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Past
Events |
Year 2009 |
Pulire Asia 2009 Conference & Exhibition
The PULIRE ASIA 2009 was successfully held at the Suntec Convention & Exhibition Centre during 2nd to 4th December 2009 in conjunction with the World Toilet Summit & Expo 2009.
The exhibition mainly focused on latest and state-of-the-art cleaning technologies, products and services from leading international and regional players in the industry.
Alongside the exhibition, it was accompanied by a conference and industry workshops which features best practices and tips from leading industry experts and practitioners.
EMAS Vice-President, Mr Milton Ng participated during the industry round table talks between the various regional associations:
• Australian Cleaning Contractors Association
• Building Owners and Managers Association Philippines
• Malaysian Association of Cleaning Contractors
• Association of Indonesian Cleaning Service Enterprise (Apklindo)
• Environmental Management Association of Singapore (EMAS)
They discussed several key pressing issues and challenges facing the professional cleaning industry which include poor working conditions and low wages, cost pressures on cleaning contracts by service buyers, being labour intensive, and a lack of mechanisation.
Mr Ng also gave a presentation to the delegates on the topic, “Professionalizing Cleaning and Pest Control Industries in Singapore through Accreditation”.
He explained why there was a need for the accreditation for cleaning companies in Singapore and how they can help to raise the standards and working conditions of the cleaners. He further added that government support was essential in the overall acceptance of the accreditation scheme by the cleaning industry.
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Lunch Discussion with the Association of Property & Facility Managers (APFM)EMAS met with representatives from the Association of Property & Facilities Managers (APFM) at Furama Riverfront Hotel on 26 August 2009. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the possibility of collaborating together regarding the accreditation scheme for cleaning companies and the recognition support given by property management companies.
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Klenco Green Cleaning Talk: Making Sense of It
A cleaning talk titled Green Cleaning: Making Sense of It; was organized by Klenco Singapore on 12 August 2009 for cleaning professionals, property managers & developers.
The audience was given a presentation and dialogue on regulations, issues, technologies and useful background information relating to environmentally friendly cleaning. Over 20 industry members attended the talk.
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EMAS Meeting with Mayor Zainudin
EMAS representatives met with Mr Zainudin Bin Nordin, Mayor, Central Singapore District & Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC on 19 June 2009.
The purpose of the meeting is to highlight the issues faced by the cleaning industry and suggest solutions to solve these problems |
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Inter-Agencies Working Committee (IAWC)
Organised by the Restroom Association (Singapore), the Inter-Agencies Working Committee (IAWC) consisted of 3 different sub-committees namely Owners & Operators, Contractors & Cleaners and Users.
EMAS was the chair for the Contractors and Cleaners Sub-Committee together with members from NTUC, WDA, NEA, SAGE, Town Councils, World Toilet College, Initial Hygiene and RAS.
The objectives of the committee were to formulate a set of guidelines to ensure toilet cleaners employ best practices and to equip all toilet cleaners with adequate and proper training. There were also guidelines in place to monitor and reassess toilet cleaners’ salaries and welfare. The committee also aimed to initiate recruitment drives and campaigns to increase the pool of trained toilet cleaners. A press conference will be held by the Restroom Association in late 2009 to announce relevant policies to the public.
