Workforce Singapore and SkillsFuture Singapore names CEOs

The chief executive officers for two new statutory boards aimed at encouraging lifelong learning in Singapore have been announced.

The two new statutory boards – SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) under the Ministry of Education, and Workforce Singapore (WSG) under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – will be established to drive and coordinate implementation of the national SkillsFuture initiative.

They will also ensure competitiveness and quality jobs for Singaporeans over the long-term.

This was according to a press release issued by MOM, which added that the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will be reconstituted into WSG, while the Council for Private Education (CPE) will be subsumed under SSG.

Ng Cher Pong, who is currently the chief executive officer of WDA, will assume the role of chief executive officer of SSG upon its establishment.

MOM added that concurrent with this new role, Ng will also be appointed deputy secretary (SkillsFuture) at MOE.

Tan Choon Shian, currently principal and chief executive officer of Singapore Polytechnic, will assume the role of CEO of WSG upon its establishment.

Tan will be appointed CEO (designate) of WSG with effect from 1 August 2016 to oversee preparations for the establishment of WSG.

"The SSG Agency Bill 2016 and WDA Agency (Amendment) Bill 2016 were introduced in Parliament on 11 July 2016 for First Reading by the Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung and the Minister of State, Ministry of Manpower Teo Ser Luck respectively," the press release stated.

"If Parliament passes the Bills and the President subsequently gives his assent, SSG and WSG are expected to be established in the fourth quarter of 2016."