Ng Chee Meng
Singapore
“I note the intent of the OJT and agree with the objectives behind the proposal, and it will be studied, considered in our NTUC's work, even as we chart possibilities in career counselling for the youths, and do possible pathways to innovate with the IHLs in career guidance and matches into internship and other possibilities.”
“I began this speech with the questions on many workers' minds: how can I take part in the AI growth and benefit from it? How can I translate into fair opportunities for me? Singapore has invested much in education and the skills of our workforce.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Government for responding to NTUC's and our Platform Work Association's calls to support sectors most affected by the recent fuel price increases. The measures announced for platform drivers and riders will go some way in easing the pressures on their livelihoods. I have two clarifications.”
“Family members who have mental health conditions or degenerative diseases, such as dementia, which is becoming more common, who may require high supervision but may not necessarily qualify for the three ADL criteria today. Preventive Healthcare in the Community”
“However, there is one group that I am particularly concerned about – the 13,000 or so who are out of the workforce to care for their elderly. I note from MOM's data that this group is largely female, single, 50 and above, non-tertiary educated and do not have any or any recent work experience. We think that there is scope to do more.”
“Chairman, our young graduates are entering the workforce at a time in a disrupted age. AI is becoming more advanced, even at entry-level tasks. And throughout their careers, they will need to adapt and pivot several times, as the pace of change and skills obsolescence increases.”
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“A mediation-first process opens the space for workers and employers to understand each other's perspectives and fully explore the possibilities for amicable settlement at the earliest possible stage. The ECT's judge-led approach will help workers to navigate the claims process, without the need for costly legal representation, which often places the workers at a disadvantaged position vis-à-vis employers. This claims process has worked well for other employment claims, such as salary and wrongful dismissal. And according to MOM's 2024 Employment Standards Report, more than 80% of employment claims were resolved at TADM within two months, with more than 90% of claimants fully recovering their salaries and payments at TADM and the ECT. In other words, many workers, including PMEs whose claims are not likely to exceed $250,000, will have access to a tried and tested process to resolve workplace fairness claims fairly and quickly without the need to incur legal costs. This is therefore not only about giving each worker fair recourse, but it is also a clear and trusted system that encourages employers to reflect on their own practices and uphold fairness at every stage of employment. When workers know that they can raise issues safely and employers know what fairness requires, workplace culture improves for all. At the end of the day, all of us want a fairer Singapore, where workers are valued for their skills and contributions, not penalised for traits that have nothing to do with their workplace performance. Mr Deputy Speaker, even within a fair system, many workers may still feel anxious about facing this process alone. It can be daunting. Laws are complex.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I stand in support of the Bill. And I declare my interest as the Secretary-General of the NTUC. At NTUC, we believe that every worker deserves a fair chance to succeed. Fairness must rest on skills, performance and potential, and not on personal traits that have no bearing on a person's ability to do a job. That is why NTUC has long championed for stronger, clearer and more enforceable protections against workplace discrimination for all workers, including our PMEs who have told us that they want greater assurance of fair and equal opportunity. For instance, in 2020 to 2021, as part of the SNEF-NTUC PME Taskforce, we spoke with over 10,000 PMEs, employers and stakeholders. We heard many stories of workers, especially our mature PMEs over 40, about being passed over due to their age or nationality. After a while, they doubted their own value, and this chipped away their confidence. I am heartened that through NTUC and our tripartite partners' efforts over the many years, the Workplace Fairness Act was passed in January to strengthen protection against the most common forms of discrimination faced by our workers. Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill today, which represents a significant step forward in ensuring that workers can seek redress when they suffer discrimination. For the first time, workers who face discrimination – whether in hiring, promotion or dismissal – will be able to obtain individual recourse, including compensation for losses suffered. For workers, including PMEs, the process must be fair, accessible and expeditious, while preserving the trust and harmony between workers and employers. That is why NTUC supports the mediation-first, judge-led approach to resolving workplace fairness disputes under this Bill.”
“I thank the Minister for this initiative. I thank the colleagues in LTA, SBS Transit for doing this good initiative. Nevertheless, when you look at the loading in the North East area, I think this good initiative is but a interim measure – whether it is the buses where in the previous question, Senior Minister of State Sun Xueling told me that the buses loading versus MRT capacity is a great difference. So, my simple supplementary question is, with this good initiative, would the Seletar Line be accelerated? Because, ultimately, with all the housing density being built up in the North East region, whether in Punggol or in Jalan Kayu, including Sengkang, I think fundamentally, a new MRT line would be needed. And if you can consider accelerating the Seletar Line, it would be very much appreciated by many residents in the North East region.”
“As we strengthen the scheme, let us make sure it better delivers the assurance that: payouts can cover at least X percent of estimated long-term care costs, giving families predictability to plan for their needs; that premiums will remain within reach by capping premiums at a fixed percentage of the median per-capita household income; and that caregivers receive the support they need so that they will be cared for even as they care for their loved ones now. Mr Deputy Speaker, notwithstanding these suggestions, I support the Bill.”
“This would go some way in giving them assurance that even as they care for others, they, too, will be cared for in turn. Mr Deputy Speaker, it is timely to review the Caregiver Support Action Plan which was launched five years ago. I hope the Government can refresh the action plan to better recognise caregivers' sacrifices, strengthen the ecosystem around them and help them care for both their loved ones and, in time, for themselves. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Chinese please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The elderly around us have quietly dedicated themselves to bringing us up. Now that we have grown up, we should remember our roots and safeguard their twilight years. The CareShield Life scheme is an important pillar of our nation's long-term care system. While strengthening this scheme, we must also ensure that it truly benefits those in need. We can approach this from three aspects: (a) that payouts can cover at least a certain percent of estimated long-term care costs – giving families predictability to plan for their needs; (b) that premiums will remain within reach, by capping premiums at a fixed percentage of the median per capita household income; and (c) that caregivers receive the support they need so that they will be cared for even as they care for their loved ones. I urge the Government to consider providing CPF top-ups to primary caregivers who lack retirement savings due to caregiving. We have an obligation to care for them when they are in need and be their support. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, CareShield Life is a key pillar of our nation's approach to long-term care. It rests on the promise that when one pays premiums faithfully through the working years, one can count on meaningful support when severe disability arise.”
“To give families greater assurance, I suggest that premiums be capped at a fixed percentage of the median per capita household income. This ensures premiums remain fair and sustainable, in line with wage growth over longer periods of time. It would also help if the Government could indicate what is the expected upper limit of premiums beyond 2030, so that Singaporeans can plan their finances with greater certainty. Pegging payouts and managing premiums in tandem would give Singaporeans a stronger sense of predictability and stability, knowing both what they can expect in payout support on the one hand and what premiums contribution is needed on the other hand. This clarity will go a long way in helping families plan responsibly without the anxiety of being overwhelmed when the care needs arise. Mr Deputy Speaker, in conjunction with CareShield Life, we must also refresh our caregivers' compact. We must ensure that caregivers themselves are not left behind. There are many areas of support we can and must strengthen. Today, I want to focus on one – helping caregivers build up their own retirement adequacy. Many of our caregivers, especially and often women, spend years caring for loved ones, especially those who become severely disabled. Many make the difficult decision to leave the workforce. As a result, they may have smaller CPF balances and savings. Later in life, they may well struggle to afford the long-term care they themselves need. We must not let those who provided care in their younger years go without care in their own old age. I urge the Government to consider providing CPF top-ups to primary caregivers who lack retirement savings due to caregiving.”