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Pulire Asia 2009 Industry Networking Forum
The Pulire Asia 2009 Industry Networking Forum was held at Suntec Singapore on 3 April 2009, attended by 50 cleaning industry professionals. Titled Staying Ahead in Challenging Times: Winning Strategies for Professional Cleaning, the forum featured presentations by:
Mr Milton Ng, EMAS President
Mr John Selvan, EMAS Honorary Secretary
Mr Michele Redi, President of Afidamp FAB
Dr Massimiliano Sponzilli, Italian Trade Commissioner
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UCCW Framework Proposal for Cleaning Sector in Singapore
EMAS has a discussion session with the NTUC’s Unit for Casual & Contract Workers Unit UCCW on 3 March 2009. The objective of this proposal aims to professionalize the cleaning industry by setting benchmarks and standards for cleaning companies. It also hopes to enhance the industry into an enticing one to attract the local workforce by introducing better wages and working conditions of the cleaning workers. EMAS also conducted a job placement exercise during their job fair to hire locals to work in the cleaning industry. |
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| Year 2008 |
EMAS is proud to be
a supporting partner of the Official Launch of LOO Campaign
2008-2010. RAS launched the LOO - Let's
Observe Ourselves - campaign at the Singapore Zoological Gardens
on 19 November, in conjunction with World Toilet Day, to achieve
its 2010 goal of sprucing up 70% of local public toilets to a
minimum 3-star Happy Toilet rating.
The Guest-of-Honour,
Dr. Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment
and Water Resources witnessed our EMAS President, Mr Milton Ng and
representatives from other participating organisations, partners,
supporters and sponsors as they signed the LOO Pledge. More than
150 guests from our participating organisations, partners,
supporters, sponsors and school representatives including
journalists from various media attended this milestone event. EMAS
is very proud to have the opportunity to be one of the supporting
partners for the LOO Campaign 2008-2010.
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Pest Control Educational Talk 3
EMAS continued its 3rd Educational Talk Series on 8 October 2008. Speaker Mr Steve Broadbent explained to the audience on the what, why and the how’s of creating a mosquito treated zone with Maxxthor which allows for more to be done against the battle of controlling adult mosquitoes. Mr Broadbent also shared with them some research studies done in the region using Bifenthrin (Maxxthor). A total of 45 people attended the talk.
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Informal Dialogue Session with BCA
EMAS President, Mr Milton Ng and Vice-President Ms Deanne Ong met up with representatives from the Building Construction Authority (BCA) on 9th September 2008. The objective of this meeting was to discuss the common issues faced by the BCA as well as EMAS, and through this dialogue, the BCA hopes to gain valuable lessons and deeper understanding on how the environmental services industry tackle the issues and challenges they are currently facing, and how can these be applied to the construction industry. 5 main key issues were discussed, which includes the labour market issues, current protocol of issuing of contracts to contractors, automation and mechanisation of the cleaning industry, treatment of workers and the training & development of the current pool of workforce. |
Pest Control Educational Talk 2
EMAS continued its 2nd Educational Talk Series on 3 September 2008. Speakers Ms. Yeoh Boon Hoi & Mr. Lee Teck Peng delivered the talk which is focused on mosquito biology, and the common approaches in mosquito control in Singapore with emphasis of VectoBac (Bti) application. The talk was well-received with over 47 people attended the talk.
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Pest Control Educational Talk 1
EMAS kick started its 1st Talk of Pest Control Educational Talks Series on 28 July 2008. The talk is specifically targeted at the pest control industry as well as those working in the property management sector. The response for the 1st talk was overwhelming, a total of 50 people attended. The focus of the training talk was on the range of IGEBA’s (Agrofog) Equipment, the role of thermal fogger and understanding its applications within pest management and beyond. The Speaker was Mr. Joerg Heckel, General Manager of IGEBA.
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ABMA Networking Session
21 EMAS member together with the Asia Building Management Association had a fruitful and enjoyable dinner session at the Grand Plaza Hotel on 9 April 2008. It was a great opportunity for EMAS members to network and explore business opportunities with ABMA Board Members. The ABMA delegation comprises of representatives from Japan, Taiwan, Shanghai, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and India.
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| Year
2007 |
Awareness
Seminar
EMAS together with the Ministry
of Manpower (MOM) are organising an awareness seminar to be held
on 7 Dec 2007 at 3 - 5pm at MOM Building. The Agenda for the seminar
is to raise compliance with the employment laws, which would include
the employment act and buyer's checklist as well as Workfare Incentive
Scheme (WIS). |
Informal Dialogue Session with MOM
The EXCO members have an informal session with the Ministry of Manpower
on 8 October 07 at MOM Building to feedback on the employment trends.
