SAFETY FIRST Singapore is arming itself with a fresh new national target to reduce the workplace fatality rate by 2028. We find out what the ...
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10 SEPTEMBER 2017
60 CENTS
MCI (P) 102/12/2016
SAFETY FIRST
Singapore is arming itself with a fresh new national target to
reduce the workplace fatality rate by 2028. We find out what
the Labour Movement is doing to ensure every worker goes
home safe and sound.
2 WORKPLACE SAFETY & HEALTH NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017
TOP STORIES Going
Heavy on
Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information
Safety
“Every life counts,
every worker matters,”
says PM Lee as he
announces a new target
5
Safety Starts from the Top
Senoko Energy is all eyes on
to bring down workplace
keeping the grounds safe for
its workers, with management
fatalities even further.
leading the way.
By Ramesh Subbaraman
S
ingapore takes workplace safety and tripartite approach to workplace safety and health
health very seriously as human capital is will be key, involving employers, workers and the
the country’s only resource, said Prime Government.
Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong (pictured above). On its part, the Government will take the lead
As such, the country is setting itself a new and institute rules and incentives for companies to
target to bring down workplace fatalities to below emphasise workplace safety and health.
1.0 per 100,000 employed persons before 2028. Turning to workers, PM Lee said they are the ones
He was speaking at the official opening of most familiar with the work processes and can take
the 21st World Congress on Safety and Health At ownership of their own safety and health. They can
Work 2017 on 3 September 2017. also raise the alarm if they discover potential hazards
Held in Singapore for the first time, the at work.
four-day congress was attended by nearly 3,000 PM Lee also encouraged workers to attend training
8
Moving on with a
practitioners of workplace safety and health. courses on workplace safety and health at NTUC
Little Help
The Singapore Shell PM Lee recounted that in 2008, Singapore set LearningHub (LHUB).
Employees’ Union and a target to reduce fatality rates to 1.8 per 100,000 “The trade union movement has fully supported
NTUC’s e2i (Employment and employed persons within a decade by 2018. the improvement of workplace safety and health.
Employability Institute) help
a member secure a new job
“With the right approach and framework in It will continue to engage workers and companies,
after retrenchment. place, and with the political emphasis given to to encourage them to adopt better monitoring and
this task, we have made progress and should reporting practices, including reporting near miss
soon meet this target. Last year, Singapore’s accidents or incidents,” he shared.
workplace fatality rate was down to 1.9 per
100,000. But this is still not the best that can be LHUB’S ROLE
achieved,” he said. Replying to questions from NTUC This Week, LHUB
said that response to its workplace safety courses has
THE TRIPARTITE APPROACH been very positive.
To achieve the new target in the next 10 years, In the last 10 years, it has achieved more than
PM Lee emphasised that maintaining the 900,000 training places.
Making Safety a Mission
12
Face 2 Face with Ong
Hwee Liang
Here’s one person whose
sense of seeing things done
Some 16 countries pledge standards of practice amongst OHS practitioners.
The signing marks a milestone step to improve the
right by workers has led him
into the Labour Movement
to ramp up the skills of capabilities of OHS practitioners to make workplaces
fold. We trace his journey. occupational health and safety safer for all working people globally.
Certificates to the participating organisations – 12
(OHS) practitioners worldwide. of which are from Singapore - were presented by NTUC
Secretary-General (SG) Chan Chun Sing at the sidelines
By Ramesh Subbaraman
CONNECT WITH US of the 21st World Congress on Safety and Health at
Work 2017 on 3 September 2017.
A
www.ntuc.org.sg
bout 45 OHS-related organisations from 16 The Singapore Accord is initiated by the Singapore
countries have signed the Singapore Accord Institution of Safety Officers (SISO), a U Associate
www.labourbeat.org on the Standards of Occupational Health and member.
Safety Professionals.
www.facebook.com/UnusualLabourMovement
While workplace safety and health deals with the PARTICIPATING BODIES
www.instagram.com/ntucsingapore overall efforts concerning the welfare of workers, Among the 12 Singapore participating organisations
occupational health and safety looks into issues are SISO, SMRT Corporation Ltd, a unionised company,
www.youtube.com/user/NTUCSingapore
concerning particular jobs. and NTUC U Associate.
www.linkedin.com/company/ntuc The Singapore Accord is a call to action to uphold high “Through the network of unions and professional
NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 WORKPLACE SAFETY & HEALTH 3
Every injury and
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
COURSES
Partner
illness means
pain and suffering for
Keen on enhancing safety and health at the
workplace? You can check out the following courses
that are being offered at NTUC LearningHub (LHUB).
for Safer
the worker. Therefore, it SAFETY COURSES FOR COMPANIES
▶ bizSAFE Level 1: Workshop for CEO/top
Workplaces
is our duty to reduce management
▶ bizSAFE Level 2: Develop a Risk Management
Greater commitment
accidents and injuries to Implementation Plan to workplace safety by
the absolute minimum by ▶ bizSAFE Level 4: Develop a WSH
Management System Implementation Plan management and workers key to
instilling safety and health ▶ Occupational First Aid
a win-win situation, says NTUC
consciousness and MANDATORY COURSES FOR WORKERS, Vice-President K Karthikeyan.
SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS IN
safe and healthy work CONSTRUCTION By Ramesh Subbaraman
practices. It is not only ▶ Apply Workplace Safety and Health in Construction
Sites
in the workers’ interest
C
▶ Apply Workplace Safety and Health in Metal Work ompanies in Singapore have been urged
▶ Supervise Construction Work in Workplace Safety to partner their workers to build stronger
to improve workplace and Health
competencies in workplace safety and health.
▶ Supervise Tunnelling Work in Workplace Safety
safety and health. It is in and Health This will only result in win-win for both employers
and workers.
the interest of businesses. WSH PROFESSIONAL COURSES FOR Making the call at a plenary session on the final
Because workplace SAFETY OFFICERS
▶ WSQ Certificate in WSH
day of the 21st World Congress on Safety and Health
At Work 2017 on 6 September 2017 was NTUC
accidents and injuries ▶ WSQ Advanced Certificate in WSH
Vice-President K Karthikeyan. He also chairs NTUC’s
▶ WSQ Specialist Diploma in WSH
result in economic losses.” Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Committee.
Visit www.ntuclearninghub.com to check out the
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong details of these Workplace Safety and Health courses. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
Speaking on the role of trade unions in enhancing
WSH in Singapore, Mr Karthikeyan said an all-
round commitment from senior management,
“Workplace safety requires continuing ground supervisors and workers is needed to raise
attention so that we, collectively as a the standards of WSH.
FACT FILE
workforce, can sustain the high standards He shared some examples of steps taken by
of workplace safety as a first-world country. unions in the area of WSH.
There will be new companies formed and In one case, the Chemical Industries Employees’
Singapore’s Workplace Safety
new workers joining the workforce and it is and Health Journey Union (CIEU) worked with a company’s management
our duty to induct them with the Singapore to identify a health hazard at the workplace.
2006: Workplace Safety and Health Act
workplace safety culture,” said LHUB CEO introduced. An investigation revealed that choked filters had
Kwek Kok Kwong. resulted in worsening dust levels at the production
2008: Workplace Safety and Health
According to PM Lee, the Government Council set up. In the same year, the area. The filters were cleaned and this improved the
also wants to encourage companies to use Government set a target to reduce fatality work environment. The average days of sick leave
technology more pervasively to reduce the rates down to 1.8 per 100,000 employed taken by workers dropped from 10 to less than five
persons within a decade.
risks of workplace accidents and ill-health. per year.
In this regard, LHUB said it is refreshing 2017: The Government sets a new target Another example was the Singapore Airport
to reduce Singapore’s workplace fatality
its safety courses to include more rate to below 1.0 per 100,000 in 10 years’ Terminal Services Workers’ Union (SATSWU) which
technological elements like virtual learning time before 2028. resulted in the need for greater surveillance on the
for its work at heights class. ground to minimise accidents happening.
Union leaders and the company’s safety team
toured operational areas at the airport to identify
work hazards, provide feedback on the working
environment to the management and rectify the
hazards.
AMBITIOUS TARGET
Meanwhile, speaking at the congress closing
ceremony on 6 September 2017, Manpower
Minister Lim Swee Say noted that the action plan for
Singapore’s WSH 2028 target would be formulated
by the tripartite partners.
Photo: Singapore Institution of Safety Officers
Singapore aims to reduce workplace fatalities to
1.0 per 100,000 employees by 2028.
guilds, NTUC is committed to the development SG Chan emphasised: “Workplace safety “This is, no doubt, an ambitious target.
of professional educational programmes to and health cannot just be a task; it must be a But it is a worthy aspiration that we, the
ensure that our workers possess relevant and up- mission. We owe it to our workers to ensure tripartite partners of Singapore, are
to-date skills to perform their roles competently that they go home safe to their families at the determined to achieve,
and effectively. With the combined efforts of end of every work day.” so that more of our
the tripartite partners, we can collectively create He was encouraged that the Singapore workers can return
safer and healthier workplaces for our workers,” Accord will make the sharing of knowledge home safe and healthy
said NTUC U Associate. and expertise a lot faster when workplace every day,” concluded
Speaking at the event as guest of honour, incidents happen. Minister Lim.
4 WORKPLACE SAFETY & HEALTH NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017
An Eye on
Workers’
Safety and
Health
We meet up with NTUC’s
WSH Secretariat Director
Melvin Yong to find out
what the department
has been doing to push
the safety and health
message across to
companies and workers.
