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So if I hire worker for my Chinese restaurant, he or she must be able to speak English?
My chef must speak English? Chef of course skilled, command higher salary than a graduate Lehman minibond salesman
Why Malaysia exempted, why not PRC, never explain
Read also tulan
Make life difficult for SME, cheebye
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1032593/1/.html
Foreign workers must pass English test to qualify for skilled status
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 January 2010 1706 hrs
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City skyscrapers in Singapore (file pic)
Related News
• Work permit holders need to pass English proficiency test to qualify for skilled status
SINGAPORE : To qualify for skilled levy status, foreign workers in the hotel, food and beverage (F&B), and retail sectors in Singapore will have to pass a listening and oral English test.
The Manpower Ministry said the two components will form the Service Literacy Test (SLT) that will be made compulsory starting this July.
English language lessons will come in handy for foreign workers who are working in the hotel, F&B and retail sectors, for them to communicate better with tourists and Singaporeans.
New work permit holders or those who are renewing their work permits will have to sit for the SLT. But those from Malaysia are exempted.
Each worker will undergo a test where they will listen to a conversation or an instruction, and then select a suitable response from a list of multiple-choice answers.
Meanwhile, the oral component will see candidates responding to questions such as "What type of job will you like to do and why?" The test will be conducted by ex-teachers or English language professionals.
Each candidate will be assessed thoroughly, and then informed if they have passed or failed the test. If they have failed, they will be able to retake the test.
The Manpower Ministry said the aim of the test is to make workers proficient in English at a basic level.
Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Manpower and Trade and Industry, said: "We do not expect foreign workers to be able to speak perfect English after passing the SLT. However, we do expect them to be able to understand and be understood by most Singaporeans and tourists."
The Manpower Ministry believes employers will be motivated to send their workers for the test which costs some S$70. Those who hire workers who have passed the test and are given the skilled status will enjoy a lower levy of S$150, compared to S$240 for an unskilled worker.
This translates to a monthly cost-saving of some S$90 per worker. And industry players like Conrad Centennial hotel which hires over 50 foreign workers welcomed the initiative.
Heinrich Grafe, general manager, Conrad Centennial Hotel, said: "(The fact) that it is combined with the financial benefit is secondary, but I think the most important part is that the service to the guests will improve."
NTUC Learning Hub, which provides English language courses, is already hiring more trainers to anticipate more demand for places.
Employers can register their workers for the test from April. The Manpower Ministry said this is to give employers sufficient time to send their work permit holders for English language courses before they sit for the test.
The new criteria is in addition to all other skilled levy requirements, such as possessing the requisite academic qualifications or passing certain skill/trade tests. - CNA/ms
My chef must speak English? Chef of course skilled, command higher salary than a graduate Lehman minibond salesman
Why Malaysia exempted, why not PRC, never explain
Read also tulan
Make life difficult for SME, cheebye
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1032593/1/.html
Foreign workers must pass English test to qualify for skilled status
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 January 2010 1706 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
City skyscrapers in Singapore (file pic)
Related News
• Work permit holders need to pass English proficiency test to qualify for skilled status
SINGAPORE : To qualify for skilled levy status, foreign workers in the hotel, food and beverage (F&B), and retail sectors in Singapore will have to pass a listening and oral English test.
The Manpower Ministry said the two components will form the Service Literacy Test (SLT) that will be made compulsory starting this July.
English language lessons will come in handy for foreign workers who are working in the hotel, F&B and retail sectors, for them to communicate better with tourists and Singaporeans.
New work permit holders or those who are renewing their work permits will have to sit for the SLT. But those from Malaysia are exempted.
Each worker will undergo a test where they will listen to a conversation or an instruction, and then select a suitable response from a list of multiple-choice answers.
Meanwhile, the oral component will see candidates responding to questions such as "What type of job will you like to do and why?" The test will be conducted by ex-teachers or English language professionals.
Each candidate will be assessed thoroughly, and then informed if they have passed or failed the test. If they have failed, they will be able to retake the test.
The Manpower Ministry said the aim of the test is to make workers proficient in English at a basic level.
Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Manpower and Trade and Industry, said: "We do not expect foreign workers to be able to speak perfect English after passing the SLT. However, we do expect them to be able to understand and be understood by most Singaporeans and tourists."
The Manpower Ministry believes employers will be motivated to send their workers for the test which costs some S$70. Those who hire workers who have passed the test and are given the skilled status will enjoy a lower levy of S$150, compared to S$240 for an unskilled worker.
This translates to a monthly cost-saving of some S$90 per worker. And industry players like Conrad Centennial hotel which hires over 50 foreign workers welcomed the initiative.
Heinrich Grafe, general manager, Conrad Centennial Hotel, said: "(The fact) that it is combined with the financial benefit is secondary, but I think the most important part is that the service to the guests will improve."
NTUC Learning Hub, which provides English language courses, is already hiring more trainers to anticipate more demand for places.
Employers can register their workers for the test from April. The Manpower Ministry said this is to give employers sufficient time to send their work permit holders for English language courses before they sit for the test.
The new criteria is in addition to all other skilled levy requirements, such as possessing the requisite academic qualifications or passing certain skill/trade tests. - CNA/ms
