Politics
Workforce Connectivity Bill Allocates Funds for Jobs and Transport in Jurong East
The measure directs resources toward training centres and bus links that serve residents who work in the Jurong East industrial zone.
How we reported this
The Workforce Connectivity Bill, listed on the legislature's bill tracker for the current session, sets aside S$180 million for skill centres and feeder bus routes serving Jurong East. The funds target workers employed at the Jurong Industrial Estate and nearby logistics hubs. Passage occurred on 2 July 2026.
Legislators advanced the bill after the 2026 Budget Papers identified gaps in local transport access and certified training places. The documents noted that 12,400 Jurong East residents commute daily to factories and warehouses within a 5-kilometre radius. The legislation updates procurement rules for the Land Transport Authority and the Workforce Singapore agency to coordinate spending.
Jobs and training access
Under the bill, two new training facilities will open in Jurong East by March 2027. Each site is scheduled to offer 400 places per intake in logistics, precision engineering and maintenance skills. Local advocates note that shift workers at the nearby port and wafer fabrication plants will gain evening and weekend course options without travelling to central districts.
The same funding line covers 15 additional bus services on routes 49, 98 and 160. These changes shorten average travel time from residential blocks in Jurong East to the industrial estate by 12 minutes, according to the bill's accompanying regulatory impact statement.
Next implementation steps
The Ministry of Transport and Workforce Singapore will release tender documents in August 2026. Construction of the training centres and bus priority lanes is projected to begin in the first quarter of 2027, with completion targeted for late 2028. Residents can submit feedback through the Jurong East Town Council portal until 15 August.