From left: PUB Chief Executive Ng Joo Hee, SgWA Director Koh Siong Teck; NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng; PUBEU General-Secretary Shafari Bin Baharawi, PUBEU President Tan Yeong Kang
Singapore, 13 July 2021 – PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency and PUB Employees Union (PUBEU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the formation of a Company Training Committee (CTC) to upskill and reskill its officers as the agency transforms itself into a smart utility of the future. The signing ceremony, which took place at the Singapore Water Academy (SgWA1), was witnessed by Guest-of-Honour Secretary-General of National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Mr Ng Chee Meng and PUB Chief Executive, Mr Ng Joo Hee.
2. The newly minted CTC will augment SgWA's efforts to identify and equip staff with essential skillsets to adapt to changing workplaces and emerging areas of work. Examples of new competencies that officers will build range from digital proficiency, cyber security and project management to language and effective communication skills. This is aligned with NTUC's initiative to set up training committees to identify the areas of training and skills that workers need to keep pace with industry transformation.
3. “In PUB, we mean it when we say that our employees are our most valued resource. Only a highly-motivated, well-trained and forward-looking workforce can guarantee that PUB continues to be successful in our water mission. PUB invests heavily in the training of every one of our employees, ensuring that they have the skills and competencies to excel in their work. The formation of this CTC signals PUB management's determination to work hand-in-hand with our employees' union to keep our workforce relevant and adaptable to a fast-changing operating environment," said PUB Chief Executive, Ng Joo Hee.
4. “To better prepare our officers for the changing needs of the workplace and to provide better service to the public, it is important to equip the officers with both technical and 'soft' skills. Once the foundation is laid, officers will be encouraged to take a step further to embrace technology and deepen their digital competencies, which will greatly benefit them both at work and in their private lives," said PUBEU President, Ken Tan.
Supporting transformation with a smart workforce
5. Earlier this year, PUB had appointed SP Group's subsidiary, SP Services Limited (SP), to install some 300,000 smart water meters in Singapore from early next year, marking the rollout of the first phase of the Smart Water Meter Programme. On the back of this initiative, PUBEU had partnered NTUC, PUB Water Supply Network Department (WSN) and SgWA to chart a 10-year Operation & Technology Roadmap (OTR). The roadmap identifies skill gaps of metering officers so that they can better support the roll-out of the Smart Water Meter programme.
6. With the shift to hybrid and flexible work arrangements, training modalities must evolve to provide greater flexibility for all employees. In this regard, SgWA accelerated its digital transformation and expanded on its training modalities for all staff, utilising virtual platforms and tools. To date, 40% of all training programmes have been made virtual via video conferencing tools (skype, zoom) and e-learning. Remaining programmes, including Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) modules, have been converted to full e-learning or blended learning (physical and online).
7. Sandralan S/O S Velu, a 60-year-old PUB Technician who has been in service for over 42 years is one of the employees benefitting from the suite of focused training initiatives under the CTC. “It is good that we are given the chance to upgrade ourselves and pursue lifelong learning. I hope to apply the digital skills that I will be learning so that I can perform my work even better," he said. Sandralan's work involves monitoring and maintaining the condition of mechanical equipment used to treat liquid waste at water reclamation plants.
Footnotes:
[1] SgWA is PUB's training arm. It was formed in 2016 to build current and future organisational capability through competency-based training and development for PUB staff and the water industry. To date, SgWA has developed competency frameworks for its 3,300-strong workforce, covering 500 distinct competencies and 1,200 unique job posts across all levels.
Annex B: Terms of Reference – Company Training Committee between PUB and PUB Employees Union
- End -