By Shukry Rashid
W
hen Melvin Yong (pictured right) caught in-between objects, and struck by moving their coverage should they be involved in a
became director of NTUC’s WSH objects from the construction, manufacturing workplace accident. It is still work in progress,
(Workplace Safety and Health) and transportation sectors. For example, in but we are consulting various partners on how
Secretariat in July this year, he was tasked with our efforts to reduce the number of slips, trips we can help this segment of workers.
improving the WSH condition of workers. and falls, we developed and distributed the STF
Last month, he heard some good news from prevention guidelines. If you would like an e-copy of the slips, trips and
the WSH Institute when it released its first half falls prevention guidelines developed by NTUC’s
of 2017 WSH report. There were 19 workplace Apart from workplace safety, what about WSH Secretariat, email to qwd@ntuc.org.sg.
fatalities in the first half of 2017, down from workplace health?
the 42 in the same period in 2016. We are trying to put more emphasis on
NTUC This Week caught up with Mr Yong to workplace health, especially after what Prime
find out what the Labour Movement has been Minister Lee Hsien Loong said about diabetes
doing to improve WSH. during his National Day Rally. The National
Transport Workers’ Union [NTWU] operates 43
NTUC This Week: What is NTUC’s role in the canteens islandwide. I think we can improve on
Congress on Safety and Health at Work 2017? the meals we offer at our canteens. Currently,
Melvin Yong: The Labour Movement’s role is some NTWU canteens have started offering
always about mobilising our workers, to ensure healthy meal options such as brown rice.
that the WSH messages from these initiatives are Working together with the Health Promotion
disseminated promptly and effectively and that Board, we hope to come up with a Healthy
our workers understand the messages clearly. Canteen checklist for all our canteen operators.
Every week, with the help of our unions,
trade associations and SMEs [small and medium- What has been done so far to carry out these
sized enterprises], we organise roadshows to plans?
spread the awareness of WSH. We have an To change consumers’ behaviour and eating
established network of 58 affiliated unions, habits, one suggestion was to provide healthier
which represent the different industries in meals at a lower price. Unfortunately, healthier
Singapore. Through this network and support food options tend to be more expensive. We need
from members of NTUC’s WSH Committee, we to be able to work out a sustainable programme
are able to disseminate WSH information and so that our canteen operators will find it
also share WSH best practices in a timely manner feasible and economical to provide healthier
to all our workers. meal options. With 43 canteens, NTWU has the
economy of scale to discuss with suppliers. There
The number of workplace fatalities in the are also many factories with their own staff
first half of 2017 was down to 19 from the canteens, and we should work with them too.
42 in the same period in 2016. What do you For a start, we could follow the example at some
think led to this improvement? Foodfare food centres, where every stall offers at
Over the past 12 months, significant efforts were least one healthy meal option.
put in to create greater WSH awareness on the
ground. We focused our efforts on the top three What else is the WSH Secretariat working on?
causes of workplace fatality from the top three One segment of workers that we are paying
sectors with the highest number of workplace special attention to is the freelancers. With no
fatality. They are slips, trips and falls [STF], employers and unions, we are concerned about
NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 WORKPLACE SAFETY & HEALTH 5
For Safety’s Sake
A winch-and-pulley system
that eliminates the need for
scaffolding – we meet up with
Tan Yian Teck to hear about his
team’s creation that makes the
workplace all the more safe.
By Jonathan Tan
A Senoko Energy employee tries her
hand at an interactive workplace safety
and health exhibit at the company’s
Safety Day event.
H
aving a work
Safety Starts
project
recognised
at the Workplace
Safety and
Health Council
Awards 2017
from the Top
under the Senoko Energy is all eyes on keeping the work
Innovation grounds safe for its workers, with management
category can
be a prestigious taking the lead to show the way.
honour for a company and By Fawwaz Baktee
the people involved.
S
However, for YTL enoko Energy takes the workplace safety and health (WSH) of its workers
PowerSeraya Engineer Tan seriously. It has to, given the potential hazards energy supply workers face
Yian Teck, the emphasis has when powering up our homes 24/7 from Singapore’s largest power plant.
always been on helping his “It [workplace safety] is part of our duty as corporate citizens to ensure the
company to improve safety safety of workers. It is also good for business as the attention we pay to health
standards and productivity. and safety matters translates to how we deal with all other matters. In the end,
“Safety is my topmost it helps us to become a better company,” said Senoko Energy President and CEO
priority at work and I hope Bernard Esselinckx.
to go home safely to my
family every day,” said the STARTING FROM THE TOP
56-year-old, who is also a Over the years, the management came up with several initiatives that encourage
Union of Power and Gas and reward safety improvements. Senoko believes that safety starts from the top,
Employees branch official. or as Mr Esselinckx puts it, the management must walk the talk.
Encouraged by his company’s Since 2011, Senoko has implemented the WSH Improvement Suggestion
safety manager, Yian Teck scheme where employees provide ideas on safety systems, procedures and the
and team-mate Tan Hong environment. Workers whose ideas are implementable are recognised with the
Tat, 48, submitted a project WSH Innovation Award.
they were working on for the Every year, the company celebrates a Safety Day, which is dedicated to workers
awards. learning about safety at work. The most recent was held on 29 August 2017, where
NTUC’s WSH Secretariat Director Melvin Yong was guest of honour.
