SBF to help wholesalers in their efforts to build talent pipeline

It aims to engage 1,700 firms via scheme, reskill 1600 workers over next three years

- Tay Hong Yi

Singapore's wholesale trade sector, the largest contributor to its economy, is getting a boost to its efforts to build a pipeline of talent to let it keep its edge globally.

The sector, accounting for over 20 per cent of Singapore's economy and 300,000 jobs, can now turn to the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) for help.

"With trade being three times our GDP (gross domestic product), if we don't do trade, I think we are not Singapore," said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan at the launch of the JobsSkills Integrator for Wholesale Trade (JSIT-WST) on Aug 5.

The launch was held at an industry event jointly organised by Workforce Singapore and SBF, which was appointed to lead the JSIT-WST.

Titled Workforce Transformation for Wholesale Trade Sector, the event was held at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar.

Jobs-Skills Integrators are institutions appointed to ensure training will improve employment and earnings prospects by working with industry, training and job placement partners in a designated sector.

In Budget 2023, the Government earmarked three pilot sectors in which integrators would be appointed: retail, precision engineering and wholesale trade.

Under the JSIT-WST, wholesale traders will get to tap the expertise of jobs-skills advisers for free.

These advisers, who are industry veterans, will provide customised advice, including on how jobs can be redesigned, as well as laying out the skills existing employees can develop so that their firms can partake in promising industry trends.