NTUC responds to media enquires on SMRT PRC bus drivers illegal strike

Foreign workers can become union members. Today, 125,000 of them have already done so.

In the public transport sector, majority of PRC bus drivers working at SBS Transit are union members, whereas majority of foreign bus drivers in SMRT have not joined the union.

There are valuable lessons to be learnt from this incident at SMRT. Management should recognise the positive role the union can play. Union will continue to step up efforts to bring more foreign workers into their membership base. On their part, foreign drivers should see the benefit of joining the union so that the union can be of assistance to them.

We have enjoyed industrial peace as we have a system in place to deal with workplace issues and grievances fairly and constructively. The law should always be abided to.

Cham Hui Fong

Assistant Secretary-General

National Trades Union Congress