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Fair Or Stormy, Pg Ride The Rough, Pg Take Up Childcare Pg NTUC Membership Is Pg SMOU Sails On 3 Prepare For Recovery 5 Jobs 8 About Engaging U 12 Upturn The Downturn ig trouble had LM All Geared Up To Fight Recession been brewing for some time. All the bad omens The safety car were there and it may be out for Bcame as no surprise when all , hell broke loose. What started one lap, two laps as sub-prime mortgage not forever. At some troubles in the United States point, things will go quickly escalated into a mammoth fi nancial crisis that back to normal in no time swamped world economies. “Solid” fi nancial and the safety car will institutions collapsed like a pull away, and all the house of cards, with people cars will speed up running around like headless again. chickens. Unprecedented joint Governments’ interventions See Page 5 NTUC Secretary-General were needed for mopping up. The culture of instant place for gratifi cation and make quick retrainingretraining, re-deployment and re-employmentre-employment. bucks had fallen fl at on its face with a great thud. At the launch of “Be Savvy With Your $” on 11 October Ironically, the unkindest cut of all is that many innocent 2008, NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say reminded parties bear the brunt of the damage and have to pick all that it takes two hands to clap: “We have created the up the pieces. Sometimes you don’t look for trouble, but big environment where there is enough opportunity for trouble looks for you. every Singaporean to adapt to the changing environment. The economy, intertwined as it is with What is important is the saying: ‘We can bring a horse to the world economy, will not come out of the debacle the river, but we cannot force the horse to drink from the unscathed. After a year of fabulous growth, suddenly we river.’ In Singapore, we in fact bring the river to the horse. are in a technical recession. But the house is not on fi re; this Today, we have job training programmes in place, we have is when men are separated from boys. job matching in place, we have the CPF system, healthcare This past fortnight, the Labour Movement has gone into system and so on. But even so, we cannot force every overdrive for damage control. At various events, tripartite worker to go for skills upgrading, to go for job re-creation, partners are speaking with one voice and the common to sign up to be part of the CPF system. We can put in refrain is to close ranks and stay positive. In the economy, place all the systems but we need every individual worker to by as in life, expect the unexpected but stay consistent. The decide how he or she wants to take advantage and be part Marcus Lin call is to adapt and take advantage of the programmes in of the overall system.”

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NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 1 110/17/080/17/08 7:34:117:34:11 PMPM upturnthedownturn • workingfor 3 We Have What It Takes After this downturn, there will be an upturn. If you want to be the fi rst off the block when the situation turns around, we need “to get the strategy right.” strengthening our support for workers,” said been able to adapt together.” SG Lim. SG Lim highlighted the strategy of one By Some of the initiatives to help workers company which has withstood a few economic Jansen Yeo include re-employment of older workers, downturns and rebounded strongly when the getting more women back to work, Job Re- situation improved. During a downturn, the rom America to Asia, stock creation Programme and the setting up of the company would release foreign workers and markets have taken a pounding. Unit for Contract and Casual Workers and e2i upgrade the skills of its local workers, sending Governments have been busy bailing (Employment and Employability Institute). them for training and teaching them to operate out troubled fi nancial institutions. Speaking to 275 union leaders and new technology. When the economic climate And the worst is yet to come, representatives from the Ministry of Manpower changed, it was able to rebound faster and Fwarned the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers stronger than its competitors. Secretary-General Lim Swee Say. Federation at the Singapore Tripartism Forum, “This downturn will not last forever. After However, Singapore is better prepared for Industrial Relations Seminar on 9 October this downturn, there will be an upturn. If you this economic downturn than the previous one. 2008, SG Lim said adaptability is the key for want to be the fi rst off the block when the “In the last three years, when Singapore’s Singapore to survive this downturn. situation turns around, we need to get the economy was doing well, we did not become “There may be some ups and some downs strategy right. I believe that during a downturn, complacent. The tripartite partners continued but as long as we are able to adapt, we can the best thing to do is to work on pro-business to work very hard together, on one hand keep survive. As SNEF President Stephen Lee said, and pro-worker strategies – both at the same growing our economy, on the other, keep the uniqueness of Singapore is that we have time. This is the most sustainable strategy.”

Fair Or Stormy, SMOU Sails On

We plan to have 27,000 offi cers by 2015 for “2,700 vessels. The question is how can we train and retain offi cers, how to

by attract more and, Marcus Lin importantly, handle the placement of s an island state and a bustling Good seafarers are made, not born, and they entrepot, it would not be illogical need good care to go that extra nautical mile. cadets.” to say that the shipping industry This is where the Singapore Maritime Offi cers’ is the lifeblood of the Singapore Union, a professional global tripartite maritime economy. And it is a multi-billion union, comes aboard. Their care and concern Mr Tay, who is also NTUC Vice- Adollar mega-industry that links all corners of goes beyond merely mariners’ interests. President, was speaking on “SMOU’s Role the world. “We are here,” according to SMOU General In Today’s Industrial Relations Climate” at the Unless you are talking about ghost ships, Secretary Thomas Tay, “to promote Singapore as Maritime Industrial Relations Forum – The good seafarers should be the fi rst item on THE international maritime centre, while looking Global Challenges, on 8 October 2008 ahead the manifest declared by any self-respecting after the employment, education and welfare of of the Singapore Maritime Week 2008 that shipowner. all seafarers regardless of nationality.” kicked off on 10 October 2008.

NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 3 110/17/080/17/08 7:39:237:39:23 PMPM 4 workingfor • upturnthedownturn

NTUC Media Co-operative Limited Chairman Noel Hon Chia Chun [email protected] Chief Executive Offi cer [email protected] Good Times, Bad Times, Chief Operating Offi cer Alvin Wong Pek Kin [email protected] The NTUC This Week Team Managing Editor Shirley Tan-Oehler [email protected] They Don’t Last A Lifetime Contributing Editor Leong Ching Deputy Editor Low Wee Poh [email protected] Making MoneySENSE Of A Crisis Senior Journalist Marcus Lin [email protected] Journalists Jansen Yeo [email protected] It’s not that we did Naseema Banu Maideen [email protected] by Executive Editor something wrong. Marcus Lin Ho Seo Teck (Chinese) [email protected] Journalist The Singapore Government, Wong Teck Tian (Chinese) [email protected] here could not be a more Art Director the Singapore enterprises, Edmund Seah appropriate time, right smack in the [email protected] midst of global fi nancial markets Executive Designers the Labour Movement of Mohamed Nasuhar Soeyoeti going berserk and spreading like [email protected] Singapore over the years wildfi re. The time when people [email protected] Tseriously wonder how safe their money is and Sales Joseph Loh were doing all the right [email protected] whether they have enough. Jimmy Lim To ease worries, the national fi nancial [email protected] things. But still there is no Mike Chew education programme MoneySENSE together [email protected] Chris Seng escape from this global with the Central Provident Fund Board and the [email protected] Anabel Lim National Trades Union Congress announced a [email protected] downturn.” Sam Gan new partnership on 11 October 2008. Called [email protected] “Be Savvy With Your $”, the public seminar Gena Ang [email protected] Lim Swee Say cum launch of the tripartite collaboration Marketing & Event Audrey Liu Jiaying is to bring fi nancial education [email protected] Jolynn Ang Shu Qin programmes to NTUC Members [email protected] and the working population over Subscription Jenny Liau the next two years. Pointers were [email protected] Publisher also given at the event on how to NTUC Media Co-operative Limited Address 1 Marina Boulevard #14-01 manage one’s fi nances and CPF NTUC Centre Singapore 018989 Phone 62360555 Fax 65381068 savings. Printer Times Printers, Singapore The MediaCorp-organised The NTUC Family Directory NTUC Switchboard 62138000 event also doubled up as the Customer Centre 62138008 Business Centre 62138811 launch of IM$avvy which is a one- [email protected] Community Development 62138201 stop fi nancial education portal Social Enterprises for working adults initiated by the Childcare 63919233 Club 65829876 (Chalet Reservation) CPF Board. NTUC will organise 65891666 (Banquet Sales) Choice Homes 62138822 programmes for working adults, ElderCare 62138000 Fairprice 64560233 women, families and mature Foodfare 67570330 workers, while MoneySENSE Healthcare 67440068 Income 63462663 and the CPF Board will provide LearningHub 64166611 Link 62235225 resources. There will also be a Media 62360555 sustained approach to deliver Thrift & Loan 65347360 Affi liate messages and tips on fi nancial RTRC Asia 62924844 © Copyright 2008 prudence to workers via NTUC’s The publisher owns the copyright to all photographs and articles in this publication. No photograph or article may website. be reproduced in part or in full without the consent of the publisher.

NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 4 110/17/080/17/08 7:35:277:35:27 PMPM upturnthedownturn • workingfor 5 Singapore Ride The Rough, Economy And F1 Prepare For Recovery Speaking about the ongoing world economic crisis at the “Be Savvy With Your $” fi nancial education programme on 11 October 2008, NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, who was Guest-of-Honour, drew similarities between the Singapore economy and the recent Formula One night race in Singapore. Unexpected events like crashes, pit-stop foul-ups, wrong strategies and the incursion of the “safety car” after serious accidents had resulted in an unexpected race winner. SG Lim explained: “Before the safety car goes out, the difference between the leading car and last car can be one lap. When the safety car goes out, while it is good news for the car at the back as everybody has to slow down, the one-lap lead that the fi rst car built up is gone. As a result, the safety car creates a lot of havoc. Winners become losers and losers become winners.” SG Lim said that the global economy did very well the last three years when all economies were going as fast as they could. Singapore’s economy was in pole position and going at full throttle when someone threw a spanner in the works with the massive fi nancial turmoil in the United States that could not be controlled. “When that happens, the fall out affects the whole world and Singapore is not spared. “Just like the F1 race, if you are the car in “Our priority is to ensure our members front and the safety car goes out and forces By Naseema Banu Maideen continue to have jobs. Workers need to adapt everybody to slow down, all the slower cars will to changes so as to help their companies. We get closer to you. The same thing happened will also step up our plant visits to gain a more to the global economy. We were way ahead - ow’s the time to rally healthy growth, low unemployment. Unfortunately, workers to ride the rough accurate feel of the ground and encourage our there is no escaping the safety car as we are part and prepare to surge members.” ahead when the calm of the global circuit. So once the safety car went Lim Kuang Beng, out, confi dence dropped, consumption dropped. comes. General Secretary, Singapore Industrial & Services NUNITE 2008 was an evening Employees’ Union You want to go faster but you can’t. Our growth rate slowed down from 7.7 per cent last year to a which NTUC Leadership Development projected 3 per cent forecast this year. Department organised at DXO on “Our members are aware that the future is “What can we do? There is nothing we can 10 October to show appreciation to very uncertain. As union leaders, we must do as we cannot ask the safety car to go away. some 500 deserving union leaders as think positive and keep our members thinking You cannot ask all the investors to bring back well as bond and have fellowship. But positive. We will work together with the confi dence overnight, ask all the banks to extend NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee management to save jobs.” corporate loans overnight, ask the consumers to Say had a sobering message: Union leaders should, during this period, Atyyah Hassan, spend money overnight. There is no way… The General Secretary, Keppel FELS Employees’ Union safety car may be out for one lap, two laps, but grow ground support for companies and help them survive this economic not forever. At some point, things will go back to “One of the best ways to ensure job security normal and the safety car will pull away, and all downturn. They should also help their managements to fi nd ways to cut is to ensure that both companies and workers the cars will speed up again.” remain competitive. During the last downturn, SG Lim added that the winner, Fernando costs without cutting jobs. we worked with a number of employers to Alonso, who was way behind at the starting point With two quarters of continuous overcome that period. With such a threat and driving a slower Renault car, took his chances economic slowdown, Singapore is again, we will do our best to help companies well: “What he did was get ready. He changed experiencing a “technical recession”. survive so that our members can continue to tyres and fi lled up on petrol. The moment the With a downward revised 3 per cent have jobs. MIWU will equip our newer union safety car pulled away… Zoom! He took off as he growth this year, SG Lim warned that was ready. 2009 will be even more challenging. offi cials with the necessary capabilities to “This is exactly what we need to do in Using Renault’s Fernando guide members.” Alonso’s behind-to-front feat at Singapore. For the next one to two years, growth Tan Chai Kun, will slow down, jobs and investments will be the F1 Singapore Grand Prix as General Secretary, Metal Industries Workers’ Union harder to come by and the stock market will need an illustration, SG Lim pointed out time to revive… Now is not the time to fi nd fault. that during the slowdown, Alonso “We are encouraging members to spend prepared himself. When the obstacles The fault is not here in Singapore. It is out there in wisely and save as much as they can for the were cleared, he was able to quickly the world and there is nothing we can do. What rainy days ahead. We are also urging workers pick up the pace and even win. we can do is to get ourselves ready and to move to help their companies by working closely In this same vein, SG Lim urged ahead. There is a very important lesson here. It is, to help improve productivity and to take up Singaporeans to prepare themselves that good times never last forever and bad times training and retraining.” also never last forever.” well so that we can all surge forward when the economy recovers. Rajendran s/o Govindarajoo, President, Chemical Industries Employees’ Union

NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 5 110/17/080/17/08 7:35:417:35:41 PMPM 6 workingfor • upturnthedownturn SG Lim: Tie Your Shoelaces, Hold Hands and Run...

By Naseema Banu Maideen

nstead of allowing recession to run us down, we should run ahead of it. The task may be an uphill one but if we “hold our hands together”, we can do it. NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Imade money his topic at the Labour Movement Charity Dinner on 9 October 2008. And he laced it with sobriety. He said the correct strategy would be to “tighten our belts, tighten our shoelaces, hold our hands tightly together and run.” He reinforced the importance of running ahead to save jobs so as to be prepared $1.3m will be pumped into programmes to to grow again once the global economy is benefi t the elderly and back on its feet. At the same time, as the preschoolers. fi ght against the harsh economic conditions continues, SG Lim said LM will extend support will assist 40,000 students - 15,000 more events to raise funds for NTUC ElderCare to the group of NTUC Members who are students than last year. Co-operative Limited and NTUC Childcare affected much more than others by the global LM has been able to step up its Care and Co-operative Limited. This year, the LM Charity slowdown. Share efforts thanks mainly to the contributions Dinner raised $1m, and the NTUC Charity Golf This year, LM will provide fi nancial support made by NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited raised $311,500 in July. Despite the economic of $13.1 million for lower-income members. ($3.5m) and the Singapore Labour Foundation downturn, sponsors’ and donors’ generosity This is almost double the $7m shared last year. ($5.7m). saw the total amount increased by 30 per cent Through these Care and Share efforts, NTUC Yearly, LM organises two large-scale over last year. Members will now have more relief in managing electricity bills, public transport expenses and their children’s education. In May, $4m worth of NTUC U-Stretch Vouchers, offering 5 to 20 per cent discounts Fight Shaken 3C With Defi nite 4M for goods and services at participating NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say said the global economy today is plagued by LM Social Enterprises, were distributed. the “3Cs” factors of shaken confi dence, credit and consumption. Global markets are In response to the recent hike in electricity weakening with a loss of confi dence in fi nancial markets, dampening business growth with charges and public transport fares, the total tightening credit and reduced consumption. value of U-Stretch Vouchers will be upped by In this climate, the Labour Movement will press on with its “4M” framework that it has another $1m to $5m. About half of the value of worked hard to establish. these U-Stretch Vouchers can be used to pay “For those who are unemployed, we will help them move into new jobs. For those who for utilities and transport. become under-employed, we will help them upgrade and move up to higher value jobs. For Most school-going children of low-wage those who are retrenched, we will help them move across to other companies in the same NTUC Members will get fi nancial assistance for industry. For those whose industry is downsizing, we will help them move over to other new their education this year. The Back-To-School job sectors,” he said. funding will be doubled to $5m. This increase

