Civil servants are now getting to know how the Labour Movement helps workers through two attachment programmes jointly run by NTUC and the Public Service Division.
The year-long Labour Movement Attachment Programme (LMAP) started in October 2015 where officers commit half a day per week to Labour Movement activities.
So far, 29 officers have been selected for the programme and 13 have completed the attachment.
The second programme is the Public Service Leadership Programme (PPP).
Only one officer has been on the full-time six month attachment.
Both programmes aim to help the officers understand the work of the Labour Movement – how it contributes towards the economic success of Singapore and tackles the challenges confronting the working people here.
The Participants
The only participant in the PPP was 27-year-old Priscilla Ong (middle picture) from the Ministry of Transport.
She was attached to the Chemical Industries Employees’ Union (CIEU) from September 2015 to March 2016.
Priscilla had a two year stint in the Manpower Ministry where she was directly involved in crafting the Progressive Wage Model (PWM). She requested for a stint with the Labour Movement after that.
“I had questions like what is a fair wage for workers and this got me curious into the role of NTUC when bargaining for higher wages. NTUC organised focused group discussions with workers and employers to get everyone on board the PWM. This was a good initiative where everyone could see the benefits of it,” said Priscilla.
Another participant on the LMAP is Chua Minyi, 33, who is with the Education Ministry. Her focus is on SkillsFuture policies.
Minyi (extreme right) said she has learnt what both NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and NTUC LearningHub have been doing in the area of upskilling and lifelong learning.
At the union level, she is attached to the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU). She got a taste of what it was like for workers to go through a retrenchment exercise, how the union handled those issues and helped place them with new employers.
A senior officer (extreme left) who has completed the LMAP is Yip Hon Weng, 37, from the Municipal Services Office of the Ministry of National Development. He was attached to the United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries (UWEEI).
“It is no longer about the rank and file. Rather, it is also about reaching out to the U Associates, the freelancers, contract workers and others to prepare for the future economy. I personally think that this is the right and relevant approach,” explained Hon Weng.
He hopes to use his attachment stint to improve things at his own workplace through engaging e2i to train town council officers on common municipal issues and working with NTUC FairPrice to reduce disamenities caused by abandoned trolleys.
NTUC’s Human Resource Department said it hopes to place 20 new public services officers on the LMAP annually.
Source: NTUC This Week
