by Lim Wei Chean

CLOSE to 50,000 workers in the service sector will be getting training to improve themselves over the next few years, and the Government will foot the bill.

But perhaps more important for the workers, being put on the training programme means they will get to keep their jobs - the scheme aims to help employers keep their staff during the downturn by defraying their costs.

The $100 million programme, launched last month, is meant to bring service standards in the retail, health-care, food and beverage and hospitality sectors to a higher level.

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