May Day 2014

May Day Rally 2014

PM's goal: Better workers, jobs and lives

Govt will do all it can to improve Singaporeans' lives, he pledges

By Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 2 May 2014

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong outlined plans for a hat-trick of improvements to take the country forward, pledging initiatives for better workers, better jobs and better lives.

Only by constantly upgrading can Singapore maintain its advantage in the face of relentless competition from not only workers of other countries, but also robots which threaten to replace humans, he said in his annual May Day Rally speech.

Standing still, he said yesterday, was not an option. While the Singapore workforce remains ahead of others, "no lead is permanent", he warned.

"We can't tell our competition to go away. They want to eat our lunch... We can't stop them from wanting, but we can make sure that we can hold our own and we can eat our own lunch," he added, drawing applause from the 1,100-strong audience of unionists, employers and guests.

He cited port operations as an example. Singapore Port Workers Union's Mr Arasu Duraisamy had told him PSA found it hard to hire Singaporeans to operate cranes because of shift work.

But this is not the case in Hong Kong, where port workers pay for their own training on their own time to stay ahead of the millions of mainland Chinese workers eager to take their jobs. Like the iPhone applications that are constantly being updated, workers too need to constantly upgrade their skills, he said.

Taking up the labour movement's push for "cheaper, better, faster" operations to gain a competitive edge, he said: "We can also say better, better, better." In other words, better workers, better jobs and better lives, he said.

The Government will do its utmost to make sure better workers will have better jobs, he said in his hour-long speech. It will continue to invest heavily in education at all levels, while also giving adult education a big push, he said as he launched the new Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability in Jurong.

It will also keep up its efforts to grow the economy, expand exports and draw foreign investments, so that workers will have better jobs, which would bring better lives, he explained.

"We are still a small country, but our ambitions don't have to be small," he said, citing the example of American media production outfit Lucasfilm's decision to locate in Singapore.

Singapore, he said, is at a turning point, with the economy and society undergoing major transitions. By any international measure, the country is doing well, although changes have brought new strains, including heightened competition, widening gaps in society, and worries over the cost of living.

He acknowledged that keeping Singapore open brings the stress of competition for jobs from foreigners. The Government is slowing down the inflow of foreign workers, "but we must not send the wrong signal that Singapore doesn't welcome investments or we are turning away talent", he cautioned.

Apart from creating jobs, the Prime Minister said firms need to raise productivity by tapping government schemes. "Take advantage of these programmes, make the effort to upgrade," he urged. Fong Shen Mould and Precision Engineering, a small and medium-sized enterprise that used subsidies to automate its production, was singled out for praise.

Unions play a key role in these changes, he pointed out. He disclosed that union membership has hit a new high of 800,000, of whom one in three are professionals and one in 10 are students who have not entered the labour force.

Mr Lee paid tribute to the pioneer generation of unionists and urged union leaders and firms to continue to uphold the three-way partnership with the Government. "We are small in size but strong in unity. We are not perfect but we are doing our best. As we celebrate May Day, let us count our blessings and show our appreciation to one another."

PM pays tribute to pioneer unionists
They helped set S'pore on path to development, and lift workers' lives
By Amelia Tan, The Straits Times, 2 May 2014

WHEN the British military withdrew from Singapore in the mid-1970s, unionist Edwin Netto had the unenviable job of convincing white-collar workers from the British bases to take up blue-collar jobs in Jurong.

For a year, he and others tried to persuade clerical and administrative staff that they were better off picking up skills for jobs such as plumbers and electricians.

"We told them there is no point waiting for their old jobs to come back. They should learn something new. It's better than having no job," said Mr Netto, 77.

The hard work paid off. Many of the workers went for training and switched careers.

Such pioneering work was lauded by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday in his annual May Day Rally speech, as he paid tribute to unionists who defeated the pro-communists in the Singapore Association of Trade Unions.

These early unionists rallied support for the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) so that it could take a leading role in labour relations and build win-win cooperation with employers and the Government.

"They (pioneer unionists) worked with political leaders to set Singapore on the path to development, and changed the lives of workers permanently for the better," said PM Lee.

He said many of these leaders played pivotal roles in Singapore's history not just as unionists. They were also MPs and political leaders such as Mr Devan Nair, Mr Ho See Beng, Mr P. Govindasamy and Mr Mahmud Awang.

Mr Lee said he was also personally grateful to many pioneer unionists whom he fought many "battles" with.

One of these "battles", he said, was the 1985 recession when he recommended cutting Central Provident Fund rates to improve Singapore's competitiveness.

Unionists convinced workers it was necessary.