“This would give families a clearer, better picture of what CareShield Life will cover and, importantly as well, what it will not cover so that they can plan early for the rest of care needs through other sources or supplementary plans. I also seek clarity on the stopping of payout growth after age 67 or once claims are made. While I understand the median disability duration is about four years, there are three in 10 Singaporeans that could remain severely disabled for 10 years or more. Without continued payout growth, CareShield Life can fall short just when families need it most, as inflation steadily chips away at the real value of the payouts. I hope the Minister can share how the Government will ensure that payouts will remain meaningful and adequate during the extended years when the payout is needed. Because at its very heart, like what the Minister has mentioned, this is not just about the policy design, but assuring and giving ordinary Singaporeans peace of mind knowing that the premiums they have paid, faithfully, over the years will translate into real assurance when CareShield Life payouts are needed most. My second point is on the affordability of premiums. I am heartened by the Senior Minister of State's repeated assurance that no one will lose coverage because they cannot afford their premiums. This assurance matters deeply and I am glad I heard the Minister say two, if not three times. But even so, for many middle-income families, including those in Jalan Kayu who may not qualify for means-tested support, the worry is still real and remains. The 4% annual premium increase, especially after transitional subsidies taper off by 2030, can add up and eat into MediSave balances.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the enhancements to CareShield Life are timely as we approach a "super-aged" society in 2026. As the Minister mentioned, one in two residents is expected to develop severe disability in their lifetime. The caregiving needs will increase given smaller families shouldering the burden of caregiving and long-term care costs rising faster than general inflation. In Jalan Kayu and beyond, I have met families struggling to balance between caregiving, work and the costs of care. Expenses for helpers and nursing homes can run into thousands per month. Even with subsidies, many middle-income households feel the strain. Caregivers often worry about how long they can keep going – physically, emotionally and financially. They want their loved ones to be given the best care in the best way possible. That is why I agree this Bill matters. We must ensure that CareShield Life gives real assurance to families when severe disabilities strike, that both the stricken person and their caregiver will have the support they need. Today, I would like to touch on three areas: payout adequacy, premium affordability and, in conjunction with CareShield Life, refresh our "Caregiver Compact" so that caregivers themselves are supported even as they care for their loved ones. First, on payout adequacy. We know that long-term care costs are rising faster than general inflation. The move to double the payout growth to 4% is welcome. But the key question remains: will payouts keep pace with actual costs of long-term care in the years ahead? To help Singaporeans plan ahead with confidence, I suggest pegging payouts to cover at least a certain proportion of long-term care costs. In other words, make the payout percentages to the estimated long-term care costs clearer.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you. I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State and the Minister of State for the clarifications. Mr Speaker, my grassroots leaders are really the true heroes on the ground in mediating neighbourly disputes. According to what I know from The Straits Times, 90% of neighbourly disputes are actually resolved at the grassroots level. They often work late into the night on their own time to preserve the harmony between neighbours and the community. So, two supplementary questions. How can we enhance the ecosystem of support, including resources, so that our grassroots mediators can do their job and play this vital role, before formal escalation to the suite of measures that had been mentioned? And most importantly, given the anxiety over the murder in Yishun, how can we enhance the safety of our grassroots leaders so that they can do this work with peace of mind as they work deep into the night? Perhaps training for some pick-up of warning signs and maybe techniques to de-escalate more serious scenarios? I would like to hear from the Ministries.”
“Mr Speaker, I have been rolling this Parliamentary Question (PQ) over since Monday, because transport connectivity is important. I have heard from Minister Jeffrey Siow that connecting to the Cross Island Line is a possibility, but currently, it is still very congested and honestly, connectivity in Jalan Kayu Fernvale can be improved. So, two quick supplementary questions. I understand the complexities, but can we have a more definitive timeline? After all, it has been six years since the studies have begun. The second supplementary question is: in the meantime, would the Ministry of Transport (MOT) be putting in better bus connectivity? While I understand it is not the most efficient, this would be needed for the long interim.”
“But I will serve with full conviction, because I stand to be the voice for our workers, fighting for better jobs, better lives and a brighter for all. To the voters in Jalan Kayu, thank you for the trust you have placed in me. I will honour it and I will serve you to the best of my abilities. Mr Deputy Speaker, as Singapore confronts accelerating AI disruption and rising caregiving demands, let us all in this Parliament keep faith with the workers, caregivers and their families who want a chance at a better life. Together, let us build a Singapore where every worker can succeed at work, where every family can thrive and where every Singaporean can journey forward with hope and dignity. For every worker. For every family. For Singapore. [Applause.]”
“The Labour Movement calls for tripartite partners to jointly promote a national AI training and adaptation programme to help enterprises and workers transform and embrace the new era. For businesses, AI could bring better development potential for workers, especially PMETs. AI can bring higher quality employment opportunities, higher wages and better career development prospects. As Singapore moves into a super aged society, more workers and families need to strike a balance between work and caring for loved ones, which is truly not easy. We must strengthen support for caregivers to ensure that no one is forced to make difficult choices between career and family due to caring for loved ones. We can approach this from three areas. First, we must help caregivers remain in the workforce. We recommend expanding the scope of flexible work arrangements and establishing a comprehensive caregiver leave system. Second, we must help caregivers return to the workforce. We can launch a national return to work programme to reduce difficulties they face in returning to work, especially for those workers who have been away from their position for extended periods due to caregiving responsibilities. Third, we must take decisive actions to build a stronger caregiving ecosystem, particularly to provide support for elderly, sick and disabled loved ones. We should boldly promote reforms in caregiving services to ensure that relevant resources are accessible, affordable and convenient for those in need. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, let me conclude. Sir, I am deeply honoured and privileged to return to this House. I entered this House on a narrow margin.”
“Second, help caregivers who have left work, return to work. We must redouble our efforts on "Back to Work" programmes to ease their transition – especially for those who have stepped off for long periods of time. We must better design and enhance our existing schemes, to bridge skills gaps, find suitable job opportunities, provide mentorship and give employer incentives to hire returning caregivers. Third, strengthen the ecosystem of care. We must make bold moves to ensure that care support for elderly and disabled loved ones is available, affordable and accessible. While we are moving in the right direction, we must be prepared to review our policies to better support our caregivers. This includes reviewing MediSave limits and caregiving subsidies to defray costs, provide CPF top-ups for primary caregivers with insufficient retirement adequacy, enhancing community care services, including for persons with special needs, persons with mental health conditions and more and more with dementia. And importantly, strengthening care coordination so families do not have to struggle to navigate the generous but multiple schemes across different agencies, not knowing what to do. Sir, many of us are caregivers currently, or will be at some point. Let us take bold steps to ensure that Singaporeans have the support they need to care for their loved ones, while staying resilient at work and at home. In Mandarin, please, Sir. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In the coming years, our workers will face greater challenges. On the one hand, there is the impact brought about by the rapid development of AI. On the other hand, they have responsibilities caring for families.”
