65-year-old switches jobs from painter to senior technician after hotel’s reskilling programme
SINGAPORE - Mr Heng Soo Koy started as a painter when he joined Parkroyal on Kitchener Road nearly 30 years ago. About a year ago, "Uncle Heng", as the 65-year-old is known to his colleagues, became a senior technician. The switch was made possible by the hotel's job redesign efforts in 2019. Mr Heng had about six months of on-the-job training, where a colleague helped him learn the ropes. In the process, he picked up new skills such as basic electrical works, and also learnt ways to clean air-conditioning units and conduct preventive maintenance in guestrooms. "I am now more confident to handle new tasks," he said, adding that he appreciated having a colleague guide him. "I'm 65 this year and glad to have ample opportunity and time to pick up new skills," he said. Mr Heng, who joined the hotel in 1993 and is one of its pioneer employees, has no plans to retire just yet. He said he enjoys working alongside his colleagues and believes he has more to contribute. Mr Heng is not the only one to pick up new skills. Under the Job Redesign Reskilling Programme for the hotel industry, about 35 per cent of the workforce at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road have been trained for new or enhanced ro...
