Singapore is looking to ‘redesign’ jobs in the maritime sector to better attract and retain local workers, a top government official has said.
The initiative is part of a plan to create 1,000 ‘good jobs’ for Singaporeans in the sector by 2025, according to senior minister of state for transport Chee Hong Tat.
He said the Maritime and Port Authority has been working with the Singapore Maritime Foundation to initiate trials for suitable job roles in the sector such as technical superintendents.
“This is an important and good job, which is essential for the maritime sector. However, our pool of qualified local talents is at this moment still very small, because the job traditionally needs extensive seafaring experience,” said Chee.
“If the job could be redesigned and restructured to enable those with fewer years of seafaring experience to perform the role, this would open up opportunities for more locals to take on such jobs,” he said.
“Of course, we must make sure safety and quality standards are maintained.
“But if we are able to reduce the number of years of prior seafaring experience needed so that workers can pick up skills on the job through job redesign and the use of technology, I think this will be a win-win for our industry and for our workers.”
Chee said Singapore hopes to share the outcomes and key takeaways from the pilot job redesign trials at the end of this year.
Speaking at the Maritime Manpower Forum at Singapore Maritime Week, Chee said attracting good people into the maritime sector was important, but that it was only the first step.
Certificates of competency
“We must also offer rewarding careers with ample opportunities for continuous learning and skills upgrading, for both seafaring and shore-based roles,” he said
“Seafarers can work towards becoming ship masters or chief engineers after attaining their certificates of competency (CoC) Class 1.
“They can also transit to senior shore-based management roles such as marine superintendents or technical superintendents after spending some time at sea.”
To provide more support for our local seafarers, Chee said Singapore has launched the Sail Milestone Achievement Programme (SailMAP), to provide each seafarer with up to SGD 50,000 ($36,642) when they attain key career milestones.
This includes a bonus of SGD 10,000 when they sign-on to their first vessel as a CoC Class 3 or 5 holder.
“The incentive payments help to support their income when they are not sailing, so that they can focus on upgrading their seafaring skills and knowledge during these periods,” he added.
Chee said the MPA has also worked with Singapore’s institutes of higher learning to offer senior seafarers the opportunity to pursue advanced studies to ease their transition into shore-based roles.
“Seafarers with the CoC 1 qualification can apply to Nanyang Technological University’s Master of Science in maritime studies or National University of Singapore’s Master of Science in maritime technology and management.
“This recognises that our CoC 1 holders have acquired valuable work experience and skills in the maritime sector, and they are ready to pursue a master of science together with their peers with university degrees.”
