The success of Singapore's Tripartite partnership can be likened to 'The Avengers', and unlike most superhero movies which involve a single superhero, this one stands out because it is about a team and about success through partnership, said NTUC Deputy-Secretary General (DSG) Heng Chee How.
Speaking at the May Day Partnership Awards on 19 May 2012, he added: "Here in real life Singapore, I think we have our own version of The Avengers. What is it? We call it Tripartism.
“And that is the keyword between Government, unions and employers. Three, but striving together for win-win-win outcomes. And it is our way of using partnership to tackle challenges so as to bring success and a better life for Singaporeans and a better future for all Singapore.”
DSG Heng said the way to achieve a brighter future for all was to seek better and higher productivity.
“While Singaporean workers and unions want better jobs and better pay, and also better access to a brighter future, all of us, all three sides – unions, Government and employers know that the way to do it is to seek better productivity, higher productivity at all levels and to raise our employment rates locally to offset the constraints of a tight labour market for both locals and foreigners.
“And the three parties also know that to be successful, each side must do its best, and all sides, all three of us must do it together. The awards today exemplify and illustrate that,” he said.
He commended the efforts of the awardees at the event, and added that we should learn from them and redouble our efforts and initiatives so that together, we can build that better, win-win-win future right in Singapore.
