Heng renews pledge first made by Lee Kuan Yew to uphold close working relationship between PAP and NTUC
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
In his first speech as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat yesterday underlined that the close and symbiotic relationship between the labour movement and the People's Action Party (PAP) will continue with his generation of leaders, and beyond.
He pledged that the party's fourth-generation leaders will work with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to renew Singapore and create a brighter future for its citizens.
"Today is the first time I'm speaking to you as leader of the next generation of PAP leaders," he told an audience of 1,600 unionists, workers, employers and Cabinet ministers at this year's May Day Rally.
Making reference to a landmark seminar in 1969, at which founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew underscored the necessity of trade unions, Mr Heng said: "I renew the pledge that Mr Lee made at your Modernisation Seminar 50 years ago, and that every prime minister has since renewed. I assure you, the close working relationship between the PAP and the NTUC, which underpins our unique and precious brand of tripartism, will continue into the 4G and beyond."
The 1969 seminar was a turning point for unions, setting them on a path of collaboration with employers and the Government, he noted.
Running cooperatives gave their leaders business experience, shifting their adversarial stance towards management to one based on cooperation and mutual benefit.
This approach was critical in enabling workers to ride change, he said. It is as vital today as Singapore tackles challenges from technological advances, globalisation and a changing workforce profile.
Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, outlined three strategies for the labour movement: work to transform the economy, prepare workers for jobs of the future through lifelong learning, and ensure economic growth remains inclusive.
He noted that many people in advanced economies are frustrated as wages stagnate, political systems malfunction and living conditions remain stagnant. "We cannot guarantee the same will not happen here. But we can and must try to avoid a similar fate," he said. "And the key to that is tripartism and the continued vitality of our unions."
NTUC backs the PAP because the party has kept faith with the unions, while the party backs the labour movement because it has remained pro-worker, he added.
NTUC, he added, remains committed to the self-respect of every working man and woman, and believes that the purpose of economic development is to improve the lives of all in the workforce. "We strive for growth, in order to improve the lives of every Singaporean. The labour movement can be assured that the PAP will never abandon the working man and woman."
Mr Heng also said that the PAP's 4G leaders - including Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, current labour chief Ng Chee Meng and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung - have been involved in the labour movement in some way.
Mr Chan was NTUC's secretary-general before Mr Ng took on the role last year, while Mr Ong was formerly deputy secretary-general.
Yesterday also marked Mr Ng's first May Day Rally as labour chief. In an opening speech, he stressed that NTUC will work with the Government for the good of workers. "For what is economic growth - it is meaningless if it is not shared with our Singapore citizens and our Singapore workers," he said.
In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: "Today, we must again act boldly to champion transformation efforts that benefit workers through better wages, better work prospects and better welfare. Our future will continue to revolve around our workers and their families."
Rounding up his speech, Mr Heng said: "My colleagues and I recognise the importance of what we are inheriting - this shared sense of responsibility that the PAP and the NTUC owe to Singaporeans and Singapore... My generation of leaders is ready to take up the baton."
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
He pledged that the party's fourth-generation leaders will work with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to renew Singapore and create a brighter future for its citizens.
"Today is the first time I'm speaking to you as leader of the next generation of PAP leaders," he told an audience of 1,600 unionists, workers, employers and Cabinet ministers at this year's May Day Rally.
Making reference to a landmark seminar in 1969, at which founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew underscored the necessity of trade unions, Mr Heng said: "I renew the pledge that Mr Lee made at your Modernisation Seminar 50 years ago, and that every prime minister has since renewed. I assure you, the close working relationship between the PAP and the NTUC, which underpins our unique and precious brand of tripartism, will continue into the 4G and beyond."
The 1969 seminar was a turning point for unions, setting them on a path of collaboration with employers and the Government, he noted.
Running cooperatives gave their leaders business experience, shifting their adversarial stance towards management to one based on cooperation and mutual benefit.
This approach was critical in enabling workers to ride change, he said. It is as vital today as Singapore tackles challenges from technological advances, globalisation and a changing workforce profile.
Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, outlined three strategies for the labour movement: work to transform the economy, prepare workers for jobs of the future through lifelong learning, and ensure economic growth remains inclusive.
He noted that many people in advanced economies are frustrated as wages stagnate, political systems malfunction and living conditions remain stagnant. "We cannot guarantee the same will not happen here. But we can and must try to avoid a similar fate," he said. "And the key to that is tripartism and the continued vitality of our unions."
NTUC backs the PAP because the party has kept faith with the unions, while the party backs the labour movement because it has remained pro-worker, he added.
NTUC, he added, remains committed to the self-respect of every working man and woman, and believes that the purpose of economic development is to improve the lives of all in the workforce. "We strive for growth, in order to improve the lives of every Singaporean. The labour movement can be assured that the PAP will never abandon the working man and woman."
Mr Heng also said that the PAP's 4G leaders - including Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, current labour chief Ng Chee Meng and Education Minister Ong Ye Kung - have been involved in the labour movement in some way.
Mr Chan was NTUC's secretary-general before Mr Ng took on the role last year, while Mr Ong was formerly deputy secretary-general.
Yesterday also marked Mr Ng's first May Day Rally as labour chief. In an opening speech, he stressed that NTUC will work with the Government for the good of workers. "For what is economic growth - it is meaningless if it is not shared with our Singapore citizens and our Singapore workers," he said.
In a Facebook post, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said: "Today, we must again act boldly to champion transformation efforts that benefit workers through better wages, better work prospects and better welfare. Our future will continue to revolve around our workers and their families."
Rounding up his speech, Mr Heng said: "My colleagues and I recognise the importance of what we are inheriting - this shared sense of responsibility that the PAP and the NTUC owe to Singaporeans and Singapore... My generation of leaders is ready to take up the baton."
Extra funding for companies that help workers boost skills
More support pledged for firms that commit to positive worker outcomes like reskilling
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
More money will be available for companies to upgrade, innovate and venture overseas, if they work with unions to make sure their transformation efforts benefit workers.
From April 1 next year, companies will be able to tap an extra 10 per cent in funding support through the Enterprise Development Grant, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday. The grant currently provides up to 70 per cent of project costs for such efforts.
The extra funding is from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and applies to unionised companies and partners of the Employment and Employability Institute which set up company training committees (CTCs). They must also commit themselves to positive worker outcomes, such as raising salaries of low-wage workers or reskilling, said Mr Heng, adding that union leaders had told him they wanted more support for unionised workers.
Addressing more than 1,600 unionists, workers, employers and Cabinet ministers at the May Day Rally, Mr Heng said that in economic transformation, the labour movement plays a critical role by helping to communicate changes and to rally workers to be on board with the shifts.
"The relationship between companies and workers is a mutually reinforcing one. More competitive companies provide better jobs and higher pay for workers, and highly skilled workers make companies stronger, more productive, and more competitive. Unions are well positioned to strengthen both," said Mr Heng, who is also the Finance Minister.
Transforming the economy is one of three key strategies he outlined to take Singapore forward amid the challenges of rapid technological advances, the changing workforce profile and sharper global competition, which may cause some workers to feel left behind.
He said through CTCs, unions will work with employers to identify courses and customise training.
NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng had said in his May Day message last week that NTUC will set up 1,000 CTCs over the next three years, an initiative Mr Heng called "far-sighted" and "a game changer".