"It was a difficult and painful exercise... but they partnered the Government to revive our economy," he said.

While some of these pioneers have died, he was glad that several could attend yesterday's rally at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability.

He got four early unionists to stand up to be applauded by the 1,100 union leaders and guests who attended the rally.

They were Mr Netto of the Singapore Teachers' Union; Mr Abdul Rahman Mahbob, 74, of the Union of Power and Gas Employees; Mr Oscar Oliveiro, 79, of the Union of Telecoms Employees; and Mr Tan Soon Yam, 74, of the Food Drinks and Allied Workers Union.

The quartet said they were honoured. Said Mr Abdul Rahman: "Many workers in the early days were illiterate. But we managed to persuade them to go for training. I am touched that Singapore remembers what we have done."

But even as Mr Lee looked back at Singapore's history to honour past leaders, he also stressed the importance of renewal.

He said he was glad that NTUC has younger leaders to keep it relevant, such as its four new assistant secretaries-general Patrick Tay, Yeo Guat Kwang, Ang Hin Kee and Zainal Sapari.

"We have capable leaders to take the unions forward in a new age with new members. Please give them your full support."

PM's MAY DAY RALLY

BETTER WORKERS

- Singapore workers are among the best in the world, but others are catching up

- Technology threatens to replace workers, not just manual workers but also professionals

- To maintain the lead, the Government invests in education, both before and during employment. Workers must constantly upgrade themselves.

BETTER JOBS

Staying open and connected leads to better companies and better jobsExpand Singapore's hinterland through free trade agreements and overseas projectsWelcome talent so as to draw better investments and firms like Lucasfilm

BETTER LIVES

- Higher incomes and living standards

- Upgraded living environment, including Jurong East and Paya Lebar, where the two new continuous education and training centres are located

- Improved public services such as education, health care and transport

Re-employment age will be raised eventually: PM
Move now being negotiated by unions, employers and Government
By Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 2 May 2014

OLDER workers who want to work beyond the age of 65 will eventually be able to do so under the law.

The Government's "ultimate objective is to amend the Retirement and Re-employment Act ... but this takes time", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

It was the clearest indication yet by the Government of an extension of the re-employment age.

The move is being negotiated by the unions, employers and the Government, and PM Lee said the authorities are "fully supporting" the discussions.

"We will get there," he said at the May Day Rally yesterday.

The official retirement age in Singapore is 62, although bosses must offer healthy workers who have performed satisfactorily re-employment from ages 62 to 65, or give them a one-off payment.

Negotiations to further raise the ceiling will take time, added Mr Lee. He urged older workers to be patient and also change their expectations.

"Rather than doing the same job at same pay, please be prepared to do suitable jobs at reasonable pay," said Mr Lee, adding: "At 65, we are not as strong as before."

Even before the law is changed, the civil service is already taking the lead, he pointed out, saying that it re-employs almost 800 workers above 65 years old. There are about 80,000 civil servants.

Mr Ma Wei Cheng, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees, told The Straits Times that the civil service took the lead in re-hiring older workers up to the age of 65 six months before the changes to the law took effect in January 2012.

He hopes that the civil service will again take the lead with the next extension, offering re-employment to those above 65 even before it is mandatory.

The Singapore National Employers Federation said that given the tight labour market, it is "not against" moving the re-employment age to 67.

But it would like employers' concerns about the employability and health of older workers to be addressed in the move, said its president Stephen Lee.

"I don't have a definite timeline to offer," he said.

National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) deputy secretary- general Heng Chee How hopes that "some form of mutual understanding over a road map or timetable" could be reached with employers by the end of this year.

Besides older workers, Mr Lee also turned his attention to a second group of workers whom the Government is concerned about - low-wage workers.

He pointed out that NTUC plays an important role in championing low-wage workers by pushing for its progressive wage model, or wage ladder, to be implemented.

Besides the wage ladder, the Government's Workfare schemes top up the salaries of those earning up to $1,900 per month and their Central Provident Fund and Medisave accounts.

He noted that Workfare has helped almost 500,000 workers, costing $650 million annually.

"I believe these strategies benefit workers more than a minimum wage," he said. He promised low-wage workers: "So long as you work hard, the Government will help to improve your lives."

Be better bosses, workers, customers: Swee Say
By Amelia Tan, The Straits Times, 2 May 2014

TRAFFIC congestion, MRT delays and even sinkholes in the roads - Singapore, acknowledged labour chief Lim Swee Say, does have hiccups from time to time.

This is not a world of zero defects, he said at the May Day Rally yesterday.

But he urged people to remember that "for every day when some things go wrong, there are many when most things go right".