“I thank the Government and tripartite partners for measures like enhanced paternity and shared parental leave. Yet, many workers still struggle with the day-to-day reality of caregiving. Balancing a job while tending to the needs of a sick elderly parent, a child or an adult with special needs, can be exhausting. It is not just about managing the time. It is about the stress, the sleepless nights and the emotional weight that caregivers carry every single day. I recently met Mr Goh, a 45-year-old freelancer and beneficiary of NTUC's U-Care Fund. He and his wife are both working and they have four children – two of whom have special needs. One child requires round-the-clock care. He shared, and he is grateful that while subsidies help, he worries about medical expenses chipping away at their family's savings. What troubles him most is not just about today's struggles, but the future. Will his children be able to cope when he and his wife can no longer take care of them? Will they be able to retire with dignity? More than anything, he hopes that families like his would not be left to carry the heavy load of caregiving alone. His story is not unique. During my house visits in Jalan Kayu, caregivers shared with me some of the same worries – how to juggle work and caregiving, and the stress and mental toll it takes on them. We must do more to support caregivers to take care of themselves and their loved ones. Sir, let us not stop at empathising with caregivers like Mr Goh. We must do more to strengthen caregivers' support in these areas. First, help caregivers stay in work. Having a job is essential for long-term financial resilience. We must expand FWAs and enshrine caregiving leave, making them more widespread, accessible and most importantly, stigma-free.”
“Businesses get help to figure out what AI means to them, chart out their transformation roadmap and implement projects that deliver real productivity gains. At the same time, workers, including PMEs can better map out their AI skills upgrading pathways, boosting their job security and work prospects along with their companies' business transformation. In fact, NTUC and employers have started using the CTC model to catalyse AI transformation. Take BSL Unify, a manufacturing services company, for example. Through the CTC, they embarked on a company-wide digital transformation programme and implemented an AI-powered service portal. Previously, customer service and operations staff relied on excel sheets to labouriously track inventory and manage enquiries manually. Today, the portal has saved BSL Unify more than 2,500 man-hours per year, with a 40% efficiency improvement through streamlined processes and smart data management. Staff and workers also receive a monthly skills allowance of $150 to encourage and enhance their AI skills, so a true win-win for both business transformation and workers outcome. This is just one example of how "AI-Ready SG" can help companies move up the value chain and bring workers, including PMEs, along. The CTCs power these efforts. As of July this year, we have committed more than $7.4 million in CTC grants to AI-related projects, which is about 11% of the total number of CTC projects. Mr Deputy Speaker, let us take heed of the President's call for businesses, AI must mean better business. For workers, including PMEs, AI upskilling must mean better jobs, better wages and better work prospects. If we can do these, we will be able exploit AI to transform our economy and better Singaporean lives. Let me now turn to caregiving.”
“I will focus my address on two areas today, ensuring good jobs amidst AI disruption and better support for caregivers. Let me first speak about AI disruption. AI has great economic potential for Singapore. It can boost productivity and help businesses stay competitive. On the flip side, I know many workers, including PMEs, see AI as a threat. Big companies, such as Amazon and Microsoft, are cutting jobs. Drivers worry about being displaced and replaced by autonomous vehicles. They do not know what AI will mean for them and their jobs. I fully understand these concerns. It can be daunting not knowing what to expect and perhaps worse, how to keep up. They say: "I know AI is here, but Sec-Gen, I don't know what I can do." This is why we must do more to equip our workers to meet AI disruption head on, bring the right tools and know-how to the businesses and our workers, so that they can take proactive steps to seize AI-driven opportunities. To this end, NTUC stands ready to support the National AI Strategy. We want to work with the Government and tripartite partners to put forth a National AI Adoption and Training Initiative. I will call this initiative "AI-Ready SG" as a working name. It will serve as a one-stop platform to integrate existing resources from Government and tripartite partners, so businesses and workers can be truly AI ready. Through "AI-Ready SG", workers can access dedicated resources for upskilling and navigate career transitions. Employers can tap into resources to embark on practical AI transformation. The "AI-Ready SG" initiative can ride on the CTC ecosystem to support AI transformation. And this goes in part in answering some colleagues' earlier speeches about converging business interest and marrying it to workers' interest.”
“And technologies, like AI are reshaping how we live, learn and work – faster than many of us can keep up with. Internally, the realities of becoming a superaged society will hit us. More of our workers will be older and more families will experience more strain from caregiving responsibilities. During my block visits in Jalan Kayu and in many conversations with workers at union events and community gatherings, I have heard the anxieties of our people. Young graduates worry if they will find good jobs; mid-career and older PMEs fear being displaced by AI and economic restructuring; families struggle with the pressures of caregiving – wondering how they can cope with the financial, physical and emotional strains. These are not abstract concerns. They are the daily worries of ordinary Singaporeans trying to secure a better future for themselves and their loved ones. Mr Deputy Speaker, the Labour Movement supports the direction laid out by our President – to transform our economy amidst AI disruption, while ensuring that no Singaporean is left to journey alone. To achieve this, the Labour Movement calls on the Government to work with tripartite partners on three fronts: One, ensure good jobs for every generation, so young graduates can start well and have opportunities to grow; mid-career workers and PMEs can adapt and seize new opportunities; and older workers can continue contributing with dignity. Two, uplift our vulnerable lower-wage workers, platform workers and freelancers by ensuring fair earnings and dignified work. Three, stronger support for our caregivers, so no Singaporean has to choose between caring for their loved ones and keeping their job. My fellow labour MPs and I will outline the priorities of the Labour Movement to advance these fronts.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Government in the 14th term of Parliament and tripartite partners for their strong support to the Labour Movement. Because of our collective efforts, many workers, including professionals, managers and executives (PMEs), have seen real improvements in wages, welfare and work prospects. Amidst rising cost of living, we raised our lower wage workers' incomes. Platform workers now have the Central Provident Fund (CPF), workplace injury compensation and the right to be represented by Platform Workers Associations. Workplace Fairness has also been strengthened so that all workers – especially our mature PMEs – are assured of a level playing field. We provided new support for our involuntarily unemployed workers and supported our caregivers' flexible work arrangement (FWA) requests. Senior workers now have a longer runway, should they choose to do so, to work. The Labour Movement also catalysed business and workforce transformation through more than 3,600 CTCs, promoting win-win outcomes for businesses and workers at the same time. But Mr Deputy Speaker, beyond policies and numbers, what mattered most really, is the impact on ordinary people and workers. Amidst the rising cost of living, every wage increase, every new protection and every training scheme made a real difference. Families and workers were able to be better provided for. This is why I am in the House today, to ensure that every Singaporean worker and family can face the future with confidence. Sir, as we step into this new term of Parliament, Singapore faces significant external and internal challenges. Externally, the world is more fractured. Trade wars, tech wars, hot wars are redefining the rules-based order that Singapore has long depended on.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his clarifications. I would like to put on public record my appreciation for LTA, SBST and SMRT for the good work on the ground. Two supplementary questions for the Minister. One is on the expansion of the rail system and therefore, the increasing complexities of maintenance. How would MOT or LTA put in the necessary finances, the necessary engineering time and, equally important, like what my colleague Yeo Wan Ling has asked, the training regimes so that we would be able to maintain an increased network of complexity to serve the public. On the second supplementary question, more pertaining to Jalan Kayu, we know that the NEL and the SPLRT are very congested systems. While we do the good work to rectify some of the breakdowns, the commuters do face increased inconveniences, especially for Fernvale, Jalan Kayu, where the bus connectivity is somewhat lacking. My supplementary question to the Minister is whether LTA would take proactive action to improve the overall connectivity, especially the bus services in Fernvale, Jalan Kayu so that residents can be connected out to other nodes and not, regardless of different improvements, load the NEL?”