NTUC This Week Be Connected and Win Be Connected and Win a Brother DCP135C Compact Colour Inkjet Multifunction Centre Contest Brother DCP135C Question 1: What is the name of the cartoonist who draws “Life With U”? Compact Colour Inkjet Answer 1: ______Multifunction Centre Question 2: How many Social Enterprise are there in the Labour Movement? Worth $129 ßAnswer 2: ______Question 3: What is the name of the cookbook featured? Answer 3: ______Win a Brother DCP135C Compact Colour Inkjet Multifunction Centre, courtesy of AAAs Com Solution. Answer 3 questions Name:______correctly and post your entry coupon to us. The answers can be Address:______found at www.ntucthisweek.org.sg NRIC:______DOB:______*Union:______Occupation:______Mailing Address Terms & Conditions NTUC This Week Online Contest 1. Only 1 form per person. Contact Number: ______Email:______1 Marina Boulevard #14-01 NTUC Centre 2. Incomplete enrtries will not be considered. Singapore 018989 3. All forms must reach us by *Compulsory Fields. Closing Date: 30 October 2008 30 October 2008.

NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 6 110/17/080/17/08 7:35:537:35:53 PMPM 8 workingfor • upturnthedownturn New Driver For Employment

r Ong Ye Kung will be seconded to the Labour Movement as NTUC Assistant Secretary-General on 1 December 2008. He will oversee the NTUC’s employment and employability programmes. This Mwould be an extension of what he has been doing as Chief Executive of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency in the past three years. Mr Ong’s appointment has the support and endorsement of the NTUC Central Committee. With his appointment, the Labour Movement now has Mr Ong Ye Kung (centre) will oversee two Deputy Secretaries-General and three Assistant NTUC’s employment and employability Secretaries-General. programmes.

In good times, we prepare ourselves for better times. In not so favourable conditions, we have to work As Chief Executive of Ong Ye Kung sits in the Tripartite “even harder so that we are prepared to the Singapore Workforce Implementation Workgroup and has face the worst. We welcome Ong Ye Kung Development Agency, Ong Ye Kung been supportive in tweaking ADVANTAGE! to into the Labour Movement to contribute has“ been instrumental in setting “meet the needs and challenges of companies to improving employability levels, thence, up Singapore’s National Continuing in pushing for re-employment. His secondment developing a stronger workforce and Education and Training system through to NTUC will certainly enhance the Labour keeping unemployment in check.” programmes such as the Workforce Movement’s pursuit in furthering workers’ Skills Qualifi cations System. Ye Kung interest.” Seng Han Thong, NTUC Assistant Secretary-General has also led WDA to a deeper level of Cham Hui Fong, Competency Director (Industrial Relations) relationship with NTUC in jointly pushing We have seen Ong Ye Kung drive and Alignment Director (Silver Collar) through worker-centric initiatives such skills training programmes and as the JRP. Ye Kung is very outcome- we look forward to having him, now as a There is a Chinese idiom which oriented. He is always ready to take a “member of our NTUC family, to create and describes an already powerful tiger, practical approach. His style is to ensure develop programmes that will raise the given wings, is enabled to cover more ground. that WDA’s policies work on the ground skills level of our workers, especially our “With Ong Ye Kung’s appointment as NTUC rather than look good on paper.” low-wage workers. When Ye Kung heads a Assistant Secretary-General, we will be like project, he becomes very deeply involved in Zee Yoong Kang, Chief Executive Offi cer, e2i a tiger with wings, more effective and with it. The Labour Movement needs people who the ability to do more in employment and are hands-on, and he is one of such.” employability for workers.”

Thomas Tay, NTUC Vice-President and SMOU General , Competency Director, Employability Secretary Enhancement Department Take Up Childcare Jobs Experience Not Required

Department organised the Career by Briefi ng cum Recruitment Drive for Yin Thing Ming the childcare industry on 11 October Head Job Re-creator, EED 2008 which drew the participation of Carpe Diem Holdings Private e a childcare teacher and earn Limited, Cherie Hearts Preschool between $1,500 and $2,400 a Private Limited, Kinderland Educare month. And it’s alright if you don’t Services Private Limited and NTUC have the experience, as you’ll be Childcare Co-operative Limited. put through a training programme toB prepare you for the job. With such a lucrative Another 200 childcare centres will There are many good job opportunities offer, it was no wonder that 35 women signed up be set up to meet the needs of more in the childcare sector with many on the spot for the Trainee Teacher Programme. working parents. To increase the supply of operators looking to fi ll positions ranging Participants of the Trainee Teacher Programme childcare“ teachers, NTUC has in place various “from childcare teachers, supervisors to will undergo 15 months of the Diploma in Pre- initiatives like the Trainee Teacher programme principals. The Preschool Career Briefi ng School Teaching course while working in a to increase the number of qualifi ed teachers in cum Recruitment Drive had more than 100 childcare centre. At the end of the course, the the workforce. To attract and retain talent, ESU vacancies to fi ll. Many jobseekers were trainee teacher will become a certifi ed pre- is also working with employers to ensure that attracted by the pathways available for them school teacher. The recruitment drive attracted salaries of teachers in the preschool sector rise to acquire the necessary skills to enter the professionals as well as job seekers in career in tandem with qualifi cations.” industry.” transition. Zainudin Nordin, Alignment Director (Care And Share) and NTUC’s Employability Enhancement Ang Hin Kee, Competency Director, Executive Secretary, Education Services Union Employability Enhancement Department

