1. One can be easily overpowered.Two can defend themselves but can still be broken with more force.
When there are three, there is strength and it is difficult to break. Together, there is more resilience and we can fight off stronger forces.
2. Today’s event is the NTUC 50 Model Partnership Awards.
On this day, we want to recognise partners, whether it’s peers, co-workers, bosses, trainers, unions, government, or families. And I’ll like to congratulate all of you for coming together as a group to overcome challenges.
3. We are indeed privileged to have our 3 special guests :
Brother Gan Kim Yong, Minister of Manpower
Brother Stephen Lee, President SNEF
Brother Lim Swee Say, Secretary General NTUC
Together they are known as the tripartite partners. They represent the government, employers and workers in a very unique form of Singapore partnership. Which has enabled us to grow and share our gains. I will like to pay tribute to Minister Gan, who has tirelessly worked with SNEF and NTUC for the good of workers. We appreciate his commitment to attend his last official event as Minister of Manpower, to join us in celebrating partnerships.
Partnerships at the National level -- Tripartism through Good and Bad Times.
4. Let me share with you about the 4 Ps.
First P is partnership at the national level. This year is NTUC’s 50th anniversary. For 50 years, our unions, government and employers worked hard to build trust and cooperation, to bring us through good and bad times.
5. During the financial crisis in 2009, Companies agreed to cut cost and save jobs; Government invested $20.5 billion in a resilience package; Unions rallied workers to help companies stay afloat, to upgrade their skills, to prepare for the upturn. Everybody played their roles.
6. In good times, the National Wages Council recommended higher wage increase. Government, unions and employers agreed that workers have weathered the downturn together, and should be rewarded. Whether in good or bad times, this partnership has seen us through.
Partnerships at the Industry level – Raise Standards and Job Value
7. Every day, our businesses face competition from all over the world. There is constant challenge to attract investments and talents from Singapore. How should we compete? Individually or as the whole of Singapore? All of us would expect that competitors do not share information.
8. Not in the case of our Agriculture sector. They recognise that competition comes from the global markets. AVA works with fisheries to learn from one another. From process flow, new packing methods, disease treatment, water and temperature control, feeding stock, overseas export requirements, etc. Gain competitive edge and raise industry standards as a whole.
9. Singapore is the top exporter of ornamental fish in the world. Some farms are ISO certified and implement 6-sigma. Workers have higher job value and earn $1,200 to $1,800 a month. No weakest link. On the contrary, competitive price, stronger product, better brand. That’s how far we have come. And today we recognise this kind of Partnership. With industry collaboration, we get a bigger pie.
Partnerships at the Company level – Raise Productivity and Share Gains
10. At the company level, we require partnerships among management, team leads, production supervisors, operators, sales staff, etc. Everybody working together to make a difference. To achieve: Cheaper products and services, competitive price with profitable business. Better quality, meet world-class standards. Faster transitions, change product lines to meet new demands. Efficient, timely, responsive.
11. Gain and share. There are companies that strive to be more productive and share gains with workers. As in the case of Popular Book Company. Most of the time, you will see their retail assistants manually wrapping books and tagging price. That will be a thing of the past. Tapping on the Inclusive Growth Programme, book processing will be automated and centralized in the warehouse. Staff are free up to engage customers. Training will be provided on customer service, visual display and selling skills. Company increase sales, workers increase skills and salary.
12. New sources of workers. There are also companies who work together with their HR and operations to tap into good sources of workers. Companies like Prima, Jurong Shipyard and Land Transport Authority value the experience, knowledge, and competencies of mature workers. They put in effort to recruit, train, and integrate; Whether it’s flexi work, no reduction in salary, machinery to ease work load. Today, more than 1,000 unionised companies commit to re-employ older workers.
13. At another level of partnership, people say landlords just collect rent, but not nex shopping mall. Nex treats tenants as partners. If shops thrive and do well, the mall will do well. Helped shops to source for workers, collectively more than 2,000 jobs. Work with grassroots and e2i to promote to residents. Offer flexible and part time jobs to attract back-to-work women. Success when you don’t see yourselves as tenants and landlords, but as partners.
Partnerships at the Individual level – Better Jobs, Better Lives
14. Many times, we hear co-workers complain about not getting a bigger share of the cake. Colleagues are competitors at the workplace. Win-lose to be top salesman, best performer. It is fine to compete, but instead of competing for the same piece of pie to take from your co-worker, Work together to grow the pie bigger and all will have a bigger share.
15. Poh Ah Sian understands partnership at the individual level. He has been with Hitachi Chemical Singapore for more than 10 years. Was transferred from technician job to maintenance. Attended multi-skill programme, adjusted to new work environment and overcame technical issues with union, supervisor and colleagues’ help. Machines under his charge have fewer breakdowns, and modified to produce high value products. Everyone benefits – Ah Sian was promoted to Assistant Engineer, he helped his co-workers to be more productive, and his company to save cost.
16. With partnerships at the individual level, Happier workplace and higher morale. All have bigger share when work together instead of against. Win-win.
Conclusion
17. To our 100 awardees and 251 partners, Let us continue growing our 4 P partnerships. Working together at national, industry, company and individual levels, we can make Singapore stronger, fight off any challenges, and share gains.
18. In closing, let me invite all of you to stand. Acknowledge your lead and desire to work together. Thank you for being our role models, and enjoy your day.