CTCs reflect how the "unusual" labour movement is deepening partnerships with employers, rather than leaving training and skills upgrading to the private sector or the Government to initiate, said Mr Heng.
"That is the remarkable capacity of our labour movement - to be the co-agents of economic and social transformation. And this capacity is something we must continue to strengthen," he added.
In his speech yesterday at the rally, Mr Ng said that through CTCs, companies can shorten the time between having new technology and reaping its benefits. Mr Ng, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, added that with firms earning better profits, workers can also enjoy better wages and jobs.
Employers and union leaders cheered the focus on skills training through the CTCs.
"If our workers are always employable, relevant and disciplined, and always on top of change, businesses will be able to flourish even better," said Singapore National Employers Federation president Robert Yap.
Labour MP Zainal Sapari, who is executive secretary of the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees' Union, said that Mr Heng "gives the assurance to many union leaders that the ruling government of the day is behind them, is willing to give the support that we need to make sure that our workers continue to remain relevant through training".
More support pledged for firms that commit to positive worker outcomes like reskilling
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
From April 1 next year, companies will be able to tap an extra 10 per cent in funding support through the Enterprise Development Grant, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday. The grant currently provides up to 70 per cent of project costs for such efforts.
The extra funding is from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and applies to unionised companies and partners of the Employment and Employability Institute which set up company training committees (CTCs). They must also commit themselves to positive worker outcomes, such as raising salaries of low-wage workers or reskilling, said Mr Heng, adding that union leaders had told him they wanted more support for unionised workers.
Addressing more than 1,600 unionists, workers, employers and Cabinet ministers at the May Day Rally, Mr Heng said that in economic transformation, the labour movement plays a critical role by helping to communicate changes and to rally workers to be on board with the shifts.
"The relationship between companies and workers is a mutually reinforcing one. More competitive companies provide better jobs and higher pay for workers, and highly skilled workers make companies stronger, more productive, and more competitive. Unions are well positioned to strengthen both," said Mr Heng, who is also the Finance Minister.
Transforming the economy is one of three key strategies he outlined to take Singapore forward amid the challenges of rapid technological advances, the changing workforce profile and sharper global competition, which may cause some workers to feel left behind.
He said through CTCs, unions will work with employers to identify courses and customise training.
NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng had said in his May Day message last week that NTUC will set up 1,000 CTCs over the next three years, an initiative Mr Heng called "far-sighted" and "a game changer".
CTCs reflect how the "unusual" labour movement is deepening partnerships with employers, rather than leaving training and skills upgrading to the private sector or the Government to initiate, said Mr Heng.
"That is the remarkable capacity of our labour movement - to be the co-agents of economic and social transformation. And this capacity is something we must continue to strengthen," he added.
In his speech yesterday at the rally, Mr Ng said that through CTCs, companies can shorten the time between having new technology and reaping its benefits. Mr Ng, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, added that with firms earning better profits, workers can also enjoy better wages and jobs.
Employers and union leaders cheered the focus on skills training through the CTCs.
"If our workers are always employable, relevant and disciplined, and always on top of change, businesses will be able to flourish even better," said Singapore National Employers Federation president Robert Yap.
Labour MP Zainal Sapari, who is executive secretary of the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees' Union, said that Mr Heng "gives the assurance to many union leaders that the ruling government of the day is behind them, is willing to give the support that we need to make sure that our workers continue to remain relevant through training".
Tripartite model has helped Singapore weather crises: DPM Heng Swee Keat
He lauds unionists' efforts in helping to build nation and transforming labour movement
By Seow Bei Yi, Business Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
Singapore might not have weathered its early crises or industrialised so rapidly were it not for the close relationship between the People's Action Party (PAP) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat.
Faced with the threat of massive job losses in the early years of independence, the Government had to decisively welcome investors, industrialise and create jobs, he added in his first May Day Rally speech.
Unions had to evolve as well, he told around 1,600 unionists, workers, employers and Cabinet ministers at Downtown East yesterday.
"They were no longer just the mass base in the anti-colonial movement. We had to build a new nation, and unionists too had to become nation builders," said Mr Heng, who is Finance Minister as well.
He pointed to the 1969 NTUC Modernisation Seminar as a landmark event which also paved the way for tripartism. At the seminar, unionists agreed that trade unions had to go beyond collective bargaining.
If the labour movement had not transformed in the 1970s, it would have become irrelevant in post-independence Singapore and membership would have declined.
"To improve the lives of workers, unions had to become the co-drivers of our social and economic development," Mr Heng said. "And unions had to shift from confrontation to collaboration."
"NTUC's brand of progressive trade unionism has been critical in enabling our workers to stay ahead of changes," Mr Heng added.
The tripartite model helped in times of crises, like the 1985 recession when union leaders supported the Government's proposals of a two-year wage restraint and 15 per cent cut in Central Provident Fund contribution rates for employers.
"It was a bitter pill to swallow. But the unionists understood why we had to do this - to save jobs - and convinced their members," he said.
"Thanks to the support of workers, we managed to turn the economy around."
Along the way, government officials and unionists forged close working relationships, he noted.
Lauding the unionists who embarked on NTUC's modernisation journey 50 years ago, he noted that many who attended the seminar in 1969 had little formal education.
"Many of them did not speak English, and NTUC had to provide simultaneous translation into all four languages," he said.
"But these ordinary men and women had deep courage and the future in their bones, and they did extraordinary things," he added. "They modernised themselves, the movement and their country by the bootstraps."
Noting the seminar was the product of a close NTUC-PAP symbiosis, Mr Heng cited political leaders who played leading roles in NTUC's modernisation, including Mr Ong Pang Boon and Mr Lim Kim San. Several presidents were also leaders in the labour movement - Mr Devan Nair, Mr S R Nathan and Mr Ong Teng Cheong, as well as current President Halimah Yacob.
"This close working relationship between the PAP and NTUC underpins our brand of tripartism. It remains as vital today as it was in 1969," said Mr Heng.
He also recounted the early days of the PAP-NTUC relationship.
The PAP had tried to revitalise the Singapore Trades Union Congress (STUC) after being elected to office in 1959, but the effort failed as there were both communists and non-communists in the STUC.
When the PAP split in 1961, the STUC also broke apart. Unions supporting the Barisan Sosialis formed the Singapore Association of Trade Unions, and those supporting the PAP formed the NTUC.
"But the PAP prevailed in the political struggle against the Barisan. And as a result, the NTUC too prevailed in the battle for the hearts and minds of workers," he said to applause from the audience.
"The heated political struggle of the 1960s was the crucible that forged the close bonds between the PAP and NTUC," he added.
"It was a close, symbiotic relationship from the beginning."
He lauds unionists' efforts in helping to build nation and transforming labour movement
By Seow Bei Yi, Business Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
Faced with the threat of massive job losses in the early years of independence, the Government had to decisively welcome investors, industrialise and create jobs, he added in his first May Day Rally speech.
Unions had to evolve as well, he told around 1,600 unionists, workers, employers and Cabinet ministers at Downtown East yesterday.
"They were no longer just the mass base in the anti-colonial movement. We had to build a new nation, and unionists too had to become nation builders," said Mr Heng, who is Finance Minister as well.
He pointed to the 1969 NTUC Modernisation Seminar as a landmark event which also paved the way for tripartism. At the seminar, unionists agreed that trade unions had to go beyond collective bargaining.