“Mr Speaker, NTUC work within the policy framework given to us by MOM. So, for the policy questions, the criteria, we have certain guidelines that we worked within. And Minister Josephine Teo in the right time can answer this arrangement.”
“NTUC will help all workers, whether you are a fresh graduate or mid-career professional, to take advantage of these nearly 100,000 jobs and training opportunities so that you will not only earn an income but gain from training and work experiences. The Chinese word "危机" (for "crisis") consists both "danger" ("危") and "opportunity" ("机"). The most important thing is that we must remain positive and be nimble. I believe that if we stay united, we will be able to sustain our businesses, protect our workers and secure our future! (In English) Mr Speaker, I will conclude. We have a strategy in place, backed up by a series of robust Budgets, making the necessary resources available. The key now is to implement this plan well. In the immediate term – preserve jobs, create jobs and match workers to these jobs. But we must keep an eye out too on strengthening our economy post-COVID. We must make use of this crisis to push for industry transformation and continue developing quality jobs for quality workers and quality busineses that can out-compete in the new economy forward. These are not easy tasks but we will do our very best. NTUC will continue to work with our tripartite partners to support our workers, our freelancers, our self-employed people – because every worker matters, every job matters. And only if we can continue the trust and the solidarity of tripartism, then we can overcome. Mr Speaker, I support the Budget.”
“Ultimately, we in NTUC want to take the best care of our workers, whether they are freelancers or unionised workers, and the best way to do so is for the companies to have better business or economy to be able to generate growth, and for workers to have the necessary training and skills to access these jobs. So, it is not just for the immediate things that NTUC is busy with; even as we are helping workers cope with COVID-19, we are casting our vision further ahead and doing practical things to help companies transform to benefit workers now and in the future. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I announced in February this year that we are setting up the NTUC Job Security Council to match workers, who are at-risk of losing jobs, to companies that are hiring. We had over 4,000 companies on board the Job Security Council then. Over the past four months, the number of companies in the Job Security Council has increased to over 7,000. More importantly, we have successfully matched 10,000 workers to new jobs. Companies in the Job Security Council are still hiring, from sectors such as the Healthcare, Transport and Logistics, Built Environment, as well as Electronics and Transport Engineering. We are redoubling our efforts to help these companies find new employees; and more importantly, match our workers to these companies and earn an income. The National Jobs Council, with Senior Minister Tharman as Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat as Advisor, held its first meeting yesterday to discuss how we will help Singaporeans benefit from the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package. I am happy that NTUC is a close partner of the National Jobs Council in providing employment-related assistance to our people.”
“NTUC has been working closely with Temasek companies, amongst some 350-plus companies, to push the Company Training Committees, or CTCs, to move businesses and prepare workers for Industry 4.0. I want to thank Temasek for this support over the last two years. NTUC will redouble our efforts to partner companies through the CTC platform, to embark on Operations and Technology Roadmapping, or OTR, to transform. This will not only help companies chart a course to recovery from COVID-19, it will, importantly, help them identify new growth areas for business, exploit new technologies and create new jobs, better jobs, more productive jobs, even starting now. This is an involved process but companies such as Energizer, amongst quite a few, show how the benefits of the OTR can translate on the ground. Energizer is bringing in advanced, better technologies for its line machines to increase the precision and the quality of their products. These machines need better skilled operators who are familiar with the new system overall. Energizer and the United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries worked with one of our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to curate a specific training programme for their Operators to upskill in this technology and work with these new machines. These steps helped sustain the Energizer business and, importanly, keep workers gainfully employed in the short term. But in the transformative track, this will put Energizer on a trajectory ready for Industry 4.0 and for our workers to have more productive jobs, better work prospects emerging from COVID-19.”
“The Council will have very important work to drive tripartite efforts to help Singaporeans. Foremost, the Government and employers' role to create 40,000 jobs is critical, not easy. And where companies are not able to do so, the 25,000 SGUnited Traineeships programme will be helpful to expose both new graduates and mid-career PMEs to the new workplace, gain useful experience and be ready when the economy recovers. The 30,000 training spaces under the SGUnited Skills Programme will be helpful to top up skills for workers looking for jobs. It is also useful for companies to co-design the training to support business restructuring and redevelopment for Industry 4.0 so that they can be poised for new and more productive Industry 4.0 ways of doing things. NTUC, as I had said, will fully support the National Jobs Council. So, for those workers that are at-risk or those workers seeking a job, there is practical help for you. Besides the immediate task of securing jobs to protect workers, NTUC will continue to partner companies that have the capacity and vision to seize opportunities emerging from the COVID-19. Even before COVID-19 hit us, our economy was already embarking on industry transformation brought about by technological disruption. COVID-19 has accelerated this disruption and it is clear that those who started transformation early, in fact, are coping better with the COVID-19 challenges today. "Transformation" is not just a buzzword. And, in fact, COVID-19 has made it even more apparent, more plain that businesses will need to work towards digitalisation and Industry 4.0 practices more urgently. This will help them position themselves and their workers for new opportunities post-COVID.”
“She is a Senior Admin Assistant, working at Fairmont Singapore & Swissotel The Stamford for many years. But due to COVID-19, hotel work was drying up. The threat of losing her job was real. Our union and the Job Security Council worked with the hotel and found her an immediate match to an organisation that was employing. Gina was job-matched on a three-month secondment to NTUC FairPrice. She is now in the middle of her redeployment, gainfully employed while keeping her salary and job title in the hotel. As we facilitate job matching, workers must also be willing to adapt and acquire new skills too. Before Gina was redeployed, she went for training in food hygiene and preparation which brought relevant skill sets and value to NTUC FairPrice. While the initial transition was challenging, Gina understood the need to be nimble and was willing to do her part to reskill and upskill. Gina is 59 years old. I am happy she has the ability and the agility to adopt a new mindset, adapt to new circumstances and importantly took action to acquire new skills so that she can stay in the workforce. I spoke to Gina when writing my speech last night. I asked her if she had anything to tell fellow Singaporeans. She said with an audible chirp in her voice, "Stay positive, never give up! I am learning new things in NTUC. We are in this together. We will overcome." Gina will return to the hotel at the end of her secondment on 13 July, keeping her job, getting a secondment out, staying in the workforce. But we, in NTUC, also understand the looming challenges ahead and are realistic that there is much more to do to help workers. This is why I fully support the Government's move to set up the National Jobs Council.”
“Aerospace by then was already impacted and they could foresee the further impact of COVID-19 on the industry, so they sent their workers for training. Mr Sahim Bin Anwar is one of the Technicians who was sent for digital training with NTUC LearningHub. Mr Sahim's digital knowledge has improved and this helps the company take one more step towards Industry 4.0. In May alone, NTUC LearningHub helped more than 500 companies who sent their workers for over 20,000 days' worth of training, these companies received up to $80 a day in absentee payroll for each worker they sent. This support adds up. If you do the mathematics, it will add up to about $1.6 million in terms of absentee payroll support for these companies. This is a win-win situation for both workers and companies. Ultimately, workers get to stay in their jobs, preserve their jobs and companies get help with the payroll and have better skilled workers on hand, poised for the eventual upturn. Mr Speaker, in spite of all these efforts, unfortunately, there will be job losses. In the last three to four months, NTUC Job Security Council has been working hard to match at-risk and displaced workers into available jobs. At the earlier stages, we moved quickly to partner badly hit aviation companies to match workers to new jobs – some into community work, some into healthcare and some even into our own NTUC FairPrice Group – without the workers having to go through retrenchment anxieties. So far, NTUC's Job Security Council has been able to match more than 10,000 workers, both rank-and-file and PMEs, into new jobs – easing workers' anxiety and most importantly, helping them earn a wage to sustain livelihood. Ms Gina Ng is one beneficiary of the Job Security Council.”
