In the spirit of SG50, the Labour Movement joins in with all Singaporeans and working people to celebrate the nation’s achievements and progress over the past 50 years. Through working together and supporting each other, we can keep up this success and progress as a future-ready people and a future-proof workforce towards a brighter future for all.
Today, 62 model individuals and 44 model companies as well as their partners took centre stage at the NTUC May Day Model Partnership Awards 2015. Comprising workers, unions, employers, tripartite partners and Government agencies, they were honoured for being role models in exemplifying the spirit of teamwork and excellence. Their outstanding efforts have enabled our workers to upgrade and upskill; and our businesses to uplift productivity and enhance competitiveness.
The Awards are conferred upon model workers who have upgraded for better employment and progression, and have strived to remain gainfully employed beyond the retirement age; as well as model human resource personnel, supervisors and companies who have improved workers jobs through raising productivity, and nurturing an inclusive and supportive working environment.
The Individual Category recognised 62 model individuals who have galvanised their belief in continual upgrading and learning, thus impacting their own lives as well as the lives of others. For example, Iswandie bin Wanhar joined ST Aerospace at the age of 21 as a trainee aircraft technician. Having a deep desire to further his career within the industry, he took initiative and personal responsibility of his upgrading by enrolling in several courses and training programmes with full support from his company. As a result, Iswandie managed to progress to become an engineer, and is now giving back as a Senior Technical Instructor with ST Aerospace. (Refer to Annex A for selected awardee profiles)
Meaningful partnerships are also necessary at the company level for companies to remain competitive and benefit from a highly effective workforce. Working hand-in-hand with our unions and Government agencies, companies can raise productivity at the workplace; which leads to better jobs and in turn, better workers. The Institutional Category recognised some 44 model companies, one of which is Jotun (Singapore) Pte Ltd. The company had taken a proactive approach in developing its workers’ competencies through enhancing their Progressive Wage Model in consultation with the Chemical Industries Employees’ Union. In line with productivity and skills growth, the company had also embarked on salary benchmarking so as to pay their workers fairly and competitively.
The awardees and their partners received the Awards from NTUC President Diana Chia and NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing, who was also the Guest-of-Honour, at the awards ceremony. Held at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability, over 700 awardees and guests were in attendance, where they were also treated to a unique sand-art performance depicting the life story of a kampong boy, Ah Huat. Through hard work and with support from his mentor, Ah Huat was able to achieve better employment, progression, and a better life for himself and his family – a story embodying the very essence of the Awards itself.
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See also:
Annex of Selected Awardee Profiles
Annex of Breakdown of Awardees
Infographic Overview of May Day Model Partnership Awards