MAKING WORK SAFER The management is also taking the lead in improving their WSH knowledge
They devised a winch- and will be attending a two-day training course on leadership in health and safety
and-pulley system that delivered by Engie University Singapore.
eliminated the need
for workers to erect NEAR MISS REPORTING
scaffolds to maintain As the popular safety saying goes: “The near miss of today could be the accident of
ceiling-mounted tomorrow.” This is why Senoko places emphasis on its workers to report all near
sensors. The system miss incidents, added Mr Esselinckx.
allowed sensors to be winched down to ground level instead. With the near miss reporting system, Senoko has gone 7.4 million man-
“Feedback was very encouraging, especially from our hours without having workers take leave or be absent from work due to
older colleagues who no longer have to climb up a scaffolding workplace injury. In terms of years, the figure translates to a staggering 4.5
to reach the sensors… Hong Tat and myself are in the same years of time saved.
section and during our routine maintenance work, we are
constantly looking for better and safer ways to improve our ROLE OF UNION
daily work process,” he shared. The company’s union branch Chairman Tan Kim Wah added that the union is
As a union leader, Yian Teck also takes it upon himself closely involved in the company’s safety-related activities.
to lead by example and share safety initiatives picked up Mr Tan, who is also the assistant general secretary of the Union of Power
through education and outreach with his colleagues. Taking and Gas Employees, said: “The union representative is responsible for seeking
safety as a way of life in his day-to-day work helps him lead feedback from members on safety and improvement issues and helps to
from the ground up and contribute to the culture of safety in disseminate safety information to the ground. I also want to tell my members
the workplace. that safety is for everyone. We must come to work safely, do our work safely and
go back home to our families safely.”
6 SOCIAL ENTERPRISES NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017
Foodfare:
Serving up
Business
Opportunities
Kitchen dreams do come
true, along with long hours
and hard work. We talk to
one food stall owner who
is finding satisfaction in
realising her ambitions
and keeping people happy
through flavours.
By Jonathan Tan
D
elicious nutritious meals at affordable
prices – this was the credo that saw
NTUC Foodfare introduce its Rice
Garden brand of economy rice stalls to heartland
food centres back in 2009. To support lower- quite young. I also get the opportunity to make Foodfare supports hawkers like her with
income families, full meals comprising two more money than if I were to work for someone a very convenient ordering system for supplies.
vegetables and one meat were available from as else,” said the mother of three who is married to She only needs to make a phone call for the food
low as $1.50 for individuals with ComCare or a Singaporean. supplies from Foodfare to be delivered the next
NTUC Foodfare Privilege cards. morning when she opens her stall. As the base
In 2015, the social enterprise upped the value FULL SUPPORT for most of the dishes she serves are prepared in
ante by introducing a Rice Garden Community Foodfare supported people like Mdm Diep Foodfare’s central kitchen, Mdm Diep needs
Partnership Programme that supported partners with training, stall design, preparation of the to do little preparation work before cooking
keen on starting up their own businesses. business plan as well as the cost of setting up the dishes.
Thanks to that programme, Mdm Diep the stall. There is even a $4,000 Rice Garden On a day-to-day basis, Mdm Diep reaches her
Phuong Mai, 42, a Singapore Permanent Community Grant provided each month to stall at 5am to prepare a mix of dishes comprising
Resident, got the opportunity to strike it out on defray the cost of offering meals at lower prices local favourites like Curry Chicken, Braised Pork
her own as a stall owner while giving back to the for eligible customers. and a selection of Vietnamese dishes that appeal to
community. “When I started, Foodfare helped with the many around that area.
“I was working in a Rice Garden stall for close the renovations and cost of setting up the stall. "I usually start at about 5am each day until
to two years before the opportunity to operate We only had to put down a small deposit for about 2pm in the afternoon. I don't have a helper,
my own stall came up in 2015. Running my own rental of items such as trays and utensils. The so I won't be able to take it if I worked all the way
stall always beats working for someone else. I rest is up to me to be independent,” shared Mdm till dinner as I don't get any rest," she said.
have more freedom and time to myself, which I Diep, whose stall is located at Albert Centre On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar
use to take care of my kids because they are still along Queen Street. month, and on public holidays, she may even come
in earlier to prepare meals for the many devotees
and tourists that visit the nearby temples.
LOOKING FORWARD
Relishing the opportunity to make a difference
in her life, Mdm Diep shrugs off the challenges
of slow business days and having to run the
stall alone.
“I would not count them as real challenges.
On the days I am busier, I’ll just arrange my
time accordingly and come in earlier. The
leftovers I’ll give to the cleaners here at the food
centre to take home,” she said.
GOOD TO KNOW
The Rice Garden Community Partnership
Programme is still open for application. To find
out more, please call Ronz from NTUC Foodfare
at 6550 6590.
NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 SOCIAL ENTERPRISES 7
Future Outlook:
Start Imagining Today! Purchase Travel
Gas-leak shuttlecock detective, drunk drivers’
best friend and growing into fashion… the ideas Insurance in
a Jiffy
are getting bolder and zanier, and we’re loving
the changes that are coming.
Look out for more in this regular column.
