More companies should work with NTUC to upgrade its workers, urged Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat during a visit to ST Engineering Aerospace on 25 February 2019.
Mr Heng cited ST Engineering Aerospace as an example for companies to follow. The company worked with the Singapore Industrial Services Employees’ Union, an NTUC-affiliated union, to form a union-management Training Council last year.
“ST Engineering Aerospace is among the first few companies in Singapore to set up an in-house training council, to work more closely together with NTUC and to look at the training of their workers,” said Mr Heng, urging more companies to embark on such an initiative.
He added that it is important for Singapore to “devote time, attention and resources to the upgrading of our workers.”
“It is an important transformation to make, and it is an exciting journey when we can do this well. I believe that we must build on the strong tripartite relations that we have had for so many years,” he said.
Touching on the Budget, Mr Heng said that the Government will work closely with businesses and unions to help sectors that face challenges such as manpower.
He added that "precisely because it is not easy, we need to devote even more time and effort to doing this.”
He added that he is confident that Singapore’s businesses and workers have what it takes to transition.
"As I said in the Budget if we do not change, then we will be hitting a dead end ... It is far better for us to take the slightly more difficult road today so that we will reach our destination," he added.
