Singapore
THERE is broad agreement among employers, workers and government representatives and economists that the National Wages Council (NWC) has a big role to play in helping Singapore to weather the Covid-19 recession and cope with its aftermath.
Some quarters suggest that it should push for a big cut in employers' Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions and for wage reform in its upcoming round of negotiations - unusually, its second one this year.
They say that the NWC is the very embodiment of tripartism - Singapore's unique brand of cooperation among the government, businesses and labour that has been credited as key to Singapore's economic success.
Set up in 1972, the panel has 20 members,...