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NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 8 110/17/080/17/08 7:01:047:01:04 PMPM 10 workingfor • upturnthedownturn Come And Get It! 10,000 Jobs Up For Grabs At Marina Bay IR

by Marcus Lin

t is going to be raining jobs at the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort that is fast taking shape. The National Trades Union Congress’ e2i I(Employment and Employability Institute) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency are partnering Marina Bay Sands Private Limited to employ 10,000 staff when the IR is up

and running with priority given to Still in the works, but come end 2009 the Marina Bay Sands IR will be an oasis of opportunities. locals. In an announcement on 19 October Manager and Vice-President, Singapore working with Continuing Education and Training 2008, the fi rst of its kind partnership is to Development, Marina Bay Sands. Centres to get Singaporeans to step forward recruit potential employees and conduct skills Elaborating further, Daniel Shim, Senior for re-skilling and be job ready to take on the upgrading in preparation for the opening of the Vice President of Human Resources - Asia, 60,000 jobs that are expected to be created in integrated resort by late 2009. of the company, said: “This is merely the tourism industry by 2010. Working with MBS, e2i will embark on a beginning of our extensive recruitment exercise e2i reaches out not only to workers, but series of recruitment drives to Screen-Train- and we are very excited to partner with e2i and to employers as well, focussing attention on Place-and-Train workers for jobs with MBS. WDA on this initiative. As we gradually roll out boosting the competitiveness of both workers In particular, e2i will pro-actively outreach to our plans within the next 12 months for our and employers. e2i partners with inclusive displaced members of the local workforce, Hotel, MICE, Gaming, Retail, Entertainment employers to prepare workers with the right mature workers, back-to-work women, the and Functional Support operations we are attitude and skills to take up jobs with these unemployed, retirees, retrenched, casual and delighted to have the unwavering support of employers. low-wage workers to give them new skills these agencies. This fi rst of its kind cooperation integral to the available jobs. refl ects the proactiveness of these agencies to I am encouraged by the engage with the business community and is a “Our intent from the outset has been for recruitment approach Marina Bay Sands to benefi t Singaporeans. win-win initiative for the Singapore community, This partnership with e2i and WDA will create the agencies and businesses.” adopted by Marina Bay Sands. It new employment opportunities for thousands As a key partner, e2i will spearhead the pre- “is very inclusive and offers ample of people and ensure there is a ready pool employment employability training programmes job opportunities to Singaporeans of skilled staff to support the growth of to ensure Singaporeans are equipped with of all backgrounds: Young and the right skill sets to take on these new job Singapore’s overall tourism and hospitality old, skilled and less skilled. The industry,” said George Tanasijevich, General opportunities. Together with WDA, e2i are key consideration is their ability to learn new skills and adapt to a new industry. The Labour We know Movement is in full support of that such an inclusive recruitment Marina Bay Sands approach, especially so at a “is committed to working with us to time of slower economic growth. bridge what we call Through the efforts of e2i and an employability our network of unions and social gap, either in partners, we will reach out to the terms of literacy or mature workers, back-to-work in terms of basic women, retrenched workers, job skills. We hope that these people seekers and low-wage workers. after training, We will gear them up to be part of and after maybe this growing tourism industry.” a suitable change Lim Swee Say, NTUC Secretary-General in the confi dence level and the attitudes that they have regarding work, will be able to take advantage of the jobs that are created. We are Details including positions going to put in the extra effort to build up the special group of people who would not available and contact information normally be able to access the jobs that Sands is creating. The ideal is to bring them up will be published from 20 October to a level where they are what we call job ready to be interviewed by Sands and stand a 2008 onwards in recruitment good chance of being employed.” advertisements across Singapore newspapers. For more details on Zee Yoong Kang, Chief Executive Offi cer, e2i e2i, please visit www.e21.com.sg.

NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 1100 110/17/080/17/08 7:02:137:02:13 PMPM maritimeindustrialupturnrelationsthedownturnforum • working• caringfor 11 Sugar, Rice And Everything Nice

By Naseema Banu Maideen

our unions presented 2,500 low-wage NTUC Members with $150,000 worth of daily essentials on 11 October 2008. “Any form of help is good. Especially at this time, when everything Fhas become more expensive, these gifts are defi nitely helpful,” said Madam Muthammal d/o Kathamuthu, 56, who works for the National Environment Agency, and a member of Amalgamated Union of Public Daily Rated continue to support our members during this expenditure is more carefully planned now,” said Workers. trying period. We are also constantly encouraging the Fire and Security Offi cer with Capitaland Each person brought home rice, sugar, our members to spend wisely and save as much Retail Management Private Limited, a member of cooking oil and washing powder enough to last as they can.” SISEU. a few weeks. This year, 500 more low-wage This, many low-wage workers are already members received the goodie bags. doing. The economic situation this “We hope this little extra help will give our Madam Sandy Cheong, 35, who works as year is not rosy. We know more members some relief. They are feeling the hardest a clerk in Polycore Opticals Private Limited said members need help. I’m glad that we impact,” said AUPDRW General Secretary her family has made a concerted effort not to use were“ able to persuade management Muthukumarasamy s/o Govindasamy. electricity unless they absolutely have to. Water partners and various sponsors to help taps are also turned on with care. AUPDRW was one of the unions that us help our members through this participated in the “Gift From The Heart” “We also eat out less and shop for only collaboration. It is important that we collaboration. The other participating unions necessary items,” said the CIEU member. continue to work together to support were Chemical Industries Employees’ Union, Mr Abdul Majeed Mohamed Ibrahim, 60, one another in fi ghting this recession.” Food, Drinks and Allied Workers’ Union and the said his family of four has learnt to adapt to Singapore Industrial & Service Employees’ Union. spending less and saving more. “Education for Tan Hock Soon, FDAWU General Secretary and Mr Muthukumarasamy added: “We will the children always comes fi rst. The rest of the “Gift From The Heart” Organising Chairman

