LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT Workforce Skills Qualification framework for HR HR practitioners and people managers can refer to courses under the HR Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework. These include: • Employees Relations and Communications; • Performance, Remuneration, and Benefits; • Resourcing; • Learning and Development; and • Talent Management To build “T-shaped” professionals, organisations can develop professionals, managers and executives (including HR practitioners) in horizontal skills development frameworks such as: • Business Management WSQ • Leadership and People Management WSQ • Employability Skills WSQ, especially Executive Development and Growth for Excellence criteria and terms and conditions set out. Under the ETS, small to medium enterprises (SMEs) can obtain funding of up to $15 per hour for both their rank and file and their professionals, managers and executive training. “Organisations looking to send their staff for productivity-related courses can explore taping on the Employment & Employability Institute’s Professional Development fund,” says Charlene Ang, Vice President of the Service Quality Centre. “Participants who are NTUC members can also enjoy 50% unfunded course fee support for up to $250 each year when they sign up for courses supported under the Union Training Assistance Programme,” she adds. In addition, SMEs can also consider tapping on the Critical Infocomm Technology Resource Programme (CITREP), established by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore to fund the development of emerging, critical and specialised information and communication technology skills to meet Singapore’s
Singapore Workforce Development Agency funding The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) offers funding for employer-based training, where course fees and absentee payroll grants may be applicable to employers who send Singaporean or Permanent Resident staff for training.
Funding Support for WSQ Courses (including SMEs) Component
Funding for all WSQ Courses
Enhanced Training Support for SMEs*
Course fee subsidy
50% capped at $15/hr
90% capped at $30/hr
70% course fee subsidy for CET Centres’ and 90% course fee subsidy for CET Centres’ Programme Partners’ courses and Programme Partners’ courses
Absentee 80% of basic hourly salary, capped at payroll funding $4.50/hr
80% of basic hourly salary, capped at $7.50/hr
To search for funded training programmes, head to: www.skillsconnect.gov.sg/web/guest/advanceCourse
Other HR Capability Development Schemes HR In-House Adopter Programme Companies interested in improving internal HR capabilities can tap onto the HR in-house adaptor programme, through which WDA will provide a funding grant of up to $15,000. This is designed to allow organisations to support enhancements to HR, such as the development of job profiles, staff development, and recruitment tools. Enterprise Training Support Enterprise Training Support is a company-wide intervention scheme that aims to raise employees’ skill levels through training and improvement in HR and Learning and Development systems and processes. WorkPro WorkPro helps employers adopt progressive workplace age management practices, facilitate job redesigns, improve work-place practices, and encourage recruitment of back-to-work locals and mature workers. manpower needs in this area. CITREP aims to equip participants with critical and specialised skills to gain recognition for their competencies. “The programme supports training courses and certifications and helps to increase an organisation’s competitive advantage and enhance the employability of its staff,” says Kwek Kok Kwong, CEO, NTUC LearningHub. In addition, under the National Infocomm Competency Framework, individuals and companies can enjoy up to 70% WDA funding on the course fees, while SMEs get an additional 20% funding when they claim under the SkillsConnect portal. Other than the above, companies may also utilise other public assistance such
as the Absentee Payroll, Wage Credit, and Productivity and Innovation credit schemes, says Kwek. “There are also some assistance schemes which are targeted at specific categories of workers,” he adds. “For example, Workfare Training Support helps companies offset training for low wage workers.”
Training without support In Singapore, many organisations leverage on the various funds available to ensure staff are trained in the latest skills. However, it is also important for companies not to be over-reliant on funding, says Ang. This is because funding rates may change depending on circumstances. ISSUE 15.3
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