In Parliament
Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Utilisation of $100 Million Rail Manpower Development Package
7 November 2022
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Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Transport
a. whether an update can be provided on the utilisation of the $100 million Rail Manpower Development Package since it was last provided in October 2021; and
b. how many workers have benefitted from the scheme thus far.
Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:
1. The Rail Manpower Development Package (RMDP), was launched in November 2019 to support and accelerate rail workforce transformation, to prepare for the future rail network that will be larger and more complex.
2. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been working closely with the rail operators and the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) to implement the five- year package, and utilisation has been good.
a. Over the last three years, more than 2,900 rail workers have completed training in emerging technologies and skillsets, such as data and statistical analytics, as well as condition-based monitoring. We are well on track to exceed our target of training more than 3,000 rail workers by end 2024.
b. Second, to build up Singapore’s rail engineering talent pipeline, 20 Polytechnic and Undergraduate Scholarships as well as 53 In-Service Sponsorships have been awarded. To enhance awareness of career opportunities in the rail industry, LTA, NTWU and the rail operators also launched a Public Transport Industry Employer Branding Campaign, which has helped to attract more than 390 students to take up industrial attachments with our rail operators.
c. Lastly, LTA will also co-invest in training hardware, such as virtual reality equipment and simulators to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. LTA will be awarding the first grant for training hardware investment in November 2022.
d. LTA will continue to work closely with the rail operators and NTWU to equip our rail workers with the necessary skills to achieve higher productivity and operational efficiency in the longer-term.