The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) supports the National Wages Council (NWC) guidelines for 2019/2020 and remains committed to working with our tripartite partners to help workers enjoy better wages, welfare and work prospects.
The NWC guidelines are inclusive, and employers should apply them to all workers including PMEs (Professionals, Managers and Executives). We have also continued to ensure that the guidelines pay special attention to take care of our lower wage workers. In our negotiation with the tripartite partners, we have especially advocated for the following:
a. Basic wage threshold to be adjusted from $1,300 to $1,400 so that more low-wage workers can benefit from the guidelines;
b. Built-in wage increase to remain as per 2018, and for employers to continue giving the one-off productivity payment if they are able to;
c. Fair gains-sharing and wage increases for PMEs, technicians, rank-and-file employees, and re-employed employees; and
d. Companies to voluntarily adopt higher retirement and re-employment ages to tap on skills and experiences of older workers.
While the negotiations were difficult, it was a good outcome considering the uncertain economic headwinds, and at the same time, ensuring that the guidelines were both pro-workers and pro-businesses.
The NWC guidelines will support our workers in their transformation to take on current and future workplace challenges. To do so, employers must help their workforce skill up and move up. We encourage more companies to work with the Labour Movement to set up Company Training Committees (CTCs) that will identify the training and skills that workers in the company require and develop the necessary training programmes to help them keep up with industry transformation. For companies which are not unionised and are keen to find out more about CTCs, they can approach NTUC's e2i. Through CTCs, we can work towards win-win outcomes for both employers and workers – employers can achieve business growth through upskilling its workforce while workers can enjoy sustainable wage increases.
Mary Liew
President
National Trades Union Congress
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Quotes from union leaders
Mustafa Lambak, Assistant General Secretary of Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union
It is encouraging that the guidelines continue to look after the low-wage workers. With the adjustment of the basic wage threshold, more low-wage workers can benefit from the guidelines. The recommendation for a built-in wage increase and the one-off special payment for productivity growth will also be strong encouragement for these workers. We hope that the Labour Movement can continue to work with the tripartite partners to continue to monitor the low-wage earners, and put in place necessary programmes or initiatives to ensure that they have good jobs and real wage increases.
Seah Keng Tia, Vice-President, United Workers of Petroleum Industry
While the NWC guidelines provide dedicated recommendations that apply to low-wage workers, many employers may not be aware that the recommendation apply to all workers, including the PMEs. It is important that our employers adopt and leverage training and productivity initiatives which benefit all workers, so that both PMEs and rank and file workers can go through the necessary training to keep up with transformation. Thus, we are heartened that the guidelines call upon employers to work with sector agencies and unions to set up company training committees to focus on skills training; develop career pathways; and to help workers and businesses stay competitive and create better quality jobs for Singaporeans.