By Fawwaz Baktee
Breathalyser Cars
Drinking and driving is never a good
idea but sometimes people just don’t
listen. Well, since we can’t stop you,
here’s something we hope will – your
car! The US National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration is well on its
way to developing a touch-based device to prevent drunk driving.
The system will be able to monitor alcohol levels by analysing a
driver’s breath and scan the blood in your fingertips via the steering
wheel. With the sensitive sensors, the system will be able to isolate
and test the alcohol levels of only the driver.
Moreover, if the car deems that your alcohol levels are too high, it Meet NTUC Income's Jiffy Jane, the
will become the sober wingman you’ve never had and refuse to rev up
its engines.
industry’s first unguided and conversational
Source: bigthink.com chatbot on Facebook Messenger.
Story by Avelyn Ng Photo by NTUC Income
Pipe Guard
N
TUC Income’s latest offering for customers comes in the form
Gas leaks are dangerous deals in a house or at an
of Jiffy Jane, a chatbot that provides travel insurance concierge
industrial place. Punctures, maladjusted joints,
services via mobile messaging application Facebook Messenger.
or shoddy works along pipes can spell disaster
There have been over 1,100 chat sessions by 780 unique users since
and leave behind an ugly mess. We all hope these
its soft launch on 1 August 2017. The conversations led to a total of 30
scenarios will one day be a thing of the past.
completed transactions during that period.
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
“In Singapore, seven in 10 people are active users of social media on
research team has come up with PipeGuard, a
their mobile devices. This figure is double the global average of 34 per cent.
robotics system capable of finding any leaks by
“As such, Jiffy Jane on Facebook Messenger complements consumers’
using pressure sensors.
increasingly mobile-first lifestyle, instantly serving up travel insurance
A small robotic shuttlecock-shaped device travels
options for purchase when requested 24/7. This means customers can
the length of a pipe to gather data and sends out a
benefit from getting travel insurance protection anywhere anytime,
signal of its location when it detects a leak. Think of
even when they are at the airport and about to leave for their next
it as a high-tech coronary angiography where the dye travels through
destination,” said NTUC Income’s Chief Operating Officer Peter Tay.
the arteries to figure out if all is ticking well. Now if only the same
PipeGuard can help us frighten off cockroaches and lizards from the
SIMPLE AND RELEVANT
dark recesses of our living spaces!
Unlike traditional chatbots that require specific keyword prompts, Jiffy
Source: www.mit100k.org
Jane leverages artificial intelligence to recognise users’ intentions. Users
can therefore interact with it in a natural and conversational manner.
To receive insurance plan options and their respective benefits,
users will just have to provide their destination, departure date and trip
Growing Fashion Trend duration. To obtain a quotation from a chosen plan, users have to key
Hand-me-down is taking on a whole new in basic personal particulars of travellers, which will be saved for other
twist and shape with this new thread to transactions in the same chat.
hit the market. With children aged 6-36
months in mind, fashion will soon be STARTUP COLLABORATION
hand-me-up my own clothes! The best part To add payment capabilities, NTUC Income co-innovated with Zumata,
about this – no more wasting money on one of the startups under its insurtech accelerator programme.
new clothes as your child grows. CEO of Zumata Josh Ziegler said: "As we refined and expanded
A 24-year-old student from England our capabilities in natural language processing, we collaborated with
has created a synthetic fibre with a pleated Income under the Income Future Starter programme to improve the user
structure that stretches as the child grows. experience of Jiffy Jane so that it not only responds to travel insurance
He is now using it to launch a clothing queries, but also accepts payment. Together, this provides a seamless
range called Petit Pli. We can’t wait for consumer journey.”
the line to ‘expand’ to adults. To purchase, customers have to provide credit card and contact details.
Source: petitpli.com If the transaction is successful, they will receive an instant notification
and a copy of the policy document over e-mail within two working days.
To launch the chat, go to https://www.messenger.com/t/28984591
8150985.
8 PLACEMENT NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017
Moving On
with a Little Help
The Singapore Shell Employees’
Union and NTUC’s e2i (Employment
and Employability Institute) help
a member secure a new job after NTUC President Mary Liew (in red dress) with ITF leaders
retrenchment.
Story and Photo by Jonathan Tan
ITF comes to
“I
was a bit stunned at first because everyone thinks of working at
Shell as having an iron rice bowl,” said Gnanamani, 51, when she
Singapore
first received notice of her retrenchment in December 2016 when The International Transport Federation
the company was being restructured. She said that not everyone had
been asked to leave, and she had not expected to be one of those
opens an office in Singapore to advance
affected. Mani, as many call her, was a business analyst and had spent the interests of workers in the region.
25 years working at Shell until May 2017.
By Ramesh Subbaraman
SUPPORT FROM SSEU-SHELL
T
With the support from the Singapore Shell Employees’ Union he International Transport Federation (ITF) opened its
(SSEU-SHELL), Mani got connected with an e2i officer and soon Southeast Asia Sub Regional Office in Singapore on 6
received good news regarding a job opening at a Volunteer Welfare September 2017. It is located at the SOS Seacare Building
Organisation (VWO). at Chin Swee Road.
