The Honourable The Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon,
President of NTUC, Sister Diana Chia,
Distinguished Judges of the Supreme Court and Subordinate Courts,
Distinguished Guests,
Brothers and Sisters.
A very warm welcome to the launch of Law Works 2013, a special and unique partnership between NTUC and the Law Society of Singapore.
What makes this partnership special and unique? It is because we are in for the long haul. Yes, we are looking not at a one-off partnership but a long term one. Today’s launch marks the beginning of our enduring partnership.
Last year, 78.8% of the resident population of Singapore aged 25 to 64 was employed. This was up from 72.1% a decade ago in 2002. We will see an increasing number of our resident population in the workforce. Coupled with our workforce becoming more well educated and thus desiring a better understanding of their legal rights, this partnership is timely to enhance our work proposition for our members by equipping them with knowledge of their workplace rights and obligations through the legal primers and pocket series.
The Law Society of Singapore has been instrumental and dedicated in providing pro bono legal clinics so that members of the public who may not have the financial means to consult lawyers can have access to justice. Through the partnership, our members will benefit greatly by having practicing experts from the Law Society resolve their legal concerns, thereby improving their situation and their lives.
To date, we have conducted 3 pilot legal clinics from November last year. The response has been very positive with our volunteer lawyers advising on varied issues spanning crime, property, family, matrimonial, and more.
Today, we also launch the first of our pocket series. When we conducted our legal primers last year, we received numerous requests from our members for the speakers’ slides. Due to copyright issues, we were unable to accede to their request. So, we figured that we could do more for our members by publishing pocket series on various aspects of employment law. Further, after our first legal handbook “Workplace Rights for the Busy Executive” published at the end of 2011, we have been receiving requests for us to publish more of such handbooks. This partnership will enable us to tap on the expertise of the Law Society’s legal fraternity to co-develop the handy pocket series.
This will effectively enhance the “Protection” arm of the Labour Movement for our members by equipping them with knowledge of their workplace rights and obligations.
Our first pocket series is for the freelance professional. This publication will equip the independent contractor with a better understanding of their professional rights and obligations. It is written in an easy-to-read format, free from legal jargon.
We have also included a checklist of what you, if you are an independent contractor, should look out for in your contracts with your hirers or buyers of your services. We will be giving out copies of the booklet at the conclusion of this morning’s launch ceremony.
NTUC, at the heart of the Labour Movement, has as our mission and vision to provide leadership, services and support to promote inclusiveness across all collars, ages and nationalities, so that working people and their families can work, live and play together in Singapore. And Law Works 2013 can certainly complement our role in this.
I would now like to show you a video of how NTUC strives to promote inclusiveness across our workforce so that our working people and their families can work, live and play together in Singapore.
[after the video is screened] This video encapsulates the holistic service that NTUC endeavours to provide to our members - helping them seek employment and resolve workplace issues, provide them training and better lifestyle options, as well as better access to justice and knowledge.
Now, it is my privilege to invite The Honourable The Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon to give his address. Your Honour, please.
