Our Special Guests, Cleaners of Singapore,
NTUC Secretary General, Bro Lim Swee Say,
NTUC Central Committee Members,
CEOs of NTUC Social Enterprise
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good afternoon to all of you!
Welcome
First and foremost, I would like to welcome all our special guests, the cleaners. I would also like to thank those present here for taking the time off to show your support to this launching of `I Care for my cleaners’ movement which NTUC is commemorating in conjunction with International Cleaners’ Day that falls on 15 June every year.
Personal Story
My father worked as a cleaner. He was a daily rated worker with PWD. My late mother was also a cleaner in Tan Tock Seng hospital. It was an honest job and I am proud of the fact they could raise myself and my siblings. I believe there are many cleaners out there that are like my parents. They are doing an honest job for a living and to raise their families. However, I do acknowledge that cleaners these days are having a hard time with many of them earning low salaries, stagnating wages and being taken advantage off by irresponsible employers.
NTUC’s Efforts to Help Low wage workers
In NTUC’s continued efforts to support fair treatment of workers, the Labour Movement also advocates the importance of respecting and valuing every worker. NTUC has been relentless to help low wage workers earn better wages through our Inclusive Growth Programme, Best Sourcing Initiative and more recently, pushing for greater adoption of the Progressive Wage Model.
I Care for my cleaners
While there are many schemes out there to help cleaners and other low wage workers earn better wages and fair employment terms, I believe it is the personal touch and human contact that would make the cleaners feel appreciated and valued in their work. Today, we have gathered here to make a change with the launch of the “I Care for My Cleaners” Movement. As Singaporeans, we need to do something to show that we care. To me, how we treat our cleaners and others in the service industry is a reflection on how gracious and civic-minded we are as a person and as a society.
Good support from both the private and public sector
NTUC is heartened to see so many organizations, both from the private and public sector, coming forward to support this worthy cause. To date, more than 100 organizations have pledged to show appreciation, in the month of June, to their cleaners in their own ways such as organizing buffet lunches, giving out food hampers or goodie bags. Some are even bringing their cleaners to Singapore Flyers for some recreation. Participating organizations include of course our unions, social enterprises, Residents’ Committees, Changi Airport Group, CapitaLand Malls and self-help groups like Mendaki, Sinda and CDAC. There is even a Facebook page “I Care for My Cleaners” dedicated to this group of thankless heroes. Through these, we hope to be able to tell our cleaners that we care for their well-being and appreciate the important job that they are doing.
As we kick-start with the ‘I Care For My Cleaners’ campaign, we hope that, moving forward, this initiative will extend beyond cleaners to encourage employers to also give recognition to other low-wage worker groups
NTUC’s commitment to improving the lot of our cleaners
Last year, NTUC observed that many low-wage workers working under outsourced contracts did not get the recommended built-in wage increase because their employers were on fixed-sum contract. Therefore, this NWC calls on employers and service buyers in these industries to make a special effort to uplift the pay of this low-wage outsourced workers.
I am proud that NTUC and its Social Enterprises have heeded the call to help these outsourced workers earn a better living by being early adopters of the NWC guidelines. It is important that the Labour Movement leads by example in our efforts to improve the livelihoods of our low-wage workers.
The NTUC Centre and AMK Hub, which are both owned by Labour Movement related entities, have started the ball rolling by successfully negotiating with their service providers to adopt the National Wage Council (NWC) recommendations for low-wage workers who are engaged by their outsourcing contractors. This means that more than 50 outsourced cleaners will receive $60 in built-in wage increase with effect from July 2013.
In line with the NWC’s call for employers and service buyers to make special effort to uplift the pay of low-wage workers and incorporate NWC wage recommendations into outsourced service contracts, NTUC’s Social Enterprises (NTUC SEs) have also committed to proactively work with their service providers to implement a $60 built-in wage increase to outsourced contract cleaners earning a basic monthly salary of $1,000 and below. Once fully rolled out, another 600 outsourced cleaners stand to benefit.
Please allow me to share this good news in Malay.
Sejak kebelangkan ini, NTUC amat prihatin ramai pekerja bergaji rendah di bawah kontrak penyumberan luar tidak mendapat kenaikan gaji yang telah disarankan oleh NWC. Pada tahun ini, NWC telah membuat saranan supaya pembeli khidmat dan penjual khidmat berkerja sama untuk memastikan perkerja-perkerja golongan ini boleh mendapat kenaikan gaji yang disarankan.
Saya gembira untuk memaklumkan bahawa NTUC dan perusahaan sosialnya seperti NTUC Income, NTUC Fairprice, NTUC Club, NTUC Foodfare dan selainnya telah menyahut seruan untuk membantu pekerja-pekerja berkerja bergaji rendah di kontrak penyumberan luar mereka mendapat kenaikan gaji yang disarankan oleh NWC.
NTUC ARU dan AMK Hub telah mengambil langkah yang pertama dan berjaya berunding dengan syarikat pembekal khidmat mereka untuk menaikan gaji pembersih-pembersih mereka yang berkerja di bangunan OMB dan AMK Hub. Ini bermakna bahawa lebih daripada 50 pembersihakan menerima kenaikan gaji $ 60 mulai Julai 2013.
Perusahaan Social NTUC juga bertekad secara proaktif untuk bekerja dengan syarikat penyumberan luar mereka untuk melaksanakan usulan kenaikan gaji yang dibuat oleh NWC untuk pekerja bergaji rendah. Apabila dilaksanakan sepenuhnya, 600 pekerja-pekerja disektor pembersihan akan mendapat kenaikan gaji mereka.
All stakeholders have a part to play
While the Labour Movement will continue to champion and be the voice for low wage workers, every stakeholder have a part to play. I would also like to call upon the government, statutory boards, and the members of the business organisations with representatives in the NWC to walk their talk and help outsourced low wage workers get their built-in wage increase. While saying thank-you and being considerate to the cleaners are important, giving them this wage increase would be the most preferred appreciation. I believe that, together, we can make a difference in the lives of our cleaners and other low wage workers.
Conclusion
Before I end, please allow me to thank all those that have made today’s event possible. Once again, let’s all put our hands together to our sisters and brothers from the cleaning industry for their contributions in keeping Singapore clean.
Thank you