Singapore's taps still run during dry spells, food supply is clean and sufficient, the city is safe, students top the world in problem solving, and utilities are reliable.

These things work because of the thousands of workers toiling behind the scenes, he said, urging Singaporeans to be better employers, better workers and better customers.

His call reinforced his May Day message last Sunday, in which he encouraged Singaporeans to show respect, particularly to those who serve them.

"We should remember that people serving us are people too. Let's treat each other as equals with courtesy, respect and appreciation," he said.

Video clips of five workers were shown at the rally, as Mr Lim showcased different trades, from taxi drivers to engineers - those "working hard round the clock, serving the people of Singapore".

One video showed Mr Ang Boon Ho, an assistant supervisor at Japanese watch company Seiko, saying that he has stayed at his job for 33 years with the aim of giving his family a better life.

"Being able to support my family and see my children grow up is the most rewarding experience," he said.

Another worker who was featured was Mr Lim Chee Kiang, a PSA crane operator who spoke about his passion to pick up new skills, as "learning never stops".

Taxi driver Raymond Ong appealed to customers to understand that cabbies "work long hours and can make unintentional errors".

Mr Lim Swee Say said there were many more workers like those he singled out who took pride in their jobs.

That was why the labour movement was taking the lead to show its appreciation to ordinary Singaporeans.

Some 1,000 unionists went around Singapore yesterday, thanking about 100,000 workers for their hard work.

Said Mr Lim: "Let us not wait for each other. Be the first to change, and make things better for all our fellow workers."

MAY DAY MESSAGE
Call to honour pioneer generation of unionists
Singaporeans can do so by building on their achievements, says PM
By Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 1 May 2014

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Singaporeans to honour the pioneer generation of unionists by building upon their achievements.

In his May Day message yesterday, he paid tribute to the unionists who fought the communists and worked with the Government to improve labour relations through the turbulent early years of Singapore.

Their courage allowed a young nation to build its economy and deliver better lives for the people, he added, stressing the generation overcame "long odds".

"Let us honour them by upholding their spirit, building on their achievements and creating an even better Singapore for our children," he said.

To do so, everyone, from the Government to employers and workers, must play their part.

In his message, he spelt out how the Government is growing the economy and creating jobs.

The economy grew 4.1 per cent last year and is expected to grow between 2 per cent and 4 per cent this year, "which is typical of a maturing economy", he said.

To create jobs for Singaporeans, the Government is giving generous incentives to help firms raise productivity and create opportunities for growth overseas. The projects abroad include those in Malaysia, government-to-government projects in China and industrial parks in Vietnam.

The free trade agreements that Singapore inked with the European Union and partners in the Trans-Pacific Partnership will also expand the export markets.

Training has also been given a boost, said Mr Lee, with two new Continuing Education and Training Centres in Jurong East and Paya Lebar.

But he reminded workers and bosses to chip in too. "Workers must make the effort to train and upgrade themselves," he said, adding: "Employers must invest in workers, develop their skills and make full use of their talents.

"Only then will the Government's programmes bear fruit," he noted.

Besides economic programmes, the social safety net is also being strengthened to give Singaporeans more peace of mind, the Prime Minister pointed out. Examples include expanding the scope of the Community Health Assist Scheme, permanent GST vouchers to help with the cost of living, and education and pre-school subsidies for the lower-income.

"The Pioneer Generation Package will honour and help the seniors who started us on this nation-building journey," he added.

The goal of these programmes, he said, is "to improve Singaporeans' lives".

The Prime Minister will officially open the new Devan Nair Institute of Employment and Employability and deliver his annual May Day speech to workers today.

Adult education centre named after Devan Nair
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 2 May 2014

MORE than half a century later, the story of the labour movement and one of its most famous sons has come full circle.

In 1961, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) was founded in Fort Canning Hill, on the premises of the Adult Education Board, by leader Devan Nair, among others.

Yesterday, 53 years later, the NTUC founded an adult education centre and named it after its first secretary-general.

The official opening of the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability was an important milestone for the unions, said labour chief Lim Swee Say.

For the family of the late teacher-turned-unionist-turned-politician, the significance was more personal.

"The NTUC was founded in an adult education centre; and today, NTUC has in turn founded a model, state-of-the-art adult education centre," said Mr Janadas Devan, the elder son of the former president of Singapore, in a statement.

"In more ways than one, this is a homecoming," he added.

The centre in Jurong East, which was launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, champions continuous learning.

It is one of two such campuses. The other will open in Paya Lebar later this year.

The Government is footing the total bill of $300 million for both.

