As the Labour Movement (LM) continues our drive towards strengthening leadership development and renewal, it is critical that we continue to forge a strong core of labour leaders and encourage them on the path of lifelong learning so that we can continue to be a strong and effective voice for working people.
The annual Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTC Institute) Graduation Ceremony is a major platform for the Labour Movement to recognise union leaders and partners for their dedication and efforts towards lifelong learning and strong union leadership. These role models and their stories serve as an inspiration to fellow union leaders, workers and management.
Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTC Institute) Graduation Ceremony 2014
Today, the Ceremony will recognise 151 graduands for their achievements in the journey of lifelong learning and development. They have completed the OTC Institute’s milestone certificate and diploma programmes in industrial relations and employment relations – the OTC Institute Advanced Certificate in Industrial Relations (ACIR), OTC Institute-UniSIM Diploma in Employment Relations (DER) and the OTC Institute Professional Diploma in Employment Relations (PDER). (see Annex A for course descriptions and Annex B for more details on achievement awards).
Held at Pasir Ris Downtown East, 116 proud graduands from the OTC Institute Advanced Certificate in Industrial Relations (ACIR) and OTC Institute-UniSIM Diploma in Employment Relations (DER) will receive their certificates and diplomas from Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, who is also Second Minister for Communications and Information. Mr Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress will present 35 graduands with their professional diplomas for completing the OTC Institute Professional Diploma in Employment Relations (PDER).
Topping the ACIR class is Mr Foo Yeong Khai, a senior accounts officer with SMRT Corporation Ltd and a Branch Committee member of National Transport Workers’ Union. He was also awarded the Nithiah Nandan Award and the NTUC Income Achievement Award for his outstanding performance.
For the DER programme, Mr Mohd Rosman B Mohd Sah, a Higher Technical Officer with Public Utilities Board and a Branch Committee Member with Public Utilities Board Employees’ Union topped his cohort to win the Seah Mui Kok Award. He also received the Shell Book Prize.
Ms Darshini Patkunan, a Consultant with NTUC Administration & Research Unit was awarded the NTUC Club Best Student Award for being the top performer in the PDER programme.
Honouring Unions and Management Partners
Besides the certificates and diplomas presented to graduands, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is also the Chairman of OTC Institute’s Board of Governors, also presented awards to honour trainers, unions and management who have contributed to the Institute’s programmes and activities.
The Leadership Trailblazer Award recognises unions that have demonstrated sustained commitment to developing union officials’ leadership capabilities through OTC Institute’s training and engagement programmes. This year’s three award recipients are:
For the first time, the Leadership Trailblazer Award (Gold) was awarded to the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE) which demonstrated the strongest and most sustained commitment to developing union leaders through OTC Institute’s training and engagement programmes.
The Workplace Partnership Award honours unions and companies that have made efforts to forge and strengthen labour-management relations through the OTC Institute’s programmes. The award recipients this year are:
The Workplace Partnership Award (Gold) is presented to unions and companies that have demonstrated strong commitment to institutionalise good labour-management relations through OTC Institute’s programmes. This year’s two award recipients are:
Mr S Thiagarajan, Director, OTC Institute, commended, “We congratulate our graduands on completing their studies and applaud them on their pursuit of lifelong learning to be effective unionists, all these on top of balancing their work and families. For the labour movement to remain a strong voice for working people, we need well-trained, passionate and committed unionists. We are grateful for the keen support from enlightened employers and we hope to have more management partners on-board as the labour movement steps up leadership renewal and development in our unions.”
Some 400 people attended the event comprising members of the OTC Institute Board of Governors as well as graduands and their family members.
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