UK-based maritime specialist Spinnaker says competition for operators in the Lion Republic with more than five years experience is intense.
“With numerous owner operators all fishing in the same pool, each is finding it tough to fill vacancies,” says Spinnaker’s Matt Cornelius.
“Thereare enough vacancies for each candidate five times over at the moment,” addsthe Singapore-based specialist in commercial shipping recruitment.
“Whenyou think about it, this isn't entirely surprising; Singapore's growth as amajor shipping hub over the last ten years was startlingly fast.
“There are now so many employers on the island that poaching is rife andcompetition for staff is never ending.”
Corneliussaid the situation is made worse with the industry-wide lack of investment innew talent during the first half of the recession.
“There are not enough operations, chartering orfreight trading staff with five years experience to go round,” he says.
Spinnakersays another issue which is set to further compound the problem is August’s introductionof the Fair Consideration Framework.
Thisis intended to ensure that employers give local people the opportunity to applyfor their vacancies.
Inessence it means that all Singapore vacancies must be advertised on approvedwebsites for at least 14 days before visa / employment pass applications forforeign workers can be considered.
“Singapore has possibly become a victim of its own success. The country’s centrallocation is the perfect location for doing business,” says Cornelius.
“Howeverits size and dependence upon foreign labour, high housing costs, cost of livingand the incredible growth of the shipping community means that it’s hard enoughfor employers to fill some of their roles, let alone fill them with localstaff.
“The universities are doing their best toproduce graduates with a strong shipping education, but it takes time to filterinto the workplace: employers need experience now.”
