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As part of this year’s May Day celebration, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) recognised and celebrated the achievements of 63 partners for their steadfast partnerships and outstanding efforts towards up-skilling workers and shaping a resilient and adaptable workforce. Through close collaborations with the Labour Movement, these partners were honoured as role models for their exceptional performance in helping our working people be future ready through improving productivity, adaptability and resilience.
Mr Karthikeyan R Krishnamurthy, Co-Chairman of the May Day Partnership Awards said, “Faced with new economic challenges and changing demographics in the workforce, it is important for the Labour Movement to reinvent ourselves continuously so as to stay relevant. We believe it is crucial for the Labour Movement to continue to expand our services and grow our networks to meet the evolving needs of all working people. Hence, we would like to urge more partners to come forward to collaborate with the Labour Movement to help our working people be future ready. Only through strong partnerships and collaborations with the unions, associations and partners, will the Labour Movement be able to do more for all working people.”
Care, Fair, Grow Award Category
As a reflection of the Unusual Labour Movement, the inaugural May Day Partnership Awards was introduced to recognise the “Best-In-Class” partners who displayed commendable efforts to Care for, be Fair to, and Grow with our workers as they worked together with the Labour Movement. A total of 24 awards were given out under the Care, Fair and Grow categories this year.
Caring for our working people
Under the Care Award Category, companies were recognised for their outstanding efforts in Caring for workers through launching initiatives that created deep social impact, help make the workplace more family friendly or benefit different group of workers such as the self-employed, low wage workers, migrant workers, among other groups.
An excellent example that exemplify Care for workers is the Drive and Save Scheme (DAS) launched by the National Taxi Association with the support from the five taxi operators and the Central Provident Fund Board. The DAS scheme was first introduced in January 2011. Under the scheme, taxi principal hirers are encouraged to contribute $15 monthly to their Medisave Account, and their respective taxi operator will co-contribute another $15 to the hirer’s Medisave account. The DAS aims to help taxi principal hirers inculcate a habit of saving for future medical needs. As of October 2015, 19,000 taxi drivers have benefitted from the DAS scheme.
Fair workplace practices
Under the Fair Award Category, companies were recognised for their outstanding efforts in ensuring Fair workplace practices for workers through initiatives that safeguard workers’ interest during industry transformation, ensuring fair wages, and fair processes in hiring Singaporeans.
Home-Fix D.I.Y. Pte Ltd, one of our U SME partners, is one model small and medium enterprise (SME) that worked with NTUC to oversee staff welfare, and implement good workplace practices to attract and develop a strong Singaporean core in its workforce. Out of the 150 workers hired by the company, about 70 per cent are Singaporeans which is quite unique given that most retail companies find it challenging to attract and retain locals. The success of Home-Fix lies in the various measures that the company has implemented to attract locals. These include a five-day work week for its frontline staff which is rather uncommon in the retail industry, flexible work arrangement, a structured Earn-and-Learn Programme and clear career progression pathways for staff. Home-Fix has on average, been able to maintain a monthly staff turnover rate of just two per cent.
Growing through continuous learning and training
Under the Grow Award Category, companies were recognised for ensuring workers Grow through initiatives that embrace continuous learning and skills upgrading so they can be future ready.
The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES), a pioneer U Associate member of NTUC, launched the Young Engineers Leadership Programme together with NTUC with the support from e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) to help new engineers stay ahead of future challenges. The programme also provided career development platforms and networking opportunities for some 217 engineers from 20 different industries and 66 companies. As a continuation of the collaboration, the Advance Engineers Leadership Programme was also launched on 25 April 2016 to groom senior engineers for management and leadership roles. For its wavering support to help working people stay competitive, the IES was recognised for its Young Engineers Leadership Programme under the Grow Award Category.
Inspirational Workers
Besides companies, there are also individuals who are recognised for embracing the mindset to ensure Growth in their career pathway as they opt to upgrade or learn new skills continuously to be future ready. Five exemplary individuals received the “Inspirational Worker” award under the Grow Category for their outstanding accomplishments in re-skilling or upgrading themselves through embracing lifelong education and training.
One of the recipients is 38-year old Madam Giam Siew Chu who decided to embark on further studies to gain better employment and career progression opportunities after having been out of school for more than 20 years. Madam Giam eventually overcame all her initial fear and challenges of returning to school. Today, she is a certified aircraft technician with Singapore Aero Engine Services. Madam Giam not only shares her experiences and encourages her colleagues to step out like what she did, she also plays the role of a mentor to coach and guide her younger colleagues in their works.
Over 400 guests comprising the awardees and their family members, management partners, tripartite partners and union leaders attended the ceremony. NTUC President Mary Liew and Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing gave out the awards to the recipients at the event.
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