Singapore’s Labour Movement gears up to make 2014 a year of breakthroughs for both low-wage workers and Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) with initiatives that are aimed to improve the sectors work conditions and opportunities.
Workers in the cleaning sector used to receive $900 in wages but many of them now earn $1,000.
Madam Daniah Mohd Awi who works in Ramky Cleantech Services Private Limited, takes home about $900. As the only one working in the family, she supports her two younger children who are yet to join the workforce.
Many workers in the cleaning industry, who are largely mature workers like her, are also unaware of training opportunities available to them.
"The cleaners among us are our unsung heroes. They deserve our respect and we must look after them. Many buyers of cleaning services are still not willing to best source, which will keep the industry trapped in low skills, low productivity and low wages. This must change,” said Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU) President Nasordin Mohamad Hashim.
The private security industry is another sector that has a number of low-wage workers hoping for better opportunities.
Mr Sivakumar Othrapathi Munisamy who works in Woodlands Ring Primary and Secondary Schools has to clock in more hours beyond his usual shift in order to have enough pay for his family of four.
While the 61-year-old is a member of Union of Security Employees (USE), Mr Sivakumar’s biggest concern is the low basic pay of $700 that some companies offer to his fellow colleagues.
“When there was recognition for cleaners’ efforts and most cleaners are now able to earn $1,000 (referring to the Progressive Wage Model), we were really hoping that it would next be our turn. I hope the union and NTUC will speed up this process,” he added.
According to Union of Security Employees President Hareenderpal Singh, “the challenge ahead for the security sector is to convince the service buyers to be willing to move away from the current headcount-based contracts to performance-based contracts. We are also actively trying to bring in younger Singaporeans to join the industry.”
While low-wage workers wish to be able to get bigger wages along with better training, PMEs, on the other hand are looking out for opportunities in pursuing better careers.
The full operations of the three new U PME (Professionals, Managers and Executives) centres this 2014 come at a good time as the Labour Movement targets to create a stronger impact in this sector.
“PMEs now are aggressively competing with a vast ocean of fellow professionals and now, not only are we competing with fellow Singaporeans but foreigners as well,” shared Edmund Toh, 35, Infocomm Officer with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
This year, the Labour Movement will be exploring ways to fulfill the needs and hopes of both PMEs and low-wage workers.
Original article can be found in NTUC This Week (3 January 2014)
