In Parliament: Labour MPs share suggestions for new Skills and Workforce Development Agency to better support workers’ career journeys in AI age

• New Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) will integrate training, job matching and career support to help workers navigate AI-driven job changes in Singapore.
  
  

• SWDA can work with the new Tripartite Jobs Council to coordinate training, job redesign and transition support, in partnership with unions, employers and the Government to strengthen worker outcomes.
  
  

• Labour MPs’ recommendations focus on better support for young workers, job redesign, and clearer pathways from skills training to good jobs and wage progression.
  
  

Amid the job disruptions driven by the ongoing AI revolution, Singapore workers can look forward to more integrated, seamless career support from the new Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA).

Announced during Budget 2026, the new integrated agency will harness the combined expertise of Workforce Singapore (WSG) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to offer skills training, job matching and career support under one roof.

In his opening speech, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng cited the reasons for the merger as the rapid advancement of technology, especially in AI; the geopolitical turbulence reshaping the global economy; and the changing Singapore demographic, particularly the ageing population.

The Skills and Workforce Development Agency Bill, passed in Parliament on 5 May 2026, marks the legislative step to formalise the merger of SSG and WSG into the new agency.

Six Labour Members of Parliament supported the Bill, outlining their suggestions on how the new SWDA could better support workers. The six Labour MPs include NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Desmond Choo, NTUC Assistant Secretaries-General Patrick Tay, Melvin Yong and Yeo Wan Ling, along with NTUC’s e2i Stakeholder Management Director Wan Rizal and Nominated Labour MP Sanjeev Tiwari.

The new SWDA will be established in the third quarter of 2026.

How the SWDA will partner with the new jobs council to support AI career journeys in Singapore

Mr Tan said that SWDA will leverage the resources and networks of NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) to support workers ahead of disruptions and downturns.

He explained that this is why the Tripartite Jobs Council (TJC) was set up last week. Co-chaired by NTUC, SNEF and MOM, the council will coordinate training, job redesign and transition support, and help workers and businesses adapt to AI-driven changes.

Meanwhile, Labour MPs discussed ways SWDA could work with the TJC.

Mr Choo shared that the TJC is ready to work with the SWDA to train and support workers as they move into new roles when employers adopt new technology.

For instance, NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) can partner with the agency by providing direct engagement with workers and companies through career guidance, job matching, and workforce transformation.

“e2i can bring its labour market knowledge, employer network, and ground sensing into partnerships with institutes of higher learning,” the Labour MP added.

On the NTUC front, Mr Choo said the congress can scale up its AI Career Coach. The self-guided, AI-powered platform provides personalised guidance, job matching and interview preparation, and offers round-the-clock support to young people.

He added that NTUC will continue to support workers-in-transition through initiatives such as expanding Place-and-Train programmes, establishing Company Training Committees to drive job redesign, and developing skills pathways aligned with industry needs through NTUC LearningHub.

Through partnering with the council, both Mr Tay and Mr Sanjeev said SWDA can gain better access to workplaces and workers.

Meanwhile, Mr Rizal added that the SWDA-TJC collaboration will give young workers stronger assurance that learning leads to suitable jobs.

Collaborating with tripartite stakeholders to strengthen worker outcomes

In addition to the TJC, Ms Yeo also encouraged SWDA to consider working with other tripartite entities, including trade associations and chambers, employment agencies, and trade unions.

“They are embedded in companies and communities across Singapore. They have the trust of workers and employers built over the years. And SWDA must build on this, not bypass it,” she said.

Ms Yeo also called on the new agency to engage tripartite stakeholders continuously, so that worker policies can be better grounded and more effective.

How the SWDA can provide stronger support for young workers

Mr Tan said the Manpower Ministry is prepared to go upstream to bring industry exposure to undergraduates. This will be done through creating more systematic pathways into industry attachments and providing clearer signals on in-demand skills and roles.

He added that MOM will review measures to better support graduates who face difficulties securing employment. 

Mr Tan was responding to Labour MPs Mr Tay, Mr Rizal, and Mr Choo who asked for more support for entry-level hiring amid business restructuring and AI-driven change.

How the new agency will uplift workers vulnerable to change

Mr Tan shared that the ministry would partner with community organisations like Community Development Councils to help vulnerable worker segments.

He also said that MOM is studying ways to provide better support for flexible work models, such as fractional work, which may better cater to the needs of those returning to work.

The minister was replying to questions from Mr Tay, Mr Yong and Ms Yeo, who had called for stronger support for workers re-entering the workforce, those affected by geopolitical and economic volatility, and those disrupted by technological change.

How the SWDA will offer more support for job redesign

Mr Tan revealed that MOM will explore ways to increase support for job redesign and on-the-job training. Training will be customised to different workplaces and business models, enabling workers to take on higher value-added jobs.

He added that the ministry will prioritise supporting more companies in job redesign and workforce transformation to become like the FairPrice Store of Tomorrow, Singapore’s first generative-AI-powered supermarket. The store involved staff in the technological transformation journey.

The Minister was responding to questions from Ms Yeo and Mr Yong, who asked about SWDA’s job redesign efforts in the pipeline.

How the new agency will ensure worker representation on its board

The Manpower Minister shared that SWDA’s board will draw from diverse backgrounds, including public sector representatives, senior business leaders across sectors, and key partners such as NTUC, SNEF, and trade associations and chambers.

There are also plans to engage international experts to provide global insights into labour market programmes.

Mr Tan was replying to Mr Sanjeev, who had asked about the new agency’s board composition and the value it would bring in steering worker outcomes.

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