SINGAPORE - A task force has been set up to improve the image of jobs in construction and architecture, in a bid to attract more talent – especially the young – to work in these areas.

The Government will also double down on efforts to raise awareness of the kind of jobs available in these industries, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee at the opening ceremony of the International Built Environment Week on Sept 4.

The three-day trade event is being held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre from Sept 4 to 6.

“It will take the collective efforts of all built environment stakeholders, working together in an interdisciplinary approach, to realise our vision of making the sector attractive and progressive,” Mr Lee said of the task force, which is led by Surbana Jurong chairman Chaly Mah and Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah.

The task force, which also seeks to transform the workforce and workplaces for the future, and encourage sustainable industry practices, will develop ideas in the coming months, he added.

Trade associations and business chambers, institutes of higher learning and young professionals in the built environment sector are also part of the task force.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said the task force was set up to ensure that Singapore has a capable pipeline of professionals and firms to deliver on infrastructure plans for longer-term building projects like the Long Island, Greater Southern Waterfront, Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 and more.

Separately, a campaign that aims to improve the perception of the industry was also launched on Sept 4.

It will highlight how the work of people in the sector has shaped the way Singaporeans live, and build on efforts to improve public appreciation for the sector, Mr Lee said.

He added: “As we encourage innovation, we see many interesting new jobs being created, which will, in turn, improve career prospects for existing professionals and present exciting opportunities for young talent looking to join the sector.

“The campaign will highlight the sector’s job diversity and these new opportunities that have started to emerge.”

Mr Lee said that apart from branding and public perception, there is “a lot of room for improvement” in the sector.

He noted that the built environment community remains concerned about the trajectory of architectural and engineering professions.

Such feedback includes whether there is enough young Singapore talent pursuing careers in architecture and engineering, if remuneration offered is competitive, and if businesses are improving their human resources practices.

Singapore Institute of Architects president Melvin Tan, who is part of the new task force, said he hopes to push for fairer remuneration, given the demanding work environment faced by engineers and architects.

He said: “If you take an entire building and its complexities, the engineers and architects are doing so many different tasks.

“It is a lot of work which currently, we believe, is not being remunerated correctly.”

When young talent join the sector and are faced with the high-stress environment, they may end up losing interest in their jobs, he added.

Ms Tiffany Kwan, 30, a sustainability consultant at consultancy firm Building System and Diagnostics, said the efforts to attract young talent are welcome as youth have several misconceptions about the industry.

For instance, long working hours are “not always the case”, she noted. But she added that her job gets stressful when making decisions for a development.

“What makes me stay on is that after all the hard work, you get to see the transformation, from the blueprint to the building. You get to experience it and see other people using it, and that keeps me going,” she said.

At the ceremony, Mr Lee also announced that a new enhanced Standard Consultancy Agreement, which aims to ensure that public sector procurement practices remain fair and progressive, will be implemented for project tenders that are called from Nov 1.

In January, Mr Lee said the Government was reviewing the agreement, a common contract for public sector construction-related consultancy tenders in areas such as architectural consultancy, civil and structural engineering, and project management.

On Sept 4, Mr Lee said the Government has been looking to update the fee adjustment provisions for additional services to provide consultants with fair and timely remuneration, and to require regular payment milestones and updated fee rates.

The enhanced agreement will also allow consultants to share the costs for significant construction delays where the delays are beyond their control, so that project risks are more balanced across the team, he added.

Details will be shared by BCA in an industry circular later this week, he said.