-win' proposition.

'During this difficult period, Spur will help a company to reduce its payroll cost. At the same time, it gets to keep its experienced workers and help to upgrade their skills in preparation for better times,' said Madam Halimah.

So far 22 companies have made a commitment to send some 2,500 workers for the Spur programme.