SingPost signs MOU with NTUC Club and UTES to provide youths with early access to logistics industry

The three-year collaboration will see SingPost setting up built-for-purpose programmes for members of nEbO, a community for students and youths aged 12 to 25 years managed by NTUC Club, to gain insights and hands-on experience into the logistic industry. The programmes include six networking and career workshops, 30 internship placements, and six curated learning journeys over the next three years.

The partnership was initiated by Mr Thuvinder Singh, General Secretary of Union of Telecoms Employees Singapore, who saw the synergy between nEbO and SingPost on the back of a separate three-year collaboration inked last year between NTUC Club, SATS, and the Air Transport Executive Staff Union. Mr Thuvinder was instrumental in leading the discussions between SingPost and NTUC Club that led to the formalisation of the partnership through an MOU today.

The partnership was forged today through a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by key representatives from SingPost, NTUC Club and UTES. The signing was witnessed by NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng, who also interacted with several ITE students currently participating in SingPost’s apprenticeship programme, which was introduced earlier this year.

NTUC Secretary-General, Mr Ng Chee Meng said, “NTUC’s initial research study suggests that a top concern of youth is career prospects and opportunities. As such, this partnership between SingPost, NTUC Club and UTES is a good way to be alongside our youths and address their concern by providing them with early access into the logistics industry in Singapore. This will hopefully add value to our youths and help them transition into the workforce. I hope more youths will come to know of NTUC's efforts to engage and be alongside them."

On the SingPost-ITE Work Study Programme, ITE student Iffah Firzanah Binte Fadil, 19 said, “The opportunity to gain a first-hand understanding of the logistics sector is exciting and stressful. Besides learning the ropes of survival as a working adult, I got to network with leaders in the company and build meaningful connections which will better enable my learning and adapt to work cultures within the industry.”

Added ITE student Nurinsyirah Binte Muhammad Hamri, 19, “With the inclusion of nEbO’s collaboration with SingPost, I am looking forward to embark on a series of Work-Ready, WorldReady and Life-Ready programmes to upskill myself further in various skills and values.”

The NTUC-SingPost collaboration will also enable SingPost to tap into NTUC Club’s youth base via nEbO as a talent pool, to attract the right candidates to join the logistics sector, an industry that serves as an enabler and core to many other industries.

SingPost Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Vincent Phang is confident this MOU will help to attract younger talents into the logistics field.

“We have an exciting road ahead of us as we transform the landscape of logistics and introducing game-changing technologies in our bid to develop urban logistics solutions and become a key regional player. Our business is about making every delivery count for people and planet, not just delivering mail, and that means we need to attract the right talent profile to join us in our journey ahead,” said Mr Phang.

UTES General Secretary, Mr Thuvinder Singh said, “This collaboration synergises us with a sense of purpose, a partnership that will allow Singpost to expand its current local workforce by leveraging on the wide pool of talents at nEbO. We must start early, to create opportunities for our younger people to experience integrated learning and understand the industry’s business and its employment possibilities.”

Renewing the Company Training Committee MOU

SingPost is also renewing its Company Training Committee (CTC) with UTES for another three years after a very successful first term. The first MOU was signed in May 2019 by SingPost, UTES and NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute), with SingPost as one of the first few unionised companies in the Trade and Connectivity sector to form the CTC.

Since the formation of the CTC, SingPost has provided 10,000 training places for its employees, benefitting more than 1,500 employees. The training sessions include not only digital training workshops to equip employees for a more automated, digitalised and complex the future of logistics, but also broader programmes like first aid and defensive driving courses. The wide-ranging training initiatives and programmes continue to be important to the organisation in its transformation journey as they continue to provide opportunities for employees to upskill and reskill.

SingPost Group CEO Mr Vincent Phang said he is pleased with the outcomes from the first MOU. He said: “We are heartened that many of our employees have undertaken these training courses despite having to cope with the challenges of COVID-19 over the last two years. As we enter the new normal, we will continue to commit to the training and upskilling of our employees, so they are better equipped and skilled to excel in their roles.”

