Mr Jimmy Lin, Director, Manufacturing - Asia
Mr Wong Weng Ong, President SMEEU and Cluster Chairman, Marine & Machinery Engineering Cluster
Mr Mah Cheong Fatt, Executive Secretary SMEEU
Executive Committee of SMEEU,
Marine & Machinery Engineering Cluster members
Management and employees of Cameron Singapore Pte Ltd,
Distinguished Guests, Brothers and Sisters, Good Morning.
Introduction
1. It has been 46 years since Singapore achieved her independence as a nation. From our humble beginnings as a fishing village to the present-day Singapore, we have come a long way through our sheer determination to overcome the odds and succeed.
Background of the Marine & Offshore Industry
2. Singapore is a top player in the global market for oil and gas drilling units and offshore support vessels. Local conglomerates Keppel and SembCorp are also renowned names in the global industry. Singapore commands 70% of the world market in the manufacturer of jack-up rigs and conversion of Floating Production Storage Offloading units respectively. In ship repair, Singapore has a 20% of the world’s market. To seize a larger global market share in the years ahead can be challenging.
Challenges of the Marine & Offshore Industry
3. With a large dependence of foreign workers in this sector, companies see their profits eroded with the increasing manpower costs and a progressive increase to foreign workers’ levies. At the same time, the companies continue to face difficulties to attract and retain younger workers in the marine sector. The youth are keeping away from this sector due to a variety of reasons – from tough and hazardous working environment to unattractive total remuneration package and long working hours.
4. It is heartening to hear of Cameron’s push towards a safer workplace with a few of your employees recipients of this year’s Workplace Safety and Health awards. The Company, in the midst of heavy business operations, did not lose focus on employees’ welfare and wellness such as a better canteen for workers, enhancement of the outpatient medical benefits and providing preventive health-checks for workers.
5. Cameron is an exemplary example of how a company stay in the competition by improving productivity and being Cheaper, Better, Faster and Safer. Company uses Six Sigma to improve productivity. I strongly urge our management partners to work with your unions and employees to redesign job functions, improve work environment and job processes and introduce technologies so as to automate and enlarge job functions and reduce companies’ reliance on foreign manpower. With this, workers’ job value will be higher and thus able to command a higher salary. Management and unions should work hand in hand to ensure businesses remain competitive.
Focus of Marine & Machinery Cluster
6. Safety is of upmost importance in the Marine sector. An accident-free workplace with no work stoppages ensures projects deadlines are met and workers return home safely every day. This year, the cluster will spearhead safety projects to share safety best practices at the marine and machinery industry with cluster unions and companies. The cluster will undertake to work with Ministry of Manpower, Workplace Safety and Health Council and the 6 unions within the M&M Cluster to raise safety awareness at the workplace.
Closing
7. As we gather here today to reflect and discover what the Singapore Spirit means to us, let us also share and pass this Singapore Spirit to our fellow colleagues, friends, children and our grandchildren. We shall seek to strengthen our roots and at the same time inspire future generations to build a better home, a better Singapore.
8. Have a Happy National Day.
