National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Lim Swee Say stressed the importance of workplace productivity to sustain a low unemployment rate and initiate real wage increases during his speech at the second phase of the Tripartite Initiative programme by the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers’ Union (SMMWU).
For SG Lim, Singapore’s best way forward would be one where it continues to thrive on being a ‘Cheaper, Better, Faster’ economy where workers can have better lives with Easier, Smarter and Safer (ESS) jobs.
“The Labour Movement supports this strategy because we believe this is the only way for us to continue to create more jobs for Singaporeans and, more importantly, to continue to allow us to sustain wage increase,” SG Lim urged.
To further highlight his point, SG Lim mentioned NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP).
“This is the only programme whereby at the end of the day we can touch our hearts to say that yes, we’ve not only achieved productivity gain, but at the same time we have helped the workers directly to upgrade their skills, upgrade their productivity and, more importantly, enhance their wages,” SG Lim added.
SG Lim also encouraged participants from unionised companies to regard NTUC as a “one-stop partner” that will help bring schemes to them that improve productivity and gain-sharing with workers.
Mr John De Payva, SMMWU Secretary-General Emeritus, also assured that follow-up support was available to companies who are seeking schemes that are suitable for their respective businesses and industries.
Attended by 97 participants made up of management representatives and branch officials, the event is part of the Labour Movement’s efforts to maintain open channels of communications between management and union, towards a stronger and more harmonious labour-management relationship.
At the event, Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors voiced their concerns in a dialogue session with SG Lim chaired by SMMWU Sec-Gen Payva,
SMMWU President Andy Lim and NTUC's e2i Chief Executive Officer Gilbert Tan also were in attendance.
The event is aimed at bringing management representatives and branch officials together to exchange ideas and address challenges ahead to keep companies staying competitive.
Original article written by Joshua Joseph, and can be found in NTUC This Week (11 October 2013)
