CAAS And NTUC Enhance Early Careers Support For Singaporeans, Including Youths, Joining The Aviation Sector

          The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) today launched two new initiatives, the NTUC Aerospace and Aviation (A&A) Cluster Youth Chapter and a S$2.6 million OneAviation Early Careers Mentorship Programme, to enhance early careers[1] support for Singaporeans joining the aviation sector. The two new initiatives are part of the sector’s effort to ramp up recruitment and upskill its workforce, to meet rising demand for air travel and prepare for the opening of Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 5 in the mid 2030s, which will increase the airport’s handling capacity by about 50 million passengers annually

NTUC Aerospace and Aviation Cluster Youth Chapter

2          As the first-ever sector-level youth chapter established under a union cluster, the NTUC A&A Cluster Youth Chapter aims to deliver targeted support to youth[2] working in aviation companies and prospective joiners, including those studying in aviation-related courses. It will take a ground-up approach and work with the unions and sector agencies to design, develop and deliver initiatives tailored to the life stage and career needs of these youth, with a particular focus on three key objectives:

a.    First, foster a stronger sense of belonging among young aviation professionals through networking and building peer support that connect them with other professionals across companies and job functions

b.    Second, help young aviation professionals navigate early career challenges through initiatives such as workshops, industry exposure opportunities and career discovery programmes; and

c.     Third, empower young union leaders and activists, through structured training and leadership development opportunities, to inspire and attract the next generation while building their own careers in aviation.

OneAviation Early Careers Mentorship Programme

3          The OneAviation Early Careers Mentorship Programme will empower aviation employers to provide structured mentorship to Singaporeans joining the aviation sector to help them establish themselves in the early stages of their careers. The tripartite programme is jointly developed by CAAS and NTUC, in close consultation with aviation employers and unions. The S$2.6 million programme will be funded by CAAS, drawn from its S$200 million OneAviation Manpower Fund, and managed by NTUC’s learning and development arm, NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB).

4          Mentorship provides support and network for new joiners and helps them find their community and purpose at work. Research[3] has shown that, when done well, it can significantly boost job satisfaction, engagement and retention, while also facilitating knowledge transfer from more experienced workers. While impactful, structured mentorship today is often offered only to select groups, such as those transitioning into leadership roles at the professional, managerial, and executive levels.

5          The OneAviation Early Careers Mentorship Programme is the first-ever sector-wide initiative to promote structured mentorship at scale for early careers. The programme targets to provide over the next five years structured mentorship to 2,200 early career workers, starting with those in ground handling and line maintenance operations roles which are critical to the smooth and efficient operations of the airport.

6          Effective mentorship requires companies to integrate mentorship frameworks into existing human resource development systems, adopt common training standards to ensure consistency and quality, and sustain programme management over the long term to embed mentorship within the organisational culture. The OneAviation Early Careers Mentorship Programme will provide participating aviation employers with end-to-end support to develop and deliver impactful mentorship for their workers. This includes: 

a.    Consultancy services to embed structured mentorship into induction and onboarding processes and facilitate mentor-mentee matching;

b.    Standardised and quality mentor and mentee training and preparation; and

c.    Standard playbooks, impact measurement and tracking tools and platforms to shorten adoption curves for structured mentorship and ensure consistent and quality outcomes.

7          Anchor companies participating in the programme are global ground handling company SATS and leading aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul company SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) which will be implementing the programme as part of their companies’ workforce development plan. CAAS and NTUC LHUB are reaching out to other aviation companies to join the programme.