If the labour movement had not transformed in the 1970s, it would have become irrelevant in post-independence Singapore and membership would have declined.
"To improve the lives of workers, unions had to become the co-drivers of our social and economic development," Mr Heng said. "And unions had to shift from confrontation to collaboration."
"NTUC's brand of progressive trade unionism has been critical in enabling our workers to stay ahead of changes," Mr Heng added.
The tripartite model helped in times of crises, like the 1985 recession when union leaders supported the Government's proposals of a two-year wage restraint and 15 per cent cut in Central Provident Fund contribution rates for employers.
"It was a bitter pill to swallow. But the unionists understood why we had to do this - to save jobs - and convinced their members," he said.
"Thanks to the support of workers, we managed to turn the economy around."
Along the way, government officials and unionists forged close working relationships, he noted.
Lauding the unionists who embarked on NTUC's modernisation journey 50 years ago, he noted that many who attended the seminar in 1969 had little formal education.
"Many of them did not speak English, and NTUC had to provide simultaneous translation into all four languages," he said.
"But these ordinary men and women had deep courage and the future in their bones, and they did extraordinary things," he added. "They modernised themselves, the movement and their country by the bootstraps."
Noting the seminar was the product of a close NTUC-PAP symbiosis, Mr Heng cited political leaders who played leading roles in NTUC's modernisation, including Mr Ong Pang Boon and Mr Lim Kim San. Several presidents were also leaders in the labour movement - Mr Devan Nair, Mr S R Nathan and Mr Ong Teng Cheong, as well as current President Halimah Yacob.
"This close working relationship between the PAP and NTUC underpins our brand of tripartism. It remains as vital today as it was in 1969," said Mr Heng.
He also recounted the early days of the PAP-NTUC relationship.
The PAP had tried to revitalise the Singapore Trades Union Congress (STUC) after being elected to office in 1959, but the effort failed as there were both communists and non-communists in the STUC.
When the PAP split in 1961, the STUC also broke apart. Unions supporting the Barisan Sosialis formed the Singapore Association of Trade Unions, and those supporting the PAP formed the NTUC.
"But the PAP prevailed in the political struggle against the Barisan. And as a result, the NTUC too prevailed in the battle for the hearts and minds of workers," he said to applause from the audience.
"The heated political struggle of the 1960s was the crucible that forged the close bonds between the PAP and NTUC," he added.
"It was a close, symbiotic relationship from the beginning."
Call for tripartite partners to ensure growth is inclusive
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
Even as Singapore pursues economic growth, the Government, unions and employers must ensure that growth remains inclusive, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday.
In particular, lower-wage workers, seniors and those who had left the workforce early warrant special attention, he said, calling on the labour movement to consider what more can be done for their well-being.
There is the progressive wage model for lower-wage workers, which sets out minimum pay for various skill levels in the cleaning, security and landscape sectors. It is being extended to the lift maintenance sector.
For seniors, the Government has raised Workfare payouts and extended the Special Employment Credit scheme to end-2020, he said, adding that it will implement step by step the proposals to raise the retirement and re-employment ages, and review Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rates.
The Government is also studying how to help people who have low balances in their CPF savings accounts after leaving the workforce early or because they did not work consistently. Details will be worked out in the coming months.
When growth is not inclusive, people can become frustrated, as is the case in some advanced economies. "Their wages are stagnating, their political systems are malfunctioning, and their lives are not improving," said Mr Heng.
"We cannot guarantee the same will not happen here. But we can and must try to avoid a similar fate. And the key to that is tripartism and the continued vitality of our unions," he said, adding that the National Trades Union Congress and the People's Action Party have always been committed to uplifting all workers.
"Whether you are rich or poor, whether you are a worker or a manager, whether you are an employer or a unionist, each of us owes a duty to care for, support and sustain each other," he said. "This is how we keep our country together."
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
Even as Singapore pursues economic growth, the Government, unions and employers must ensure that growth remains inclusive, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday.
In particular, lower-wage workers, seniors and those who had left the workforce early warrant special attention, he said, calling on the labour movement to consider what more can be done for their well-being.
There is the progressive wage model for lower-wage workers, which sets out minimum pay for various skill levels in the cleaning, security and landscape sectors. It is being extended to the lift maintenance sector.
For seniors, the Government has raised Workfare payouts and extended the Special Employment Credit scheme to end-2020, he said, adding that it will implement step by step the proposals to raise the retirement and re-employment ages, and review Central Provident Fund (CPF) contribution rates.
The Government is also studying how to help people who have low balances in their CPF savings accounts after leaving the workforce early or because they did not work consistently. Details will be worked out in the coming months.
When growth is not inclusive, people can become frustrated, as is the case in some advanced economies. "Their wages are stagnating, their political systems are malfunctioning, and their lives are not improving," said Mr Heng.
"We cannot guarantee the same will not happen here. But we can and must try to avoid a similar fate. And the key to that is tripartism and the continued vitality of our unions," he said, adding that the National Trades Union Congress and the People's Action Party have always been committed to uplifting all workers.
"Whether you are rich or poor, whether you are a worker or a manager, whether you are an employer or a unionist, each of us owes a duty to care for, support and sustain each other," he said. "This is how we keep our country together."
Labour chief Ng Chee Meng shares how DPM Heng Swee Keat prepared for May Day Rally
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent and Seow Bei Yi, Business Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
In the lead-up to the May Day Rally, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat spent several months meeting workers and companies to understand their concerns. Among other events, he visited port workers on the first day of Chinese New Year, as well as NTUC FairPrice's Benoi distribution centre.
He also hosted lunch for two groups of union leaders at the Finance Ministry, labour chief Ng Chee Meng revealed in his opening speech at the rally. Said Mr Ng: "The man, we know, has capabilities, but what I want to tell you is that he has a big heart for all of us workers on the ground."
In fact, having the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) arrange these visits to meet workers and hear their views was a condition Mr Heng gave when it was decided that he would deliver the keynote speech at the rally, Mr Ng said.
He shared that he discussed who the keynote speaker would be with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mr Heng. PM Lee gave the speech at the last 14 rallies, since becoming prime minister in 2004, as well as several in the years when he was deputy prime minister. In the end, Mr Heng was invited to address the labour movement.
He readily agreed, on the condition that he meet workers.
NTUC assistant secretary-general Desmond Choo, who worked closely with Mr Heng for the visits, said the DPM would be so interested in how individual workers are adapting to change, and what their concerns are, that he would far exceed the amount of time scheduled for these meetings. In sessions with unionists, for example, he would ask them how they thought schemes could be fine-tuned based on their experiences, Mr Choo told reporters.
"That is important, because workers want to play a role in shaping the prospects of companies and, more importantly, for Singapore," he said.
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent and Seow Bei Yi, Business Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
In the lead-up to the May Day Rally, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat spent several months meeting workers and companies to understand their concerns. Among other events, he visited port workers on the first day of Chinese New Year, as well as NTUC FairPrice's Benoi distribution centre.
He also hosted lunch for two groups of union leaders at the Finance Ministry, labour chief Ng Chee Meng revealed in his opening speech at the rally. Said Mr Ng: "The man, we know, has capabilities, but what I want to tell you is that he has a big heart for all of us workers on the ground."
In fact, having the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) arrange these visits to meet workers and hear their views was a condition Mr Heng gave when it was decided that he would deliver the keynote speech at the rally, Mr Ng said.
