Employers' role in uplifting talent key amid uncertainty, says DPM Gan

Employers must play a part to reshape the workforce in line with their changing talent needs, and this effort is core to good business strategy moving forward.

- Tay Hong Yi Correspondent

Only then can employers harness opportunities arising from the technological, demographic, and geo-economic shifts besetting the world today, said Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong on Nov 4.

"To stay competitive and resilient, employers must align business and human capital strategies," said DPM Gan, who was guest of honour at the 45th anniversary event of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).

SNEF’s place amid all this change lies in helping employers lead with responsibility, turn uncertainty into opportunity, and build workplaces that are both productive and inclusive, he added.

To do this, Singapore’s employers union will move more decisively in the ongoing effort to help employers manage disruption and foster workforce agility in four ways.

These are: move from foresight to action with sector-specific insights; accelerate job redesign among employers; foster fair and trusted workplaces by preparing employers to implement workplace fairness laws slated for 2027; and uplift the human resource profession.

"Together, these efforts will help employers navigate change with confidence, build trust at the workplace and create opportunities for all," DPM Gan said.

DPM Gan’s comments on SNEF’s expanded remit echoed those made by SNEF president Tan Hee Teck in an Oct 31 interview with The Straits Times ahead of the anniversary.