MOM also shared with EMAS EXCO members on their initiatives to help
improve employment conditions in the cleaning industry. |
Briefing On Enhanced Performance
Based Conservancy & Cleaning Works Contract Specifications and
Tender Evaluation System
The briefing held on 8 October 2007 at Holland-Bukit Panjang Town
Council was chaired by Dr Teo Ho Pin, Co-ordinating Chairman, PAP
Town Councils Committee. The session provided a platform for the
members and some conversancy cleaning service providers to interact
with Dr Teo as well as to understand how the Enhanced Performance
Based Conservancy & Cleaning Works Contract Specifications and
Tender Evaluation System can help to improve the standard of Cleaning
in HDB and the skill sets of the workforce. |
Launch of Singapore Standard
(SS533:2007) on Cleaning Performance for Public Housing Estates
Workshop
Town Councils and Conservancy cleaning service providers attended
the workshop on 24 July 2007 at SPRING Singapore. Mr Ang Mong
Seng, Chairman of Estate Management Committee and Chairman of
Hong Kah Town Council, was the moderator for the workshop. Mr
Kevin Loh, Vice President of EMAS was invited to speak on the
“Benefits of the Cleaning Performance Standard – Pilot
Study on SS533”
The objective of SS 533:2007 was to reduce the reliance on labour
head-counts and to enhance the efficiency of cleaning services.
SS533 is the result of a review of TR16 after its implementation
over a two year period. EMAS with the support of SPRING Singapore
spearheaded the pilot study of the benefits of implementing Performance
Based Cleaning Standard based on TR 16:2003 – Technical
Reference for Cleaning Performance for Public Housing Estates.
Three town councils – Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council, Hong
Kah Town Council and East Coast as well as their cleaning service
providers involved in this project. |
Dialogue Session with MOM
EMAS and Singapore Business Federation (SBF) co-organised the dialogue
session with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on 23 July 2007 at SBF
Board Room. The session provided an interactive platform for the
cleaning industry to feedback on the issues and concerns that the
industry players are facing and the new foreign manpower policies
affecting the industry. |
Talk on Introduction of Environmental
Practices in your Business
EMAS organised a talk on the Introduction of Environmental Practices
in your business on 25 May 2007 at EPC Training Room. The Environment
Professions of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA
Singapore) and Singapore Environmental Council (SEC) were invited
to share their experience/initiatives. |
Happy Toilet Seminar for Schools’
Operation Managers
Members were invited to the seminar on 5 March 2007 at Environment
Building. The seminar organised by Restroom Association of Singapore
(RAS) focus on Good Toilet Cleanliness & Maintenance for Schools’
Toilets as well as to address the challenges faced by Operation
Managers in maintaining clean public toilets. |
Pulire Asia Singapore 2007
A trade show for the Cleaning Technology, Equipment and Services
Industry in Pacific Asia which was held on 6 & 7 February
2007 at Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition
Centre. This event was jointly organisd by Italian Association
of Manufacturers and Distributors of Professional Cleaning Equipment
and Products (AFIDAMP) and International Sanitary Supply Association
(ISSA).
Mr Milton Ng, the President of EMAS was invited to attend the
Opening Ceremony. The organiser has also extended their invitation
to EMAS members to attend ISSA two-days workshop at Pulire Asia
2007 at no participation fee.