“I shared with the officer that I was open to volunteer work, an
administrative position or something entirely different. When they THE SINGAPORE CHOICE
shared with me about the position, I thought maybe it was time to give Speaking at its opening, NTUC President and General Secretary
back to the community, and that it was a calling,” said Mani. of the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union Mary Liew said the
Despite having to take a pay cut, Mani soon began work at the VWO office signified the commitment of ITF to advance the interests of
two months after her last day at Shell. Now a data management officer, transport sector workers in the region.
Mani likens it to data analytics and is able to tap her IT background to She further elaborated that ITF’s General Secretary Stephen
do her job well. Cotton had shared with her their choice of Singapore.
Recalling the support, Mani said: “SSEU-SHELL has always been “Brother Steve had wanted the Singapore office to be the
close to the employees. They’re always there and very helpful. They centre of excellence for resources and governance and thought
were trying to do something for the others who were also affected and that Singapore’s good infrastructure, easy connectivity to the rest
they even gave talks to clarify the package that was to be given out. of the world and a stable political and legal environment would
What I like about e2i is that till today, they still call me up periodically be conducive to the creation and functioning of such a centre of
to check in on me.” excellence.
She added: “If people need to upgrade their skills, I would advise “Brother Steve further said that the Singapore tripartite model
them to do so early. Start early to match the skills required to any new of industrial relations had proven to work, and it was his wish that
role you might have in mind. Don’t have too many expectations too. the ITF could promote some of the good practices of Singapore to
Take whatever comes first and then move on from there.” its affiliates,” she shared.
ITF has nine offices worldwide, including three in the Asia
Pacific region.
NEXT ITF CONGRESS
Meanwhile, Mr Cotton revealed that its next ITF congress will be
held in Singapore in 2018.
“Organising that is giving us the chance to work even more
closely with our affiliates here. The congress will see trade union
representatives from 150 countries coming into the country and
the new office is going to play a massive role in coordinating that,”
he said.
CORRECTION
In the article “Insurance Sector: Tackling Challenges Ahead” published on
27 August 2017, the quote attributed to Mr Cen Hong Sui Ming, Singapore
National Employers Federation Insurance Industry Group chairman and
senior vice president with Great Eastern Life Assurance, should read as
follows:
“As the industry evolves amidst technological disruptions, for the unions to
continue to be relevant, not only do they have to evolve in understanding
the needs of the PMEs as the majority of the workers in our industry are
PMEs, their role in representation would also have to evolve to working
with employers to future-proof their members through skills development.”
NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 INDUSTRY TRANSFORMATION MAP 9
Making
Trade
Great
Again
Singapore grew strong on the
backbone of trade. What’s
its future? We find out what
Patrick Tay’s has to say in his
latest blog post.
By Shukry Rashid
New Dealings
The launch of the Wholesale Trade Industry Transformation
Map will see traditional wholesale trading taking on new
business attitudes through digitalisation.
By Shukry Rashid
T
he Labour Movement is ready to act
T
he Wholesale Trade Industry Transformation Map (ITM) was launched on 6 September as an enabler to provide training and
2017 by Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry) S Iswaran at the ‘Digitalisation of placement support for the wholesale trade
Trade – New Mindsets’ event held by International Enterprise (IE) Singapore. industry, according to NTUC Assistant Secretary-
With IE Singapore taking the lead, the wholesale trade ITM is a multi-agency initiative from General (ASG) Patrick Tay in a blog post prior
both the public and private sectors to help companies digitalise to enhance global growth and to the launch of the Wholesale Trade Industry
productivity. The ITM also aims to develop industry-ready talent equipped with deep skills for Transformation Map (ITM) on 6 September 2017.
digitalisation and internationalisation. ‘Wholesale Trade: Making Trade Great Again’,
Minister Iswaran said that as innovation cycles become shorter, enterprises must continually which was posted on Labourbeat on 4 September
adapt and connect to emerging networks to stay ahead. 2017, highlighted that with growth and increased
“It is a sector with strong growth opportunities for both wholesale trading enterprises and for digitalisation, the wholesale trade industry shows
individuals seeking to develop expertise and specialisation in this field. “great potential for jobs” for working people from
“The launch of the Wholesale Trade ITM today is therefore timely, and it sets out our different disciplines and industries.
approach towards the transformation of this important sector,” he added. As director of NTUC’s Future Jobs, Skills
The wholesale trade industry comprises over 34,000 enterprises, which contributed 12 per and Training Department, ASG Tay added that
cent or $47.3 billion to Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product in 2016. It currently accounts for the department had sought inputs from The
nine per cent of Singapore’s workforce. Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers’
Union on in-demand jobs and skills in this
DEVELOPING TALENTS sector. This was done through a sensing of
Some 10,000 jobs are expected to be created by 2020 in the wholesale trade industry. their representatives from unionised wholesale
As part of the ITM, training programmes will be developed for both entry-level graduates and trade companies.
mid-career professionals.
