NTUC’s Letter to The Straits Times Forum Page - “Value every worker”
26 March 2010
NTUC’s Letter to The Straits Times Forum Page
“Value every worker”
I refer to Ms Ong Yanchun letter, “Why labour mobility may be difficult”, dated 25 March 2010.
There are indeed employers who hold the same view as Ms Ong that unskilled workers and foreign workers are less job-mobile and hence, must accept low wages or risk losing their jobs. Such employers often do not value their workers and do not upgrade their skills, productivity and wages.
The Labour Movement does not subscribe to such a mindset. We have seen workers, particularly low-wage ones, who are wage-squeezed and not valued by their employers, walk out on their employers. For example, low-wage cleaners and labourers were reported to have higher turnover and resignation rates in 2008 and 2009, as compared to higher wage workers.
Foreign workers, too, could leave if they were unfairly treated or paid less than what they expected. For example, during the economic downturn in 2009, some foreign workers declined to have their work permits renewed because overtime dropped drastically and affected their gross pay.
As we strive for higher productivity to sustain healthy economic and wage growth, we call on all employers to value every worker, including low-wage workers. More should be done to upgrade their skills, upgrade their jobs and upgrade their pay to attract and retain them. Likewise, workers need to upgrade their skills and enhance their employability so as to take on better jobs and earn better pay.
In partnership with various government agencies and key industry players, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has been a strong advocate for upgrading of low-wage workers in Singapore. We spearhead and encourage best-sourcing instead of cheap-sourcing. NTUC’s e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) also help low-wage workers upgrade to higher skills and take on better paying jobs.
Working together, we can upgrade the skills of our workers, improve the productivity of our workforce and strengthen the competitiveness of our economy.
Ang Hin Kee
Chief Executive Officer
e2i (Employment and Employability Institute)