“The Government's Job Support Scheme (JSS) has helped many businesses manage part of the wage cost. As the Secretary-General, I thank the Government for responding to NTUC's feedback to expand JSS in more severely impacted industries. Many leaders, across different sectors, told me that without JSS, they really would not be able to keep workers on the payroll, even if workers were willing to do their part to help cut costs to save jobs. Besides JSS, NTUC is also helping businesses access other tools to keep business costs as manageable as possible. These tools are actually already on the table but are often less well-known and utilised. In the hotel industry where the impact is very serious, the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union worked with Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa to send workers for training under the Enhanced Training Support Package. A staff, Ms Pohleena, previously worked in the back-of-house in service performance management. But during this challenging period, she was needed in a front-facing role to take care of Stay-Home Notice guests. For this role, Ms Pohleena went for training at NTUC LearningHub, topped up on her people skills such as communications, so that she can do her new role. Ms Pohleena remained employed, increased her hospitality skill set and upped her value to her employer as a worker. The hotel also benefited – not only in having a more skilled worker but enjoyed absentee payroll support as well. We also see companies elsewhere benefit. Singapore Aero Engine Services was very proactive in working with the Singapore Industrial & Services Employees' Union early on to make use of the training support.”
“Should the Singapore Business Federation, the Singapore National Employers' Federation not be in it? If all of us are not together in this fight against COVID-19 as a team, then I think we would have lost a capability unique to Singapore. Yes, the Government has put up the $100 billion Budget, but I think there is space for business owners, NTUC and the workers to play a part. Tripartism is a strength. We should ride on this strength to execute this strategy that I mentioned, well and to the extent possible remain adaptive and learn lessons along the way. I am humble enough to say that NTUC could have done better in some of the SIRS things that we have done. But let us draw those lessons when the time comes. Immediately, now, we want to extend assistance to as many as possible. So, NTUC, as I have said, will do our part. As the economy reopens, workplaces must adapt and change to prevent new infections so that importantly, businesses can continue to stay open under Phase One or in the future, Phase Two conditions. To date, we had played another part to lead in terms of training over 1,800 union leaders, our management partners and staff on Safe Management Measures so that we can partner employers in companies to implement Safe Management Measures to keep workers safe and importantly, to keep businesses open. If we aggregate over the whole world economy, hopefully we can keep infection rates low and manageable, so that Singaporeans can resume some form of normalcy, some form of new economic life. This is critical to protecting lives and importantly, as COVID-19 drags on, to protecting livelihoods. With this ability to ensure the health of workers, then we can work towards jobs preservation.”
“I remember going to Newton Circle hawker centre with Minister Khaw to talk to taxi drivers, because their incomes were impacted, at that time, by already 50% or more. We set up a quick reaction small group and put up $77 million to help our drivers cope with the initial hit of COVID-19. So, why is NTUC in this space? Simply because, we care. Why are we in this space? Because we have some capabilities to augment the Government in extending this help to taxi drivers or freelancers as quickly as possible. Well, are there things that we can do better? I think, in time to come when we can settle the immediate issues that we have to deal with with COVID-19 and the transformative things NTUC is embarking on, I will humbly say that, "Yes, we will look at areas where we can do better". But, as it stands now, NTUC has extended a care fund to help all workers and likewise, we would like to do our part to help freelancers or self-employed persons deal with the current situation as well. We have put up a Self-Employed Person (SEP) training fund, besides SIRS, to help as SEPs and freelancers upgrade themselves and get into some training in dealing with COVID-19. We think that this is important. In the course of the three Budgets, NTUC provided feedback to the Government that these are needed things to do. And I recall, it was a late evening, when MOF called me up and I went to the Treasury Building and was told of the request of the Government to administer SIRS. I gladly informed MOF that NTUC will take up this role – not because we want to be at the centre of things, but because we thought we had the capability to do our part as a tripartite partner. If we look at the National Jobs Council that is set up, should NTUC not be in it?”
“This is the immediate track of things that we must do. Three, we must make use of the current crisis to push economic transformation. Ironically, as Mr Liang Eng Hwa has mentioned, COVID-19 has sped up disruption and moved us towards Industry 4.0 in double quick time. Businesses are on a burning platform – it is now "adopt new business models, new technologies" or die. Workers have taken to digital technology to do their work, order their food and even to keep in touch with family at a faster rate that what was previously not possible. We must use this transformative track to redesign jobs and create new, Industry 4.0, jobs so that workers, with the appropriate training, can take up these new jobs. Mr Speaker, the Government has a good guiding strategy to safeguard lives and livelihoods. We have stabilised the community infection and safeguarded lives. We are now restarting the economy with $100 billion worth of financial muscle on the table. The key now, really is to implement this strategy well. It is not sufficient for us to simply know what to do, but to do it well. Doing so is not only the Government's responsibility alone. Every business owner and every worker has a shared responsibility and an important role to play. NTUC, too, will also play our part. Ms Slyvia Lim spoke about the Self-Employed Persons Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) that NTUC helps to administer. But, maybe she does not quite remember the history of why we stepped into SIRS in the first place. Back in January, February, when COVID-19 started to hit. NTUC, with our National Taxi Association noticed that taxi drivers' incomes were dropping like a rock.”
“Mr Speaker, we have eased out of the circuit breaker. We have stabilised the COVID spread in our community, but we still have much to do to overcome significant economic challenges. Many companies are at breaking point and many workers are struggling to cope. I support the Fortitude Budget, as I have the previous three, because it will keep companies afloat and it will keep Singaporeans in their jobs. Without these Budgets, many more companies would fold and many more workers would be retrenched. And frankly, we would all be in deeper dire straits. Even with the $100 billion total Budget, we need to be realistic. This money certainly helps but it cannot replace the economic activities to sustain our livelihoods. We must therefore brace ourselves for tougher times: wage cuts and inevitable job losses. Indeed, union leaders and workers know that. But they do tell me that they have conflicting concerns: one, is of course on their jobs and their job security but the other is how can they be safe when they go back to work? I can sense their anxieties even across the cyber domain when I chat with them on the different media. So, what can we do? There are three things we can and must do to protect our jobs and keep our workers safe. One, keep the economy open, help the economy re-open and, importantly, keep our economy open by diligently practising safe management measures on the ground. This is the most obvious and the most important thing to do for protecting workers' lives and for opening up the lifeline towards livelihoods. Two, while we get our economy back into shape, we need to preserve jobs. We need to create jobs, temporary ones even; and match workers to these new jobs when old jobs are lost. Make sure that at-risk groups are taken care of.”