IE Singapore has signed memoranda of understanding with institutes of higher learning and FUTURE OF WHOLESALE TRADE
the Singapore Business Federation to develop competent workers with relevant expertise in the He said: “With rising consumerism in Asia and
wholesale trade industry. given Singapore’s robust trade ecosystem and
strong infrastructure, we are in good stead to
DIGITALISATION leverage our strengths to meet this demand.
The ITM will work with industry players and trade associations to build Singapore’s digital “In an increasingly digitalised world, we will
marketplaces and attract global players into Singapore. also need to digitalise trade in Singapore to
Minister Iswaran said: “These marketplaces will allow companies to pool resources and enhance our global trade connectivity and gain
complement their product offerings to sharpen their competitiveness, which will be particularly a foothold in the future of global trading.”
beneficial to SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises].”
One such example is the ASEAN Digital Trade Facilitation Platform, which will be developed Don’t miss next week’s issue of NTUC This Week
with the Singapore Logistics Association (SLA) taking the lead. as we zoom in on the future of wholesale trade and
When ready in the fourth quarter of 2017, SLA will work with other ASEAN logistic the various Industry Transformation Maps that
associations on a platform to allow companies to benefit from a seamless customs clearance have been rolled out so far. To read ASG Patrick
through a single window. Tay’s blog post in full, visit www.labourbeat.org.
10 WEEK IN REVIEW NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017
Snapshots
A quick round up of what went on in and around the Labour Movement recently.
Compiled by NTUC This Week Team
FairPrice Finest Turns 10
FairPrice Finest recently marked its
10th anniversary on 31 August 2017.
Having grown to a network of 22
stores offering some 1,700 different
organic products, FairPrice Finest
aims to increase its range of organic
and fresh produce by 15 per cent
and 10 per cent respectively to give
customers more healthy choices.
To celebrate its 10th year, FairPrice
Finest will be holding a Finest
Festival with exclusive promotions
Sustainability for the Future and discounts of up to 30 per cent
from now till 20 September. Customers will also receive a free Finest Gift Card,
Themed ‘Better Businesses Together for the Future available in four collectible designs, with a minimum of $100 spent in one receipt.
Economy’, the Global Compact Network Singapore The Gift Cards can be used at all FairPrice Finest stores.
(GCNS) Summit 2017 saw Guest-of-Honour NTUC
Secretary-General (SG) Chan Chun Sing highlighting how
sustainability can be an area of competitive advantage for
Singapore and drive economic growth.
HR Conversations
NTUC U Human
SG Chan urged businesses to leverage the tripartite
Resource (U HR)
system to prepare and train workers to stay ahead of
held its quarterly U
the demand for skills and keep pace with technological
HR dialogue on 28
developments.
August 2017.
GCNS, an NTUC U Associate, held its annual
Sitting on
convention on 29 August 2017 at Suntec Singapore
the panel were
Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was attended by
former Speaker
more than 200 guests from local small- and medium-size
of Parliament
enterprises, multinationals, educational institutions,
Halimah Yacob,
trade associations and government agencies.
NTUC Assistant
Director-General
SCTU: Teachers’ Day (ADG) Vivek Kumar, NTUC LearningHub CEO Kwek Kwok Kwong, Institute for
Human Resource Professionals (IHRP) CEO Mayank Parekh, Cargill Group HR
Luncheon Leader Jennifer Lee, as well as Center for Creative Leadership Managing Director Dr.
The Singapore Thomas Goh, who was the moderator.
Chinese In an opening speech, ADG Vivek explained how “unusual” our Labour Movement
Teachers’ is compared to other countries.
Union (SCTU) “The union doesn’t work as a disruptive force, we work as the second loop of
celebrated feedback to HR and the management. We work proactively with you to ensure that if
Teachers’ there are issues that the workers are facing, together we can address that rather than
Day with 250 wait till the last minute, when they go out of hand and the union feels there’s a need
guests over to have an industrial action,” he said.
a luncheon The future of the HR role was also discussed, with two emerging trends identified
on 26 August – the HR function is being subsumed by other roles and HR is transforming into a
2017. more strategic role that helps to solve business challenges.
Certificates and prizes ranging from $80 to $180 To move towards the latter, Mdm Halimah urged HR professionals to automate
were presented to 94 awardees across primary, repetitive tasks and use their time to come up with valuable suggestions for the
secondary and junior college levels to recognise union management.
members’ children for their overall academic and
Chinese language excellence.
In a speech, SCTU President Yap Kim Hung said the Melvin Yong Joins LTA Board
union has noted this year’s National Day Rally focus National Transport Workers’ Union Executive Secretary Melvin
on preschools and will be looking at how they can help Yong has been named one of the 14 people appointed to the
Chinese language teachers in kindergartens advance Land Transport Authority (LTA) Board with effect from 1
their career. September 2017.
Guest-of-Honour and Senior Parliamentary In a Facebook post, Mr Yong said: “The transport industry
Secretary of Ministry of Education Low Yen Ling said is undergoing many changes and these changes will have both
Chinese teachers undertake an important mission to direct and indirect impact on the many workers in the industry.
transfer the essence of the language, such as personal I hope to add our transport workers’ perspectives in the
values and culture, to the next generation. deliberations of the board.”NTUC This Week 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 EVENTS 11
What’s U Swim 2017 is Here!
