07 September 2009

Collaboration between NTUC's e2i and MPA provides employability and employment assistance to Singaporeans

1The National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) are encouraging more Singaporeans to join the harbour craft industry. A total of 200 job vacancies for harbour craft trainee steersman are available over the next two years.

2The two agencies held a first-ever joint job fair at Marina South Pier on 20 July 2009. A second job fair was held at e2i on 3 August 2009. A total of nine harbour craft companies participated in the two fairs, which attracted more than 100 jobseekers. A total of 43 jobseekers were offered jobs with the participating companies (Please see Annex A for more details of the job fairs). The next job fair will be held on 22 September 2009. Prior to the fair, an Industry Preview will be held on 14 September 2009 to provide jobseekers with a better understanding of the harbour craft sector, nature of the job and career prospects.

Attractive job with career progression

3The harbour craft steersman plays an important role in supporting maritime activities in the port of Singapore. This includes ferrying of ship agents and seafarers between vessel and shore, ferrying harbour pilots to board commercial ships, and the transporting and supplying of ship stores and provisions to ships at anchorages. A steersman will start off first as a trainee steersman and will be tasked with assisting the steersman in ensuring the safe boarding of passengers, docking of the craft and the loading and unloading of goods. After 3 to 6 months of on-the-job training (OJT), a trainee steersman can attend the Port Limit Steersman course and examination to qualify as a steersman.

4A trainee steersman can earn a starting salary of $1,000 a month. Upon qualifying as a steersman in 3 to 6 months, he can expect to earn $1,500 to $2,000 a month. The career also comes with opportunities for further progression. With good performance and work experience of about 9 to 18 months, the steersman can further advance to become a helmsman, earning more than $2,000 a month.

Working together to help Singaporeans

5To encourage more Singaporeans to join the harbour craft industry and accelerate the job progression of trainee steersmen with less than Secondary two education, MPA worked with e2i and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to recognise the Workplace Literacy (WPL) Level 4 as an alternate qualification. Trainee steersman with at least Secondary two education or WPL Level 4 need only go through a minimum of 3 months of OJT, instead of 6 months, before attending the Port Limit Steersman course and examination.

6MPA and WDA are funding 90% of the Port Limit Steersman course fees, while the employer will top up the remaining 10% of the course fee for each trainee.

7 "As a maritime hub, we must ensure that the sector continues to attract Singapore workers. I am glad we had a good start at the Steersman level. Next step is to aim higher, and try to attract higher educated Singaporeans to join the higher positions in the maritime sector," says Mr Ong Ye Kung, Chairman of e2i.

8 "Developing people for the maritime industry is a key priority for MPA and we are glad to work with our partners to attract and develop more people for the harbour craft industry.The harbour craft industry is an integral part of Maritime Singapore and is also a good source of employment for Singaporeans," says Mr Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive of MPA.

<End of Release>

Jointly issued by the Employment and Employability Institute and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

About the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i)
The Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) is a one-stop, skills-based institute for employers, jobseekers and training providers. It has a vacancy bank of over 17,000, and has helped over 20,000 jobseekers find new and better jobs in 2008. To ensure that jobseekers meet the hiring requirements of employers, e2i conducts employment coaching, career coaching and conducts employability and skills training. e2i serves all segment of workers, from rank and file to professionals, managers, executives and technicians. e2i is an initiative of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) supported by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA), the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF), and the Singapore National Employers' Federation (SNEF). The e2i campus is located at 141 Redhill Road and was officially opened in February 2008 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
For more information on e2i, please visit www.e2i.com.sg

About the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996 with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore's strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore's port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, grow the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.

ANNEX A

Description of Harbour Craft Job Fair for Trainee Steersman position

e2i and MPA organised two joint harbour craft job fairs on 20 July and 3 August 2009 to recruit Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents as harbour craft trainee steersmen.

Prior to the job fairs, an industry preview was held on 13 July 2009. The preview served to provide jobseekers with a better understanding of the harbour craft industry, job nature and career prospects. Interested jobseekers were assessed and screened by e2i's Employability Coaches on their suitability to join the industry.

Suitable jobseekers were subsequently shortlisted to attend a four-day pre-employment training at e2i (held from 15-18 July 2009). In order to prepare and enhance their employability during their job interviews, participants went through a two-day customised Personal Effectiveness Employability Camp and a Certified Operations Specialist Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Apply Teamwork in the Workplace course. A total of nine harbour craft companies participated in the two job fairs.

The job nature requires one to be out at sea for most of the time, hence jobseekers need to be able to withstand rough sea conditions and be medically fit. The candidate cannot be colour blind, be willing to work shifts and overtime, and be able to speak and understand English. Those with Secondary two education or Workplace Literacy (WPL) Level 4 would only need to clock three months' sea service before attending the Port Limit Steersman course and examination. Those with less than Secondary two education or WPL Level 3 and below would need to clock six months sea service. Jobseekers who are interested in the steersman position are encouraged to visit e2i to go through the selection and training process.