He shared that he discussed who the keynote speaker would be with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mr Heng. PM Lee gave the speech at the last 14 rallies, since becoming prime minister in 2004, as well as several in the years when he was deputy prime minister. In the end, Mr Heng was invited to address the labour movement.
He readily agreed, on the condition that he meet workers.
NTUC assistant secretary-general Desmond Choo, who worked closely with Mr Heng for the visits, said the DPM would be so interested in how individual workers are adapting to change, and what their concerns are, that he would far exceed the amount of time scheduled for these meetings. In sessions with unionists, for example, he would ask them how they thought schemes could be fine-tuned based on their experiences, Mr Choo told reporters.
"That is important, because workers want to play a role in shaping the prospects of companies and, more importantly, for Singapore," he said.
Reassurance, affirmation and a renewal of vows: Union leaders on Heng Swee Keat's May Day Rally
Unionists welcome assurance on workers' interests
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent and Seow Bei Yi, Business Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
For union leaders, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's first May Day Rally speech sent a clear signal that ties forged decades ago between the ruling party and the labour movement are set to stay strong into the next generation.
The significance of this, they note, is that the interests of workers will have to remain a key focus of the fourth-generation leaders as the People's Action Party (PAP) undergoes a leadership transition.
"If you look at other countries, when leadership changes, a lot of times directions, affiliations and relationships change," said Ms K. Thanaletchimi, president of the Healthcare Services Employees' Union. "In this case, the affirmation by our DPM is a strong signal that labour will be at the centre of all that the Government does."
Mr Abdul Samad Abdul Wahab, general secretary of the Union of Power and Gas Employees, said DPM Heng's assurance that the new generation of government leaders stands with the labour movement "gives us confidence that... we will stand together to overcome whatever challenges come our way".
In his speech at Downtown East - managed by the leisure and entertainment arm of NTUC - Mr Heng outlined how the "symbiotic relationship" between the PAP and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) can be traced back 50 years to the 1969 Modernisation Seminar and pledged that this relationship would continue. He said: "We strive for growth in order to improve the lives of every Singaporean. The labour movement can be assured that the PAP will never abandon the working man and woman."
Speaking before Mr Heng, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, in his first opening speech as labour chief, recapped the labour movement's efforts to lift wages and improve the welfare of workers.
He said unionised workers enjoyed better wage growth on average. And when they had to, unions continued to represent workers on the ground to negotiate salary claims or to secure better retrenchment benefits when needed. NTUC had 4,800 industrial relations cases last year, slightly more than in 2017.
For older workers, NTUC is working to extend the retirement and re-employment age. It is also reaching out to freelancers and looking to represent more professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in areas like banking, and its social enterprises are helping workers stretch their dollar.
He added that the labour movement is also looking at lifting the work prospects of members as this will help improve wages and welfare in a sustainable way over time.
As for tackling current challenges, leaders like Union of Security Employees general secretary Raymond Chin said they have been working closely with the 4G leaders. Mr Chin said his union's dialogues are often attended by Manpower and Second Home Affairs Minister Josephine Teo. "That's quite positive and it gives us the feeling that 'Yes, we are doing this together'."
Unionists welcome assurance on workers' interests
By Linette Lai, Political Correspondent, Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent and Seow Bei Yi, Business Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
The significance of this, they note, is that the interests of workers will have to remain a key focus of the fourth-generation leaders as the People's Action Party (PAP) undergoes a leadership transition.
"If you look at other countries, when leadership changes, a lot of times directions, affiliations and relationships change," said Ms K. Thanaletchimi, president of the Healthcare Services Employees' Union. "In this case, the affirmation by our DPM is a strong signal that labour will be at the centre of all that the Government does."
Mr Abdul Samad Abdul Wahab, general secretary of the Union of Power and Gas Employees, said DPM Heng's assurance that the new generation of government leaders stands with the labour movement "gives us confidence that... we will stand together to overcome whatever challenges come our way".
In his speech at Downtown East - managed by the leisure and entertainment arm of NTUC - Mr Heng outlined how the "symbiotic relationship" between the PAP and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) can be traced back 50 years to the 1969 Modernisation Seminar and pledged that this relationship would continue. He said: "We strive for growth in order to improve the lives of every Singaporean. The labour movement can be assured that the PAP will never abandon the working man and woman."
Speaking before Mr Heng, NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng, in his first opening speech as labour chief, recapped the labour movement's efforts to lift wages and improve the welfare of workers.
He said unionised workers enjoyed better wage growth on average. And when they had to, unions continued to represent workers on the ground to negotiate salary claims or to secure better retrenchment benefits when needed. NTUC had 4,800 industrial relations cases last year, slightly more than in 2017.
For older workers, NTUC is working to extend the retirement and re-employment age. It is also reaching out to freelancers and looking to represent more professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in areas like banking, and its social enterprises are helping workers stretch their dollar.
He added that the labour movement is also looking at lifting the work prospects of members as this will help improve wages and welfare in a sustainable way over time.
As for tackling current challenges, leaders like Union of Security Employees general secretary Raymond Chin said they have been working closely with the 4G leaders. Mr Chin said his union's dialogues are often attended by Manpower and Second Home Affairs Minister Josephine Teo. "That's quite positive and it gives us the feeling that 'Yes, we are doing this together'."
Extra 10% funding from April 2020 for firms working with unions to train workers: Heng Swee Keat
More support pledged for firms that commit to positive worker outcomes like reskilling
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
More money will be available for companies to upgrade, innovate and venture overseas, if they work with unions to make sure their transformation efforts benefit workers.
From April 1 next year, companies will be able to tap an extra 10 per cent in funding support through the Enterprise Development Grant, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday. The grant currently provides up to 70 per cent of project costs for such efforts.
The extra funding is from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and applies to unionised companies and partners of the Employment and Employability Institute which set up company training committees (CTCs). They must also commit themselves to positive worker outcomes, such as raising salaries of low-wage workers or reskilling, said Mr Heng, adding that union leaders had told him they wanted more support for unionised workers.
More support pledged for firms that commit to positive worker outcomes like reskilling
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
More money will be available for companies to upgrade, innovate and venture overseas, if they work with unions to make sure their transformation efforts benefit workers.
From April 1 next year, companies will be able to tap an extra 10 per cent in funding support through the Enterprise Development Grant, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday. The grant currently provides up to 70 per cent of project costs for such efforts.
The extra funding is from the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and applies to unionised companies and partners of the Employment and Employability Institute which set up company training committees (CTCs). They must also commit themselves to positive worker outcomes, such as raising salaries of low-wage workers or reskilling, said Mr Heng, adding that union leaders had told him they wanted more support for unionised workers.
Addressing more than 1,600 unionists, workers, employers and Cabinet ministers at the May Day Rally, Mr Heng said that in economic transformation, the labour movement plays a critical role by helping to communicate changes and to rally workers to be on board with the shifts.
"The relationship between companies and workers is a mutually reinforcing one. More competitive companies provide better jobs and higher pay for workers, and highly skilled workers make companies stronger, more productive, and more competitive. Unions are well positioned to strengthen both," said Mr Heng, who is also the Finance Minister.
Transforming the economy is one of three key strategies he outlined to take Singapore forward amid the challenges of rapid technological advances, the changing workforce profile and sharper global competition, which may cause some workers to feel left behind.
He said through CTCs, unions will work with employers to identify courses and customise training.
NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng had said in his May Day message last week that NTUC will set up 1,000 CTCs over the next three years, an initiative Mr Heng called "far-sighted" and "a game changer".
CTCs reflect how the "unusual" labour movement is deepening partnerships with employers, rather than leaving training and skills upgrading to the private sector or the Government to initiate, said Mr Heng.
"That is the remarkable capacity of our labour movement - to be the co-agents of economic and social transformation. And this capacity is something we must continue to strengthen," he added.
In his speech yesterday at the rally, Mr Ng said that through CTCs, companies can shorten the time between having new technology and reaping its benefits. Mr Ng, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, added that with firms earning better profits, workers can also enjoy better wages and jobs.
Employers and union leaders cheered the focus on skills training through the CTCs.
"If our workers are always employable, relevant and disciplined, and always on top of change, businesses will be able to flourish even better," said Singapore National Employers Federation president Robert Yap.
Labour MP Zainal Sapari, who is executive secretary of the Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees' Union, said that Mr Heng "gives the assurance to many union leaders that the ruling government of the day is behind them, is willing to give the support that we need to make sure that our workers continue to remain relevant through training".
Veteran port worker took up conversion challenge
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
Port worker Lim Chin Chye, 53, used to operate manual yard cranes from his cabin seven storeys high.
The senior container equipment specialist at PSA now works in an air-conditioned control centre on the ground after taking up a professional conversion programme where he learnt to handle automated cranes.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday that Mr Lim had initially been uncertain about learning a brand new system for the first time in 30 years.
"But now, he is confident and ready to tackle the transformations taking place in his workplace," said Mr Heng in his May Day Rally speech.
He cited Mr Lim as an example of a worker who has taken the effort to adapt and grow in a new role. Last year, almost 5,000 workers participated in professional conversion programmes, 30 per cent more than in 2017.
This strategy of lifelong learning will help workers prepare for new jobs and new industries, said Mr Heng.
Technological advancements should help workers do their jobs better, not replace them, he said.
But more work is needed to figure out how workers can develop skills for jobs that do not yet exist.
He added that unions can help to develop the right attitude among workers towards upskilling and reskilling so that they are not fatalistic about change and economic transformation.
"We can't protect jobs that will be made redundant. But we can and will protect... every working man and woman," he said.
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
The senior container equipment specialist at PSA now works in an air-conditioned control centre on the ground after taking up a professional conversion programme where he learnt to handle automated cranes.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday that Mr Lim had initially been uncertain about learning a brand new system for the first time in 30 years.
"But now, he is confident and ready to tackle the transformations taking place in his workplace," said Mr Heng in his May Day Rally speech.
He cited Mr Lim as an example of a worker who has taken the effort to adapt and grow in a new role. Last year, almost 5,000 workers participated in professional conversion programmes, 30 per cent more than in 2017.
This strategy of lifelong learning will help workers prepare for new jobs and new industries, said Mr Heng.
Technological advancements should help workers do their jobs better, not replace them, he said.
But more work is needed to figure out how workers can develop skills for jobs that do not yet exist.
He added that unions can help to develop the right attitude among workers towards upskilling and reskilling so that they are not fatalistic about change and economic transformation.
"We can't protect jobs that will be made redundant. But we can and will protect... every working man and woman," he said.
WP urges better support for Singaporean workers, older PMETs
By Seow Bei Yi, Business Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
The Workers' Party (WP) has called for better support for older professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in its May Day message, while setting out four suggestions on how to help Singaporean workers.
In a statement yesterday, the WP noted that Singapore's 1.2 million or so PMETs make up more than half of its resident workforce. It added that by 2030, two out of three workers will belong to this group.
The party said PMETs face various challenges. Of the locals retrenched last year, 76 per cent were from this group. The WP said only 63 per cent of the retrenched found work within six months.
With almost 70 per cent of retrenched workers aged 40 and older, the party said the situation is worse for older PMETs.
"At the same time, PMETs are facing renewed competition from mid-skilled foreign workers," the WP said, citing figures to show the number of foreign S Pass holders grew by 11,100 last year.
Underemployment is another challenge for at least 3.3 per cent of the workforce, it added.
To address the issues Singapore is facing, the WP set out four suggestions on how citizens can be given more help.
First, Singaporeans must be able to compete for jobs with foreigners on a level playing field, it said, adding that applicants for Employment Passes and S Passes should be subject to an assessment to ensure that their certificates are genuine.
Second, the retirement age should be abolished and the Government should look into how businesses, especially smaller ones, can be encouraged to hire older workers.
Third, there should be stronger social safety nets for those who are retrenched and unemployed, said the WP, reiterating its earlier suggestion of a redundancy insurance scheme to reduce financial pressure on such workers.
This means workers who have been laid off could be covered by some form of insurance funded by premiums they and their employers pay when employed.
Fourth, the WP said that in measuring underemployment, skills and income mismatches with workers' qualifications should be included along with the current consideration given to part-timers who wish to work more hours or full time.
"WP wants Singapore to remain an open, global, trading nation, but one which fiercely protects the welfare of Singaporean workers, including PMETs," it said.
By Seow Bei Yi, Business Correspondent, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
The Workers' Party (WP) has called for better support for older professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) in its May Day message, while setting out four suggestions on how to help Singaporean workers.
In a statement yesterday, the WP noted that Singapore's 1.2 million or so PMETs make up more than half of its resident workforce. It added that by 2030, two out of three workers will belong to this group.
The party said PMETs face various challenges. Of the locals retrenched last year, 76 per cent were from this group. The WP said only 63 per cent of the retrenched found work within six months.
With almost 70 per cent of retrenched workers aged 40 and older, the party said the situation is worse for older PMETs.
"At the same time, PMETs are facing renewed competition from mid-skilled foreign workers," the WP said, citing figures to show the number of foreign S Pass holders grew by 11,100 last year.
Underemployment is another challenge for at least 3.3 per cent of the workforce, it added.
To address the issues Singapore is facing, the WP set out four suggestions on how citizens can be given more help.
First, Singaporeans must be able to compete for jobs with foreigners on a level playing field, it said, adding that applicants for Employment Passes and S Passes should be subject to an assessment to ensure that their certificates are genuine.
Second, the retirement age should be abolished and the Government should look into how businesses, especially smaller ones, can be encouraged to hire older workers.
Third, there should be stronger social safety nets for those who are retrenched and unemployed, said the WP, reiterating its earlier suggestion of a redundancy insurance scheme to reduce financial pressure on such workers.
This means workers who have been laid off could be covered by some form of insurance funded by premiums they and their employers pay when employed.
Fourth, the WP said that in measuring underemployment, skills and income mismatches with workers' qualifications should be included along with the current consideration given to part-timers who wish to work more hours or full time.
"WP wants Singapore to remain an open, global, trading nation, but one which fiercely protects the welfare of Singaporean workers, including PMETs," it said.
A reminder of the PAP-NTUC bond in a time of transition
By Royston Sim, Deputy Political Editor, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
In delivering the keynote address at the May Day Rally on his first day as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat signalled to unionists the importance he places on the relationship between the People's Action Party (PAP) and NTUC.
His promotion to sole DPM at last week's Cabinet reshuffle had sent a clear message to the public that he is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's successor.
Yesterday, it was Mr Heng's turn to send the labour movement a clear message - that under his leadership, the close and "symbiotic" relationship between the PAP and NTUC will continue into his generation of leaders and beyond.
