60 cents | MCI (P) 088/10/2013 22 November 2013 A Voice For The Future WorkforceC100 M0 Y0 K0 C50 M0 Y100 K0 C15 M0 Y100 K0 By Naseema Banu Maideen he world ahead will be a complex, competitive one; one that will bring on evolving jobs that will mould dynamicT workers. And with these, union leaders of the future must also be groomed to face the new workforce. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Grace Fu shared these thoughts as she addressed graduands and guests at the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTC Institute)’s 22nd Graduation Ceremony on 16 November 2013. What would be the job of the This year’s graduands will now serve their members with enhanced knowledge from their courses. future? Who will be the worker of the future? What will the future of painted a picture of what union total workers. The proportion will workers will be well educated, Singapore be like? What will the leaders of tomorrow may have to increase to about a quarter in 2020. highly skilled and equipped to take Labour Movement of the future be handle. Men account for about 55 per cent on new tasks. Our productivity like? And what would be required On the workforce profile of workforce. I venture to guess will be high. All jobs will be of the union leader of the future? of the future, she said: “The that women may turn the table… respected with traditional crafts Ms Fu laid out these questions generation before mine, only 60 and exceed men sometime in the such as electricians and plumbing to the 300 people at the event, per cent received six years of formal future, albeit in informal or part- enjoying good reward and good comprising members of the OTC education. Now, close to 70 per time employment.” compensation. Our labour force will Institute Board of Governors as cent of a cohort receive tertiary Singapore is set to remain an be one that is nimble and resilient, well as graduands and their family education. Workers above 55 attractive global city exporting able to respond to changes quickly,” members. Along the way, she also account for about 17 per cent of to the world, she affirmed. “Our she added. Continued on page 2 ESU Applauds Ground-Up Approach To CPD Masterplan he Education Services Union (ESU) cheers the ESU will continue to work closely with the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) ECDA to improve the image and salary Masterplan for the early childhood sector announced on 20 November 2013. Minister for Social and structure of early childhood educators, as well as FamilyT Development Chan Chun Sing revealed this at the to provide them a well-defined progression plan. Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA)’s inaugural The details will indeed be in the execution. This Early Childhood Conference. The CPD Masterplan is a key component of ECDA’s manpower strategies to attract, develop masterplan has put us all on the right footing to and retain early childhood (EC) professionals, and raise the move ahead together.” quality of EC programmes. Education Services Union Executive Secretary Ang Hin Kee Continued on page 2 4 9 12 The Call To SISEU Is Youths ‘Value Every Three Times Unleash Their Woman’ Good Inner Sports Superheroes The Labour Movement, Now Closer To U On The Go! Scan here for mobile app My NTUC featuring exclusive content: get the latest news, special offers, merchants listing and a lot more! iPhone & iPad Android 2 WORKINGFOR • LABOURMOVEMENTFORALL NTUC THIS WEEK 22 NOVEMBER 2013 From page 1 A Voice For The Future Workforce With all this progress ahead, leaders to be constantly prepared government’s support to bring The foreign workers’ pool is also the Labour Movement’s role will to ride the next wave of changes foreign nurses to work in Japan, likely to take up more of their also transform. Since the early and not fall into pitfalls like the union resisted, fearing that time. She said: “In other words, days, the Labour Movement has what other countries have fallen their pay will be affected. As a you will have to handle greater been an active and constructive into. She cited countries like result, quality of healthcare has complexity in jobs, in technology, partner in nation building. In the Sweden, Japan and Europe where dropped in Japan, with long in pay structures, in cross-cultural 60s, jobs were the top priority. inflexible, hard-wired policies that waiting lines in clinics and poor and religious issues and greater Acknowledging this, Ms Fu provided extensive benefits for emergency health care.” need for communication and further added that “the Labour workers have resulted in hurting Therefore, Ms Fu stressed persuasion… To help you become Movement worked closely with businesses and long-term pains on what the future will have an effective union leader and the Government and employers like high youth employment. in store for union leaders. They be future-ready, you should to turn Singapore into a Tiger, For