“From 20 April, NTUC will help the self-employed persons who are not eligible for SIRS to appeal to the Government so that they can benefit from this scheme as well. Both NTUC and the Government share the same goal – the support packages must sustain our companies, sustain our jobs and secure our future. In these difficult times, I believe that if we stay united, with concerted efforts to overcome all challenges, we will be able to ride this out together and move towards a brighter future. (In English): Mr Speaker, let me conclude. I spoke to a tour guide recently. She thanked me profusely for all the different assistance given to her, whether Government or NTUC. But in this conversation, what caught my attention was the story she told about her daughter. She told me her daughter had just returned from overseas. Her daughter saw the big difference between Singapore's way of dealing with COVID-19 through a whole-of-nation approach in tackling the crisis versus what she experienced overseas. She saw the help that was given to her mother. She saw how Singaporeans came together to help one another. She says now she realised what it means to be Singaporean and that she is proud to be Singaporean – coming from a 20-something year old who, I believe, has matured tremendously over the last four months. Mr Speaker, this is a value-shaping moment for Singapore. COVID-19 is one of the biggest challenges we have faced to date. The Government, the Labour Movement and employers are working with Singaporeans, to overcome this together. Let us show who we are, that we are a resilient nation, that we respond to facts, we trust our Government and importantly, we have compassion for our neighbours. Mr Speaker, we are prepared for this fight and we will pull through this crisis together.”
“They are making use of Government support to send their workers for training so that when the upturn eventually comes, our air sectors will be poised and ready for those new opportunities. I hope other employers do their part too, because their actions will greatly impact how Singapore emerges from this crisis. Companies must keep their workers employed and make use of the support to send workers for training. In whatever ways NTUC can help, we want to do so. Our objectives across the tripartite partners are the same: sustain our companies; sustaining our jobs and securing our future. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This year's Budget was first boosted and further enhanced. This is unprecedented. It shows the Government's resolute determination to help our people and businesses tide over these difficult times. In my conversations with residents, workers, union leaders and employers, they all said that this Budget can help them. However, they hope that the measures will be implemented earlier – relief and subsidies be disbursed sooner. As the Chinese proverb says, “distant water cannot help to put out a fire close at hand”. In NTUC, we have also stepped up our efforts to help employers and workers understand the various schemes introduced by the Government and, more importantly, help them benefit from the schemes as soon as possible. The income of self-employed persons was greatly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Some of them are not eligible for the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS). I have discussed this with Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Manpower Minister Josephine Teo.”
“But I also hope more will apply for the NTUC Care Fund for COVID-19 in the interim. While this is not a large amount, $200-$300, but every little bit counts. And we, in the Labour Movement, want to chip in and help out our fellow workers and put cash directly into workers' and freelancers' hands. More than cash, we must help Singaporeans with their jobs. Earning a decent wage is crucial for survival and paying bills. The Government is helping companies to stay liquid and keep their workers. But again, if I may just reinforce my feedback, this help must be pushed out quickly, as the revenue has dried up for many companies. As Labour Chief, I have vested interests in companies' survival and success because our workers can only succeed when companies succeed and do well. NTUC, therefore, has been engaging CEOs to understand their concerns and see how we in NTUC and the Labour Movement can assist, whether it is about cutting costs to save jobs, accessing Government assistance or job matching their excess workers through our Job Security Council. I also recently spoke to leaders in the local aviation and aerospace sectors to see how they are and see what we can do together. I found the conversations insightful. Despite the aviation and aerospace sectors suffering huge losses, the CEOs are trying their best to keep their workers. For example, as Minister Khaw has also mentioned, cabin crew from SIA are being trained and redeployed for meaningful work as SG Care and Safe Distancing Ambassadors. This means they can earn some income and, at the same time, help in our national COVID-19 efforts. Also, despite these difficult times, the CEOs are keeping an eye on the future.”
“Through this, we must remain agile and adaptable in responding to the increasing challenges. Over the last few days, I saw many queuing up for the Temporary Relief Fund – over 3,000 in my division. For many, it is the first time that they are applying for aid, not something they ever thought they would have to do. They tell me they are more than willing to work to support their families. But now, many of them have little choice. And the worry in their voices was frankly heart-breaking. So, I am glad to hear Deputy Prime Minister say today that this money provided for in the different Budgets will be paid out quickly. This will help the ground significantly. Our financial muscle today in Singapore is not insignificant – thanks to the foresight of our founding leaders. The Government is rolling out other cash support for the months ahead, such as the COVID-19 Support Grant and the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme, or SIRS. Though the support is generous, some freelancers and self-employed have told me they are worried. Why? Because they do not meet the criteria for SIRS. So, again, I am happy to hear a broadening of criteria for these people where the Annual Value (AV) is raised from $13,000 to $21,000. I have also spoken to Deputy Prime Minister Heng and Mrs Josephine Teo, our Manpower Minister, to see how we can help this group of self-employed and freelancers. NTUC will step up to administer the applications and appeals for SIRS. We will try our very best to push for inclusion and make this process as straightforward as possible. I know that many freelancers and self-employed are going through hard times and as such, we, in NTUC and the Labour Movement will work to facilitate appeals starting no later than 20 April. We will do our best in this aspect.”
“Mr Speaker, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has announced a robust Supplementary Budget to meet the challenges of COVID-19. These challenges are fast evolving, not only in the world but also in Singapore. In many ways, we have managed the impact of the first wave of COVID-19. But the second wave has come upon us and the Government has taken more measures to combat the spread. Protecting lives is of utmost importance and urgency. But this can clash painfully with sustaining livelihoods. It is a difficult and delicate balance. I have spoken to many on the ground – Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), workers from all walks of life and freelancers. All of them are struggling. The new circuit breaker measures, while protecting lives, will only make things harder for them. But all of them tell me that while things are difficult, they appreciate what the Singapore Government and Singaporeans are doing together. And I am sure many will also appreciate the extra help that Deputy Prime Minister announced today, on top of the two Budgets, especially the enhanced Job Support Scheme of up to 75% subsidy. I am also personally reassured that the Government is prepared to do more if and when necessary. They know that these circumstances are challenging, and they are willing to do their part. However, they want me to help them relay one key feedback. They would like to see an increase in the speed of Government assistance. The Government has pushed out a lot of budgetary help over the past weeks. Money is on the table. The key now is to put this help directly into the pockets of ordinary workers and Singaporeans. The economic impact of COVID-19, as many in this House have said, is unprecedented and the situation has escalated faster than any of us expected.”
“In Singapore, we enjoy the fruits of hard-earned tripartism, which has brought us economic resilience and social stability. Underpinned by this year's strong Budget, all these will ensure that Singaporeans’ lives are uplifted together. The Labour Movement will continue to work with our Government and employers to improve the social and economic well-being of Singapore and Singaporeans. To this end, we will continue to strengthen and adapt the uniquely Singapore social compact so that it will stand the test of time. Mr Speaker, I stand in support of the Budget. [Applause.]”
“We hope to lessen the anxiety for workers and PMEs and assure them that NTUC, the Labour Movement, is doing what we can to help them find good jobs. We look forward to taking this pilot further and we call on companies which may not have yet joined us to contact NTUC to come on board. So, Ms Jessica Tan, I expect a call from Raffles Medical Group soon. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I have been very concerned about the employment situation of our workers, especially the middle-aged workers and PMEs who are in their 40s to 50s. Many who lost their jobs shared with me that they faced all kinds of difficulties finding a new job. A year ago, we started exploring ways to help these workers. In the past half year, NTUC’s e2i has been in talks with many companies to join the NTUC JSC. Companies that join JSC, a handful may reduce manpower, but many more want to hire workers. Through JSC, workers who are at risk of losing their jobs will be matched to companies that have suitable jobs for them. And if workers need to have different skills to take on the new jobs, e2i will arrange for them to undergo training and upskill themselves. To date, we have more than 4,000 companies on board the NTUC JSC, employing a total of more than 500,000 workers. More than 90% of these companies are SMEs. We will continue to work with companies from more sectors and get them on board JSC so that more workers can benefit. (In English): Mr Speaker, I will conclude. Around the world, the social compact in many societies is breaking down. The trust citizens have for their political leaders is eroding. But in Singapore, we have the trust of Singaporeans. It is something that we must never take for granted.”