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* Prevailing monthly NTUC membership fees still apply. ^ 5% station discount and 5% petrol discount (payment with Uplus). An additional 3% rebate will be credited in your monthly OCBC statement subject to a min. $300 nett petrol spending in a calendar month. Discounts & rebates are subject to change without notice. Uplus is the Preferred NTUC Membership Card. Applicable for petrol purchases only. Information is correct at the time of printing. # Extra LinkPoints will be credited in your monthly OCBC statement. Offer starts 1 Oct 2008. Free for life* for all NTUC members, it gives you + Redemption can be done at www.linkpoints.com.sg. Cash will automatically be deposited into the NTUC-OCBC Starter Account in the following month. Only for NTUC-OCBC Starter Account holders. Offer starts 1 Oct 2008. more LinkPoints, more Savings and more The interest rate for Uplus Credit Card is 24% per annum. All offers are subject to terms and conditions. Visit www.ntuc.org.sg/uplus for detailed information. U-Power to enjoy life to the fullest! Uplus Debit/Credit Cards are offered by OCBC Bank (Company Registration No. 193200032W)

NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 1111 110/17/080/17/08 7:02:387:02:38 PMPM 12 commentary NTUC Membership Is About Engaging

By Gong Wee Lik Centric Director (Membership Communities)

e are well into the Labour Movement 2011 journey. The Pak Tor With U @ vision is an all-inclusive, all Movies engaged working people – of every collar, families young age group and nationality – to and old. Wwork, live and play together. While industrial relations, jobs and employability remain important components, LM2011 embraces the employees’ total lifestyle and lifecycle needs. This enables the Labour Movement to continue to be relevant for many years to come. As we travel the LM2011 journey, it is useful for us to refl ect on its genesis. It was the recognition of the three divides: Young versus old, high-wage versus low-wage, local talent versus foreign talent that spurred LM2011 to embarked on a “mini-Denmark” initiative. It’s a and other membership services. LinkPoints focus on bridging these divides and to pull the movement, empowered by families, advocating earned can be freely redeemed at any of the SE Labour Movement even closer together as One family-centred programmes supported by pro- outlets. That would be an offering that would Movement for all workers. family policies. Some interesting ideas that are be very attractive to our members. It could be Taskforce teams, or “dragonboats” as we being tossed around include providing unique a good reason for others to want to consider call it, have been formed to look at specifi c escapades for couples whereby the wife is membership and for those who are already needs. Some of them have evolved into pampered to an exotic spa and the husband to members to want to stay on. lively communities such as UFamily and Uth! an 18-hole golf game, complete with a dinner Besides developing relevant Movement. with a string ensemble. All this, while the kids are products and services that each of these UFamily, for example, has grown to a 13,000 engaged and enthralled with the likes of scientifi c communities would like to have, there are strong community (www.ufamily.org.sg). The experiments of Dexter or Jimmy Neutron. two areas that we can do even better. The success is very much due to harnessing our The Labour Movement has developed fi rst area is Customer Service. The intent is to society’s social compact to build on personal a very strong stable of Social Enterprises provide our members a “feel good” experience and family playing key roles in supporting one that provide sound services at affordable that they will want to come back for more, be another. UFamily organises many family-oriented prices like supermarket, insurance, it shopping at FairPrice and Unity, taking out events such as Pak Tor with U @ Movies and healthcare and childcare. We also have a policy with Income, sending their children to Sandsational! @ Sentosa to strengthen family ties NTUC Club providing affordable family Childcare or taking their family to NTUC Club. and also provide avenues, on Facebook, for the entertainment. Imagine if we can bundle We want to provide a service that will make U community of families to interact and develop the products from these SEs and provide our smile. mutual support. UFamily is about creating members a preferred customer service, such as The second area is embracing New happy families. In line with this, UFamily has express check-out lanes, “red carpet” treatment Media to better engage and communicate with our members. A U-portal taskforce is looking into leveraging on the emerging social media culture. One major benefi t for Fun At OCC members is the accessibility to the complete rchid Country Club has lined up a series activities suite of products and services within the LM for union members and their families. Family, be it Unions, Social Enterprises or NTUC The Club will be organising a Family Carnival Administration and Research Unit. It would cum Bazaar by the Poolside on 15-16 Novemberr provide great convenience to be able to access 2008. This is the second time they are organisingg services anytime, anywhere. More importantly, Othis extravaganza. Last year, more than 2,500 people came andd members can stay connected with members saw what the Club has to offer. and friends, share pictures and videos, engage The Club is also having a promotion at its driving range. in conversations and seek advice from others. From 1 October 2008, golfers can win many attractive prizes During these challenging times with high including green fee vouchers for 4 people in its “Hit And Win”” infl ation and slower economic growth, another promotion. membership community effort, through the Care and Share initiative, has provided direct fi nancial Family Carnival Cum support worth $13.1 million to our lower-wage Bazaar By The Poolside members. This is an increase from $7 million in 2007. It was made possible with the support Date: 15-16 November 2008 from our Social Enterprises, especially NTUC Time: 12pm to 8pm Fairprice Co-operative Ltd, Singapore Labour Place: Orchid Country Club Recreation Foundation, partners and friends of the Labour Clubhouse Movement. Entry: Free admission. Free parking and shuttle Building membership communities is service from Yishun MRT Station. something everyone in the Labour Movement Highlights Infl atables in the pool • Carnival game stalls will have to do together. Even this may not be • Stage games • Free balloons for children • Bouncing castles • Music and enough. We need our tripartite partners to work entertainment • Food and dessert stalls • 80 bazaar stalls • Lucky draw together with us. Together we can achieve the One Movement, for all workers

NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 1122 110/17/080/17/08 7:03:397:03:39 PMPM workingfor 13 Highly Charged On Safety

By Jansen Yeo ExxonMobil Singapore Employees’ Union is the house union of afety is paramount in the petroleum ExxonMobil Asia Pacifi c Private refi ning industry - so said Limited. It was formed in 1988. The ExxonMobil Singapore Employees’ union has 1,084 members. There Union President Mohamed Munir are 499 Ordinary Branch members, s/o MT Mohamed Yusoff. 23 OB Management members, SIt is no wonder. Oil refi neries are “live” plants. 265 Direct Service General Branch In some areas, operating temperatures can be as members and 297 GB members. high as 600 degrees Centigrade and operating pressure can reach 15,000 kilopascal. Different EMSEU President Mohamed Munir s/o MT Mohamed and his ExxonMobil’s management partner Tan Hian Meng put their heads together to improve the safety at the workplace. operations require injections of hazardous chemicals and production of toxic gases. This is employees and contractors, than the petroleum petroleum refi nery is very dangerous. On the why safety is never compromised at these plants. industry average. In 2006, the company was contrary, this is the safest place to work at. As “We take safety issues very seriously. A one of the winners of the Workplace Safety and long as you follow the safety guidelines, there’s safety briefi ng is conducted every morning before Health Awards. nothing to worry about,” said Mr Mohamed the workers begin their jobs; we have to fi le a “Some people think that working in a Munir. detailed safety report as well. New employees assigned to work at the plants have to undergo a very thorough safety orientation programme. This Increasing Competency To Compete is to ensure that our workers take the necessary safety measures while at work. All these are a HOW things have changed over time. Twenty years ago, many of the operations at the refi nery carry-down from our parent company because were done manually. Today, almost everything is automated. New technology is constantly being ExxonMobil places the health and safety of its pushed out. Workers need to have the technical skills to make use of the technology. Thus, employees on the top of its priority list,” said Mr ExxonMobil is very keen to upgrade the skills of its workers. Mohamed Munir. “Under the Education Assistance Plan in our Collective Agreement, an employee will have In this aspect, EMSEU has worked closely $25,000 throughout his career at ExxonMobil to be used to upgrade his skills and take up with the management to ensure that safety courses. The company also pays for union courses at the Ong Teng Cheong Institute of Labour precautions are in place at all times. Studies such as the Diploma in Employment Relations. The union and management fully support “We have a union offi cial sitting at every NTUC’s Skills Redevelopment Programme. Both parties co-pay the course fees for any member Employee Safety Committee meeting. Together who wants to take up courses under the programme. with the management, we conduct regular plant “Our workers need to be up-to-date with the latest technology and remain competitive. It safety inspections. The safety awareness here is is a very competitive market out there and we need to increase the competency levels of our very high,” said Mr Mohamed Munir. workers in order for the company to compete in the global market,” said EMSEU President This has enabled ExxonMobil Asia Pacifi c Mohamed Munir s/o MT Mohamed Yusoff. Private Limited to have a better safety record, for

Inland Revenue Authority of Driving On ‘3R’ Fuel Singapore employs many young workers. IRASSU’s New Exco In The Thick Of Things Uth! Movement Dragonboat organises self-development he dust has not settled following the Inland Revenue Authority of courses in a bid to attract Singapore Staff Union’s Ordinary them to become members. Delegates’ Conference but the new Executive Committee for the term ofT 2008-2012 has already set its sight on increasing its membership. IRASSU Executive Committee Like the Labour Movement, IRASSU 2008 to 2012 will run on the “3R” engine of Recruitment, Retention and Relationship in their efforts to President Komalavalli Pakirisamy Vice-President Stanley Chew Woon Leong increase their membership strength. Currently, General Secretary Mabel Low Wan Yeong IRASSU, the house union of the Inland Assistant General Secretary James Yeo Koon Tat Revenue Authority of Singapore, has about IRASSU President P Komala casts her vote at the union’s ODC. Executive Secretary Anna Koh Sock Meng General Treasurer Vivian Lim Hee Sang 46 per cent membership strength. It aims to Assistant General Treasurer Eng Siew Kheng drive up membership to 50 per cent within the Members Abdul Jalil Anwari Wendy Aw Bee Fang fi rst year of the Executive Council’s new term IRASSU Doing More Chan Chong Onn Chong May Yuen and eventually to 70 per cent by the end of the • Complimentary comprehensive health Chong Poh Min screening packages Edmund Toh term in 2012. Elmy Iryanti Mohamed Jaim ”A union draws its strength from its • Subsidised gym membership packages Hong Bee Eng KS Salina membership and is therefore very crucial • Recruiting non-members to assist in the Ivy Lim Li Keen Yvonne Lin Peidi to have a strong membership so that there committees, providing them with opportunities Poh Lee Ling is a clear mandate to represent staff and to fi nd out more about union benefi ts and Rita Balasurian Rohani Hashim ensure that we continue to make progress activities Christopher Tan Shun Fa Internal Auditors See Hock Hin in developing our workforce,” said IRASSU • Fine-tuning the Member-Get-Member Scheme Ng Yueh Lee General Secretary Mabel Low.

