A strong core workforce in the lift industry will ensure that lifts are well-maintained in an increasingly built-up Singapore. Attracting Singapore residents into the industry is a top priority, as the industry currently faces an ageing workforce with half of the lift technicians expected to retire within the next 10 to 15 years.
The Lift and Escalator Sectoral Tripartite Committee (L&E STC) has identified the following recommendations to attract, develop and retain Singaporean residents in the lift industry:
- Better Jobs: Enhancing job prospects, progression and work environment to attract talents to join the industry.
- Higher Skills: Introducing a training and certification framework to upskill the workforce to deliver better quality maintenance services.
- Better Pay: Ensuring higher wages for lift maintenance personnel.
- Raising Productivity: Pushing for wider adoption of technology in the lift industry to create higher value-added jobs.
The Government supports the L&E STC’s recommendations through the following initiatives:
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Phasing in a Progressive Wage Model (PWM)
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- The PWM aims to raise wages in the lift and escalator sector via skills upgrading, enhanced job roles and productivity improvements.
- The requirement for all registered lift companies to implement a PWM will be phased in within three years.
- With immediate effect, all Government Procuring Entities, such as Housing and Development Board and Land Transport Authority, will take the lead by procuring only from lift maintenance firms listed under ME09 as PWM firms.
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Developing a Training & Certification Framework
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- BCA is collaborating with the Institute of Education to develop training courses, assessments and certifications, which are aligned with the structured competency framework recommended by the L&E STC.
- This will help to determine a worker’s competency level, his suitability to take on a more technical or managerial role, as well as allow existing lift technicians to become more skilled and progress upwards in the PWM levels.
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Supporting career progression
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- Work-Study Diploma in Vertical Transportation (WSDip (VT)) – Industry firms can enroll technicians for the Work-Study Diploma in Vertical Transportation (WSDip (VT)) programme by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to equip them with skills and knowledge to perform lift inspections, maintenance and fault diagnostics.
- The WSDip (VT) programme offers aspiring lift technicians a pathway to upskill and harness knowledge essential for the job role of a Principal Specialist and provides career progression opportunities in the PWM levels.
- Graduates of the WSDip (VT) programme will be recognised as personnel with technical qualification (“T” technical person) for registration with BCA.
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