"These two institutes reflect our commitment to investing in our workers, help you improve your skills and stay employable," said PM Lee in his May Day Rally speech.

He urged workers to take full advantage of its facilities and services such as classrooms, training providers and career counsellors.

The pursuit of new skills and knowledge is integral for workers to stay employable and Singapore to stay competitive, he said.

It is, he added, like the frequent updating of smartphone apps.

"When we're a worker, we better have the latest firmware in our brains also," he said, to laughter.

Developing better workers is also crucial to staying one step ahead of "relentless" competition, he added.

It was fitting, he believed, that the progressive centre to help Singapore workers stay ahead is named after one of the labour movement's pioneers.

"(Devan Nair) was pivotal in forging a united and forward- looking labour movement," said Mr Lee.

"This institute is a good way to honour his life as a teacher. He became a unionist, and as a unionist, his passion as a teacher continued."

Trade unions were part of Mr Nair's lifeblood, even though he was a teacher by training.

Imprisoned in 1951 for being a member of the Anti-British League, he was barred from rejoining the teaching service when he was released two years later.

As a result, he was forced to make a living working part-time. He gave private tuition for about $80 a month while being a full-time, albeit unpaid, activist in several unions, said Mr Janadas, the chief of government communications.

"When my father was again imprisoned from 1956 to 1959, those same trade unions collected money to support my mother and her two children through those difficult years.

"My brother Janamitra and I were literally raised as toddlers by trade unionists."

He added: "You will understand now why I'm pleased that NTUC has named its premier adult education centre - e2i - after my father."

Keeping the peace on the labour front
Editorial, The Straits Times, 1 May 2014

TRIPARTISM is an institution that has underpinned the Singapore economy and survived downturns through decades of change. Avoiding two extreme models - exploitation of workers in the name of growth, and adversarial trade unionism in the name of labour rights - tripartism brings in the state to hold the ring between capital and labour in a symbiotic system based on fairness and trust.

In invoking tripartism in his May Day message yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong drew attention to its abiding importance in building a vibrant economy characterised by equity. An economy in transition, which is upgrading qualitatively and expanding less quickly than before, demands that employers and employees work together even more closely to maximise opportunities. For workers, upgrading their skills holds the key not just to better jobs but also to job security. For employers, investing in workers and utilising their talent to raise productivity will determine the profitability and survivability of companies. Singapore enjoys a competitive advantage over countries where adversarial labour relations, spilling over into strikes and unrest, define the culture of work. By contrast, the tripartite ethos has become second nature here. It needs to be preserved so that Singapore can build on the economic success that has come to define it.

Within this tripartite framework, it is welcome that greater attention is being paid to the protection of labour rights. The labour tribunal for all local employees regardless of how much they earn, proposed by the Ministry of Manpower, is one initiative. Another is a mediation panel, handling disputes between professionals who are members of unions and their employers, which is under review. These mechanisms will extend the benefits of dispute resolution to employees as the employment landscape changes. Employers who treat workers fairly have nothing to fear from them. Employees who have reason to believe that they have been treated unfairly will have recourse to mechanisms that help make the tripartite framework meaningful. Labour relations as a whole will gain from the continued balancing of the interests of workers and employers.

A change of mindset, too, will help. Workers who demand respect, and rightly so, at their places of work sometimes forget, as customers, to extend the same courtesy to those who serve them. They, too, are workers. Hence the focus of the National Trades Union Congress on customers, who should not see those providing a service as servants. May Day is an occasion to celebrate the dignity of labour at home and abroad. That dignity, from the work of professionals to that of table-cleaners at hawker centres, applies to all.

May Day awards for two ministers
By Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2014

WHEN the global financial crisis struck Singapore in 2009, many electronics companies in the region chose to lay off workers.

In Singapore, however, companies worked with unions to send their workers for training.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who has been chief adviser to the United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries since 2004, recalled the episode yesterday.

"Subsequently, when the rebound came, the companies were well positioned to take up new business opportunities and orders, which contributed to the sharp rebound in Singapore's economy," said Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister.

He gave the example to show how the three-way partnership between unions, companies and the Government benefits workers.

Mr Teo has also been adviser to the largest union here, the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers Union, since 2000.

Yesterday, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) presented him with its highest honour, the Medal of Honour.

It credits him with "bringing to the unions a wealth of experience" and supporting their drive to upgrade the skills of workers.

NTUC also singled out his role in leading the productivity drive as chairman of the National Productivity and Continuing Education Council. And as Minister in Charge of the Civil Service, he changed policies to the benefit of older civil servants, it added.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, who also received the Medal of Honour, was hailed as "a man with a heart for workers".

