From attendant to infant care teacher

SINGAPORE - Mother of four Siti Baizurah Kassim quit her factory worker job in 1988 to care for her children.

In 2005, she decided to work again as they were older and in school full-time.

It was daunting initially for the 46-year-old with just one O-level credit, but she jumped in with both feet, first becoming a centre attendant with pre- school NTUC First Campus and later pursuing part-time classes to become an infant care teacher.

Now she makes up to $1,800 a month, more than four times what she earned as a part-time factory worker.

Yesterday, Ms Siti was one of about 200 workers and human resource staff lauded at the annual May Day partnership awards for their efforts to improve productivity, upgrade their skills and adapt to a tougher economy.

Ms Siti had to go for night classes thrice a week over two years, with much less time to spend on making dinner or supervising her children in doing their homework. But she tried to turn this into a positive message for her children. "I told them if mummy can study, so can you," she said with a laugh.

"I had to restart my engine, and get myself in the mindset to learn again."

Like her, fellow awardee Vimmala Devi Munusamy, 53, had been a housewife for a decade before rejoining the workforce when her children started primary school.

Previously a clerk, she joined the Institute of Mental Health as a health-care assistant, and was among the first to be trained to use equipment that helps transfer patients to and from chairs and beds.

Eight years into the job, she is today an expert when it comes to using these devices and has been promoted to senior health-care assistant.

Yesterday, the two former housewives and other winners received their awards from Mr Stephen Lee, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation, and NTUC president Diana Chia.

"All awardees at the awards today have made great effort to upgrade skills, improve productivity and ensure workplace diversity in their respective ways so that our workers and companies remain globally competitive," said Mr Lim Kuang Beng, co-chairman of the awards.

One worker recognised for his resilience was 79-year-old Mr Lim Bak Kwang, a retired pattern maker at ship propeller maker Stone Marine Singapore.

Despite retiring more than 10 years ago, he still works about two days a week, to mentor younger colleagues or take on landscaping and cleaning duties.

"I feel if a person is healthy, it's good to alternate between work and rest," said the grandfather of three. "It's exercise, and I can chat with my colleagues. It's a good way to spend my time."

This article was first published on May 25, 2014.
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