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Over the last one year, NTUC’s key priority has been to help workers and companies affected by COVID-19. Through various efforts such as the NTUC Job Security Council and Fair Retrenchment Framework, and working with management to cut costs and save jobs, as well as train and redeploy workers, our efforts have been focused on protecting workers’ livelihoods.
Looking ahead, we will continue to focus, in particular, on helping vulnerable workers, so that we can protect them, empower them and strengthen our social compact.
Protecting Workers Now, Positioning Them For The Future
NTUC will continue to pay close attention to vulnerable worker groups that have been more affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and who also may face future pressures in the new economy:
a. Self-employed persons – in 2020, NTUC initiated the formation of the Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association (Singapore) and National Delivery Champions Association to strengthen representation of these respective groups of freelancers. NTUC is currently in touch with several overseas unions to study their models. We are looking to innovate ourselves to better represent them and improve grievance handling.
b. PMEs, particularly those in their 40s to 60s – Focus Group Discussions conducted by the PME Taskforce revealed that job security, training and career progression are the top few concerns of PMEs. NTUC is particularly concerned about those in their 40s to 60s, as it may become increasingly challenging for them to find employment, should they need to make a career switch. The PME Taskforce is working on recommendations, and more details will be shared in Q3 2021.
c. Older workers – The reality is that they are vulnerable during these uncertain times. Our union leaders, particularly in the distressed sectors, have been urging older workers to pivot. But for the longer-term, there is a growing need to ensure workers, who are currently in the 40s to 60s group, plan ahead for their careers later in life, and have the chance and choice to work in a job that they are happy with.
d. Lower-wage workers – NTUC acknowledges that the implementation of PWM must be quickened. We want the implementation of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to be sped up and, for the nearer term, have set our sight on at least six sectors, which could potentially benefit about 80,000 workers. This includes the Waste Management, Food Services, Retail Trade, Strata Management, Pest Management and Solar Technology sectors.
Faster Implementation, Greater Coverage of PWM
In 2021, uplifting the wages of our lower-wage workers will remain one of NTUC’s top priorities. The formation of the Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers (TWG-LWW) in 2020 is a show of commitment by the tripartite partners to do more to uplift the wages of more lower-wage workers faster.
Last year, NTUC mooted for a PWM for the Waste Management sector. We are happy that the TWG-LWW moved fast to form the Tripartite Cluster to develop and implement a PWM for this sector. NTUC will continue working with companies in this sector on transformation efforts, which will complement the PWM.
NTUC has also been pushing for a PWM in the Food Services sector since 2018. While there have been challenges getting buy-in from stakeholders, we are encouraged that progress has been made and that the tripartite partners also see the potential in the Retail Trade sector. PWMs in both of these sectors will benefit a potential pool of about 70,000 workers. NTUC hopes that the Tripartite Clusters for these two sectors will be set up soon, with recommendations released by this year, and implemented within two to three years.
For more workers to benefit from PWM, NTUC has identified Strata Management, Pest Management and Solar Technology as potential sectors for the implementation of PWM.
• Strata Management – While a majority of workers in this sector are not low-wage, a PWM for this sector can be an enabler for better progression and better work prospects for them. This is because their wages can remain quite stagnant due to the outsourcing nature of this industry. This could potentially benefit more than 5,000 workers.
• Pest Management – NTUC will begin discussions with the relevant sector agencies on the key milestones for this year to implement a PWM in the sector, which could potentially benefit up to 3,000 workers. NTUC intends to submit a proposal to MOM by mid-2021.
• Solar Technology – Following the launch of the industry-led Career Development Plan (CDP) for the Solar Technology sector in December 2020, NTUC has also started discussions with the relevant associations to develop the CDP further into a PWM.
In addition to these six sectors, NTUC is also exploring together with partners the feasibility of a vocational-type PWM, to reach groups of workers who work across different sectors, such as clerks and logistics drivers.
While NTUC hopes for the work to speed up, we also emphasise the need to balance this with long-term effectiveness of PWM in each sector.
During a sharing on NTUC’s plans and priorities for 2021, NTUC Secretary- General Ng Chee Meng said, “While there may still be differing opinions and continued debates on PWM, NTUC wants to focus our attention on getting the work done to help our workers. We want to expedite the speed of PWM implementation. While we do so, we must also ensure that what we put in place is effective, addresses the various intricacies and benefits workers without unintended outcomes. We must do right by our workers and ensure that they continue to have better wages, welfare and work prospects”.
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