Listen up people, March 1 is your day
by Jessica Cheam, The Straits Times, April 15 2009
Annual HR Day to celebrate Singapore’s most important asset
NATURAL resource-poor Singapore yesterday celebrated its most important asset – people – by holding a Human Resources Day and unveiling a centre dedicated to HR training.
The city-state’s first Human Resources (HR) Day was launched by Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong at the War Memorial Park, with more than 700 HR professionals taking part in a walk to commemorate the milestone.
Madam Ho Geok Choo, president of event organiser Singapore Human Resources Institute, said the day formally recognises the significant contribution of HR and people managers.
“Singapore’s success story is really all about human resources…we have learnt to make the best use of it, propelling our economy forward,” she said.
Singapore’s HR Day – believed to be the first such in the world – will be held annually on March 1.
But this year’s event was held together with the two-day Singapore HR Congress and Business-Connect Exposition at Raffles City, which is now in its third year.
Mr Gan told the 1,500 participants that this year’s conference came at a critical time.
“Many companies, hit hard by the economic downturn, have instituted cost- cutting measures…HR directors and professionals play an important part in tackling these difficult challenges sensibly and responsibly,” he said.
The Minister for Manpower launched the new Human Capital Centre yesterday, which aims to raise the HR skills bar of the workforce.
The centre, located at Tanjong Pagar, will offer 63 HR-related training courses accredited under the nation’s Workforce Skills Qualifications scheme and will aim to train more than 4,500 workers over the next three years.
The Government is pumping millions of dollars into this initiative – developed by the Workforce Development Agency and leading local HR practitioners – and will fund 90 per cent of course fees for Singaporeans and permanent residents.
Companies sending their staff for courses will be reimbursed by an absentee payroll of up to $6.80 per hour per worker.
The centre will allow workers to obtain national certification in areas such as compensation and benefits as well as recruitment and selection, said Mr Gan.
And it will provide a platform for discussions of key HR issues as well as promote the sharing of best practices.
It will also support research and development, said Mr Gan.
More than 30 companies, including CapitaLand and ComfortDelGro Engineering, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding committing themselves to send staff for training under the umbrella of the initiative.
Madam Ho, who is the centre’s chief executive, yesterday encouraged more firms to get involved, adding that HR was set to play an even more significant role in Singapore’s future.
“If we run companies well and distinctively…we will attract quality people and quality companies, and that will certainly bolster our economy,” she said.
