Two recent articles discussing Marina Bay Sands plans to hire more than 10,000 new employees.

From Today Online:

Wanted: 10,000 new employees
Frontline personnel suchas security officers and waiters are being sought

IT WILL open its doors only at the end of next year, but Marina Bay Sands is beginning its hunt today for the10,000 employees it will need.

Chambermaids, security officers and waiters — these are the kind of front-line, rank-and-file positions the integrated resort will be advertising for in newspapers.

Its stated aim for starting now: Secure these jobs for as many Singaporeans as possible, even if they have no prior experience in tourism and hospitality. 

What the resort operator is looking for is simply the “right attitude”, saidMr Daniel Shim, its senior vice-president of human resources for Asia.

It is casting its net to include retirees, back-to-work women, low-wage workers and the retrenched or unemployed — with the help of the National Trades Union Congress’ Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) and the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

The former will be responsible for spotting suitable candidates and enhancing their employability, such as effective interpersonal communication trainingand confidence-building.

Job applicants deemed to be suitable to join the resort will then undergo job-specific training with the WDA.

MBS general manager George Tanasijevich said: “Our most important commitment to Singapore from the beginning is that we’ll go out and hire as many Singaporeans as we can to operate this great facility we’re building. And this is what we’re doing now.

“The partnership will create new employment opportunities for thousands of people and ensure there’s a ready pool of skilled staff to support the growth of Singapore’s overall tourism and hospitality industry.”

What about those who do not secure a job at the resort?

WDA director (Tourism) Teo Sio Hoon said they will be recommended other suitable openings, as there are “many other job opportunities elsewhere”, especially with the tourism industry expected to generate 60,000 jobs by 2010.

Mr Zee Yoong Kang, e2i’s chief executive officer, also feels that the training will only “give them a leg up” if they want to look for other jobs.

Labour chief Lim Swee Say welcomed the resorts’ recruitment approach, saying: “It is very inclusive and offers ample job opportunities to Singaporeans of all backgrounds — young and old, skilled and less skilled. The key consideration is their ability to learn new skills and adapt to a new industry.”

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/282461.asp

From Channel News Asia:

The Marina Bay Sands Resort has announced a massive recruitment drive to start getting some of the 10,000 staff it will need, with priority given to locals.

And it has the help of local union movement and the Workforce Development Agency.

From food and beverage staff to security officers, to hotel room attendants, these are some of the posts that will filled when the Integrated Resort opens its doors for business at the end of next year.

Mr George Tanasijevich, General Manager and Vice President of Singapore Development, Marina Bay Sands Resort, said: “There will be all job types covering business categories included in the Integrated Resort, from basic entry level positions all the way through to senior management positions, but clearly this initiative with NTUC is focusing on rank-and-file positions.”

And government agencies want to ensure that Singaporeans looking to re-enter the labour market such as housewives are equipped with the right skills.

Mr Zee Yoong Kang, CEO of Employment and Employability Institute, said: “It is timely that these jobs are coming on stream at a very difficult or potentially difficult time for the Singapore economy.

“Our job now is to make sure that these jobs are accessible to as many Singaporeans as possible so that in bad times they can look forward to filling these vacancies.”

Marina Bay Sands Resort will first conduct a pre-employability exercise where potential employees receive one to two weeks of training. They are then interviewed and if hired, go through a proper training.

Mr Zee added: “Of course we want them to get into Sands but if they fail to get into Sands and choose to work elsewhere, we are very sure that the skills we give them will enable them to get into other jobs.”

Singapore has an overall target of getting Singaporeans ready for the expected 60,000 jobs to be created in the overall tourism industry by 2010.

The first phase of Sands recruitment drive for non-gaming staff will kick off on Monday.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/383955/1/.html