1. The Lunar New Year Visit to unionised companies by key NTUC leaders has been ongoing since 1999 to show our appreciation to these workers who continue to perform essential duties during these festive celebrations. We are honoured that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has led these visits since 2008.
2. This year, as NTUC marks our 50th anniversary, PM Lee and key NTUC leaders visited some 170 workers at the Bukit Merah depot of Sembwaste Pte Ltd in the morning (6.45 am) of the first day of Lunar New Year. These workers include waste collection truck drivers and crew, administrative staff, as well as truck maintenance workers at SembWaste Pte Ltd.
3. During the visit, PM Lee and key NTUC leaders thanked workers of the waste collection sector for their important contribution to a clean 24/7 Singapore. The guests also learned about SembWaste's participation in NTUC’s Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) initiatives to improve productivity and wages of lower wage workers, and working with the Building Construction And Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU) on re-employment of its retiring workers.
4. As Singapore repositions itself to sustain productivity growth for the next stage of economic growth through a broad-based and inclusive approach, SembWaste has committed to working closely with NTUC and BATU on various initiatives to help the workers enhance their productivity level as they face new challenges in the waste collection sector. These include:
(A) Inclusive Growth Programme
5. NTUC launched its IGP in August 2010 to push for better skills, productivity improvements, gain sharing and better wages for lower wage workers. With better skills, low wage workers would be in a better position to enjoy better paying jobs.
6. SembWaste is one of the employers that support NTUC’s push for sustainable growth through training and skills upgrading for better productivity and improved pay for workers in the waste collection sector. From 2011, SembWaste has begun Safety Reinforcement Training under IGP for its waste collection truck drivers, aimed at enhancing safety and productivity. By strengthening the drivers’ road safety awareness and defensive driving ability, the training programme aims to upgrade the drivers’ skills, reduce accident rates and improve the drivers’ performance ratings. With their higher performance ratings, the drivers could therefore be eligible for higher pay. The increase in total annual remuneration could be up to 9%, including increases to their basic pay, productivity allowance and bonuses.
(B) Re-employment of Older Workers
7. Since 2006, NTUC has been committing its unionised companies to re-employ their older workers through the adoption of the Tripartite Guidelines on the Re-employment of Older Workers and other best practices. This is to enhance the employment rate of older workers who are still able to contribute to Singapore’s economic development and growth.
8. Since 2008, SembWaste and BATU have agreed upon a re-employment policy for employees who turn 62 years old. This enables physically fit employees reaching the retirement age of 62 the option of carrying on working. Re-employment arrangements are discussed with the employee at least six months before their reaching retirement age. To date, SembWaste has re-employed a total of 22 employees in 2010, comprising three executives, ten drivers and nine crew members. With a total staff strength of 550 employees, of which 60% are Singaporeans, SembWaste has about 17% of its employees who are aged 55 and above.
9. The visit ended with PM Lee, key NTUC leaders and guests joining SembWaste's workers and management to participate in the traditional tossing of Yu Sheng to usher in the Lunar New Year.