8          The Singapore aviation sector employs over 60,000 workers and provides many good jobs for Singaporeans. The two new initiatives are the latest tripartite efforts by CAAS, aviation companies and unions to grow the sector and support its workers. In 2022, CAAS, the NTUC A&A Cluster of Unions and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen aviation workforce development as the sector was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and positioning itself for growth. Since then, the sector has worked together to attract more Singaporeans into aviation through OneAviation Careers fairs, while several new tripartite platforms have also been set up to drive workplace enhancement and manpower planning. On 13 May 2026, CAAS was conferred the Plaque of Commendation (Star) award at the NTUC May Day Awards 2026. The award recognises CAAS’ contribution as a strong champion of tripartism as a pillar of strength for the Singapore aviation sector and its efforts in advancing the interests of the air hub, aviation companies and workers.

9          Mr Han Kok Juan, Director-General, CAAS, said, “The initiatives are testament to the strong spirit of tripartism we have in Singapore, which helps us overcome challenges, seize opportunities and take care of our workers. They are long-term investments which underscore our shared commitment to growing the Singapore air hub together and developing our people.”  

10        Ms Cham Hui Fong, Deputy Secretary-General, NTUC, said, “NTUC appreciates CAAS for working with us and our unions on initiatives that strengthen the talent pipeline and support career sustainability. With unions closely connected to workers on the ground, we bring insights on workforce needs and their feedback into sector‑level discussions, ensuring workers will be supported as they enter the industry, navigate transitions, and progress in their careers. This is especially important for first‑jobbers as Singapore’s air hub expands and transforms with artificial intelligence, and as we build a more resilient aviation workforce for the future. With strong tripartite support, sector-specific efforts can deliver greater impact. NTUC will continue working with our OneAviation partners to support the air hub, and the workers behind it."

11        Ms Charis Cheng, Senior Vice President and Head of Human Capital, Singapore Gateway Services APAC, SATS, said, “SATS is happy to be first to join the OneAviation Early Careers Mentorship Programme. We look forward to working with CAAS and NTUC LHUB to integrate structured mentorship into our existing programmes as part of our training transformation roadmap enhancing the early‑career experience for new employees and reinforcing our commitment to a strong Singapore core. Having a framework built around the realities of our sector means new workers get guidance that is relevant from day one and are able to find their place in the aviation community. This is particularly impactful for ground handling and inflight catering operations, where precision, teamwork, safety, and service excellence are critical. By passing on experience and know‑how, we help shape the next generation of aviation professionals while ensuring continuity and long‑term sustainability for our business."

12        Ms Eleana Choy, Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer, SIAEC, said, “In a technical field like aviation, knowledge and experience takes years to build. A mentorship programme tailored to our sector is a powerful way to pass that on, and to help new engineers and technicians build confidence from the start of their careers. SIAEC is happy to be part of the programme, to bring another tool into the toolkit to grow and strengthen our next generation of aerospace professionals.”

[1] ‘Early careers’ refers to the initial phase of professional life; they may include fresh graduates, young professionals transiting between careers / industries, and those transitioning from education into the workforce.

[2] Youth are defined as individuals aged 35 years and below.

[3] Several reports and publications show that organisations with formal mentorship programmes experienced 50% higher engagement and retention (Source: Association for Talent Development), and that employees are 49% less likely to leave after participating in mentorship (Source: Randstad).

About the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

The mission of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is to grow a safe, vibrant air hub and civil aviation system, making a key contribution to Singapore's success. CAAS' roles are to oversee and promote safety in the aviation industry, develop the air hub and aviation industry, provide air navigation services, provide aviation training for human resource development, and contribute to the development of international civil aviation. For more information, visit www.caas.gov.sg.

About the National Trades Union Congress

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national confederation of trade unions as well as a network of professional associations and partners across all sectors in Singapore. NTUC's objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and working people remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of our members and working people; and to build a strong, responsible and caring labour movement. NTUC's vision is to be an inclusive labour movement for all collars, ages and nationalities. NTUC is at the heart of the Labour Movement, which comprises 58 affiliated unions, six affiliated associations, a portfolio of businesses and six related organisations, as well as a growing ecosystem of professional associations and enterprise partners. For more details, visit www.ntuc.org.sg.

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