In our ever-evolving industry, we are seeing more exciting changes, from the rapid shift towards digital innovation to the increase in service demand across Singapore. At Environmental Management Association of Singapore (EMAS), we are on a mission to boost the industry’s professionalism. We are not doing it alone, but teaming up with our strategic partners i.e. National Environment Agency (NEA), Enterprise Singapore (ESG), Workforce Singapore (WSG) and our friends at Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL). Together, we are building a vibrant, forward-thinking ecosystem to shape the future of the environmental services sector.
For the immediate, I will continue to represent EMAS, in the Tripartite Oversight Committee on Workplace Safety & Health, the Cleaning Sectoral Tripartite Committee and the Tripartite Clusters for Cleaners. At EMAS, we are all about supporting our valued members by sharing our expertise and offering learning opportunities. Our goal is to upskill our hardworking cleaning heroes with the latest skills and knowledge to tackle the challenges ahead.
Our latest initiative with several strategic partners is the Enviro Tech Innovation Hub (ETIH), which will be located at Temasek Polytechnic. When completed in Q1 of 2024, the hub will be the first-of-its-kind in Singapore. It will serve as a platform for developing capabilities, co-creation and test-bedding of innovative solutions for the cleaning industry.
We will continue to create a warm and welcoming platform for companies in the environmental services industry. We are in this together to tackle the common challenges we face and to set high professional standards in Singapore.
Our commitment to this mission is evident in our engagements with our partners at NEA, WSG, the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU) and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). Recently, we have been increasing our efforts to support the Tripartite’s recommendations for sector sustainability. This is done with the view to ensure our frontliners get the fair treatment they deserve, to smooth out any discussions between service buyers and providers regarding contracts signed before the PWM announcement in June 2021 and incorporating best sourcing practices. In the long run, these steadfast efforts will lead to the transitioning from the current headcount-based contracting model to an outcome-based contracting (OBC) one.
Additionally, we will be quick to share hot-off-the-press information and the latest ideas through friendly dialogue sessions with our members and stakeholders. Our aim is to create a close-knit community that truly represents the heartbeat of the industry.
We believe that our collective strength is the key to steering our businesses toward a future of sustainable growth.
Let us forge on ahead as one united community!
Mr Andrew Ang
President (2023 – 2025)
Environmental Management Association of Singapore