“We have strong support from our valued tripartite partner, the Singapore National Employers Federation and many other Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs), such as the Workforce Advancement Federation supporting local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the Singapore Manufacturing Federation and the Specialists Trade Alliance of Singapore from the building and construction industry. These 4,000-plus companies come from a wide range and diverse industries and are of many different sizes. I am excited to see MNCs, such as Rolls Royce and General Electric (GE) Aviation, coming on board. I visited Rolls Royce recently and was impressed by the dedication and commitment of the management to the workforce. We have also some startups, local startups and SMEs, such as Ebenezer Group in the Engineering sector, Blue Ventures Holdings in the Wholesale Trade, as well as Swee Heng Bakery and Montreux Patisserie in the food and beverage (F&B) sector. Swee Heng Bakery is a household name and has been in the bakery scene for just over 30 years. Their efforts to keep relevant causes them to up technology and, in the process, partnering e2i to up the skills of the workers in using machinery and upping their productivity so that they can remain relevant and do a thriving business. All these companies will stand to benefit from a lower-cost ready-made recruitment tool through the JSC, with the added bonus of training and skills upgrading for our workers. Companies will also have access to a community of HR personnel and senior management sharing best practices and progressive employment standards. Through JSC, we want to create a win-win for companies and our workers.”
“And if they are retrenched, they can take a long time to get back into a job and one which may not pay as well or may not even fully utilise their skills. Although these numbers are not large, for the individual worker or PME who has mouths to feed and bills to pay, the situation can cause a lot of fear and anxiety. NTUC wants to ease this situation and help these workers and PMEs. While the Labour Movement has already been training and matching workers on an informal basis, we want to formalise this process. NTUC is, therefore, piloting the NTUC JSC, to improve the matching of displaced or retrenched workers into new jobs. We will create an ecosystem of "releasing" companies and "receiving" companies: "receiving" companies being those which can absorb skilled workers and PMEs into their workplace from the "releasing" companies. JSC will work with companies to gather information on the job vacancies, jobs that may be phased out and, importantly, jobs that could be redesigned for workers and PMEs. JSC will then match these workers and PMEs to vacancies within this network and, where needed, identify the new skillsets required and top up workers' and PMEs' skills, where necessary, with the necessary training. JSC can also help companies access the many Government schemes, such as the new SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package. All these schemes are intended to enhance skilling and placement efforts for local workers and PMEs. And NTUC or this JSC can be the conduit to focus workers and companies on accessing the grants to help the workers seek new jobs and upgrade their skills. The pilot will start with more than 4,000 companies.”
“This will build the company's and the workers' capabilities in tandem and prepare them when the upturn in the economy comes, when more visitors come back to the Singapore Zoo and the Jurong Bird Park. Such a move will also give their workers the added assurance that they can continue with their jobs – less anxiety. And I am happy to see that Wildlife Reserves Singapore is fully on board. The company is particularly keen to build on their digital roadmap with the help of NTUC Learning Hub to identify and customise relevant courses, such as SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace, for its workforce of about 1,100 workers. These courses will help shape Worker 4.0 actualise the value of technology in the workplace and, equally importantly, help workers improve their work prospects and job security over time. When we first announced the CTCs last year, the Labour Movement made a goal to have 1,000 CTCs in three years. I am pleased to update the House that we are well on our way to meeting this target. To date, we have formed 352 CTCs and we are starting to see workers in companies, such as Wildlife Reserves Singapore, reap the benefits of this partnership. So, well done, Wildlife Reserves Singapore and our unions, Attractions, Resorts and Entertainment Union (AREU) and the Singapore Manual and Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU). However, we can do more. There are still some workers who continue to fall through the gaps. Through my conversations, I have noticed, as many Members have, that there is a growing concern among workers, especially those in their 40s to 50s, and, more often, PMEs, who find themselves displaced or retrenched because their skills have become redundant as technologies evolve.”
“And given that she has an important appointment as Director in Raffles Medical Group, it is music to my ears to hear an employer speaking in Parliament calling for more to be done for our workers. Let me elaborate on some of the tools with which we can promote job security for all workers, as Ms Sylvia Lim has also articulated. NTUC introduced the CTCs last year for union leaders and their management partners to work together for the company to drive towards transformation in partnership. I am glad to hear Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat mention the benefits that the CTC platform has brought to our businesses and workers. These CTCs enable companies to refresh and deepen workers' skillsets in line with new technologies and, importantly, tap on Government resources, such as the new SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit, to aid with the needed training. They have also the added benefit of providing a ready-made platform, an avenue for management to discuss more immediate issues with the union, such as manpower and cost concerns arising out of COVID-19 today – not originally intended but necessarily a good tool now for CTCs to enable the discussions between management and workers to think about training in the lull period. Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which manages the Singapore Zoo, the Jurong Bird Park and other attractions, has, as I said earlier, experienced a significant drop in visitor arrivals because of COVID-19. Through a recent CTC meeting with the management, and in my discussion with them just this Monday, our unions proposed sending the workers for training and upskilling during this downtime.”
“Our resident labour growth is slowing and our workforce is ageing. There are now more PMEs in the workforce with better education and, in contrast, the proportion of rank-and-file workers is declining. I know that it can be difficult to think about structural change over the long term while we are facing immediate concerns that seem so much more pressing. In these circumstances, workers do tell me that they sometimes struggle to keep up with these new realities. They are prepared for transformation and change but, at the same time, these cause them much worry, whether they can adapt to these new realities. But the Labour Movement wants to assure every worker that you matter and we will do our best to support you during this time. In my view, every job counts. And there is one thing we must do to enhance and, that is, to bring better job security for our workers. We believe that job security is the umbrella that protects our workers from passing thunderstorms. In today's context, job security does not necessarily mean guaranteeing a job for life. Times have changed. More and more, job security means providing workers with what they need for skills progression and job placement, which ultimately will improve their work prospects that would bring them more confidence and give themselves, the workers and their families peace of mind in the new economy. Our NTUC Labour Members of Parliament will be speaking today on how we are working to ensure job security for every worker: older workers, women in the workforce and, especially the most vulnerable segments of our population, such as the lower-income and the self-employed workers. Ms Jessica Tan was almost speaking like a Labour Member of Parliament.”