UTES General Secretary Mr Thuvinder Singh added, “With concerted efforts through our CTC platform, we hope to expand the postal service industry on one hand and upgrade skillsets of workers for the jobs of tomorrow, on the other.”

The CTC will continue to review SingPost’s current training plans, identify skill gaps, plan for reskilling and career progression for its workers, and develop and implement new training programmes so as to accelerate the company’s business transformation.

A new feature of the renewed MOU is SingPost’s onboarding to NTUC’s LHUB GO, Singapore’s largest subscription-based online learning platform that offers on-demand access to over 75,000 bite-sized online courses. SingPost staff in select roles will have access to the platform and will be encouraged to complete relevant training courses available at their own time and for their own professional development.

For media enquiries:

UTES

Malini Subramaniam (Ms)
Industrial Relations & Membership
+65 9712 3271
Email: malini@utes.org.sg

About Singapore Post Limited

For more than 160 years, Singapore Post (SingPost), as the country's postal service provider, has been delivering trusted and reliable services to homes and businesses in Singapore. Today, SingPost is pioneering and leading in eCommerce logistics as well as providing innovative mail and logistics solutions in Singapore and around the world, with operations in 19 markets.

Building on its trusted communications through domestic and international postal services, SingPost is taking the lead in end-to-end integrated and digital mail solutions. The suite of SingPost eCommerce logistics solutions includes front end web management, warehousing and fulfilment, last mile delivery and international freight forwarding.

About NTUC Club

Established in 1986, NTUC Club is the leisure and entertainment arm of National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). As part of the Labour Movement, we are committed to the social mission of providing affordable recreational experiences of choice for our members, guided by our core values of care, passion, trust and service.

Our key properties include Downtown East, a lifestyle destination which caters to union members, youths, working professionals and their families, by bringing exciting activities and fun experiences under one roof. In 2018, NTUC Club completed a five-year Refreshing Downtown East project, which included the new nature-inspired D’Resort, an expanded Wild Wild Wet water park, as well as a slew of retail, dining and entertainment choices at Market Square.

Our other brands include Marina Bay Golf Course, Aranda Country Club, Orchid Country Club, and clubhouses across the island. Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Quebec Leisure International, we produce and manage events for both members and the public.

We also lead the efforts of engaging communities of the Labour Movement – nEbO, the junior membership arm of NTUC; U Live, for active agers 55 years old and above; and U Sports, for sports enthusiasts

About nEbO

Launched on 7 July 2007, nEbO is a community for youths aged between 12 and 25 years. It is the junior membership arm of NTUC that aims to create a community of Work-Ready, WorldReady and Life-Ready youths by providing a platform for youths to realise their potential. From interest communities like Lifestyle, Music, Sports, Care and Entrepreneurship, to enrichment, leadership training and talent development programmes, nEbO youths will be equipped with the necessary skills to develop their leadership competencies.

As a vibrant community of youths, the Labour Movement aims to make an emotional connection with youths, leading to a natural and growing relationship with the Labour Movement when the youths enter the workforce. With more than 100,000 youths joining the nEbO family, nEbO is on its way to be the largest local youth community and in a strong position to contribute to youth development in Singapore.

About Union of Telecoms Employees (UTES)

UTES was formed in October 1982 as a house union representing employees of Singapore Telecom Group. In 1993, constitutional amendments were made which transformed UTES into an industrial union. Being an Industrial Union since then, today, UTES represent workers belonging to different companies and its subsidiaries. UTES has altogether 78 elected union officials and 7 employees to serve the membership of more than 8300.

UTES today represents employees from Singtel, NCS Pte Ltd, NCS Communications Engineering Pte Ltd, Singapore Post Limited, Quantium Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Quantium Solutions International Pte Ltd, NetLink Trust Operations Company Pte Ltd and Radiance Communications Pte Ltd.

About NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute)

e2i is the empowering network for individuals and companies seeking skills and solutions for growth. Since 2008, e2i has assisted more than 700,000 individuals through our career guidance, professional development, and job matching services. With an extensive network of partners, e2i offers hiring, training and productivity solutions to businesses. We are an initiative of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to support nation-wide manpower and skills upgrading initiatives.

Appendix: Chinese Terms