The May Day Rally speech has been delivered by PM Lee every year since he became prime minister. He also spoke at the rally from 2001 to 2003, when he was DPM.
For Mr Heng to speak in place of PM Lee at the May Day Rally marks the start of a changing of the guard, and gives him a platform to connect with the labour movement.
It will not be lost on unionists that Mr Heng chose to address them in his maiden speech as DPM.
The NTUC backs the PAP as it is pro-people, Mr Heng said, as he stressed that his party will "never abandon the working man and woman".
Another point Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, wanted to get across was that the fourth-generation leaders are aware of how the close relationship between the PAP and NTUC has benefited Singapore.
Everyone in the 4G team has been personally involved in the labour movement in some way, Mr Heng said, listing seven 4G leaders who have served or are serving with NTUC, including Trade and Industry Minister and former NTUC chief Chan Chun Sing.
He then pledged that the 4G team will take NTUC, Singapore and workers to the next level.
His strong reaffirmation of the symbiotic relationship between the PAP and NTUC was meant to reassure unionists that these close ties will endure into the future.
At the same time, Mr Heng also explained why the labour movement is so important for Singapore, first reading out a lengthy quote from founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew before giving his own take.
Why, Mr Heng asked, is Singapore committed to the labour movement, and believes that it should expand its scope to encompass the entire workforce?
"Because self-respect is what NTUC has given to every working man and woman in Singapore. The movement has guaranteed a man's right to his own dignity, his dignity as a human being, as a citizen," he said, to applause from unionists.
It was important for the new Deputy Prime Minister to give these reassurances, as the labour movement is a crucial base of support for the PAP.
The ruling party has carefully nurtured this symbiotic relationship over the years, as it prevents rival parties from co-opting the unions.
By Royston Sim, Deputy Political Editor, The Straits Times, 2 May 2019
In delivering the keynote address at the May Day Rally on his first day as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat signalled to unionists the importance he places on the relationship between the People's Action Party (PAP) and NTUC.
His promotion to sole DPM at last week's Cabinet reshuffle had sent a clear message to the public that he is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's successor.
Yesterday, it was Mr Heng's turn to send the labour movement a clear message - that under his leadership, the close and "symbiotic" relationship between the PAP and NTUC will continue into his generation of leaders and beyond.
The May Day Rally speech has been delivered by PM Lee every year since he became prime minister. He also spoke at the rally from 2001 to 2003, when he was DPM.
For Mr Heng to speak in place of PM Lee at the May Day Rally marks the start of a changing of the guard, and gives him a platform to connect with the labour movement.
It will not be lost on unionists that Mr Heng chose to address them in his maiden speech as DPM.
The NTUC backs the PAP as it is pro-people, Mr Heng said, as he stressed that his party will "never abandon the working man and woman".
Another point Mr Heng, who is also Finance Minister, wanted to get across was that the fourth-generation leaders are aware of how the close relationship between the PAP and NTUC has benefited Singapore.
Everyone in the 4G team has been personally involved in the labour movement in some way, Mr Heng said, listing seven 4G leaders who have served or are serving with NTUC, including Trade and Industry Minister and former NTUC chief Chan Chun Sing.
He then pledged that the 4G team will take NTUC, Singapore and workers to the next level.
His strong reaffirmation of the symbiotic relationship between the PAP and NTUC was meant to reassure unionists that these close ties will endure into the future.
At the same time, Mr Heng also explained why the labour movement is so important for Singapore, first reading out a lengthy quote from founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew before giving his own take.
Why, Mr Heng asked, is Singapore committed to the labour movement, and believes that it should expand its scope to encompass the entire workforce?
"Because self-respect is what NTUC has given to every working man and woman in Singapore. The movement has guaranteed a man's right to his own dignity, his dignity as a human being, as a citizen," he said, to applause from unionists.
It was important for the new Deputy Prime Minister to give these reassurances, as the labour movement is a crucial base of support for the PAP.
The ruling party has carefully nurtured this symbiotic relationship over the years, as it prevents rival parties from co-opting the unions.
Yesterday, Mr Heng began his speech by saying that the National Trades Union Congress "has always been the PAP's most important partner".
He gave an extensive recounting of how the PAP and NTUC shared a close, symbiotic relationship from the beginning, one which helped Singapore weather early crises and industrialise rapidly.
When the PAP split in July 1961, the 82 unions supporting the pro-communist Barisan Sosialis formed the Singapore Association of Trade Unions. There were only 27 unions in the NTUC, which backed the PAP.
The PAP, and NTUC, eventually prevailed. This heated political struggle was the crucible that forged the close bonds between the PAP and NTUC, Mr Heng noted.
The newly minted DPM then set out why the 1969 Modernisation Seminar, which paved the way for NTUC to transform, was a key turning point for both the labour movement and the country.
NTUC set up cooperatives to serve important social missions, like providing affordable options for essential items. Many have since become household names such as FairPrice and Income.
He also named various labour MPs through the years, from Mr Mahmud Awang and Mr Eric Cheong in the 1960s to current President Halimah Yacob in recent years.
Mr Heng's dive back into history served a two-fold purpose.
He was telling veteran unionists that he appreciates how deep the roots of the PAP-NTUC relationship go, with both sides journeying together through the years and weathering crisis after crisis to build up a reservoir of trust.
For younger generations of unionists, the stories were a reminder of how the close relationship was painstakingly built up over the years, and should be valued.
He gave an extensive recounting of how the PAP and NTUC shared a close, symbiotic relationship from the beginning, one which helped Singapore weather early crises and industrialise rapidly.
When the PAP split in July 1961, the 82 unions supporting the pro-communist Barisan Sosialis formed the Singapore Association of Trade Unions. There were only 27 unions in the NTUC, which backed the PAP.
The PAP, and NTUC, eventually prevailed. This heated political struggle was the crucible that forged the close bonds between the PAP and NTUC, Mr Heng noted.
The newly minted DPM then set out why the 1969 Modernisation Seminar, which paved the way for NTUC to transform, was a key turning point for both the labour movement and the country.
NTUC set up cooperatives to serve important social missions, like providing affordable options for essential items. Many have since become household names such as FairPrice and Income.
He also named various labour MPs through the years, from Mr Mahmud Awang and Mr Eric Cheong in the 1960s to current President Halimah Yacob in recent years.
Mr Heng's dive back into history served a two-fold purpose.
He was telling veteran unionists that he appreciates how deep the roots of the PAP-NTUC relationship go, with both sides journeying together through the years and weathering crisis after crisis to build up a reservoir of trust.
For younger generations of unionists, the stories were a reminder of how the close relationship was painstakingly built up over the years, and should be valued.
Efforts to retrain workers have made a difference, helped to keep retrenchment rate low: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
2018 retrenchment rate lowest in over 10 years as a result, he says in May Day message
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 1 May 2019
Singapore's efforts to retrain workers to handle new technology and different jobs have made a difference - the retrenchment rate last year was the lowest in more than 10 years, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.
In his annual May Day message, he said companies might have taken "the easy way out" by retrenching old workers and replacing them with new graduates if training, upgrading and redeploying staff had not been strongly emphasised.
The "dislocation" would have been much worse, PM Lee said.
There were 5.1 layoffs per 1,000 employees last year, down from seven in 2017.
"We must keep up our efforts at training and upgrading. It is a marathon without end, but we are making progress," he said.
