Strengthening and developing the Singaporean core requires a two-fold approach, said NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay on 31 August 2020.
“First, the hiring of foreign PMEs must be based on merit – on their contribution to Singapore and how they complement our local workforce; second, we must equip and enable our local workers through relevant and timely reskilling and upskilling to help them remain gainfully employed and employable,” he said.
Mr Tay made these recommendations in his debate speech in response to President Halimah Yacob’s address in Parliament. He was addressing the growing call for a fair and level playing field for Singaporean workers.
He thanked Mdm Halimah for highlighting the need to address the issue of job competition between Singaporean and work pass holders, which can be potentially divisive.
Mdm Halimah also addressed the need to further strengthen the capabilities of Singapore’s workforce and ensure that companies treat Singaporeans fairly when they recruit or retrench workers.
To augment efforts to strengthen the Singaporean core, Mr Tay suggested improvements in five key areas:
Mr Tay welcomed the policy announcements made by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in their addendum to tighten work pass requirements.
“This will go some way in levelling the playing field for our Singaporean PMEs and providing our Singaporean PMEs fair hiring opportunities,” he said.
He is also pleased to note that the ministry has put in place a differentiation of the EP qualifying salaries for sectors such as the financial services sector but suggested that more sectors can be included.
“MOM should also consider raising the bar for sectors such as Infocomm Technology and Professional Services, where there are generally more companies on the Fair Consideration Framework watchlist,” said Mr Tay.
Strengthening the Singaporean core has always been a critical mission for the Labour Movement. This is especially important during the current weak economic conditions and employment outlook the country is facing, said Mr Tay.
To that end, he committed that NTUC will continue working with MOM, employers and professional associations in the fair hiring and continuous reskilling of local workers.
“It is imperative to introduce the right policies in the face of an evolving economic and domestic environment. We must be mindful of our uniqueness as a city-state and balance our national interests such as the employability of our workers,” he said.
Mr Tay suggested ramping up training and upskilling by embarking on Industry Transformation Map 2.0 “so that both workers and companies can transform in tandem to meet the challenges ahead.”
In line with this industry transformation, local PMEs must be equipped to take on roles and handle tasks that go along with it.
“There needs to be continuous reskilling and upskilling and intentional career and salary mapping, through formalised setups such as NTUC’s Company Training Committees as well as the efforts by the National Jobs Council and NTUC Job Security Council,” he said.
In conclusion, Mr Tay emphasised that mindset change and collaboration are key in eradicating discriminatory hiring practices and ensuring that no man is left behind.
“With our community as the bedrock, strengthening our Singaporean Core, and enhancing collaboration between tripartite partners, academic institutions, society and individuals – each coming together to contribute their unique role to Singapore’s success, so that together, we can become more than the sum of our individual parts,” he said.
