On 24/05/2013,
you requested for the version in force on 24/05/2013
incorporating all amendments published on or before 24/05/2013.
The closest version currently available is that of 29/08/2003.
PART III
FUNCTIONS, DUTIES AND POWERS OF AGENCY
11.
—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the functions and duties of the Agency shall be —
(a)
to serve as the national body in the areas of adult continuing education and training, and the facilitation of employment and re-employment, and to advise and make recommendations to the Government on matters, measures and regulations connected with such areas, including the formulation of policies, and the provision of infrastructure and facilities in relation to such areas;
(b)
to promote, facilitate and assist in the development of adult continuing education and training so as to enhance the competitiveness and employability of the Singapore workforce;
(c)
to collaborate with industries and economic agencies to identify and promote the enhancement of industry-specific skills;
(d)
to promote the development, competitiveness and employability of the Singapore workforce through co-ordination with economic agencies;
(e)
to support, facilitate and assist in the re-employment of unemployed or retrenched persons through job referral, retraining, upgrading of skills and other employment facilitation efforts;
(f)
to enhance, promote and support the use and improvement of best practices in the management of human capital and workforce skills development in Singapore;
(g)
to encourage, promote and facilitate the development of the human resources industry in Singapore;
(h)
to promote, facilitate and assist in the identification, development and upgrading of skills and competencies required of the workforce to support Singapore’s economy;
(i)
to support, direct, encourage and undertake research in adult continuing education and training;
(j)
to direct, promote and facilitate the upgrading of adult continuing education and training infrastructure, and the upgrading of professional standards of adult trainers;
(k)
to establish and implement regulatory policies, codes of practice, strategies, measures or any other requirements so as to enhance the professional standards of adult continuing education and training offered in Singapore;
(l)
to administer programmes for adult continuing education and training;
(m)
to undertake the promotion of lifelong learning and to create, foster and encourage public awareness and understanding of the importance of lifelong learning;
(n)
to administer the Skills Development Fund in accordance with the Skills Development Levy Act (Cap. 306);
(o)
to provide financial support by way of grants, loans or otherwise so as to give effect to the functions and objects of the Agency;
(p)
to undertake, direct and support the analysis and dissemination of labour market information and trends to the public;
(q)
to represent the Government internationally in respect of matters relating to adult continuing education and training and public employment services; and
(r)
to carry out such other functions as are imposed upon the Agency by or under this Act or any other written law.
(2) The Agency may undertake such other functions as the Minister may assign to the Agency and in so doing, the Agency shall be deemed to be fulfilling the purposes of this Act, and the provisions of this Act shall apply to the Agency in respect of such functions.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing on the Agency, directly or indirectly, any form of duty or liability enforceable by proceedings before any court to which it would not otherwise be subject.
12. The Agency shall have power to do anything for the purpose of discharging its functions and duties under this Act or any other written law, or which is incidental or conducive to the discharge of those functions and duties and, in particular, may —
(a)
establish, administer and operate any scheme considered necessary or desirable for the development and upgrading of skills and expertise required of the workforce to support Singapore’s economy, the development and upgrading of adult continuing education and training, and the development and promotion of employment and re-employment facilitation efforts;
(b)
promote and undertake publicity in any form on matters relating to the training, continuing education and development of the Singapore workforce;
(c)
provide information resources on matters relating to adult continuing education and training;
(d)
request information from and collaborate or co-operate with any person, whether in Singapore or elsewhere, on matters related to or connected with the development and upgrading of skills of the Singapore workforce, adult continuing education and training, employment facilitation and such other subject matter as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the Agency;
(e)
publish or sponsor the publication of periodicals, booklets and other written materials, and produce or sponsor the production of films and other audio-visual works, on matters relating to adult learning and continuing education and training;
(f)
collect, compile, analyse, publish or disseminate by any convenient means information of a statistical nature or otherwise concerning matters relating to the Agency’s functions;
(g)
specify, by notification in the Gazette, all the accreditation and certification marks of the Agency for use in relation to any function of the Agency, and control the use of such marks;
(h)
organise courses, seminars, workshops and conferences in furtherance of its functions and award certificates of proficiency to persons who attend such courses, seminars, workshops and conferences;
(i)
initiate and undertake or enter into contractual consultancy, research and development projects in pursuance of its functions under this Act and conduct or commission research in pursuance of its functions under this Act;
(j)
act as agent for the Government or, with the approval of the Government, for any other person in the transaction of any business with a business enterprise in respect of loans or advances granted or debentures subscribed by the Government or such other person;
(k)
with the approval of the Minister, form or participate in the formation of any company;
(l)
form or participate in any partnership or joint venture as a shareholder or partner or in any other capacity;
(m)
provide technical, consultancy or advisory services to any Government agency or to any other person or body in Singapore or elsewhere on any matter related to or connected with the functions, objects or duties of the Agency;
(n)
become a member or affiliate of any international body, the functions, objects or duties of which are similar to those of the Agency;
(o)
enter into such contracts as may be necessary or expedient for the purpose of discharging its functions or duties;
(p)
receive grants, donations or contributions from any source, or raise funds by all lawful means and apply such funds for any of its functions or duties;
(q)
charge fees or commissions for services rendered by the Agency including advisory, training, consultancy, certification and accreditation services or for the use of any facility of the Agency and recover any costs and expenses incurred;
(r)
grant loans to any officer or employee of the Agency for any purposes specifically approved by the Agency as are likely to increase the efficiency of such officer or employee;
(s)
provide recreational facilities and promote recreational activities for, and activities conducive to, the welfare of officers and employees of the Agency and members of their families;
(t)
provide for gratuities, pensions, allowances or other benefits for officers or employees, or former officers or employees, of the Agency;
(u)
provide financial support, grant, aid or assistance to any person or organisation for all or any of the purposes of this Act or any other written law;
(v)
provide training, whether by itself or with the co-operation of other persons or bodies as the Agency thinks fit, for officers or employees of the Agency and award scholarships or otherwise pay for such training; and
(w)
do anything incidental or necessary to any of its functions, duties or powers under this Act or any other written law.
13. The Minister may give to the Agency such directions, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as he thinks fit as to the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers by the Agency, and the Agency shall give effect to any such directions.
14.
—(1) The Agency may, from time to time, appoint, alter or discharge committees, consisting of one or more persons (whether members or not), and define or vary the terms of reference of those committees.
(2) Subject to this Act and to the control of the Agency, each committee appointed under this section may regulate its procedure in such manner as the committee thinks fit.
15.
—(1) The Agency may, from time to time, in respect of a specified matter or class of matters, by writing, delegate to any member, officer or committee of the Agency or any of its agent (including the Government) any of its powers under this Act or under any other written law, except —
(a)
the power of delegation conferred by this section; and
(b)
the power to make any subsidiary legislation.
(2) Every member, officer or committee purporting to act pursuant to a delegation under this section shall, in the absence of proof to the contrary, be presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of the delegation.
(3) A delegation under this section shall be revocable at will, and no delegated person shall prevent the exercise of any power, function or duty by the Agency.