Myanmar wants Singapore ideal development

Photo: @ Simon Roughneen

The government of Myanmar is eyeing trained and skilled manpower from Singapore to be their role model as the country is expecting the influx of foreign investment.

The Myanmar labour Ministry have expressed their stand that it is important that experts and skilled workers are highly needed and they asked assistance from Singapore Polytechnic, an institute for higher learning regarding this national concern, Channel News Asia report said.

As Deputy Labour Minister U Myint Thein disclosed, they are also in preparation for ASEAN integration whose main objective is to create a well-trained and developed skilled workers within the country by year 2015.

For Myanmar’s skilled and well trained workers, it is essential that they be issued National certification as a proof to employers that they exemplify in quality and excellent work capability and to enable them to travel freely.

The World Bank has estimated the population of Myanmar at 48 million and majority of the populace resides in rural areas. Statistic reveal that there are 90% enrolment for primary schooling but unfortunately only 30% of the total populace reaches high school, according to news report from Channel News Asia.

The Singapore’s Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) system will be used as a gauge for reference in various work strategy such as setting national credentials used to train, test and issuing certifications to skilled workers who are qualified from HR to tourism, engineering and different industry sectors.

Thirty government officials from Myanmar coming from its National Skill Standard Authority (NSSA) will be joining the training workshop in Singapore by the end of July to be led by the Polytechnic staff.

Tan Hang Cheong, Singapore Polytechnic Principal said that cultural differences and language plays a major role for all the participating staff but taking the right and proper attitude is very important.

The Temasek Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Singapore investment company Temasek Holdings funded the project in the amount of $200,000. Benedict Cheong, Temasek Foundation CEO emphasized that it is vital for people all over Asia to undergo vocational training programs.

He further added that making up a community will not only need leaders that are products of universities or colleges but it is also highly significant to involve equally trained and skilled middle and technical managers, news report from Channel News Asia said.

Singapore Polytechnic will be holding its next round of workshop in Yangon to be held on September this year.