By S Ramesh | Posted: 25
November 2010 1325 hrs
SINGAPORE: Labour Chief Lim Swee Say said he would
not be pushing for every company to match the two-and-a-half months
year-end bonus for civil servants, announced on Wednesday
He explained performances across different industries would be
different.
But he added that feedback from union members indicate that overall
wage increases this year are likely to be higher than those of last
year, with companies paying on the average half a month more in
terms of year-end bonus.
Speaking to the media after an NTUC learning journey to Sakae
Sushi, he said total wages for workers in companies which are doing
better this year, should be higher than those in 2009.
But how much of these wages go into wage increases and variable
bonuses would vary across companies and organisations.
He said what's important to note was that the flexible wage system
has worked very well for Singapore up to now and the labour
movement hopes it will continue to function well in the
future.
For this, the NTUC Chief emphasised that it's important to maintain
trust.
This meant that it's important for employers to share the gains and
improvements in performance with their workers if their companies
are doing well.
In this way, all parties will strengthen the wage system in good
and bad times.
He said: "So far, on the whole, most companies are doing much
better than last year.
"(As such), some of them decided to (increase wages) because of the
keener competition and tighter labour market.
"In some cases they are restoring the monthly variable component
(MVC) because some (employers) did cut MVCs during the
downturn.
"In (other) cases they are going to pay higher bonuses".
As for the labour market situation, Mr Lim said he believe it would
remain tight.
The government also announced on Wednesday that it had again
decided to defer the salary adjustments for Administrative
Officers, Political, Judicial and Statutory Appointment
holders.
Mr Lim said: "What we worry about is not whether our salary will be
restored... (but) how we are going to sustain the growth for the
next three, five to 10 years, and how we keep ensuring that the
employment growth will be healthy and strong so that there will be
more good paying jobs for Singaporeans."
He added it was important for every Singaporean, regardless of age
group, education and skills levels, to be able to pursue a
productive career and lead a better life.
"That is really the pre-occupation of the political leaders as well
as the senior civil servants," he said.
-CNA/wk