Clarification

Clarification by Minister for Manpower

3 March 2026 · Ministry of Manpower

Speakers

Summary

This clarification concerns factual updates provided by Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng regarding the GRIT program and the National Masters Trade initiative. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng noted that while 400 participants have joined GRIT, many of the 4,000-plus applicants found permanent jobs during the application process. Regarding trade initiatives, he explained the prioritization of the electrical sector to address the aging workforce of licensed workers and ensure national reliability. The ministry intends to explore the plumbing and air-conditioning technician trades next, maintaining a focused approach to maximize the impact of these training efforts. These initiatives collectively aim to bolster workforce resilience in essential technical fields while successfully placing Singaporeans into stable, permanent employment roles.

Transcript

The following statements were made in the reply given by the Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng) during the Committee of Supply for the Ministry of Manpower at the Sitting of 3 March 2026:

(a) The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): [F]or GRIT, we have originally, as of the outset, sized up about 800 of them, so the majority will be at GRIT; and then there is a smaller quantity, number of places at GRIT@Gov.

We have as of the outset about 4,000-plus applications, but I do not have the exact numbers with me, but the vast majority of them actually found jobs while they were applying for GRIT, because they contemporaneously also apply for jobs. And we are happy for that, because the whole objective of GRIT was to place them into permanent jobs. Having said that, today, 400 have come on board. There are still quite a substantive number out there that are undergoing on board clearance, including some security checks as well. What we are heartened to see is that by the end of January and into February, like I said, the majority of the original GRIT applicants have actually found jobs. [Please refer to "Committee of Supply – Head S (Ministry of Manpower)", Official Report, 3 March 2026, Vol 96, Issue 23, Budget section.]

(b) The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): The national masters trade. We wanted to start with three sectors, because obviously there are multiple sectors all over. So, the first one we work with was the electrical trade. Part of the reason is that, I am very familiar with the electrical trade, because I happen to also cover energy in MTI. Our licensed electrical workers (LEWs), they are also rapidly ageing. In fact, if I am not mistaken, the median age of our LEWs is about 60, 60 something. [Please refer to "Committee of Supply – Head S (Ministry of Manpower)", Official Report, 3 March 2026, Vol 96, Issue 23, Budget section.]

So, I think for our own resilience, for our own security and our own reliability, we have to train this group of people. And earlier on I mentioned Jia Xing, I think he has done very well. So, we want to start that on a very firm footing. The other two trades that we have identified is plumber, and then the third one is aircon technicians. These are all very important, key. And I think the Member knows the size of our population. If we want to try to spread it too thin, then obviously how to differentiate according to the importance and so on, I think that impact would be a lot more less impactful compared to being very focused on these three. So, we are starting off with these three first.

Written statement by Dr Tan See Leng circulated with the leave of the Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5).

I wish to make the following factual corrections to my statements made at the Sitting of 3 March 2026. My statements should read as follows:

We have as of the outset about 4,000-plus applications, but I do not have the exact numbers with me, but many of them actually found jobs while they were applying for GRIT, because they contemporaneously also apply for jobs. And we are happy for that, because the whole objective of GRIT was to place them into permanent jobs. Having said that, today, 400 have come on board. There are still quite a substantive number out there that are undergoing on board clearance, including some security checks as well. What we are heartened to see is that by the end of January and into February, like I said, many of the original GRIT applicants have actually found jobs.

(b) The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): The national masters trade. We wanted to start with the electrical sectors, because obviously there are multiple sectors all over. So, the first one we work with was the electrical trade. Part of the reason is that, I am very familiar with the electrical trade, because I happen to also cover energy in MTI. Our licensed electrical workers (LEWs), they are also rapidly ageing. In fact, if I am not mistaken, the median age of our LEWs is about 60, 60 something.

So, I think for our own resilience, for our own security and our own reliability, we have to train this group of people. And earlier on I mentioned Jia Xing, I think he has done very well. So, we want to start that on a very firm footing. The other two trades that we have identified to explore thereafter is plumber, and then the third one is aircon technicians. These are all very important, key. And I think the Member knows the size of our population. If we want to try to spread it too thin, then obviously how to differentiate according to the importance and so on, I think that impact would be a lot more less impactful compared to being very focused.