SINGAPORE - Labour chief Lim Swee Say said that the areas of priority for the human resources (HR) profession in Singapore include encouraging an inclusive workforce to maximise employment, ensuring that the workforce is "reskill-able" to minimise structural unemployment, and maximising the potential of people to reduce underemployment.

He gave the keynote address at the Singapore HR Congress and Business-Connect Exposition (SHRC) on Tuesday.

Singapore's human resources leaders and professionals need to keep up with the changes in HR, added Mr Erman Tan, president of the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI).

He said: "2014 has been a year of great advancements within the HR industry, with the amendment of Singapore's employment law and the enactment of the Fair Consideration Framework."

The framework, which kicked in on Aug 1, features new rules as part of a broader move by the Manpower Ministry to ensure that Singaporeans are given fair employment, promotion and training opportunities.

Mr Tan said: "It is crucial that HR leaders and professionals stay up-to-date with the changing HR landscape, get appropriate information and assistance in order to manage their processes in accordance with the new laws and overcome the HR challenges that they are facing."