Singapore recruiting program for OJT

(Part 2 of a series on Recipe for Singapore’s Economic Miracle)

SINGAPORE — Cheerfully greeting us at PS Café in the woods of Singapore were Vincent Sobcasa and Melvin Vila. Looking neat in their waiters’ uniform of black long-sleeved shirt and black wrap-around apron, these Filipino OJT students from Philippine universities in Iloilo and Pangasinan are fulfilling their six-month “on-the-job” (OJT) training in HRM. The Singaporean manager was pleased with their work.

The strict Singapore guidelines for OJT

A cheerful and dynamic businessman with a good sense of humor, Anthony Leong founded Sino-Star in 1998. It employs a staff of 12 experienced professionals that provides counseling, on-the-job (OJT) monitoring and evaluation of both Filipino and Chinese students who are doing a six-month internship program.

Familiar with Filipino culture, he rattled off the No-Nos that Filipino students must be forewarned: “The 18 to 20-year old students are briefed already in the Philippines before they are accepted officially here. This office doesn’t entertain connections to any VIPs. Rules are rules and therefore must be strictly followed. The student must never get romantically involved. The internship is not a holiday. It must be taken seriously, since it entails hard work and struggle. Earning their first ‘salary’ tempts them to indulge in spending. They are reminded that there should be no more ‘gimmicks’ now.”

As I toured the compact cluster of offices, I noticed packs of Philippine dried mangoes ‘pasalubong’ on top of the assistant’s desk of Mr. Leong. He has just conferred with Philippine nursing schools to fill up a need for 500 nurse interns for the Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the Singapore General Hospital. Enthusiastic about the present success of his country, he stated: “Singapore has proven to be the medical hub of Asian countries.”

Warning: Only CHED accredited agency can protect Filipino students

CHED’s revised “Policies and Guidelines in the Implementation of the International Practicum Training Program (IPTP)” for Filipino college student internship was signed by then CHED chairman, Dr. Ester Garcia in 2000. IPTP provides Associate and BS HRM/Tourism students enrolled in practicum subjects in Philippine schools the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge, skills, and desirable attitudes on actual hotel and restaurant operations in foreign hotels. This will develop the Filipino work values as they relate to a different culture and a foreign work environment. Because of its exposure to the requirements of international standards, the school’s curriculum is also updated.

Only higher education institutions with accredited programs are qualified to participate in the IPTP. Meantime, the student recommended by the Dean of the College, must have passed pre-practicum requirements and must undergo pre-departure orientation.

Labor market highlights of Singapore

A joint publication by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower and the Workforce Development Agency, the Labour Market Highlights states that: “Demand for waiters, cooks, room stewards/chambermaids, bartenders, customer service executives and restaurant managers will be needed as the popularity of Singapore as a tourism destination increase tremendously. It hit a record high of 10.3 million visitors in 2007 with the average hotel occupancy rate of 87%.”

“With the growing affluence and higher consumer expectations, the retail industry has enhanced customer service levels, intensifying demand for sales and marketing executives/managers, shop sales assistants, and buyers.”

“The drive towards medical tourism will increase the need for skilled healthcare professionals. The Ministry of Health projects an average of 1,500 jobs created each year ranging from professional nurses, medical science technicians, pharmacists, administrative clerks, receptionists and training officers.”

Singaporean government projects manpower needs from Grade VI

With this detailed information of the Singapore industries’ need, their government could project the manpower required by all sectors. This is facilitated by the Primary Six Leaving Examination (PSLE) given to all their Grade 6 students.

The top 30% progresses to the four-year Secondary Express (SE) schools, while the 70% goes through the Normal Stream or five-year secondary school. Graduates of the SE schools will automatically be admitted to the two-year Junior College before entering university level. Meantime, the top 40% who graduates from the normal stream could enter the two-year polytechnic diploma course, while 25% goes to the Institute of Technical Education and the 5% fills up the labor market as street sweepers or janitors. The top 20% of ITE graduates could later proceed to the polytechnic diploma course.

Counteracting homesickness

The Sino Star welcome orientation for interns uses a 1-1/2 hour video lecture with the message, “What it takes to be Number 1”, stressing the mindset towards delivering work professionally. Director Daniel Lee reminds students that the real world does not care about their self-esteem so they have to be strong emotionally. He suggested that Philippine colleges should include drama session on how to counteract supervisory scolding since Filipinos tend to be too sensitive. Director Lee’s parting words, “For many losing is a habit, but you can instead make winning a habit.”

Jay-R delos Reyes, a trainee from ACE Business College in Caloocan, is doing internship at Isetann Department store on Orchard Road as a cashier. He recalled with Melvin that homesickness set in during the first two weeks. At first, it was difficult adjusting to the customs and food of the multi-ethnic society of Chinese, Malaysians and Indians. However, from the first day, they were personally guided to take the public transport system to a student apartment house. They also realized that punctuality other than persistent work counted first, a one-minute tardiness could cost S$1 (almost US$1).

Professional benefits and limitations

A weekly meeting trains them to work as a team and even experience the extension work such as daily accounting of inventory of materials, over-all maintenance of the workplace, and how to relate with full courtesy to customers, among others. The Trainee may be transferred from one assignment to another within the scope of the OJT program. However, he/she is not allowed to: engage in any part-time employment deriving remuneration or benefit; and, accept any commission, gifts or other benefits from any person or company that has a business relationship with the Establishment since this may place him/her in a compromising position.

Towards the end of the first month, they realize that their difficulties are well compensated since they are reaping the maximum benefits. As Hotel & Restaurant Management or Food & Beverage trainee, he/she gets: S$450 per month allowance, 48-hour per week work schedule; one rest day per week; overtime may be converted to a time off or extra pay; and one-way air ticket (Manila-Singapore), but upon completion of contract Singapore-Manila return ticket is given. The trainee must authorize Sino-Star to withhold his/her passport for safekeeping.

The trainee also enjoys 30-day hospitalization leave except when it coincides with a paid public holiday or day off, and medical treatment by an appointed doctor of S$25 per visit or S$100 maximum provided that no training allowance is received.

Factors for terminating the contract

Neither the Establishment nor the trainee may unilaterally terminate the contract except for legal and valid causes, such as closure of its operation. However, a written notice must be given to the Trainee at least a month before the intended date. Separation or termination pay equivalent to one month’s training allowance must be provided, including repatriation expenses. The Trainee shall not be obliged to pay any Liquidated Damage or Advanced Funding to Sino-Star.

The Establishment may also terminate the Contract in cases of: serious misconduct, insubordination, absenteeism, neglect of duties, willful disobedience of lawful orders, revealing establishment’s secrets, and violating the terms of the Contract. In this case, the trainee shall pay for repatriation expenses, as well as liquidated damages to Sino-Star.

In the situation when the establishment would like to employ the trainee back as a permanent staff, upon completion of the six months training, the application has to be processed via 2000 Recruitment Pte Ltd and not directly with the establishments.

Educating our young to be socially responsible citizens

Speaking at the 90th anniversary dinner of the Nanyang Family of Schools in 2007, Minister Lee Kuan Yew stated, “Character building, inculcating moral values, self-discipline, good manners and courteous behavior are unchanging tasks when educating and nurturing our young to be morally upright and socially responsible citizens.”

(For more information or reaction, please e-mail at exec@obmontessori.edu.ph or pssoliven@yahoo.com)