Speech by Mr Hend Chee How, Deputy Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress, at the Union of Security Employees' 30th Anniversary Dinner, held at the Meritus Mandarin, Mandarin Ballroom, level 6, on 28 November 2008, Friday, 7.30 pm
Greetings!
Thank you for inviting me to this 30th Anniversary celebration of the USE.
1 The world has definitely changed a lot in the past 30 years. It is a much more globalised world now. Through technology, trade and travel, things both good and bad spread around the world at unprecedented speeds. Over the past decade, for example, we have experienced many highs and lows, as we hurtle our way through time.
2 Today, as if confronting a growing and deepening global financial and economic crisis that has caused wealth to vaporise and jobs to disappear is not hard enough, we also have to contend with terrorist threats of a totally different order. The latest terrorist action in Mumbai, India reminds us afresh of this reality.
3 We sympathise with the injured and the families of the deceased in that senseless and brutal attack, and hope and pray for the safe rescue and return of all Singaporeans and all others caught up in that incident.
4 In the midst of all this turmoil, the importance of fundamentals and brass tacks shine through. What are these?
5 First, security and confidence are central to economic wellbeing and prospects. Investors are wary to put money, especially long-term big money, into places where risks of all kinds are high. If their factories get burnt or looted, if there is no industrial peace, if they cannot import materials or export goods smoothly and their people cannot move because the logistics or transport system has broken down, or if the currency risks are too high and so on. You are in the business of security, and you know this first hand. Hence, you should be very proud of the contribution that you are making to the competitiveness of Singapore and its attractiveness as an investment location, and must continuously improve your professionalism and standards of your industry.
6 Second, competence and productivity are the ultimate engines of employability and earnings growth. Another eye-opening lesson that the international business community has learnt over the past one or two decades is the difference between cheapness and value. While competition will put pressure on companies to innovate and create value, destructive price competition together with focus on short term results and rewards sow the seeds for manipulation and cutting corners. When the bubble burst, jobs go, people suffer. This is so whether we look at property, construction, banking, IT, food manufacturing or security, the principle holds. This is because it has nothing to do with the technical aspects, but everything to do with human nature. In the old days, this is called “penny wise, pound foolish”.
7 The quest for value for money remains vital and necessary. The sustainable way to do it is through best-sourcing on the part of service buyers, and job re-creation and constant skills upgrading on the part of service providers and workers. USE has been at the forefront of such efforts in your industry. The simple truth is that your industry is a tough one to upgrade. Yet, through your tenacious and systematic efforts and those of your partners – government and industry bodies as well as enlightened employers – you have transformed both the image and the substance of what security is about. You have uplifted the earnings and the employability of your members, and have given hope to many other sectors that they too can do the same.
8 Third, a better organised, better led organization will out do others. In this world, there will always be problems and difficulties. Everyone has them. Some will spend their time complaining – they get angry and want to let off steam. Others point fingers – they want to get even and pull down the building. The ones get who are interested in a real breakthrough get going – learning the lessons, systematically improving their arrangements, strengthening the foundations, building the steps upwards. The difference in approach and in outcomes lies in leadership. USE’s achievements owe significantly to the vision of your leadership and the willingness of your union leaders at every level to do the thankless legwork in the trenches to make your hopes come true. You deserve our admiration.
9 As we now enter a more difficult economic environment, I urge you to continue to invest in your strategic partnerships, in your professionalism, your productivity and your leadership. These strengths will increase your confidence and see you through the tough times to better days ahead.
I wish everyone an enjoyable evening.
Thank you.
