The Labour Movement remains steadfast in its mission to help workers today as it marks the 50th anniversary of its Modernization Seminar held in 1969.
“We must continue to work hard to champion the interests of workers… to make sure that they enjoy better wages, better welfare, and more importantly, we are not only looking at immediate issues, but casting an eye in the future to secure better work prospects,” said NTUC Secretary-General (SG) Ng Chee Meng.
The relevance of tripartism, the collaboration between the unions, employers and the Government, was also emphasised in helping the Labour Movement achieve these outcomes.
At his first NTUC May Day Rally as Secretary-General, Mr Ng addressed some 1,600 attendees comprising union leaders and tripartite partners on 1 May 2019 at Downtown East.
He highlighted that the Labour Movement will continue to work to champion the interests of workers and help them achieve better wages, welfare and work prospects.
“Let us put every worker at the heart of everything we do. Let us take action to innovate, to transform, so that we can earn a better set of wages, welfare and work prospects for the future,” he added.
He shared that while the Labour Movement has made progress in helping workers enjoy better wages, it has also been re-inventing itself to remain representative of and relevant to the evolving needs of Singapore’s changing demographic.
Workers in unionised companies have been able to enjoy higher wage growth in recent years and the Labour Movement will be looking to do more for workers.
The Labour Movement will continue working closely with tripartite partners to further enhance the Progressive Wage Model, particularly in the sectors where they can make a bigger difference to low wage workers.
Mr Ng said that NTUC is also in the midst of reviewing the retirement and re-employment ages with the Ministry of Manpower and Singapore National Employers Federation. An announcement on the outcomes of that discussion can be expected later in the year.
Mr Ng also shared how the Labour Movement has explored new representation structures in order to remain representative of and relevant to workers.
Examples include the formation of the Supply Chain Employees’ Union (SCEU) to represent workers of all levels in the logistics industry, the repositioning of the Singapore Bank Officers’ Association to become the Banking and Financial Services Union (BFSU) to serve all workers in the industry and help them cope with the impact of disruption, and the formation of the National Instructors and Coaches Association to look after the interests of freelance coaches and instructors in the discipline of sports, wellness, music and the performing arts.
“We have heard your concerns, and what we are doing is but a small gesture of appreciation to show that we have heard you, and we care,” said Mr Ng.
To this end, the Labour Movement’s social enterprises have introduced a number of initiatives to help workers in Singapore cope with the cost of living.
Taking the lead, NTUC FairPrice has locked in the prices of 100 essential housebrand items until 30 June 2020.
Besides offering hot coffee and tea at $0.50 for NTUC members, Pioneer and Merdeka generation members, NTUC Foodfare and Kopitiam have also made affordable cooked meals, such as eggs and toast breakfast sets and economy rice, more readily available in its outlets.
To realise transformation for workers and businesses , the Labour Movement is working together with the Government and business partners to develop Company Training Committees (CTCs).
The CTCs will seek to accelerate the awareness and acceptance of technology for both businesses and workers, the adoption of technology to solve business problems and accelerate the actualisation of transformation of businesses and create a better working environment for workers.
He said that union leaders play a pivotal role in the development of these CTCs because of their knowledge of the ground and the trust their fellow colleagues have in them.
“What we want to do with the CTCs is the buying of technology and training of workers in tandem… If we can put the CTCs in place, what’s key is actualising the value we can get from transformation.
“The three As – acceptance of technology, adoption of technology in the fastest way, and the actualisation of technology so that the business can have profits – will mean better businesses. And better businesses will translate into better wages, welfare and work prospects for our workers,” he said.
