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Speech at HR Youth Forum 2011

Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Health, Nanyang Technological University

Employment practices

  1. A very good morning to all of you  

  2. I am pleased to join you today for the HR Youth Forum. My congratulations to the students of the NTU Human Resources Consulting Club who have demonstrated great initiative in organising this annual event, now into its third year. I attended the inaugural HR Youth Forum in 2009 and am happy to know that the organisers and the participants of today's event, as the next generation of Singapore's HR professionals, are all starting young in learning about and promoting the profession.

    NEW HR CHALLENGES

  3. It has been a roller-coaster ride for the Singapore economy in the last 2 years. We emerged from a severe recession in 2009 to achieve record growth of 14.5% last year. Our unemployment rate has dropped to one of the lowest in the world and the Government expects Singapore’s economy to grow healthily between 4% and 6% this year.

  4. We bounced back strongly thanks to the resilience of our workforce and businesses. HR professionals have played an important role during the downturn by helping their employers and workers tap on the Government’s funding schemes to reduce labour costs, sign their workers up for training and build a stronger workforce. You may recall that the Government withdrew $4.9bn from our national reserves in 2009. This was used to fund the Jobs Credit to keep our local workers employed during the downturn, and the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR) which enhanced subsidies for worker training.

  5. Today's tight labour market poses a different human capital challenge for businesses and the Singapore economy. To remain competitive and sustain economic growth, it is critical that we raise our productivity. Higher productivity can be achieved through skills upgrading, better management practices and innovation. It will create better jobs for our workforce and optimise our limited pool of human capital. HR professionals, as the experts on human capital strategy in businesses, have a crucial role to play in this effort.

  6. With HR gaining significance in enabling businesses to leverage human capital for business growth, you can look forward to many job opportunities in the field when you graduate. It is also valuable to have platforms such as this forum where we discuss the pressing human capital challenges we are facing, and how we can overcome them. The theme for today's forum, "HR in the New Age", highlights the importance for HR professionals to keep developing their own skills and competencies to play an effective role as strategic partners of businesses.

    DEVELOPING HR PROFESSIONALS IN SINGAPORE

  7. In this regard, more training and development opportunities exist for HR professionals than ever before. The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) has developed the HR Workforce Skills Qualifications (HRWSQ) framework to enhance the competencies of HR professionals. Over 6,000 HRWSQ training certificates have been awarded since the programme was launched in 2008.

  8. Last week, MOM announced the new Skills Training for Excellence Programme (STEP) to help managers stay employable. The Government is investing $150 million over three years to help professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) to increase their productivity, deepen and broaden their competencies, and pick up people management skills. For HR professionals, STEP will help you upgrade your HR competencies, as well as pick up cross-functional competencies such as finance and marketing. A deeper and broader skill set will improve your productivity and employability and better prepare you for leadership roles in your organisations.

  9. Besides these training programmes, MOM and SMU have established the Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI) to conduct research on human capital challenges in the region and deliver high quality executive development programmes for HR professionals. MOM and WDA also regularly organise human capital conferences and seminars, such as our Singapore Human Capital Summit, to bring thought leaders on human capital management and leadership to Singapore to share best practices.

  10. MOM and WDA will continue to be advocates for HR professionals because they have a substantial impact on business results. Strong HR capabilities will enhance business competitiveness and unleash the full potential of our workforce. A vibrant HR community will also attract new businesses into Singapore and create more job opportunities in the field.

    INCREASINGLY DIVERSE WORKFORCE

  11. With the tight labour market, HR professionals will need to cast their hiring net wider and further. This also means that HR professionals will have to manage an increasingly diverse workforce. One competitive advantage that Singapore enjoys is the rich pool of diverse talent we have, which enables us to better understand and appreciate global business needs. The intensifying global war for talent testifies the importance of this critical factor for countries and businesses to stay ahead. It is hence, important that our HR professionals are able to develop effective people practices to play to the diversity of cultures and generations within their workforce and turn that into a competitive advantage.

  12. HR professionals can approach the Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) for advice on best practices for hiring and rewarding on merit, and treating all employees fairly. More than 1,500 businesses in Singapore have already signed the TAFEP pledge. Signing the pledge signals the companies' commitment to implement fair employment practices in order to boost employee engagement and business performance.

  13. TAFEP also helps workers directly by informing them about the basic employment terms and rights they should enjoy at the workplace. Students are a key group which the Alliance would like to reach out to, because they may not be aware about their employment rights when looking for their first job. The Alliance has just produced a guide on Employment Laws for School Leavers, which has been included in your information pack for today's forum.

    FACILITATING STUDENTS' JOB SEARCH

  14. To further help you and other students who are about to join the workforce, MOM developed the Career Compass. At this one-stop online portal, you can access online resources for self-assessment tools and resume writing, and find out more about the current job opportunities available. We recently refreshed the information on wages, working conditions and medium-term outlook for various industries. The Career Compass guide will help you understand the current demand in the labour market, identify the most promising industries for your job search, and help you chart your career path. I encourage you to log on to the MOM website to access the Career Compass portal. It will provide you with a rich resource of valuable knowledge to help you plan your career as you step into the workforce.

  15. Later this morning, industry professionals will share more with you about the challenges they face in managing a diverse workforce and other key HR issues. You will have the opportunity to discuss these challenges in greater detail during the afternoon business case session. I hope today's sessions will improve your understanding of a HR professional's role in business, and the resources available to help you find a job and prepare you for a career in HR. As Singapore's next generation of HR professionals, the performance of our future workforce is in your hands. On this note, I wish everyone a fruitful and inspiring day ahead. Thank you.