If watching our national swimmers in action in
Happening
the pool during the SEA Games 2017 in Kuala
Lumpur got you swelling up with national pride,
here is your chance to make a splash. NTUC’s
U Sports is organising its first-ever swimming
Where
competition, U Swim 2017, with a series of
individual and team categories.
30 Sept 2017, 7am – 5pm, Orchard Country
Club. To register, visit www.usports.com.sg/
events/u-swim-2017/.
Compiled by Jonathan Tan
Team
Time for Kids’ Fun Leadership
Through
Gather all your friends and family
for an action-packed day out
with the children. NTUC Club’s
eXplorerkid will be organising a
Games
Baby & Junior Fiesta event over the Gaming enthusiasts would
weekend of 16 and 17 September remember the zombie first-
at D’Marquee Downtown East. person shooter Left4Dead2
Headlining this year’s event will and the fun it brought as
be the Baby & Junior Race event teams of four players took out rampant monsters. But did you
where little ones from as young as know that the game can be used to stimulate leadership,
eight months up to six-years-old will teamwork and communication skills? Find out how through
‘race’ each other in the name of an interactive session organised by the E Sports Academy and
fun and laughter. Singapore Cybersports & Online Gaming Association, and
16 and 17 Sept 2017, 10am – supported by Young NTUC.
6pm, D’Marquee at Downtown 23 Sept 2017, 2pm – 5pm, Informatics Academy, #13-09,
East. To register, visit www. Room T9 at the National Library, 100 Victoria Street. To
explorerkid.com/activities_ register, visit http://bit.ly/2xLw8N2.
events/baby_junior_race_2017.
Adapt & Grow Roadshows
With so many different things requiring our attention at the workplace,
career development and planning often end up taking a back seat.
Bringing greater emphasis to the subject, Workforce Singapore will
be rolling out a series of roadshows to share tips and resources in the
areas of career guidance, transitions and job search. Coaches will
also be on hand to support Singaporeans with tips.
Look out for the upcoming roadshows here: Waterway Point: 15
Sept – 17 Sept; Bedok Mall: 20 Oct – 22 Oct; and Chevron House:
30 Oct – 1 Nov. For more information, visit www.adaptandgrow.sg
or call 6883 5885.FACE 2 FACE
WITH
By Ramesh Subbaraman
H
is involvement with the trade union to have bite-sized packages so that employees can
movement began when he felt there attend training on a more flexible basis.
was a need to speak out for workers.
Today, 52-year-old Ong Hwee Liang is What role does the union and management see
an NTUC Central Committee member and for mature workers?
general secretary of the SIA Engineering We view mature workers as valuable assets of the
Company Engineers and Executives Union company. A lot of investment has gone into their
(SEEU). The assistant foreman with the SIA training. The majority of our mature workers are
Engineering Company received the Public offered re-employment before they reach age 62
Service Medal for National Day this year. and more recently even continue beyond age 65.
He shares with NTUC This Week the
challenges workers are facing in an industry What are the issues that concern you daily in
soaring to greater heights. your union work?
Making a difference in the lives of my union
NTUC This Week: You are in the NTUC members is what keeps me going in my work at
Central Committee, tell us about the SEEU. This includes union members benefiting
experience so far. from our efforts to create a good and safe working
Ong Hwee Liang: It has given me an environment and getting themselves equipped with
opportunity to engage with the various new skills so that they can handle newer-generation
social enterprises, government agencies aircrafts. Also of concern to me is a sudden change
and professional bodies. Such engagements in workers’ job security when economic conditions
provide me many useful insights on how change due to unforeseen global incidents. They
policies can affect workers. One area of could have a huge impact on the aviation industry,
concern is the transformation of the like a global outbreak of bird flu. Hence, it is
workforce and what workers need to do to important to keep the communications channel
overcome disruptions. We often hear of the open between the union and management. I must
need to second skill in working lives to remain say our relations are good.
employable and our union discusses this issue
with our members too. INSIDER’S
GUIDE
How is the aviation industry preparing its
workers for disruptions at the workplace? SIA Engineering
Company Engineers and
In the aviation and aerospace sectors, Executives Union (SEEU)
upskilling and the need to learn about
new aircraft types have always been at the Date of Registration: 20 January 1993
forefront. It is the lifeline in our industry
Date of Affiliation to NTUC: 20 January 1993
and workers need to update their skills
constantly and keep them current. The pace Membership: 1042 members as at August 2017
has quickened somewhat and so the challenge History: SIA Engineering Company Engineers
is how to translate these issues down to the and Executive Union is a house union in SIA
workers. The workforce in our industry is Engineering Company. It represents licensed
quite lean, and freeing up time for training is a aircraft and workshop engineers employed
in SIAEC, Eagle Services Asia and Heavy
constant challenge for many of our engineers. Maintenance Services Singapore.
We are working with our training providers
NTUC THIS WEEK
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