NNTUCTW17Oct08new.inddTUCTW17Oct08new.indd 1133 110/17/080/17/08 7:04:177:04:17 PMPM 14 engaging • corporatesocialresponsibility Getting To Know Your Corporate’s Social Responsibility

By doing to increase the awareness of CSR Jansen Yeo among companies in Singapore, Mr Thomas said: “We will try to impress upon them that CSR Startup Guide fundamentally CSR is value driven. It is 1. Decide to embark on the CSR journey. sk any company the meaning of embedding the values into the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and philosophy, policies and practices.” 2. Join Singapore Compact for CSR. there’s only a 40 per cent chance Moving forward, Mr Thomas said 3. Appoint a CSR focal point in the organisation. of them replying, “paying back to that Singapore Compact will “continue to 4. Embed CSR in the philosophy and operations. society”. This response is twice as promote the shared vision of the government, Alikely to come from large enterprises than Small employers, trade unions and all stakeholders 5. Attend at least one event a year. and Medium Enterprises. And foreign-owned in Singapore to achieve continued sustainable 6. Report CSR activities companies are more likely to be aware of CSR economic and social progress while protecting than local-owned companies, partly because and enhancing our environment.” of the actions of their head offi ces. It does not necessary mean that most local SMEs do not practice CSR. “Companies in Singapore are socially Thomas Thomas on... responsible in the Singapore context – with national legislation, policies and social norms; CSR and Competitiveness good corporate citizens contributing to the community. The survey fi ndings, however, “Companies operating in Singapore will benefi t from adopting strategic CSR, as it will raise the question of whether these companies enhance company’s reputation and attract customers. Trust and relationship won from embrace the values and principles of corporate the community translates into long-term profi tability and continuous investment by social responsibility as defi ned and expected shareholders. Employees will take greater pride in their company, and thus be more in the larger global standards,” said Singapore productive in their work place. More crucially, as CSR becomes increasingly important Compact for CSR Executive Director Thomas in the eyes of shareholders, employees and consumers, it has become a key ingredient Thomas. in the creation of new business models and competitive advantage domestically and This was the fi ndings of a national CSR internationally.” survey conducted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on over 500 Singapore-based enterprises. CRS and Labour Movement Social Enterprises The survey revealed that companies, “We can say that all our Labour Movement who were aware of CSR and what it entailed, Social Enterprises do operate on CSR were primarily motivated by their corporate values. They are formed to meet social culture, branding and altruism. The majority of objectives. Yet to meet these social respondents who were unaware of CSR cited objectives, they have to be commercially a lack of budget and know-how as well as viable and competitive in the market insuffi cient evidence that CSR was fi nancially place. The customer can walk away from worthwhile, as reasons for not implementing any of our Social Enterprises if it is not it. Overall, the companies surveyed suggested competitive to other fi rms. Yet the success that incentives, trainings and seminars, along of Social Enterprises is measured by how with assistance to be provided, to encourage they meet their social objectives.” them to develop a CSR strategy. On what Singapore Compact will continue

Brisk Walk To Better Ageing n the second of fi ve Active Ageing roadshows, the Council for Third Age and Central Singapore Community Development Council organised a brisk walk around Fort Canning Park Ion Sunday, 12 October 2008. The roadshows which began in NTUC Deputy Secretary- General and Guest of September this year featuring easily honour accessible activities, courses and social (centre) joined the elderly and their families to keep platforms for families and their elderly, are fi t and stay active. part of the Council’s efforts to bring the movement into the community. Besides The participation of more than 20 seniors but also the organisatioon partners. performances by seniors, the Council will partners from the private and public sectors He said: “C3A continues to provide platforms be organising many more fun activities in the roadshow is testament to the value of to encourage organisations and senior interest such as rock climbing, fl ying fox, games engaging the seniors within society. groups to connect with their target audience, and health awareness booths to equip Mr Henry Quake, CEO of Council for Third and hopefully spark off further opportunities seniors with ideas on how to keep active. Age, said the roadshows benefi t not only the for interaction and participation.”

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PP15-20.indd15-20.indd 1919 110/17/080/17/08 8:54:228:54:22 PMPM Terms and Conditions: Perfect Contours (90mins) • Offer valid for fi rst 50 customers only • Offer is not valid with other promotions and discounts Contouring and Detoxifying at $88 (UP: $280) • Limited to one redemption per customer • Prior phone or email booking of appointment Detox Wrap + Radio Frequency Contouring Treatment is required • The Spa@ Aranda reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions without prior notice Aranda Country Club, Level 2, 60 Pasir Ris Drive 3, Singapore 519497 Tel: 65891812 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ntucclub.com/spa

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