Singapore govt, unions pledge to $17.3m to train officersSingapore govt, unions pledge to $17.3m to train officers

The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), NTUC’s Employment & Employability Institute (e2i) and the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) have committed the funds to support Singaporeans and permanent residents through the Tripartite Nautical Training Award (TNTA).

The programme started five years ago and has so far trained 130 officers.

The funding support from WDA and e2i will cover the training fees and a monthly allowance of up to SGD1,400 per cadet during the 31-month training course.

 While shipping and maritime form a major part of the Singapore economy it has proved difficult to attract locals to take up a career in seafaring. Of 20,000 officers serving on Singapore flagged ships, just 1,605 are Singaporean.

 “We are extremely thrilled to have garnered the strong support from WDA and e2i for this programme. This really goes to show the Government’s commitment to boost the number of Singaporean seafarers so as to give them an alternate career where they can have a better job, better pay and better lives,” said Mary Liew, general secretary of the SMOU.