Know of a member who is currently unemployed and has been actively seeking for a job for six months or more?
If the member is willing to try out a job in another industry, tell him or her about the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCPs) under Workforce Singapore (WSG).
The PCPs have been around since 2007 to help local professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) acquire new skills to take on new careers.
It is therefore suitable, too, for members who want to pursue their passion and come into the industry of their dreams.
The PCPs may also work for your management partners, especially those facing problems hiring local PMETs, as they can gain access to a pool of PMETs keen to enter the industry.
Here are some useful facts about the PCPs you can use to explain to your member or management partner.
What are PCPs?
They are career conversion programmes targeted at PMETs including mid-career switchers. PMETs will be required to go through skills conversion and move into new jobs or new sectors. These sectors are expected to have good prospects and opportunities for them to progress up the career ladder.
What are the key types of PCPs available today?
There are two types of PCPs. The first is called Place-and-Train where the PMET is hired by a participating employer before undergoing training to take on new job role.
The second type is called Attach-and-Train where the PMET is provided with training and work attachments before being placed in a job. Although placement is not mandatory for Attach-and-Train PCPs, employers are strongly encouraged to offer jobs to eligible trainees who have met satisfactory training and performance requirements.
This is where you as union leaders can find out if the employer is unionised and use your powers of persuasion to get the jobseeker hired.
How long is the training period for both types of PCPs?
Training under the PCPs can range from three months to 24 months, depending on the programme and the job requirements.
What about funding?
In the case of Place-and-Train PCPs, WSG’s funding support will be provided to employers. They are talking about up to 90 per cent of monthly salary per individual capped at $6,000 per month for the training period, plus course fee subsidy of up to 90 per cent.
For Attach-and-Train PCPs, WSG funding support of up to 90 per cent of course fees will be provided to individuals undertaking the courses. Participants also get a training allowance of between 50 to 70 per cent of the prevailing salary, capped at $4,000 per month.
How has the programme fared so far?
Second Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo gave an update on the PCPs during the recent Committee of Supply debate for the Manpower Ministry.
She said there are now over 100 PCPs in more than 30 sectors and they are helping both displaced PMETs as well as those who may be at risk of losing their job.
“We no longer wait till workers are unemployed or retrenched to reach out to them. Instead, we work with companies ahead of time to put in place re-deployment PCPs such as in consumer banking, where existing staff are re-trained and re-deployed,” explained Mrs Teo.
How to apply and get more information?
General: For more information on the PCPs visit www.wsg.gov.sg/pcps.
Jobseekers: For more information and to apply for the PCP, log on to https://e2i.com.sg/individuals/professional-conversion-programme-pcp/
Employers: For more information and to apply, visit https://e2i.com.sg/businesses/professional-conversion-programme-pcp/
Success Story
Find out how one unionised company tapped on the PCP to hire better trained employees.
HSBC worked closely with NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) on a PCP in professional services for the bank’s contact centre.
The PCP was targeted at hiring and training local PMET jobseekers, in particular career switchers to help them get jobs as telesales representatives.
During the three-month on-the-job training, three candidates were trained in areas like product knowledge, internet banking features, call listening and credit card sales training. All three candidates were eventually hired as telesales representatives.
HSBC staff are unionised under the Singapore Bank Employees’ Union (SBEU) for rank and file workers and the Singapore Bank Officers’ Union (SBOA) for executive staff.