'Pro-worker and pro-business at the same time' makes Singapore special: Josephine Teo

THE Singapore government has to "always seek alignment of interests for unions and employers", Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said in her May Day Message.

She identified being "pro-worker and pro-business at the same time" as one of two key principles of Singapore's "unique brand of tripartism" - that is, the relationship among the labour movement, employers and the government.

"It is in our collective interest to identify opportunities that enable both businesses and workers to emerge stronger from the crisis," Mrs Teo added as the second principle, in a statement released by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) on Tuesday.

She singled out the example of the Progressive Wage Model, which originally covered the cleaning, security and landscape sectors, but will be expanded gradually to lift and escalator maintenance; waste management; and, most recently, food services and retail.

"We also welcome NTUC's strong commitment to set the pace, through early adoption by their social enterprises, such as NTUC Foodfare and NTUC FairPrice," said Mrs Teo, naming the 60-year-old labour organisation's food services and supermarket arms.

The minister's remarks came as she lauded how a "strong spirit of tripartism" - which includes the collaboration between NTUC and employers to cut wages before cutting jobs - had cushioned the impact of the Covid-19 downturn on workers.

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign UpVIEW ALL

Mrs Teo contrasted Singapore's "constructive unionism" with a labour-led strike in France during the virus outbreak there. "We have seen how it was not straightforward for countries to get tripartite consensus on crisis measures," she said.

Meanwhile, Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) president Robert Yap noted that the tripartite partnership has been working to help employers "implement progressive and inclusive employment practices".

Besides enhancing the employability of professionals, managers and executives, the NTUC and SNEF are also acting to uplift essential workers on the frontlines, according to Mr Yap.

"Therefore, it is important to ensure that lower-wage workers can also benefit from economic recovery and growth through sustainable wage increase and better working conditions," he said.

He called on employers to "proactively invest in the training of their employees to meet their skills demand", even as he urged workers to also embrace lifelong learning and pursue skills.

"SNEF looks forward to strengthen (sic) and deepen (sic) this strong tripartite partnership to prepare both employers and workers for the post-Covid-19 economy to emerge stronger together," Mr Yap added in his statement.

Saying that the tripartite partners are "building a more resilient workforce that is ready for the future", Mrs Teo concluded: "Let us recognise NTUC's sustained achievements over six decades, and re-commit ourselves to the unique brand of tripartism that enables Singapore to emerge stronger as one united people! Happy May Day to all!"

Labour Day, which is also known internationally as May Day, falls on this Saturday. It will be Mrs Teo's last such celebration as Manpower Minister; she is set to take over from S. Iswaran as Minister for Communications and Information on May 15.