Marina Bay Sands to upskill more than 10,000 employees through new Company Training Committee with AREU

Both parties will look at ways to leverage technology in the redesign of jobs or work processes, and to curate training programmes for various tiers of workers based on their levels of digital literacy and job requirements.

Marina Bay Sands (MBS will be setting up a joint company training committee (CTC) with the Attractions, Resorts & Entertainment Union (AREU), to upskill and reskill more than 10,000 MBS employees.

This was announced during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between both parties on Tuesday (11 October 2022). With the CTC, AREU and MBS will, together, identify areas to collaborate, such as improving employees’ digital literacy to handle new technologies that will be implemented at the workplace.

Additionally, AREU will work closely with MBS to leverage technology in the redesign of jobs or work processes, and to curate training programmes for various tiers of workers based on their levels of digital literacy and job requirements.

As shared in a joint media release, the CTC will build on MBS’ ongoing efforts to upskill its employees across functions and ranks. These skills will enable employees across ranks to adapt swiftly as MBS introduces new technologies to raise service levels across its wide range of businesses encompassing hotel, retail, food and beverage, entertainment and attractions, gaming as well as MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions).

Commenting on this, Paul Town, Chief Operating Officer, MBS, said: "The setting up of the CTC is a milestone in our longstanding partnership with AREU, which started in 2013 when we pledged our commitment to deepen community partnerships that will benefit our team members. Today’s MOU signing forms the first step towards identifying areas to equip our diverse workforce with the necessary technological skills to navigate job redesign and industry transformation in a world of digital disruption."

Hassan Abdullah, President, AREU, added: "Working alongside employers like Marina Bay Sands, AREU will tap on our network of resources to uplift the quality of work, workplace, and workforce of the sector, as well as continue to look after the welfare of our workers."

Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), who was also present at the MOU signing, shared his views as well: "Companies will not be able to reap full benefits of transformation if its manpower cannot support the change. It’s important that companies invest in manpower training as it invests in technology. Company Training Committee, mooted in 2019, provides a platform for both union and company to work together to help our workers acquire the necessary skills for transformation.

"Companies become more competitive and our workers are equipped with better skills and earning better wages. It’s a win-win outcome for both companies and workers."

Lead image /  Provided by NTUC [Pictured from L-R: Irene Low, Executive Secretary, AREU; Hassan Bin Abdullah, President, AREU; Mohamed Riaz S/O Mohamed Omar, General Secretary, AREU; Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General, NTUC; Paul Town, Chief Operating Officer, Marina Bay Sands; Faris Alsagoff, SVP & General Counsel, Marina Bay Sands, and Chan Yit Foon, SVP Human Resources, Marina Bay Sands]