Plans for NEA's Daily-rated Staff to be Skilled for Future Jobs
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Zainal Sapari’s inquiry regarding plans for the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) daily-rated staff to acquire skills under the Environmental Services Industry Transformation Map. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that NEA launched the Skills Framework for Environmental Services in 2017 to identify necessary industry competencies. To prepare staff for future roles, NEA offers Workforce Skills Qualifications in environmental cleaning, landscape operations, and digital literacy, enabling employees to secure promotions and higher salaries. Furthermore, NEA is working with Post-Secondary Education Institutions to develop enhanced technical courses and continuous education programmes focused on relevant topics for worker upskilling. The Minister concluded that NEA will continue partnering with stakeholders to address manpower needs and expand training programmes for the environmental services workforce.
Transcript
82 Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources what are the plans for NEA's daily-rated staff to receive the necessary skills required for the future jobs under the Environmental Services Industry Transformation Map.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The National Environment Agency (NEA) launched the Skills Framework for Environmental Services (ES) in December 2017 as an integral component of the Environmental Services Industry Transformation Map (ES ITM). The framework maps the skills and competencies that workers in the industry need to perform their roles effectively.
NEA’s daily-rated employees (DREs) are potential beneficiaries of the ES ITM. To equip DREs with the skillsets for future jobs, NEA has been providing training opportunities, such as Workforce Skills Qualifications courses in environmental cleaning, landscape operations and digital literacy. NEA also encourages its DREs to attend relevant training programmes under the ES Skills Framework to broaden and deepen their skills and knowledge. With the requisite training and work experience, DREs may take on more challenging or expanded roles within the agency and in the wider ES industry.
One DRE who has benefited from NEA's upskilling efforts is Mr Somasundaram Ganeson. Mr Somasundaram was previously an Environmental Support Assistant who kept the streets clean. At 62, he was recently promoted to be a Higher Environmental Support Assistant in vector control, after completing a vocational course and attaining the skills needed for the new portfolio. Accordingly, he now commands a higher salary. Other DREs have similarly upgraded their skills and taken on new roles.
NEA is also working with Post-Secondary Education Institutions to enhance existing technical courses and develop new Continuous Education and Training programmes on relevant topics that would also benefit DREs who wish to upskill and avail themselves of job opportunities in the industry.
NEA will continue to partner stakeholders to expand education and training programmes to address the skills and manpower needs of the ES industry.