Jobless rate at 6-yr low: S'pore
aims to do better
Zakir Hussain
Fri, Aug 03, 2007
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE'S unemployment is at a six-year low, but leaders of the
labour movement have set their sights even higher.
They want Singapore to have an employment rate that is among the
highest in the world.
How? By recreating old jobs, employing more older workers, and
retraining affected workers.
Labour chief Lim Swee Say pledged to strive for these goals in his
National Day message to union members yesterday.
To remain a winner, Singapore has to think creatively, move swiftly
and adapt quickly to the changing environment, the NTUC
secretary-general said.
'We must continue to compete fiercely for the good jobs and the
best investments. This is the best way to ensure Singapore will
always be a land of opportunities in a region of possibilities,' he
added.
The Government will work with unions and bosses to arm workers with
the appropriate skills for new jobs.
'We will recreate old jobs into more productive jobs, and turn
cheap-sourcing into best-sourcing so that low-wage workers of today
can earn better wages tomorrow,' Mr Lim said.
'Cheap-sourcing' refers to contracts given to the lowest price,
unlike 'best-sourcing'' which awards contracts based on
performance.
Workplaces will also be made more age-friendly and family-friendly,
he said, so that more older workers can be rehired.
Yesterday, Mr Lim was also at ST Aerospace where he spoke to some
2,000 workers during the company's National Day observance
ceremony, one of about 20 that the labour movement is organising at
companies across the island this month.
Also out for the same reason yesterday was deputy secretary-general
Heng Chee How. at ST Electronics.
Both noted that with strong economic growth, it was getting harder
to find workers. To sustain the growth, the shortage had to be
tackled.
They believe the answer lies in increasing the supply of workers
and one way is to 'make good use of foreign manpower to complement
and supplement our local workforce', said Mr Lim.
'One reason why we were able to
grow faster over the years is because Singaporeans were smart
enough to welcome more foreigners to Singapore,' he said, noting
that 20 per cent of workers at ST Aerospace were
foreigners.
This, he said, enabled the company to get where it is.
ST Aerospace is the world's largest commercial aircraft
maintenance, repair and overhaul company, and employs 4,400 workers
here.
Said Mr Lim: 'Ask yourself: Is ST Aerospace better off with or
without that foreign manpower? Without that, ST Aerospace will be
20 per cent smaller, and your National Day Bonus will be 20 per
cent smaller.'
Permanent staff will receive $1,300, said the company's president
Tay Kok Khiang, to applause from his staff.
Five model workers also received awards from Mr Lim.
One of them was technician Aziz Talib, 30, a Malaysian, who said:
'I've never felt left out as a foreigner here because teamwork is
strong. In fact, I've benefited from a fully subsidised engineering
course at ITE and the bonus will come in handy when my first child
is born next month.'
Said Mr Lim of the bonus: 'It demonstrates that the management is
pro-worker but at the same time, workers are also pro-business, and
together you are able to be number one for customers. And because
of that, they keep coming back to you.'
