Speech at Launch of GardenTech & Green Thumbs 2009
Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State
Mrs Christina Ong, Chairman, National Parks
Dr Leong Chee Chiew, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, National Parks
Mr Chan Heng Kee, Chief Executive, Singapore Workforce Development Agency
Mr Ang Hin Kee, Chief Executive Officer, Employment and Employability Institute
Landscape industry partners
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
1. Good afternoon. It gives me great pleasure to join you at these two exciting landscape events of the year - GardenTech and Green Thumbs 2009.
2. GardenTech has established itself as a popular one-stop gardening fair since it started over a decade ago. Green Thumbs was launched three years ago and is now an annual event for the landscape industry to celebrate its achievements with the community.
Resilience of the Singapore Landscape Industry
3. Despite current difficult times, the landscape industry is not doing too badly. It has benefited from the boom in the construction industry. Many projects in the pipeline, such as the two Integrated Resorts, the Gardens by the Bay, the park connector network and the Public Utilities Board's ‘Active Beautiful Clean' waters programme. Based on NParks' projection early this year, these projects will generate an estimated 350 jobs in the landscaping industry in the coming years. The industry currently employs 21,000 workers. Many employers are still hiring, including those at Green Thumbs today. Today, we have nearly 100 vacancies across a dozen companies.
4. I am pleased to note that the landscape industry has taken advantage of the recent growth opportunities to professionalise and upgrade itself. Many industry players have moved into outcome-based contracting. You are also investing more time and attention to train your workers and mechanising your operations. I applaud you for your commendable efforts. I encourage you to press on in your efforts to enhance the quality and productivity in the landscape industry.
Enhancing Human Capital in Landscape Industry
5. The key to the success of the industry in the long-term will depend on its ability to attract and nurture good workers. Recognising this need, NParks, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) as well as the Singapore Landscape Industry Council have been working in close collaboration for the past few years to enhance skills upgrading in the industry.
6. The Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (or CUGE), a collaboration between WDA and NParks, was set up in 2007 to offer training and professional certification programmes for all levels of the landscape workforce. CUGE uses the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system, which offers certified training to both new entrants and existing workers for this industry. To date, CUGE has certified over 2,000 workers using the Landscape WSQ system.
7. The job opportunities in the landscape industry are diverse. They range from the rank and file positions such as Landscape Technicians, Tree Care Technicians, Nursery Supervisors and Park Supervisors, to PMET-level positions such as Landscape Architects, Interior-scapes Managers, Arborists, Horticulture Managers and Turf Managers.
8. To encourage Singaporeans to take up jobs in the landscape industry, CUGE has partnered the various Community Development Councils (CDCs) and NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to provide career advice and facilitate job placements. CUGE would also train new entrants of all ages and with no prior experience to join the industry. I am heartened to know that more locals are showing interest in the industry. In the first half of this year, we have helped 390 Singaporeans find jobs in the sector and we expect this number to continue rising over the rest of the year.
9. One of the successful job seekers is Mr Fan Chap Wan, 60 years old. Mr Chan used to be a factory worker and later an owner of two fruit stalls. Unfortunately, he had to end his business to take care of his wife when she fell ill. When she recovered, Mr Fan decided to pursue his passion in greenery. Mr Fan successfully applied for a job as a Landscape Technician with Toh Chin Leong Construction Pte Ltd after participating in a Job Placement Exercise in March last year. Under the company's sponsorship, Mr Fan completed his WSQ Certificate in Landscape Operations in February this year. He is now doing well with the company and is very happy with this career switch. He also looks forward to upgrading his skills further through the WSQ system. Mr Fan was selected by the Singapore Labour Organisation and NTUC to receive this year's May Day Model Worker Award for his positive attitude towards work and lifelong learning. Mr Fan is indeed an exemplary worker whom we can all learn from.
10. The Landscape WSQ system also offers structured career progression pathways for workers to upgrade themselves with the same industry.
11. Consider Mr Hafiz Bin Kamisan, aged 24, who graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma in Horticulture in 2005. Mr Hafiz joined Prince's Landscape in 2007 and is now the company's Operations Manager. He manages six teams of about 20 workers. Mr Hafiz recently attended a course on risk and safety that is part of the WSQ Advanced Certificate in Landscape Supervision. The training has enabled Mr Hafiz to have a clearer understanding of safety issues in the industry and made him a more effective coach for his team on safety matters. Like Mr Hafiz, workers in the landscape industry can now look forward to picking up new skills to improve their capabilities and progression within the landscape industry.
12. To further help Singaporeans in their job search and training, MOM and WDA launched the SPUR-JOBS scheme in May 2009 to co-fund hiring companies' cost of recruitment, training and job-redesign. I am pleased to note that Nature Landscapes Pte Ltd was amongst the pioneer adopters of the scheme. Through SPUR-JOBS, Nature Landscapes recruited 18 new local workers for positions in Horticulturist, Customer Relations Officer, Gardener, Supervisor and Landscape Architect. At the same time, the company is putting in place a Resource Management system that will enlarge the roles of their workers, making the work at the company more meaningful, rewarding and challenging. I urge more landscape companies to consider their example in leveraging on the scheme to augment your manpower and business capabilities.
Conclusion
13. In conclusion, let me extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the sponsors and partners whose support has made today's events possible. I would also like to specially thank the overseas exhibitors, contestants and judges who have travelled from their home countries to join us today.
14. With a strong training framework (Landscape WSQ) in place, supportive employers and pro-active workers could work together to jointly take advantage of the many new opportunities in the landscaping industry. Over time, we can look forward to deepening our green capability to our expertise in sustainable development.
15. Have a very enjoyable afternoon ahead. Thank you.