[SINGAPORE] A Workforce Singapore (WSG) initiative has placed 70 locals in overseas roles within six months of its November launch – surpassing a quarter of its two-year target.
The S$16 million Overseas Markets Immersion Programme (OMIP) aims to place 250 locals within two years. The current participants come from 60 companies.
“It’s been quite well-received,” said WSG director for trade and lifestyle Kenneth Wong. “Trajectory-wise, we are making good progress.”
The programme supports firms to send employees with little or no overseas experience for placements of at least six months, with funding for up to nine months.
Companies must submit a structured overseas on-the-job training plan and a 24- to 36-month career development road map, to ensure that the stints contribute meaningfully to career progression.
The profile of companies on the programme has been “quite a mix”, with participants coming from the wholesale trade, information and communication technology, manufacturing and finance sectors, said Wong.
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In most cases, workers remain with their Singapore-based company, which may operate an overseas office or branch.
Joint ventures can also tap the scheme, but firms without an overseas presence or partner cannot.
Currently, about half the placements are in Asean countries. Other markets include China and Switzerland. The participating employees are a “well-balanced” mix of professionals, said Wong. They range from their late 20s to mid-career staff in their 30s and 40s, with some in their 50s as well.
On why companies are keen to participate, Wong said: “This is a good way for them to give global exposure to the talents they want to groom.
“The programme is designed as a win-win: Companies pursue expansion or transformation plans, while individuals gain skills and career growth. It also helps with talent retention.”
OMIP in action
Both multinationals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have tapped the scheme.
In March, Sony Electronics Singapore used OMIP to post manager Thomas Sim, 45, to its Sri Lanka branch, to serve as country head for two years.
His remit includes research, market intelligence and understanding consumer and competitor behaviour – tasks that require a physical presence, said Shirley Chia, a senior manager in Sony’s human resource department.
The assignment, she said, is part of a broader career plan to give him leadership experience and higher visibility for future opportunities in Singapore or abroad.
Sim said being on the ground has enabled him to strengthen ties with local partners, sharpen his understanding of the market and respond more quickly to developments.
After this posting, he hopes to take on more regional or global leadership roles, and to inspire others to consider international assignments.
Greydient Labs, an SME in creative branding, also plans to tap OMIP. It will send its head of project management to Thailand for at least six months to better understand the local business environment, client and consumer behaviour, and cultural nuances.
Founder Keynes Yeo noted the importance of OMIP funding for SMEs, for which it is “a luxury to have someone offshore”.
The move will support Greydient’s efforts to build a foothold and grow its brand in Thailand, he said.
Such proximity allows for richer interactions than remote calls and creates opportunities for knowledge transfer that are harder to achieve from afar, he added.