With new jobs being created even as old industries and jobs are getting phased out amid a rapidly changing external environment, the future of work looks very different, he noted.
The labour movement is at a turning point, he said, calling on the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to anticipate these challenges and prepare the unions, union leaders and workers for them early, before they become overwhelming. He cited how NTUC has played a major role in promoting the re-employment of older workers, and championed better pay for lower-wage workers.
Another major long-term task is to upgrade and retrain workers.
On this front, the Government has collaborated with NTUC to start many programmes under SkillsFuture and Adapt and Grow, which PM Lee said are still being improved based on experience and the emergence of new needs.
He said he met Singaporeans at the Lifelong Learning Institute in January who had upgraded themselves through Adapt and Grow programmes and moved into new jobs or took up greater responsibilities.
The banks, in particular, have retrained thousands of counter staff to move into different roles.
"We are accumulating more such success stories, which I hope will inspire others to make the effort to improve your skills and productivity," he said.
These efforts are starting to be felt at the macro level, he said, adding that labour productivity grew by 3.7 per cent last year - "a good result".
But improvement is needed in domestic services such as retail and food and beverage, even as outward-oriented sectors, especially manufacturing, did better, he said.
He added that the labour movement has good reason to be proud of its record over the last 50 years.
He recounted how NTUC held the Trade Union Seminar on Modernisation of the Labour Movement 50 years ago. At that time, it was in a state of decay, with falling membership and growing disenchantment among its ranks.
But that "crucial turning point" caused the labour movement to fundamentally shift from confrontation to collaboration, he said.
The unions worked with the Government in support of new institutions and newly passed laws like the Employment Act. NTUC Income and other labour cooperatives were set up to provide affordable essential goods and services.
A strong labour movement remains crucial to Singapore, PM Lee said, noting that union membership is falling in many developed countries and organised labour is becoming marginalised. Workers' concerns are not addressed.
"Not surprisingly, they turn to extreme, nativist political movements that pander to their fears and insecurity, but offer no realistic solutions or inspiring leadership to improve their lives," he said.
In Singapore, PM Lee said, the combination of constructive and cooperative unions, enlightened employers and a supportive government have delivered better incomes for workers and steady progress for the country.
"We must stay on this path, and strengthen trust and cooperation among the tripartite partners, so that despite the uncertainties and challenges in the global economy, we can continue to thrive and prosper together as a nation," said PM Lee, wishing all Singaporeans a very happy May Day.
2018 retrenchment rate lowest in over 10 years as a result, he says in May Day message
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 1 May 2019
Singapore's efforts to retrain workers to handle new technology and different jobs have made a difference - the retrenchment rate last year was the lowest in more than 10 years, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.
In his annual May Day message, he said companies might have taken "the easy way out" by retrenching old workers and replacing them with new graduates if training, upgrading and redeploying staff had not been strongly emphasised.
The "dislocation" would have been much worse, PM Lee said.
There were 5.1 layoffs per 1,000 employees last year, down from seven in 2017.
"We must keep up our efforts at training and upgrading. It is a marathon without end, but we are making progress," he said.
With new jobs being created even as old industries and jobs are getting phased out amid a rapidly changing external environment, the future of work looks very different, he noted.
The labour movement is at a turning point, he said, calling on the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) to anticipate these challenges and prepare the unions, union leaders and workers for them early, before they become overwhelming. He cited how NTUC has played a major role in promoting the re-employment of older workers, and championed better pay for lower-wage workers.
Another major long-term task is to upgrade and retrain workers.
On this front, the Government has collaborated with NTUC to start many programmes under SkillsFuture and Adapt and Grow, which PM Lee said are still being improved based on experience and the emergence of new needs.
He said he met Singaporeans at the Lifelong Learning Institute in January who had upgraded themselves through Adapt and Grow programmes and moved into new jobs or took up greater responsibilities.
The banks, in particular, have retrained thousands of counter staff to move into different roles.
"We are accumulating more such success stories, which I hope will inspire others to make the effort to improve your skills and productivity," he said.
These efforts are starting to be felt at the macro level, he said, adding that labour productivity grew by 3.7 per cent last year - "a good result".
But improvement is needed in domestic services such as retail and food and beverage, even as outward-oriented sectors, especially manufacturing, did better, he said.
He added that the labour movement has good reason to be proud of its record over the last 50 years.
He recounted how NTUC held the Trade Union Seminar on Modernisation of the Labour Movement 50 years ago. At that time, it was in a state of decay, with falling membership and growing disenchantment among its ranks.
But that "crucial turning point" caused the labour movement to fundamentally shift from confrontation to collaboration, he said.
The unions worked with the Government in support of new institutions and newly passed laws like the Employment Act. NTUC Income and other labour cooperatives were set up to provide affordable essential goods and services.
A strong labour movement remains crucial to Singapore, PM Lee said, noting that union membership is falling in many developed countries and organised labour is becoming marginalised. Workers' concerns are not addressed.
"Not surprisingly, they turn to extreme, nativist political movements that pander to their fears and insecurity, but offer no realistic solutions or inspiring leadership to improve their lives," he said.
In Singapore, PM Lee said, the combination of constructive and cooperative unions, enlightened employers and a supportive government have delivered better incomes for workers and steady progress for the country.
"We must stay on this path, and strengthen trust and cooperation among the tripartite partners, so that despite the uncertainties and challenges in the global economy, we can continue to thrive and prosper together as a nation," said PM Lee, wishing all Singaporeans a very happy May Day.
NTUC's Medal of Honour awarded to Khaw Boon Wan
Minister lauded for improving the lives of workers and contributions to tripartism
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 4 May 2019
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan has received the labour movement's Medal of Honour for his contributions to Singapore's workforce and tripartism.
Mr Khaw, who is also Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, was presented with the award at the National Trades Union Congress May Day Awards ceremony yesterday.
NTUC president Mary Liew said in a speech at the event that Mr Khaw stood with healthcare workers during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) crisis in 2003 when he was heading the Sars combat team in the Ministry of Health.
"You walked the talk, you held them together, and you fought their battle, and you uplifted their lives as well," she said of Mr Khaw.
He also promoted productivity so that Singapore workers can be "world class" and enjoy the gains from productivity improvements, she said.
NTUC, in its citation for the Medal of Honour, the highest award to be given out by the labour movement this year, said that under Mr Khaw's leadership, centralised academies such as the Singapore Rail Academy and the Singapore Bus Academy were set up to train public transport workers.
To improve rail reliability, he started the "early closure, late opening" initiative to give rail engineers and technicians more time to safely complete repairs, maintenance and renewal work on MRT lines. He visits depots, interchanges and tunnels to understand workers' challenges and celebrate milestones.
With the advent of private-hire car services, the Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Authority worked with the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association to help drivers keep up with changes.
NTUC also highlighted Mr Khaw's role as chairman of the council of advisers of the Education Services Union since it was formed in 2006. He was vital in identifying the rapid growth in the private education industry, it said.
As People's Action Party chairman from 2011 to last year, he also "affirmed and nurtured" the longstanding symbiotic relationship between the party and NTUC.
It said his belief in prioritising workers and his efforts in advancing tripartism have left an indelible mark on the lives of workers.
Past recipients of the Medal of Honour include Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (1999) and Senior Ministers Teo Chee Hean (2014) and Tharman Shanmugaratnam (2017).
