Guest-of-Honour Mr Heng Chee How, Deputy Secretary General, NTUC
Mr Stephen Lee, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation (SBF)
President, Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF)
Mr Leo Yip, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Comrades, Ladies and gentlemen,
1. Introduction
1.1 A very warm welcome to all our tripartite participants and leaders attending the Singapore Tripartism Forum today.
1.2 The seminar today is the fourth forum organised organised at the national level since the launch of the STF early this year. It is heartening to see nearly 300 of us gathered here to discuss common challenges and our consensus in tackling these issues.
1.3 The seminar theme today is “Strengthening Tri-partism for a Competitive and Inclusive Workforce”.
2. Strong Tripartism is Crucial for a Competitive and Inclusive Workforce
2.1 With globalisation, we are seeing growing diversity in the workforce-casual and contract workers who are lowly paid, foreign workers who fill in the skills gap of our local workforce, older workers, female workers returning to the workforce, and post-retirement Singaporeans seeking to work longer.
2.2 Nonetheless, we need to seek inclusiveness despite the diversity. Our competitive edge is sharpened if we are able to nurture an inclusive workforce in the face of diversity. Therefore, we need to strengthen the tripartite relationship for an effective tri-partite response to grapple with critical issues such as re-employment of older workers beyond the retirement age, employability and welfare of low wage contract and casual workers, helping more women get back into the workforce, and fairness at the workplace.
3. STF as a Pro-active Platform for Strengthening Tripartism
3.1 Singapore has an unique tripartite framework of cooperation. Our tripartite system provides Singapore with a comparative advantage in attracting investments and creating jobs. It has underpinned a long period of peaceful industrial relations climate and provides a system where national decisions are made on the basis of consultation and consensus.
3.2 To keep this unique brand of tripartism going and to ensure that it goes from strength to strength, we need to build on the current tripartite relationship which has weathered through the ups and downs of the economy. To preserve and enhance the cooperation amongst union leaders, employers and the government, trust is a crucial ingredient in this equation.
3.3 The current state of trust in the tripartite relationship has been established through the commitment of the tripartite partners working hand in hand through several crises. It is crucial that we build upon the foundations of this relationship and take pro-active steps to strengthen our bonds so that we could rise up to the many challenges ahead posed by the quickening pace of change and the volatility of global economy.
3.4 The STF is a platform through which we can build and nurture trust with regular dialogues and open communication. I urge everyone to keep an open mind, share your feedback and participate actively in the dialogue session and panel discussion later. I also hope that by holding this seminar in this idyllic resort away from the mainland, it would create a relaxing setting in which we can take the opportunity to renew our contacts and expand our tripartite network.
4. Conclusion
4.1 Therefore, we need to continue to intensify efforts to broaden, deepen and strengthen the tripartite relationship. While challenges will put our practice of tripartism to the test, they also throw up opportunities for us to cement our bonds. In light of this, we seek strong support from all of you in the activities and programmes to be launched by STF in the year 2008! Thank you!
