NTUC unveils renewed workers’ compact in response to shifting societal, technological norms

AFTER a year-long engagement with over 42,000 workers, Singapore’s labour movement has developed a “renewed workers’ compact” that stresses autonomy, adaptability and assurance, with 10 recommendations for five groups of workers.

The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is looking at how to better support workers as Singapore transits into a “super-aged” society with evolving priorities, said labour chief Ng Chee Meng in a media briefing.

In a report marking the end of NTUC’s #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations, two recommendations were given for each of the five groups: youths, mid-career workers, caregivers, older workers and vulnerable workers.

For youths, NTUC called for a “more comprehensive system of support”, including opportunities for quality internship experiences, career exploration and mentorship. To that end, it has recently launched a career starter lab programme and offers a starter membership for youths.

Workplaces also need to adapt to diverse career aspirations and needs, particularly as youths are keen to expand their career pathways, gain overseas work exposure, and do side hustles.

NTUC assistant secretary-general Desmond Choo said that young workers’ views of “moonlighting” have changed: “You’ll find that an overwhelming number of them do (side hustles) not just because it supports their income, but also to pick up new skill sets, develop their interests, and more importantly, also to really develop their CV.”

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Friday, 3 pm

Thrive

Money, career and life hacks to help young adults stay ahead of the curve.

Sign Up

Workplaces must adapt accordingly, he added: “It you accept that your work is generally insufficient to cater to all their interests, then give them the space to do it. Be outcome- and purpose-driven rather than being didactic about the number of hours they actually commit in a number of days.”

Over the past two weeks, NTUC has put out recommendations for the other groups, such as offering statutory paid leave for workers who are caregivers and providing equal training opportunities for older workers.

Mid-career workers should be equipped to switch to “more resilient career pathways”, with short-term unemployment support if they are involuntarily displaced, said NTUC.

The training ecosystem should also “support the acquisition of deep skills throughout life”, which could mean giving workers a training allowance and protected time off for longer courses.

For vulnerable workers, NTUC called for essential workers to be respected and rewarded accordingly, and for the progressive wage model to cover more lower-wage workers. Meanwhile, self-employed persons should enjoy stronger representation and better protection.

NTUC has also been engaging inmates who are set to rejoin the workforce in the next few months. Patrick Tay, also NTUC assistant secretary-general, said that some of their fears and anxieties are very similar to those of other workers.

Commenting on the report, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation Robert Yap said in a statement that while the year-long engagement process has identified some gaps, efforts to tackle them are not starting from zero. Tripartite partners have anticipated some of these issues and are already working together to address them, he added.

At an event to launch the renewed workers’ compact, NTUC secretary-general Ng said that each worker has specific needs throughout his life cycle, from being a fresh graduate to a senior worker facing retirement.

“The first step to take is really to understand each archetype’s specific needs and what measures can be put in place,” he noted. Even the concept of upskilling, he added, is very different when applied to a young worker, compared to an older one.

Also at the launch event was Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who said that “there is already good alignment in thinking” between the government and NTUC, since the government has also participated in the labour union’s exercises.

“Eventually we will put out the Forward Singapore report too, which will capture many of (NTUC’s) ideas and recommendations, because ultimately, whether it’s the government or NTUC and the labour movement, our goals are the same,” he added. Such goals include protecting wages as well as workers’ welfare and their work prospects.

“We have now, through the workers’ compact and through Forward Singapore, (an eventual) road map for our way forward,” he said. But he stressed that this is “only just beginning”, and that the “real work” starts after this.