Firms, unions and Govt to identify key skills workers need for new economy

Slightly over half of those polled believed Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index would rise in the second half of the year, up seven percentage points to 53 per cent six months ago. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - Companies, unions and government agencies will be more involved in identifying key skills workers in various sectors will need in the future.

The Singapore Workforce Development Agency will also enhance existing national training framework and develop sector-based competency frameworks that set out benchmarks for workers to upgrade themselves and plan their careers.

These changes are part of the Continuing Education and Training (CET) 2020 masterplan unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday.

"We must aspire to move beyond competence and doing a regular job, towards mastering skills," he said in a speech at the Lifelong Learning Institute at Paya Lebar, which he also officially opened.

More support for small and medium-sized enterprises, increased use of online platforms in training courses and a one-stop online learning and job application portal for students and workers are also planned.

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