He is "committed to championing their rights", NTUC added in its citation.

Mr Gan is chairman of statutory board Singapore Labour Foundation and chief adviser to the Singapore Industrial and Services Employees Union, Singapore's largest service sector union.

He also heads a national committee to improve the employability of older workers and is an adviser to anti-discrimination watchdog Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices.

NTUC described how as manpower minister from 2008 to 2011, he played a vital role in building up the national Continuing Education and Training system.

Mr Gan said he was "deeply honoured" by the award.

"To me, it is a recognition of the close relationship among the tripartite partners and an affirmation of the good trust and understanding we have," he added.

More PMEs may get help in disputes with employers
Mediation panel under review, higher salary ceiling being considered
By Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2014

MORE professionals who join unions may soon get help when they have problems with their employers, whether or not their companies are unionised or recognise their unions.

Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin pointed at this possibility yesterday, when he revealed that a mediation panel handling such disputes is under review.

Under consideration, he said, is the raising of the monthly salary ceiling of people who can seek mediation beyond the current $4,500. Such a move would benefit more professionals, executives and managers (PMEs).

Mr Tan was speaking at a dinner to mark May Day tomorrow.

Rank-and-file workers may also take their disputes to the panel - something that they are not able to do now.

Another area under study is expanding the scope of the panel to cover more issues.

"The expanded scope... will strengthen the employment dispute resolution landscape in Singapore," said Mr Tan.

The details will be announced when the review is completed, he added.

Currently, the panel, called the Tripartite Mediation Framework, handles only disputes on salary arrears, payment of retrenchment benefits and breach of contract by an employer.

It was formed in 2011 by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Although it is a voluntary conciliation process, employers can be ordered by the MOM to turn up or risk a fine of up to $5,000.

Mr Tan said the panel has resolved many of the disputes it handled in the past three years. It has heard 12 cases since it was set up, the MOM told The Straits Times.

News of the review came barely a week after the MOM proposed setting up a labour tribunal.

The tribunal will open its doors to all local employees who have salary disputes with their employers, regardless of how much they earn and whether or not they are union members.

It is unclear if the labour tribunal and mediation panel will overlap in their roles, as both are still being discussed by NTUC, SNEF and MOM.

The strong role unions play in improving workers' well-being was underlined by Mr Tan.

The three-way partnership of unions, companies and the Government, he said, "has played a very important role and a very significant part" in Singapore's economic and social progress.

"As long as we keep working together as one, despite the differences, despite the inherent tensions that will arise, I am confident that we will continue to make Singapore a land of opportunities," he added.

The May Day dinner at Orchid Country Club was attended by about 1,600 guests, including union leaders, company bosses and civil servants.

At the dinner, NTUC secretary-general Lim Swee Say presented NTUC's highest award, the Medal of Honour, to Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Rarely given, the award was last presented in 2004 to then Trade and Industry Minister George Yeo.

It was given in recognition of Mr Yeo's key role in crafting free trade agreements for Singapore that had created thousands of jobs here.

There were five other Medal of Honour recipients in the past 20 years: Mr Lee Yock Suan (2002), Mr Lee Hsien Loong (1999), Mr Wong Kan Seng (1998), Mr Lee Boon Yang (1996) and Mr Mah Bow Tan (1993).

A record 105 May Day awards were also given by the NTUC to unionists, employers and government officials this year.

NTUC president Diana Chia said of the award recipients: "We could not have achieved such positive outcomes for workers and union members without their strong support."

NTUC will hold its May Day Rally tomorrow at the new Devan Nair Institute of Employment and Employability in Jurong East, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong giving his annual address to workers.

Job that's not to be sniffed at
The Straits Times, 2 May 2014

Mr T. Manimaran, who has Secondary 4 education, earns about $3,000 a month as a garbage truck driver with SembWaste.

The father of two primary school pupils is proud of his job. "I work very hard, reporting to work at 7am and finishing only in the afternoon," he said.

He appeared in a National Trades Union Congress video tribute shown during the May Day Rally as part of a campaign to show appreciation to ordinary workers.

Mr Manimaran, 49, who lives in a Housing Board flat in Yishun, has been at his job for more than 20 years.

Asked if he is bothered by the smell, he replied: "What smell? I have no problem."

Related
Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at May Day Rally 2014 (English)
Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at May Day Rally 2014 (Chinese)
Restructuring must continue for "better workers, better jobs": Tan Chuan-Jin
Tap women and seniors to beat labour crunch: SNEF
Labour chief calls for nation of better customers / Labour market to remain tight until 2030
Less pay is okay, say older workers
'I am the customer, I have the right to call you stupid'