At yesterday's award event at the University Cultural Centre in Kent Ridge, NTUC recognised 117 unionists, workers, company leaders, public servants and organisations who have supported its initiatives and sought to improve workers' lives.
For the first time, it commended workers who exemplify what it calls Worker 4.0 - people who have improved their employability through skills training, adopted or initiated productivity improvements and adapted to changing work environments. Six workers received the inaugural Model Worker award.
NTUC also celebrated the contributions of the late veteran union leader Cyrille Tan, who died in 2017 at the age of 67. He was conferred the Distinguished Service (Star) Award posthumously.
Mr Tan was a retired NTUC vice-president who had also served as general secretary of the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries for 22 years.
His son Jaimes Tan received the award on his behalf.
Minister lauded for improving the lives of workers and contributions to tripartism
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 4 May 2019
Mr Khaw, who is also Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, was presented with the award at the National Trades Union Congress May Day Awards ceremony yesterday.
NTUC president Mary Liew said in a speech at the event that Mr Khaw stood with healthcare workers during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) crisis in 2003 when he was heading the Sars combat team in the Ministry of Health.
"You walked the talk, you held them together, and you fought their battle, and you uplifted their lives as well," she said of Mr Khaw.
He also promoted productivity so that Singapore workers can be "world class" and enjoy the gains from productivity improvements, she said.
NTUC, in its citation for the Medal of Honour, the highest award to be given out by the labour movement this year, said that under Mr Khaw's leadership, centralised academies such as the Singapore Rail Academy and the Singapore Bus Academy were set up to train public transport workers.
To improve rail reliability, he started the "early closure, late opening" initiative to give rail engineers and technicians more time to safely complete repairs, maintenance and renewal work on MRT lines. He visits depots, interchanges and tunnels to understand workers' challenges and celebrate milestones.
With the advent of private-hire car services, the Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Authority worked with the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association to help drivers keep up with changes.
NTUC also highlighted Mr Khaw's role as chairman of the council of advisers of the Education Services Union since it was formed in 2006. He was vital in identifying the rapid growth in the private education industry, it said.
As People's Action Party chairman from 2011 to last year, he also "affirmed and nurtured" the longstanding symbiotic relationship between the party and NTUC.
It said his belief in prioritising workers and his efforts in advancing tripartism have left an indelible mark on the lives of workers.
Past recipients of the Medal of Honour include Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (1999) and Senior Ministers Teo Chee Hean (2014) and Tharman Shanmugaratnam (2017).
At yesterday's award event at the University Cultural Centre in Kent Ridge, NTUC recognised 117 unionists, workers, company leaders, public servants and organisations who have supported its initiatives and sought to improve workers' lives.
For the first time, it commended workers who exemplify what it calls Worker 4.0 - people who have improved their employability through skills training, adopted or initiated productivity improvements and adapted to changing work environments. Six workers received the inaugural Model Worker award.
NTUC also celebrated the contributions of the late veteran union leader Cyrille Tan, who died in 2017 at the age of 67. He was conferred the Distinguished Service (Star) Award posthumously.
Mr Tan was a retired NTUC vice-president who had also served as general secretary of the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries for 22 years.
His son Jaimes Tan received the award on his behalf.
Management, workers are equals sharing a similar dream: Khaw Boon Wan
By Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 4 May 2019
When veteran minister Khaw Boon Wan was approached about setting up a healthcare workers' union while he was running National University Hospital (NUH), it felt like "a slap in my face", he said.
He thought he was doing a good job as an enlightened leader, treating all colleagues as equals and solving problems together with them.
"I could not understand why the workers should feel such a need to organise themselves. They must have felt the working conditions in NUH were awful," said Mr Khaw, who was chief executive of the hospital from 1985 to 1987.
He researched the Singapore labour movement, talked to unionised companies and unionists and discussed the proposal - raised by former National Trades Union Congress president Diana Chia, a staff nurse at Singapore General Hospital at the time - with his colleagues.
Mr Khaw, 66, who is now Transport Minister and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, said he was soon convinced that the NTUC approach to the union movement was compatible with his personal approach to leadership - "they were both sides of the same coin".
His view is that workers and management are equals, "sharing a similar dream to build an organisation that lasts and that takes good care of its workers fairly".
Eventually, the National University Hospital Employees' Union was formed. It later merged with the Health Corporation of Singapore Staff Union to form the Healthcare Services Employees' Union.
Mr Khaw shared this story in an interview with NTUC website LabourBeat. It was published yesterday when he received NTUC's Medal of Honour, its highest May Day award this year, for his support for tripartism and workers' welfare.
He said he appreciated the award and his friendships with unionists, adding that he was receiving the medal on behalf of many colleagues, including the five healthcare workers who died trying to protect Singaporeans during the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis in 2003.
In his time at various ministries, from health to national development, he looked to unionists for feedback on tough policies as they were being formulated, he said.
For example, the Proximity Housing Grant, which subsidises resale Housing Board flats for people living with or near their parents or children, came about after feedback from NTUC that young couples wanted to be near their parents so that their parents could help look after their children.
Support from all tripartite partners will be required as Singapore moves towards a car-lite future, Mr Khaw said. "Our strategy is to raise the competency level of our transport workers... Newer and better-paying jobs will be created along the way. The end result will be an even better commuter experience."
RelatedBy Joanna Seow, Manpower Correspondent, The Straits Times, 4 May 2019
When veteran minister Khaw Boon Wan was approached about setting up a healthcare workers' union while he was running National University Hospital (NUH), it felt like "a slap in my face", he said.
He thought he was doing a good job as an enlightened leader, treating all colleagues as equals and solving problems together with them.
"I could not understand why the workers should feel such a need to organise themselves. They must have felt the working conditions in NUH were awful," said Mr Khaw, who was chief executive of the hospital from 1985 to 1987.
He researched the Singapore labour movement, talked to unionised companies and unionists and discussed the proposal - raised by former National Trades Union Congress president Diana Chia, a staff nurse at Singapore General Hospital at the time - with his colleagues.
Mr Khaw, 66, who is now Transport Minister and Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure, said he was soon convinced that the NTUC approach to the union movement was compatible with his personal approach to leadership - "they were both sides of the same coin".
His view is that workers and management are equals, "sharing a similar dream to build an organisation that lasts and that takes good care of its workers fairly".
Eventually, the National University Hospital Employees' Union was formed. It later merged with the Health Corporation of Singapore Staff Union to form the Healthcare Services Employees' Union.
Mr Khaw shared this story in an interview with NTUC website LabourBeat. It was published yesterday when he received NTUC's Medal of Honour, its highest May Day award this year, for his support for tripartism and workers' welfare.
He said he appreciated the award and his friendships with unionists, adding that he was receiving the medal on behalf of many colleagues, including the five healthcare workers who died trying to protect Singaporeans during the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis in 2003.
In his time at various ministries, from health to national development, he looked to unionists for feedback on tough policies as they were being formulated, he said.
For example, the Proximity Housing Grant, which subsidises resale Housing Board flats for people living with or near their parents or children, came about after feedback from NTUC that young couples wanted to be near their parents so that their parents could help look after their children.
Support from all tripartite partners will be required as Singapore moves towards a car-lite future, Mr Khaw said. "Our strategy is to raise the competency level of our transport workers... Newer and better-paying jobs will be created along the way. The end result will be an even better commuter experience."
May Day Rally 2019
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