Cash awards for hotels, workers signing up for training under Hotel SMP

CASH incentives will be given to Singapore hotels and workers who sign up for training under the government's Sectoral Manpower Plan (SMP) for the hotel industry launched on Friday by Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say.

SMP is an integral part of SkillsFuture, a government initiative to equip Singapore workers with skills for jobs in the future. In the five-year plan for hotels, employers who join the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme will get up to S$15,000 per head.

A "substantial" number of hotels - 32 - and one hotel group have signed up for the programme, a work-study scheme which provides fresh hospitality graduates from ITEs and polytechnics with a head-start in careers and builds on the skills and knowledge acquired.

Workers will receive up to S$5,000 as a sign-up award, according to the Singapore Tourism Board and Workforce Development Agency which started the Hotel SMP.

The SkillsFuture Earn and Learn Programme is one of five key initiatives under the Hotel SMP, which will also help deal with the prevailing labour shortage problem. The other initiatives under the plan are Enhanced Internships, SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative, SkillsFuture Study Awards and Galvanising Interest in Hotel Careers.

Mr Lim said the Hotel SMP is the first of many SMPs to be rolled out and for them to succeed, a strong tripartite partnership is necessary. He said a Hotel Sectoral Tripartite Committee has been set up to drive the Hotel SMP.