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| Year
2006 |
Briefing
on the Employment Act and Job Re-creation Programme
EMAS invited the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to give a talk on
the Employment Act to provide members a better understanding of
the obligations under the law. In conjunction, EMAS also invited
a representative from National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to
present on the Job Re-Creation Programme which aims to improve
the productivity, image and working conditions of jobs, to attract
more Singaporeans. |
Seminar
Talk on What's and How's to Implement a Business Continuity Plan
A seminar talk by the Ministry of Health and SPRING Singapore
to guide companies through the implementation of a Business Continuity
Plan. The Association hopes to help businesses understand the
possible impact of a flu pandemic and how they can deal with it
rapidly and lessen its damages through this talk. |
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| Year
2005 |
Clean
and Green Week 2005
EMAS participated in the annual Clean & Green Week 2005 which
was held in Bedok Reservoir from 5 & 6 Nov 2005. The aim of
campaign was to raise environmental awareness. Mr Lee Hsien Loong,
Prime Minister, was the Guest-of-Honour for the launch of the
campaign and about 23 MPs with 2,000 invited guests attended the
launch ceremony. There were more than 100 booths, a flea mart,
performances, sporting activities, water sports, arts and nature
appreciation including tree planting activities. |
5th
International Convention Of Urban Pests (ICUP)
EMAS won the bid to host the ICUP conference in Singapore against
the more established countries where ICUP is normally held. ICUP
is a prestigious conference held every few years for researchers,
academics and industry experts to present their papers and get
an update on the latest findings in pest management in urban areas.
This was the first time ICUP being held outside Europe and the
United States as well as held in Asia.
The ICUP that was held from 10-13 Jul 2005 was strongly supported
by local government agencies such as Singapore Tourism Board,
Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Ministry of the Environment, Environment
Health Institute, National University of Singapore Life Sciences
Departments as well as the Suntec International Convention and
Exhibition Centre. There were 354 delegates attended the conference.
The Singapore Tourism Board had presented a plague to EMAS for
her support of the event |
Industry
Networking Session
– Partnerships in Developing the Environmental Industry
EMAS was invited by the Ministry of the Environment and Water
Resources (MEWR) to meet and interact with Minister Yaccob Ibrahim
and senior officials from the Ministry on the industry concerns
and issues. |
Adopt-A-School
Programme by NEA
EMAS has been invited by NEA to participate in the Adopt-A-School
Programme. This is programme where NEA matches industry partners
together with schools to work on environmental projects. |
Pulire
Asia 2005
EMAS was invited to the official opening and High Tea Reception
and Mr Kevin Loh, President of EMAS, was invited to deliver a
short presentation to introduce the association and activities.
The event was held on 23 – 25 Feb 2005 at Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. |
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| Year
2004 |
Clean
Asia Show 2004
EMAS attended the cleaning event organised by Clean Asia Media
Pte Ltd which was held in Shanghai, China from 26 – 28 Oct
2004. An event that brings together supply and demand in the cleaning
and maintenance products industry. |
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| Year
2003 |
Enviro
Asia 2003
The Association participated in Enviro Asia 2003 by setting up
an EMAS Pavilion at the trade show from 30 October – 1 November
2003 at the Singapore Expo Hall 2. The Vision and Mission of EMAS,
as well as the Association’s direction are being profiled
at Enviro Asia 2003. Enviro Asia 2003 was inaugurated by Minister
of Environment, Mr Lim Swee Say and the Association was honoured
to have Minister visit the booth.
Enviro Asia was an Asian premium environmental show showcasing
the latest technology, innovative solutions and capabilities of
international environmental management companies. Enviro Asia
was organised together with NEA as well as the support from other
government agencies and trade associations. |
Cleaning
& Maintenance Exhibition 2003
EMAS with Suntec Integrated Media, a subsidiary of Suntec International
Convention and Exhibition Centre jointly organized the Cleaning
and Maintenance Exhibition 2003. This Exhibition and Convention
was held on 25 to 27 February 2003. It was a regional conference
showcasing the best from Singapore and the region. There was a
strong support on marketing program across the region. The promotional
seminars were conducted by Suntec Integrated Media in China, Thailand,
Malaysia and other parts of Asia to market this conference and
exhibition.
EMAS has also obtained the government funding support (up to 50%
of the costs) to subsidize the costs of the exhibition booth.
A special EMAS Pavilion was set up to show case members products
and services. |
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