Foreigners must pass English test

[General Veers]

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</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="5"> </td> <td colspan="2" valign="top" width="784"> Work permit holders need to pass English proficiency test to qualify for skilled status
By Wang Eng Eng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 02 December 2009 1843 hrs


SINGAPORE : Work permit holders in the retail, food & beverage, and hotel sectors will need to pass an English language proficiency test from the third quarter of next year in order to qualify for skilled levy status.

This was announced by Minister of State for Manpower, Trade and Industry Lee Yi Shyan at the graduation of the first batch of foreign workers from a basic English course organised by the Migrant Workers Centre.

Wayne Huang is one of the 40 graduates of the basic English course.

The 29-year-old native from China, who is an assistant housekeeper at Hilton Hotel, said "practice makes perfect".

Come the third quarter of next year, the service industry will see more workers like Mr Huang.

Mr Lee said that employees would increasingly need to be able to communicate in English to be effective in their jobs.

He said: "We want to encourage employers to look at it as building a more productive workforce, comprising both local and foreign workers. So if they look at it from that point of view, and if they look at how much better service they can provide, that should incentivise them to send the workers for the programme."

Employers will enjoy cost savings from the lower skilled workers levy which stands at S$150 a month compared to the unskilled levy of S$240.

The CEO of NTUC Learning Hub, Zee Yoong Kang, said the hub is anticipating a two to three times increase in demand for English classes and is prepared to meet the demand by increasing its pool of teachers.

Mr Zee said: "We have 80 trainers and we intend to increase the group to more than 100."

Some 500 migrant workers are currently being taught basic English at the Learning Hub. - CNA/ms




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[General Veers]

Singapore
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Dec 3, 2009

Foreigners must clear English test
By Cassandra Chew
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SINGAPOREANS know too well the frustrations of not being understood by service staff from foreign lands when out for a meal or shopping in Orchard Road. New rules, however, are going to be introduced to help resolve the problem. From the third quarter of next year, new foreign workers have to clear an English proficiency test before they can get a work permit as a skilled worker. This will also lower their foreign worker levy, saving an employer $90 a month for each hire. The new requirement is part of a government move to raise standards in three industries where speaking English is key to delivering good service: retail, food and beverage (F&B), and hotels. Employers are delighted with the change, which was announced yesterday by the Minister of State for Manpower as well as Trade and Industry, Mr Lee Yi Shyan. Said Mr Lee: 'English is the working language in Singapore. This is particularly important in industries such as hotels, retail and F&B, where workers interact regularly with customers.'

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.

[email protected]

 

[Leongsam]

SINGAPORE : Work permit holders in the retail, food & beverage, and hotel sectors will need to pass an English language proficiency test from the third quarter of next year in order to qualify for skilled levy status.

Why do foreigners have to be proficient in English while most Sinkies can't string a simple English sentence together to save their lives?

 

[Unrepented]

Why do foreigners have to be proficient in English while most Sinkies can't string a simple English sentence together to save their lives?

Uh, I think the word "together" in the above sentence is redundant.:o And I think you omitted the word "own" as in "their own lives?". Am I right?

 

[Leongsam]

Uh, I think the word "together" in the above sentence is redundant.:o And I think you omitted the word "own" as in "their own lives?". Am I right?

No you're not.

Refer to http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/string+together.html

"Own" would be redundant though. That's why it's not included. :p

You need English lessons too.

 

[Churuya]

It should be a requirement for foreign talent to know not only English, but Malay, Chinese and Tamil as well. Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Arabic, Hindi, French, Japanese would be a bonus.

They ARE talents, aren't they?

 

[neddy]

1. That is how to create jobs for Singaporeans, by becoming English teachers.

2. That will shame Singaporeans into speaking English properly.

I wonder what is the qualifications to be English teachers in Singapore?

 

[Unrepented]

No you're not.

Refer to http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/string+together.html

"Own" would be redundant though. That's why it's not included. :p

You need English lessons too.

But I do not qualify for the SGD200 subsidy leh:(

Since FT cannot read english, why all the BIG BIG sign boards promoting "SAFETY FIRST" found at construction sites are in english And most facing away from the worksites..... if FT cannot read then these sign boards are for pedestrians...subliminal advertising:o. watch out for speeding vehicles out of the worksites and falling planks

 

[Perspective]

Should have done that a long long time ago. Ridiculous for service staff not to know English when there are Malays/Indians in Singapore. At least the old aunties who did not know English can speak Malay.

 

[ashjaw]

Should have done that a long long time ago. Ridiculous for service staff not to know English when there are Malays/Indians in Singapore. At least the old aunties who did not know English can speak Malay.

I don't think it is of any use, it's just a formality unless they make the foreigners take IELTS. Did you see the news on TV when they interviewed a PRC who has gone through the program? His spoken English is still bad. Ultimately, NTUC is the one who will be making the $$.