NTUC fully supports NWC's recommendations

Singapore's National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said on Friday that it fully supports the fair recommendations in the National Wages Council's (NWC) guidelines for 2015-2016 to grant sustainable wage increase to employees, taking into account company performance and prospects.

"These recommendations are reflective of the current tight labour market situation, and further recognise the need for productivity growth to remain a primary focus across all sectors," said NTUC, a national confederation of trade unions in the industrial, service and public sectors in Singapore.

It said it will continue to engage companies to quicken the implementation of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) for all workers in every sector.

"We believe that with the adoption of PWMs, reinforced by skills upgrading and productivity enhancements, companies will be able to make better use of manpower and pay higher wages; and businesses will also be able to retain their workforce and remain competitive," NTUC said.

It was heartened to see that those earning a monthly basic wage of less than S$1,000 have dropped from 9.8 per cent in 2012 to 6.8 per cent in 2014, and it said it would continue to work closely with tripartite partners - the government, Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) - to raise the wages of low wage workers.

"Furthermore, NTUC fully supports NWC's recommendations to grant low wage workers earning above S$1,100 with an equitable and reasonable wage increase and/or one-off lump sum based on skills and productivity, so as to ensure that they continue to receive higher wage increases," NTUC said.

NTUC called upon companies that are doing well to show special recognition to workers for their hard work and contributions towards Singapore's economic progress as the country celebrates 50 years of nation-building.