“6 billion Care and Support Package shows care for workers and addresses the needs of older workers, young families, the lower-income and our future generations. On NTUC's part, we are doing what we can to help and protect our workers and their families. Our union leaders are working hard to help companies manage excess manpower and reduce costs by arranging for subsidised worker training and upskilling through NTUC Learning Hub and the NTUC Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) during this lull period. In some cases, this is arranged through our Company Training Committees (CTCs) which we launched last year and have proven useful. We are also looking at ways in which we can help workers, in particular PMEs, with their job worries. Something that could help is a pilot that NTUC is introducing this year, called the NTUC Job Security Council (JSC). I will explain more on this shortly, in response also to Ms Jessica Tan and Ms Sylvia Lim's point about worried workers. For the self-employed, the Labour Movement is working together with Government agencies to help cushion the financial blow and organise relevant training. Whilst we work together to overcome today’s challenges, I support the Government's $8.3 billion Transformation and Growth effort to transform our economy and prepare for the realities and opportunities that lie ahead. Singapore continues to face long-term challenges. Industry 4.0 is changing the nature of many jobs and creating new types of work: from 3D printing of our HDB flats, to friendly chatbots providing 24/7 frontline service to customers. All these are exciting opportunities which, if we can seize, will bring greater possibilities for our economy and for our workers. And our labour force is also changing.”
“Over the past few weeks, the Labour Movement has been hard at work collecting worker feedback through our union leaders, industrial relations officers and from employer partners. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has factored this feedback into the Budget. During this difficult time, workers are understandably worried for the health of their loved ones, friends and co-workers. Additionally, workers in some of the hardest hit sectors are facing daily disruptions and, as Members have said before, they are worried about sustaining a steady income in this uncertain environment. Just to give Members a sense, hotel occupancy rates have gone down to as low as 35% or worse, from highs of 85% and more. Our taxi and private hire drivers have given me feedback that income has dipped up to 40%. And even attractions in Singapore have seen visitorship drop by as much as 90%. So, many workers are anxious. They do not know if they can keep their jobs and worry about reduced incomes, given less work, less overtime. As for employer feedback, we are starting to see delays in the supply chain as the reach of COVID-19 deepens. Also, some companies are suffering from a shortage of labour, while ironically, other sectors have excess capacity. I am heartened to see the Budget address these issues and many more. The $4 billion Stabilisation and Support Package announced by the Government will help businesses across industries and specific sectors most affected by the outbreak, to help them defray business costs. Our workers can take comfort in knowing that the help for businesses will also help them keep their jobs and incomes. The $1.”
“Mr Speaker, we have had a challenging start to 2020. Singaporeans ushered in the new year amidst slowing economic growth and geostrategic uncertainties. With COVID-19, this has further impacted the health of our economy. Although the severity of COVID-19 remains unclear, the Labour Movement will work closely with the Government and businesses to tackle the spread of the disease and protect workers. I would like to thank workers on the frontlines who are working tirelessly to keep us all going: our medical staff, drivers, air crews, cleaners, security officers and many more. Thank you. Mr Speaker, we are not unfamiliar with the current situation, given our experience with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We are now much better prepared to tackle an infectious disease outbreak, such as COVID-19. Our medical infrastructure, public health knowledge and training have improved significantly over the years. However, this time round, we are facing a deeper, more wide-ranging impact to our economy than before. Our world is now much more interconnected with China, and the disruption to China's economy is starting to cause far-reaching ripple effects that have affected Singapore as well. So, let us all be mentally prepared and, importantly, ready ourselves, stay strong, and overcome any challenges that come our way. As Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), I commend the Government's swift and collected response to the outbreak. The strong Budget this year reflects the whole-of-Government approach to tackling the virus and maintaining our workers' confidence in the economy.”
“It must be today’s reality; it must be the future reality. At the heart of what our 4th Generation (4G) leaders do, be it in the Government or in the Labour Movement, workers must be at the centre. With this close political and union cooperation, we can chart Singapore’s success together so that when Singapore succeeds, all Singaporeans can have a share in that success. Mr Deputy Speaker, I stand in support of the Budget. [Applause.]”
“Likewise, workers must also quickly adapt and seize opportunities. The theme of this year's Budget is building a strong and united Singapore. I believe that if we put workers at the heart of everything we do and with concerted efforts, we will be able to create a better future for all. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, I will conclude. In 1969, NTUC organised the "Trade Union Seminar on Modernisation of the Labour Movement" in the midst of an employment crisis when the British announced that they were pulling out of Singapore. This "Modernisation Seminar" generated Singapore's unique brand of collaborative tripartism. As a result, the trust and mutual respect between the Government and NTUC enabled the setting up of various co-operatives, such as NTUC FairPrice, to help workers manage the cost of living and serve workers. The Labour Movement has since then played a crucial role in Singapore’s success. As Mr Lee Kuan Yew said back in 1979, "The close cooperation between the political and the union leadership made modern Singapore. It is both history and today’s reality". Mr Lee's statement remains true in the way forward for us. Twenty-nineteen is the 50th anniversary of the Modernisation Seminar. Singapore is at a transition point, where our economy is taking on a major transformation, where our society is an ageing one, and our political leadership is also undergoing renewal. NTUC has enjoyed the strong support of MOM in labour issues. Moving forward, from all the different speeches, we know that there is a need for NTUC to engage other agencies upstream, particularly MTI for transformation and MOE for lifelong learning for our workers. In these and other aspects, the political and union leadership must continue the close collaboration that made modern Singapore.”
“Besides supporting companies to deepen capabilities and increase competitiveness, the Government is also helping workers to enjoy better wages, welfare and career prospects in the new age of industrial transformation and digitalisation. More importantly, companies should share their successes with workers through gainsharing. Therefore, they were very happy when they heard Minister Heng Swee Keat's announcement that, from next year April onwards, companies which tap on the EDG to transform must ensure that their employees also benefit, such as in the form of wage increases. NTUC’s e2i IGP, since was launched in 2010, has benefited more than 90,000 workers. In the past five years, the average wage increase per project was about 13%. NTUC looks forward to partnering MTI and ESG for EDG to be both pro-business and pro-worker. It has always been NTUC's belief that the best welfare for our workers is a good job. With the rapid development of technology, we are entering the era of Industry 4.0. But there can be no Industry 4.0 without Worker 4.0. Besides helping companies to stay competitive by leveraging smart technologies, it is also important to help workers accept and harness technology to realise their potential in Industry 4.0. But what are the skillsets and attributes of Worker 4.0? What types of training should they undergo to become Worker 4.0? Over the last few months, NTUC has been in discussions with companies and relevant partners across industries to develop archetypes of Worker 4.0. To actualise the archetypes, the next step is setting up Training Committees in companies to help workers undergo training and upskilling to become Worker 4.0. In this rapidly changing world, it is critical that companies innovate and transform in tandem.”
“By harnessing both management and labour expertise, the Training Committee can chart out skills and competency requirements, put in place training programmes, such as PSA’s one-year Systems Engineering Course at SIT, schedule workers' training to minimise downtime in ongoing operations. This may seem simple in a speech, but it is no trivial matter in our companies' manpower shortage with shift work. And, when we do all these, it facilitates good outcomes for the workers and the companies. In addition, we can also map out, through the training committees, prospects for career progression, incorporating possible jobs of the future and, where possible, even tagged to wage increments of these future jobs. With these initial pilot programmes and pilot companies, we can already reach out to about 64,000 workers in our unionised companies. Hence, in the next phase, we want to scale up further to all our unionised companies. Importantly, we must know that these Training Committees will benefit the businesses and they will benefit our workers. This may sound easy but, in actuality, will not be so simple to execute. Nevertheless, it is a needed initiative. The Labour Movement, with our reach to partner unionised companies, can play our part in the Industry Transformation. It is important to start now, to put many good ideas discussed in this Chamber into practical action and, even if we may not get it 100% right at the first go, well, we will get it right. And let us get to the transformation process. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Union leaders and workers told me they are heartened that the Government is pro-worker.”