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Singapore

Population:5.07 million

Physical Size:712.4 Sq Km

GDP: US$246 9

Per Capita GDP: US$48,628

Total Trade: US$733.4

billion

US$246.9 billion

Stages of Development in Industrial RelationsStages of Development in Industrial Relations

2010 andFuture

50s & 60s 70s & 80s 90s & 2000

Adversarial Relationship

Mutual Tolerance

Cooperative Relationship

Synergistic Partnership

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1,000,000

625,000

750,000

875,000

No. of Strikes and disputes No. of Man Days Lost

No. of man days lost

History of Industrial Relations in SingaporeHistory of Industrial Relations in Singapore

845,637

946,354

0,000

500,000

250,000

125,000

375,000

No. of strikes    No. of man days lost

No. of strikes

410,889388,219

The Tripartite FrameworkThe Tripartite Framework

Government(MOM)

Adopt a partnership and problem-solving approach in preventing and resolving issues of common concernTrade Unions

(NTUC)Employers

(SNEF)

Ministry of ManpowerMinister for Manpower

Mr Gan Kim Yong

Tripartite Partners at Work Tripartite Partners at Work and at Playand at Play, , March 2009March 2009

National Trades Union CongressSecretary‐General Mr Lim Swee Say

Singapore National Employers Federation

PresidentMr Stephen Lee

Formation of various tripartite committees and workgroupsPromoting enlightened management and positive trade unionism

Expanding Scope of Tripartite Cooperation Expanding Scope of Tripartite Cooperation to Other Areasto Other Areas

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Tripartite Committees/Workgroups for Tripartite Committees/Workgroups for Key IR/Employment IssuesKey IR/Employment Issues

Tripartite Review Committee on Employment Act, 1994 ‐ 1995

Tripartite Committee on Extension of Retirement Age, 1997

Tripartite Panel on Retrenched Workers, 1998

Tripartite Committee on Executives joining the Rank and File Unions, 1999 ‐ 2000

Tripartite Committee on the Employability of Older Workers, 2005 

Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices, 2006

Tripartite Panel on Community Engagement at Workplaces, 2006

Tripartite Implementation Workgroup, 2007

Tripartite Committee on Portable Medical Benefits, 2000 ‐ 2001

Economic Review Committee Wages Working Group, 2002

Tripartite Taskforce on Wage Restructuring, 2003

Tripartite Review Team on Section 18A of the Employment Act on Company Restructuring, 2004

National Tripartite Advisory Panel on Family Friendly Practices, 2004

Tripartite Committee on Flexible Work Schedules, 2004

Tripartite Committee on CPF and Work Related Benefits for Low‐Wage Workers, 2007

Tripartite Workgroup on Enhancing Employment Choices for Women ,2007

Tripartite Workgroup on Employment Act Review, 2008

Tripartite Taskforce on Managing Economic Downturn, 2008/09

Tripartite Upturn Strategy Teams (TRUST Teams) 2009

Tripartite Guidelines/Advisories Tripartite Guidelines/Advisories on Employment & IR Issueson Employment & IR Issues

Tripartite Guidelines on Non‐Discriminatory Job Advertisements, 1998

Tripartite Guidelines on Union Representation of Executives, 2001

Tripartite Guidelines on Best Work‐Life Practices, 2003

Tripartite Code of Industrial Relations Practice, 2004

Guidelines on Family Friendly Workplace Practices issued by the National Tripartite AdvisoryPanel, 2004

Tripartite Guidelines on Flexi‐Time Scheme, 2004

Tripartite Guidelines on Re‐Employment of Older Workers, 2005

Tripartite Advisory on Responsible Outsourcing Practices, 2007

Tripartite Advisory on Re‐Employment of Older Workers, 2008

Tripartite Guidelines on Managing Excess Manpower (revised), 2009

Tripartite Advisory on Workplace Measures to Tackle Influenza A (H1N1‐2009), 2009

Tripartite Advisory on Managing Manpower Challenges for Enhanced Competitiveness andSustainability, 2009

Tripartite Guidelines on the Re‐Employment of Older Employees, 2010 (*updated 11 Jan 2011)

An example of Tripartite Cooperation An example of Tripartite Cooperation ––National Wages CouncilNational Wages CouncilNational Wages CouncilNational Wages Council

Composition of NWC

ChairmanA neutral person

Government representatives

Ministry of ManpowerMinistry of Trade and

Industry et al

Employers' representatives

Singapore National Employers Federation

Key Business Chambers

Workers' representatives

National Trades Union Congress

Secretariat (provided by the Ministry of Manpower)

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Significance of the NWCSignificance of the NWC

• Wage issue is the key and most contentious IR issue in labour‐management negotiations

• NWC guidelines formulated with tripartite consensus minimise wage dispute and promote union‐management cooperation

T i tit t hi d bi tit ti t• Tripartite partnership and bipartite cooperation at company level has contributed to industrial harmony in Singapore over the years

Tripartite partnership fostered through the NWC laid the foundation for the development of strong tripartism in Singapore

Managing the 2008Managing the 2008‐‐2009 2009 economic downturneconomic downturneconomic downturneconomic downturn

Others:

Singapore:

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• Launched in Nov 08, revised on May 09

• Guidelines adopt principles of • Spirit of equal sacrifice• Leadership by example• Close consultations and transparency

• TOP PRIORITY is to cut costs to save jobs

O l t t h t LAST RESORT

Tripartite Guidelines on Managing Excess ManpowerTripartite Guidelines on Managing Excess Manpower

• Only carry out retrenchments as a LAST RESORT

A tripartite programme to help employers and workers manage the economic downturn and build new capabilities to seize opportunities for the economic recovery

Cut Costs Reskill & Build

Skills Programmes for Upgrading and ResilienceSkills Programmes for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR)(SPUR)

Cut Costs, Save JobsHelp companies manage excess manpower and reduce unemployment / under-employment

Reskill & Upskill

Help local workers upgrade skills and convert to new jobs

Build Capabilities for Recovery

Strengthen capabilities in labour market and prepare for upturn

“2010 has been a good year for Singapore and its workers. The economy grew robustly, and many jobs were created 

across many sectors. Workers enjoyed good wage settlements and bonuses… This is the Singapore way, where all of us – managers and workers, employers and unions, Government and the people – stand together in bad times, 

and share the benefits in good times.”

Extracted from Prime MinisterMr Lee Hsien Loong’s May Day Message 2011

Singapore Tripartism Experience Singapore Tripartism Experience ‐‐A Virtuous CycleA Virtuous Cycle

Social & Political

Industrial Harmony / Tripartite Partnership, High Productivity &

Favourable Investment Climate

Social & PoliticalStability

Higher Standard of

Living & Better Quality of Life

Economic Growth& Job Creation

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Is Singapore’s experience with tripartite collaboration 

transferable?  What can be adapted?  What may be unique?

How can we strengthen social dialogue and tripartite 

collaboration?

Something to think aboutSomething to think about

How do we institutionalise tripartite collaboration?