21 Sep 2011
...MANY restaurants and retail outlets often have trouble...past.
Spring Singapore, the National Trades...interested in working in retail or food and beverage...spur productivity in the retail and F&B sectors, which lag behind... MANY restaurants and retail outlets often have trouble finding the part-time workers that keep their operations humming, but this could soon be a problem of the past.
Spring Singapore, the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency have linked up with manpower services firm TCC Group on an initiative that aims to create a ready pool of part-timers.
The initiative, which has been running as a pilot project, allows people interested in working in retail or food and beverage to sign up with TCC for training. They have to pass some tests before they can get work.
They will have perks similar to those received by full-time workers if they enrol in the programme, said Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, who announced the initiative at a productivity conference organised by Spring yesterday.
'Better benefits, such as medical insurance and employer CPF contribution, will make it more attractive for those who are currently not working... to join the part-time workforce, and for the existing part-timers to stay longer in the labour market,' he added.
'Pooling these part-timers will provide economies of scale for training and benefits, as well as provide greater flexibility in scheduling of deployment.'
About 1,300 people have enrolled in the programme since it began two months ago. It is still in its pilot stage and is being tested at selected shopping malls, he said.
About 50 retail and food services companies at these malls have signed up to tap this pool of part-timers. Restaurant chain Sakae Sushi, which employs 200 to 300 part-timers at any given time, is one of those making use of the scheme.
Chief executive Douglas Foo said the programme helps his company save time as it no longer has to put out advertisements for part-timers or conduct interviews.
He added that he does not mind having to pay more for part-time workers through this programme.
'We pay them more, but they are more qualified and able to contribute better to the organisation, so everybody wins,' he said.
The programme is part of a government campaign to spur productivity in the retail and F&B sectors, which lag behind the national average.
The productivity level of the retail sector, measured by value added per worker, is $37,000 - well under the national average of $89,800. Even lower is the productivity level in the food services sector, which stands at $22,300.
In April, the Government said it had set aside $160million over the next five years to help companies in these two sectors become better equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to improve productivity and competitiveness.
So far, the fund has disbursed $6.7 million in grants, supporting 80 projects at small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Mr Lim also announced that Spring has commissioned a study to compare the productivity levels of local retail and food services companies with those overseas.
Interim findings show that the two sectors here are on a par with other major international cities in terms of sales per employee and sales per square foot.
But the higher sales have not translated into higher profits, he said.
The study has also shown that companies here tend to focus on quick solutions to drive sales, such as opening more outlets or offering discounts.
However, they have not paid enough attention to improving their business operations, identifying critical bottlenecks and developing skills to support long-term growth, Mr Lim said.
The full report of the study will be released when it is completed at the end of the year.
Spring Singapore, the National Trades...interested in working in retail or food and beverage...spur productivity in the retail and F&B sectors, which lag behind... MANY restaurants and retail outlets often have trouble finding the part-time workers that keep their operations humming, but this could soon be a problem of the past.
Spring Singapore, the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency have linked up with manpower services firm TCC Group on an initiative that aims to create a ready pool of part-timers.
The initiative, which has been running as a pilot project, allows people interested in working in retail or food and beverage to sign up with TCC for training. They have to pass some tests before they can get work.
They will have perks similar to those received by full-time workers if they enrol in the programme, said Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, who announced the initiative at a productivity conference organised by Spring yesterday.
'Better benefits, such as medical insurance and employer CPF contribution, will make it more attractive for those who are currently not working... to join the part-time workforce, and for the existing part-timers to stay longer in the labour market,' he added.
'Pooling these part-timers will provide economies of scale for training and benefits, as well as provide greater flexibility in scheduling of deployment.'
About 1,300 people have enrolled in the programme since it began two months ago. It is still in its pilot stage and is being tested at selected shopping malls, he said.
About 50 retail and food services companies at these malls have signed up to tap this pool of part-timers. Restaurant chain Sakae Sushi, which employs 200 to 300 part-timers at any given time, is one of those making use of the scheme.
Chief executive Douglas Foo said the programme helps his company save time as it no longer has to put out advertisements for part-timers or conduct interviews.
He added that he does not mind having to pay more for part-time workers through this programme.
'We pay them more, but they are more qualified and able to contribute better to the organisation, so everybody wins,' he said.
The programme is part of a government campaign to spur productivity in the retail and F&B sectors, which lag behind the national average.
The productivity level of the retail sector, measured by value added per worker, is $37,000 - well under the national average of $89,800. Even lower is the productivity level in the food services sector, which stands at $22,300.
In April, the Government said it had set aside $160million over the next five years to help companies in these two sectors become better equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to improve productivity and competitiveness.
So far, the fund has disbursed $6.7 million in grants, supporting 80 projects at small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Mr Lim also announced that Spring has commissioned a study to compare the productivity levels of local retail and food services companies with those overseas.
Interim findings show that the two sectors here are on a par with other major international cities in terms of sales per employee and sales per square foot.
But the higher sales have not translated into higher profits, he said.
The study has also shown that companies here tend to focus on quick solutions to drive sales, such as opening more outlets or offering discounts.
However, they have not paid enough attention to improving their business operations, identifying critical bottlenecks and developing skills to support long-term growth, Mr Lim said.
The full report of the study will be released when it is completed at the end of the year.
