Supersized: SMEs receive $6.7m for productivity improvement

A total of 80 SMEs productivity improvement projects so far have benefited from the funding.

SPRING Singapore said its retail and food services productivity plans have provided assistance to 80 SMEs productivity improvement projects with a total funding of $6.7 million since it was launched in April 2011.

In a press statement SPRING Singapore said, “In addition, more than 2,500 SMEs have approached the Enterprise Development Centres (EDCs) for help under the Productivity Management Programme.”

SPRING, WDA and NTUC are also piloting an initiative with a manpower service provider to pool part-timers, provide them with proper training and offer better employment benefits similar to those in full-time employment.

“This will make it more attractive for those who are currently not working to join the part-time workforce and for the existing part-timers to stay longer. Pooling them allows economies of scale for training and benefits, and provides greater flexibility in scheduling of deployment. Restaurants and retailers can then tap on this pool for their manpower needs. To date, 50 food services and retail companies have signed up for the initiative, employing about 1,300 part-timers,” added the statement.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Ministry for Trade & industry, during the Retail and Food Services Productivity Conference, urged more companies to take advantage of the wide range of productivity programmes from SPRING, IDA, NTUC and WDA.