by George Soriano
Pain is unavoidable during economic transition. In order to come out of this transition phase in better shape, the only way forward is to turn this pain into gain for both businesses and workers. Only then, can we enjoy the fruits of a win-win outcome, where businesses can grow and be profitable and workers have brighter job and career prospects.
This was the challenge put forth to the Labour Movement (LM) by the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) Secretary-General Lim Swee Say during his presentation at the Ordinary Delegates’ Conference 2013. “Workers have to look after the interests of the businesses and businesses need to look after the interest of the workers. I think this is the new way forward,” SG Lim stressed.
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Since 2011, the LM has been striving towards the LM Vision 2015 of Better Jobs for All, Labour Movement for All, and Tripartism for All.
In the area of achieving Better Jobs for All, SG Lim called on delegates to embrace a shift in mindset to overcome the challenges of an uncertain and volatile economy.
This shift includes helping workers become better workers through skills upgrading programmes and creating better jobs by encouraging more organisations to embrace LM initiatives designed to improve productivity, such as the Easier, Smarter and Safer (ESS) programme, Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) and the Best Source Initiative (BSI).
Businesses would also do well to promote inclusivity at the workplace to attract more workers and augment the workforce. SG Lim also highlighted the LM’s Progressive Wage Model (PWM), which aims to raise workers’ productivity and skills in tandem with better wages and career progression.
“We want to ensure that Singaporean employees in general can benefit in terms of progression in wages, career, productivity and skills,” said SG Lim.
In the area of Labour Movement for All, SG Lim commended the efforts and successes of unions, NTUC Social Enterprises and communities which resulted in a significant increase in LM membership from 470,000 in 2007 to over 770,000 at present.
This includes a Labour Movement, whereby Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) also benefit.
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“We have to sharpen our focus in four areas: Protection, Progression, Placement and Privileges (4Ps). These four areas would meet the needs of the PMEs,”said SG Lim. Come 2030, this group of workers will form close to two-thirds of the Singapore workforce. In response, the LM will be setting up two new PME Centres to better assist the needs of this growing pool of workers.
In order to turn these efforts into reality, SG Lim appealed for a stronger and more pervasive tripartism not only at the national level, but at the sectoral level as well. He further added that the spirit of tripartism must go beyond each tripartite partner, and be embraced by the whole of Singapore’s Government and all industry bodies.
“Likewise in the Labour Movement, we embrace tripartism not just at the NTUC level but also at the Cluster level and company level. And we should have more formalised tripartite partnerships at all levels,” said SG Lim.
Click here to download the PDF version of the NTUC Secretary-General's report 2013