Ref:
21 Sep 2011
The Straits Times (Singapore)
Easier for food, retail outlets to hire staff
...MANY restaurants and retail outlets often have trouble...past.
Spring Singapore, the National Trades...interested in working in retail or food and beverage...spur productivity in the retail and F&B sectors, which lag behind...
MANY restaurants and retail outlets often have trouble finding the part-time workers that keep their operations humming, but this could soon be a problem of the past.
Spring Singapore, the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency have linked up with manpower services firm TCC Group on an initiative that aims to create a ready pool of part-timers.
The initiative, which has been running as a pilot project, allows people interested in working in retail or food and beverage to sign up with TCC for training. They have to pass some tests before they can get work.
They will have perks similar to those received by full-time workers if they enrol in the programme, said Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, who announced the initiative at a productivity conference organised by Spring yesterday.
'Better benefits, such as medical insurance and employer CPF contribution, will make it more attractive for those who are currently not working... to join the part-time workforce, and for the existing part-timers to stay longer in the labour market,' he added.
'Pooling these part-timers will provide economies of scale for training and benefits, as well as provide greater flexibility in scheduling of deployment.'
About 1,300 people have enrolled in the programme since it began two months ago. It is still in its pilot stage and is being tested at selected shopping malls, he said.
About 50 retail and food services companies at these malls have signed up to tap this pool of part-timers. Restaurant chain Sakae Sushi, which employs 200 to 300 part-timers at any given time, is one of those making use of the scheme.
Chief executive Douglas Foo said the programme helps his company save time as it no longer has to put out advertisements for part-timers or conduct interviews.
He added that he does not mind having to pay more for part-time workers through this programme.
'We pay them more, but they are more qualified and able to contribute better to the organisation, so everybody wins,' he said.
The programme is part of a government campaign to spur productivity in the retail and F&B sectors, which lag behind the national average.
The productivity level of the retail sector, measured by value added per worker, is $37,000 - well under the national average of $89,800. Even lower is the productivity level in the food services sector, which stands at $22,300.
In April, the Government said it had set aside $160million over the next five years to help companies in these two sectors become better equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to improve productivity and competitiveness.
So far, the fund has disbursed $6.7 million in grants, supporting 80 projects at small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Mr Lim also announced that Spring has commissioned a study to compare the productivity levels of local retail and food services companies with those overseas.
Interim findings show that the two sectors here are on a par with other major international cities in terms of sales per employee and sales per square foot.
But the higher sales have not translated into higher profits, he said.
The study has also shown that companies here tend to focus on quick solutions to drive sales, such as opening more outlets or offering discounts.
However, they have not paid enough attention to improving their business operations, identifying critical bottlenecks and developing skills to support long-term growth, Mr Lim said.
The full report of the study will be released when it is completed at the end of the year.
Spring Singapore, the National Trades...interested in working in retail or food and beverage...spur productivity in the retail and F&B sectors, which lag behind...
MANY restaurants and retail outlets often have trouble finding the part-time workers that keep their operations humming, but this could soon be a problem of the past.
Spring Singapore, the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency have linked up with manpower services firm TCC Group on an initiative that aims to create a ready pool of part-timers.
The initiative, which has been running as a pilot project, allows people interested in working in retail or food and beverage to sign up with TCC for training. They have to pass some tests before they can get work.
They will have perks similar to those received by full-time workers if they enrol in the programme, said Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang, who announced the initiative at a productivity conference organised by Spring yesterday.
'Better benefits, such as medical insurance and employer CPF contribution, will make it more attractive for those who are currently not working... to join the part-time workforce, and for the existing part-timers to stay longer in the labour market,' he added.
'Pooling these part-timers will provide economies of scale for training and benefits, as well as provide greater flexibility in scheduling of deployment.'
About 1,300 people have enrolled in the programme since it began two months ago. It is still in its pilot stage and is being tested at selected shopping malls, he said.
About 50 retail and food services companies at these malls have signed up to tap this pool of part-timers. Restaurant chain Sakae Sushi, which employs 200 to 300 part-timers at any given time, is one of those making use of the scheme.
Chief executive Douglas Foo said the programme helps his company save time as it no longer has to put out advertisements for part-timers or conduct interviews.
He added that he does not mind having to pay more for part-time workers through this programme.
'We pay them more, but they are more qualified and able to contribute better to the organisation, so everybody wins,' he said.
The programme is part of a government campaign to spur productivity in the retail and F&B sectors, which lag behind the national average.
The productivity level of the retail sector, measured by value added per worker, is $37,000 - well under the national average of $89,800. Even lower is the productivity level in the food services sector, which stands at $22,300.
In April, the Government said it had set aside $160million over the next five years to help companies in these two sectors become better equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to improve productivity and competitiveness.
So far, the fund has disbursed $6.7 million in grants, supporting 80 projects at small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Mr Lim also announced that Spring has commissioned a study to compare the productivity levels of local retail and food services companies with those overseas.
Interim findings show that the two sectors here are on a par with other major international cities in terms of sales per employee and sales per square foot.
But the higher sales have not translated into higher profits, he said.
The study has also shown that companies here tend to focus on quick solutions to drive sales, such as opening more outlets or offering discounts.
However, they have not paid enough attention to improving their business operations, identifying critical bottlenecks and developing skills to support long-term growth, Mr Lim said.
The full report of the study will be released when it is completed at the end of the year.
Ref:The Straits Times
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