Singapore's labour movement is playing to win: NTUC
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S'pore playing to win and next 2 years will not be any less challenging: NTUC
SINGAPORE: Singapore's labour movement is playing to win and the next two years will not be any less challenging.
That's the view of the labour movement's chief Lim Swee Say who has called on workers and employers to play their part in making the economy and workforce cheaper, better and faster. He was speaking at the 3-day ordinary delegates conference.
The challenges facing Singapore's labour movement are varied as the battle against the global recession is still on.
But for the labour chief there was no better way then to put the key messages across to the unionists in his usual candid form.
Mr Lim said: "We are now upturning the downturn. As we move forward, let us go on the offensive. So let us move towards a cheaper, better, faster Singapore economy."
Mr Lim said that to be cheaper Singapore must improve its productivity. And that means producing better quality products and services in a more cost effective manner while being better meant nurturing new markets and broadening capabilities.
He added: "For those who start to neglect training, it will be another downturn for them and this downturn won't be a global downturn but an enterprise downturn. So from the viewpoint of the labour movement we hope that all industries will go through this process of transformation.
“Achieving the vision of a cheaper, better, faster economy powered by an all-inclusive workforce will not be easy. Strong and effective tripartism has been our unique advantage enabling us to sustain healthy economic growth with full employment for most of the past 30 years.
“Going forward to be even more pro-business and pro-worker, the role of tripartism will be even more critical. We must therefore further broaden our reach and deepen our trust in tripartism."
Mr Lim added that once the new continuing education and training centres are completed, they can respond faster to start new courses to cater to the evolving new economy.- CNA/vm
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Cheaper?
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I hope one can see the irony of a million dollar salaried minister telling workers to be cheaper.