Guest-of-Honour, Mr Lim Boon Heng, Secretary General, NTUC, and Minister, Prime Minister’s Office
Mr Lim Swee Say, Deputy Secretary-General, NTUC
Mr Stephen Lee, Chairman, Singapore Business Federation (SBF), and President, Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF)
Mr Leo Yip, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
Comrades, Ladies and gentlemen,
Strong Tripartite Profile & Support
1. A very warm welcome to all our tripartite participants and leaders to this annual Tripartite IR Seminar today.
2. The Tripartite IR Seminar was started some 8 years ago and is going from strength to strength. This is notable in view of the strong attendance today of over 500 tripartite participants and leaders. We also have among us about 60 CEOs who have taken a personal interest to join us specially today.
3. The seminar theme today is “Tripartism -Shaping Our Future”. Our opening presentation will focus on the Labour Movement 2011 (LM 2011), as a vision towards a better work-life and future, for all our workers in Singapore. A key initiative is to foster the spirit of tripartism through a more structured process known as the Singapore Tripartism Forum.
4. It is indeed very appropriate that 3 workshop topics are presented by each of the tripartite partners respectively. The event partnership symbolises the fruitful and close working relationship between the tripartite partners, as we seek consensus in addressing our common challenges in the workplace.
5. The 3 workshop topics include: (i) Responsible Employment Practices & the Portable Medical Benefit Scheme (PMBS); (ii) Challenges and Responses of the Changing Employment Landscape, and (iii) No Collar & Silver Collar issues relating to the contract and older workers.
6. I urge everyone to keep an open mind, share your feedbacks and participate actively in the panel discussions. It would also be invaluable for us to take the opportunity to renew our contacts, relations, and expand our tripartite network.
Union as Proactive Social Partner
7. In Singapore, unions see ourselves as a forward looking social partner working to generate wealth and to grow the pie together. As a responsible labour movement, we take the enlightened approach of enhancing the interest of our workers by raising their skills, productivity and wages with long term employability.
8. Innovation, efficiency and skill competency are important qualities needed in the global competition for investments and business. Our workers will need to continue to upgrade their skills in order to embrace the new environment and add value to their respective organizations.
9. As we cope with the immediate challenges, we have to look ahead to review our long-term strategies. We also need to better understand our core values and strengthen our fundamental beliefs for success.
Tripartism as Key Success Factor
10. For Singapore, tripartite consultation and consensus have continued to be an effective mechanism to review workplace policies and implement changes. We have built a unique spirit of solidarity and resilience through our tripartite framework of cooperation.
11. The mutual trust, willingness and commitment among the unions, employers and Government to tackle problems and meet challenges jointly, has been a key success factor in helping Singapore to overcome the economic difficulties in recent years.
12. The tripartite partners have worked together time and time again, demonstrating our resilience and robust labour-management relationships. In particular, this tripartite foundation has enabled us to restructure and reposition our economy better, as we continue to grow and create new jobs.
Strengthening Tripartism through STF/LM 2011
13. The current state of tripartism is not an accident of history. It is a deliberate and painstaking effort that took decades to develop. Many of us today take tripartism for granted. Some may not even realise how important it is.
14. The future holds yet more challenges. Today, we discuss issues facing us in the workplace and reaffirm our core beliefs and strength. It is befitting that we as a tripartite gathering here, focus and deliberate on the theme of “Tripartism - Shaping Our Future”.
15. A key consideration is how we can enhance and foster the spirit of tripartism through a more structured framework known as the Singapore Tripartism Forum (STF), as a major initiative under the LM 2011 vision.
Conclusion
16. Everyone here has a role and stake in shaping the tripartite process for positive outcomes. The tripartite movement in Singapore will stand the test of time and achieve greater heights, only with your involvement, commitment and support.
I look forward to your active contributions in the spirit of tripartism. Thank you.
*****
For media queries, please contact:
Chung Sang Pok
Principal Executive
Corporate Communications Department
National Trades Union Congress
DID: 6213 8189
HP: 9672 4112
Email: chungsp@ntuc.org.sg
