Almost ten years ago in 1993, when I was first elected Secretary-General of the NTUC, one of the first thoughts that came to my mind was: "BERI has rated the Singapore workforce Number One since 1980. Can we keep this up?" I did not want us to slip in the rankings during my watch!
Since then, each year I checked. Each year, we have kept our Number One position. It's been so regular it is not newsworthy. But if we had slipped, it would have hit the headlines.
This year, our Workforce is again Number One.
We scored 86 out of 100. We top the rankings in three of the four factors in the BERI rating. The exception is Workers Attitude. We are Number 3, but improved our score by one point to 90 out of 100.
Why do I keep looking at the BERI report? Because investors use the findings, when they consider where to locate their investments. If we get a good ranking, then they will consider Singapore more favourably.
At a time like this, the biggest worry among workers is their job. Will it be secure? If they are retrenched, can they find another job? Therefore, it is very important that we maintain a favourable environment for investments, so that new jobs will be created.
So, it is good that we have maintained our Number One ranking in the BERI report, and improved our lead over the next country, Switzerland.
Will we remain Number One?
The SARS outbreak presents us with a big challenge. Some sectors are severely hit. Airlines, hotels, restaurants, transport, shops - these have seen sales plummet. Companies have to make sharp cuts in operating costs, including wage costs. How we react is critical.
Do our unions take swift action, conclude emergency agreements with employers speedily, or do they stall and refuse to take painful cuts? I am happy that our union leaders have risen to the occasion. FDAWU, for example, have already agreed with 26 hotels on cost cutting measures. Today, the newspapers report that SIASU has agreed to compulsory no-pay leave for cabin crew of SIA. Other unions, too, have faced up squarely to the crisis. For example, the Mustapha Branch of SMMWU agreed to wage cuts. In most countries, such cuts would have been reluctantly agreed to, after industrial action. Not so in Singapore. What pleases me this round is that our unions have acted swiftly on their own. I did not have to call the ExCo members and urge them to act, unlike the Asian Financial Crisis.
Our unions have adopted an uncommon flexible approach - saving jobs by helping the companies to survive. We do this by working with employers.
I am sure this will be noted by BERI. This swift, positive response to the SARS crisis will demonstrate once again why Singapore workers deserve their Number One ranking.
Congratulations to all workers!
Happy May Day.
