News on HRM, 11 Sept 2013

SOCIALIZE IT ⇨

New course for SMEs aimed at boosting productivity

11 Sept 2013

A new course aimed at helping employers learn more about productivity has been launched by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

The three-month course is targeted at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to help them pick up productivity tools.

The programme, which will begin next week, includes classroom lessons and hands-on workshops. 160 SMEs have also registered for the event.

SME bosses will also get to meet with foreign productivity experts and embark on a two-month project to increase productivity within their companies.

The WDA said that the course is beneficial to SMEs as it is a pioneer, customised programme created to help them “develop and implement enterprise-wide productivity improvements that are best suited to their companies’ needs”.

SMEs will have only have to pay less than $1,000 each for the programme, as it is subsidised by the WDA.

Meanwhile, employees in the food industry can also look forward to a new food specialisation course that focuses on food safety, product development and innovation.

The course, which has yet to have a start date, will come under the WDA’s Workforce Skills Qualifications framework.

Making the announcement was Minister for Trade and Industry, Lim Hng Kiang, who called for regional food companies to improve their food safety standards in light of recent international food scares.

Mr Lim also noted that the Asian market for foods has increased 40% between 2002 and 2011 and the global market will likely grow by another 20% to $38 billion by next year.

B & B