New maritime apprenticeship scheme launched to ensure better job fit

A NEW maritime apprenticeship scheme was launched on Thursday by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), e2i (Employment and Employability Institute), Singapore Organisation of Seamen (SOS) and Workforce Singapore (WSG), in support of the Adapt & Grow initiative to familiarise and match jobseekers with potential employers.

Developed by the Tripartite Maritime Manpower Taskforce for Seafaring, the scheme aims to strengthen the employability of Singaporeans by providing them an avenue to pick up vocational skills and allow companies and jobseekers find a better job fit before long-term employment.

Jobseekers will be placed on a month-long shipboard work trial with local harbour craft employers, as well as a three-day foundational maritime training course. Monthly training costs and allowance of up to S$2,600 per trainee for Singapore citizens and S$1,940 for Singapore PRs are supported by the tripartite partners.

Gilbert Tan, CEO of e2i, said: "With the work trial, trainees can gain practical skills and an actual taste of a seafaring career and employers can assess job suitability, which will result in a better job match."