Written Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran to Parliamentary Question on an Update on Utilisation of $100 Million Rail Manpower Development Package and Number of Workers Benefitted Since its Launch in November 2019

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Transport

a.     whether he can provide an update on the utilisation of the $100 million Rail Manpower Development Package; and

b.     how many workers have benefitted from the scheme since it was launched in November 2019.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran

1.     The $100 million Rail Manpower Development Package (RMDP) was launched in November 2019 to help the rail workforce gear up for the future rail network. LTA has been working closely with the rail operators and NTWU to implement the five-year package, comprising three key initiatives:

a.     First, the Rail Manpower Development Incentive (RMDI) to expand and accelerate training of rail workers in emerging areas such as data analytics and condition-based monitoring. To date, more than 2,300 workers have completed their RMDI training, on top of their regular training. LTA expects more than 3,000 rail workers to benefit by the end of the five-year period.

b.     Second, LTA and the rail operators co-fund SGRail Industry Scholarships, Industrial Attachments and In-Service Sponsorships to build up Singapore’s rail engineering talent pipeline. To date, 15 Polytechnic and undergraduate Scholarships as well as 30 In-Service Sponsorships have been awarded. More than 150 students have been on industrial attachments with the rail operators.

c.     Third, co-investments in hardware to enhance training efficiency and effectiveness. These will support technical hands-on training by rail operators, at Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and/or the Singapore Rail Academy. The application exercise for the training hardware investment is currently ongoing and will close in October 2021.

2.     As our rail network expands at an unprecedented pace over the next decade, we will need a larger skilled workforce to support the expanded rail network. LTA will continue to work closely with the rail operators and NTWU to equip our rail workers with the necessary skills as the industry digitalises and transforms.