NTUC’s U Tripartite Alumni recognises the participants of staff exchange programmes between the tripartite partners – Government, Singapore National Employers’ Federation (SNEF) and NTUC. The durations may vary, but as staff trade places to experience the work of their counterparts, it helps deepen the relationship between the partners.
When the opportunity came up for Alice Yeo to participate in a staff attachment programme as part of her work in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), she jumped at the chance to join the Labour Movement for a period of six months.
“I had not heard much about the Labour Movement prior to this and I also wanted to experience what life was like outside of the civil service and go as close to the ground as possible,” said the 30-year-old on her decision to come to NTUC.
As a Population Policy Manager in the PMO, Alice’s day-to-day work straddled a mix of social research and policy-related work. As part of the programme, she got to experience issues on the ground as an industrial relations officer (IRO) with the Education Services Union (ESU) and as a staff assistant with NTUC’s Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit (U FSE).
Ahead of completing her stint with NTUC, the U Tripartite Alumni programme graduate shared how her experience in the Labour Movement has given her a fresh perspective on Singapore’s labour landscape.
What were some of the first things you noticed upon joining the Labour Movement?
It boggles the mind when you think about how huge NTUC is after you put together our U Network partners and social enterprises. While many people may not actually know it, NTUC is involved in many aspects of our lives. It is an unseen force that helps get things moving.
How is it different from your experiences in the civil service?
I have worked in the civil service my entire career and the Government is probably the best employer. I don’t have to worry about checking my payslips because I will always be paid on time. I don’t have to worry about my benefits because I know that I will be treated fairly. It’s one of those things you don’t often think about.
So when I spoke to union members and saw what freelancers do, I began to understand first-hand the reality of life outside of the civil service. For the rest of the world, it is a completely different ball game. It gave me a lot of appreciation for these issues.
What struck you about the work in the Labour Movement?
It was interesting for me to see how the unions and communities like U FSE help working people, and [this] helped me understand the range of different needs. The needs of a freelancer and a kindergarten teacher are completely different and so what the Labour Movement means to them has to be different as well.
Tell us more about some of your experiences?
I was given General Branch cases to handle in ESU, and in the first few meetings I’ve had with members, it really hit home that there is a huge power imbalance between employers and employees. It also takes some perspective shifting to understand where the members are coming from. Working on those cases helped me to be more empathetic and understand the worker’s context, and why they make certain choices based on their experience or what their peers tell them. It’s never that simple to say it’s the fault of the employee or employer because there are multiple sides to an issue.
What are some of your biggest takeaways from this stint?
I would not have been able to fully understand issues faced by everyday working Singaporeans if not for this experience. This is something that I can carry with me for the rest of my career and wherever I may go in the government service.
The other thing is to be self-aware. As policymakers, we may have the benefit of the inside view and a wealth of data, but we may not always be right and we must listen closely to what people have to say. Having sat at both sides of the table, I’ve realised that it is so important to not just know what is going on, but why. The Labour Movement has its ear to the ground 24/7. It is able to hear the why, it is able to notice the issues bubbling to the surface, and it has the voice to tell the Government about these issues. There is a lot of unique information from the ground that the Labour Movement can access.This is why it is so important to work together.
How would you share what you’ve picked up with your peers?
Do we really know what is happening on the ground? Do we have our fingers on the pulse? And do we have that trusted person we can call when we need feedback on a policy and how it is experienced by the man on the street. There is a lot more value that we can get from working closely with the Labour Movement, having a trusted friend you can call who will tell you things as they are, and who will work with you to make things better.