instance, in Japan, she will be the voice for better take full advantage of the OTC creating hundreds of thousands said: “An aging population has educated workers, with greater Institute. It offers a wide range of of jobs.” caused a shortage of health sectoral differentiation in jobs programmes to keep you current Ms Fu also urged union care workers. Despite the and compensation structures. and rich in knowledge.” From page 1 ESU Applauds Ground-Up Approach To CPD Masterplan ESU Executive Secretary Ang Hin Kee shared that prior to the release of the CPD Masterplan for the early childhood education sector, the union had a series of conversations with the educators, lecturers and operators together with the ECDA. He said: “We note that many suggestions made by the early childhood teachers themselves were reflected in this Masterplan. ESU is heartened that the ECDA has responded emphatically to earlier urging by the union to do more to support our pre-school educators to increase their professionalism and improve their pay.” Mr Ang added that the union also applauds the ECDA for exploring different support measures, such as establishing a pool of trained relief teachers and allowing flexible staffing requirements for centres during days that are designated for CPD. These measures will enable early Early childhood educators can look forward to enhancements to their careers with the Masterplan. childhood professionals to balance their responsibilities in the centres structured system of incentives professional development Building on the CPD and pursue their CPD training. It and recognition, together with roadmap, core and milestone Framework released last year, will encourage more educators to a professional development CPD courses as well as incentives the CPD Masterplan aims to fulfill their desire to upgrade and roadmap laid out, will help to and recognition. In addition to provide professional development deepen their competencies. attract and retain early childhood the CPD Masterplan, ECDA will opportunities for centre leaders, He further emphasized: “We professionals, and raise the quality develop an Induction Framework teachers and educators to urge centre operators to respond of early childhood programmes.” and provide induction and progress as they upgrade their decisively and push through the The CPD Masterplan mentoring resources to support skills and knowledge, attain key initiatives to boost the knowledge comprises three components new teachers in their professional competencies and gain experience and skills of their teachers. The that encompass a structured growth and learning. in the sector. NTUC MEDIA CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED GENERAL MANAGER ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE EDITOR SENIOR JOURNALIST (Chinese Section) PUBLISHER SOCIAL ENTERPRISES MARCUS WONG [email protected] NICOLETTE YEO [email protected] HANA HUAN SEE LAI [email protected] NTUC MEDIA CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED CLUB 6589 1600 (Corporate) Address 10 Science Park Road #03-07 The Alpha Singapore Science 6589 1688 (Downtown East) SENIOR DIRECTOR SENIOR JOURNALIST SENIOR EXECUTIVE DESIGNER (Chinese Section) Park II Singapore 11684 Phone 6236 0555 Fax 6778 0311 CHOICE HOMES 6213 8822 CH KONG [email protected] NASEEMA BANU MAIDEEN [email protected] CHARLES CHONG [email protected] Website www.ntucmedia.org.sg ELDERCARE 6478 5480 THE NTUC THIS WEEK TEAM JOURNALISTS FAIRPRICE 6456 0233 MEDIA ADVERTISING PRINTER JOSHUA JOSEPH MARIMUTHU [email protected] FIRST CAMPUS 6391 9233 EDITORIAL CONSULTANT ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR TIMES PRINTERS PTE LTD SHONA TAN-JAMES [email protected] NICHOLAS LEE [email protected] STEVEN LOW [email protected] FOODFARE 6757 0330 THE NTUC FAMILY DIRECTORY HEAltHCARE 6590 4300 EDITORIAL ADVISOR SENIOR EXECUTIVE DESIGNER SUBSCRIPTION NTUC SWITCHBOARD 6213 8000 INCOME 6346 2663 LIM LI YIN [email protected] MOHAMED NASUHAR SOEYOETI [email protected] JENNY LIAU [email protected] CUSTOMER CENTRE 6213 8008 LEARNINGHUB 6471 2223 EXECUTIVE EDITOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR (Chinese Section) BUSINESS CENTRE 6213 8811 [email protected] LINK 6223 5225 MARCUS LIN [email protected] HO SEO TECK [email protected] CARE & SHARE [email protected] MEDIA 6236 0555 3 WORKINGFOR • LABOURMOVEMENTFORALL NTUC THIS WEEK 22 NOVEMBER 2013 Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute's 22nd Graduation Ceremony Rewards For Dedication understand the management’s By Naseema Banu Maideen point of view and am able to relate better to them. This comes e could very well have in helpful during negotiations.” decided to take a back seat Mr Cheong, Mr Mohamed and recuperate within the and Ms Manjit, together with comfort of his home. After others in this cohort, have Hall, he was already holding on graduated from the OTC Institute’s to a doctor’s medical certificate milestone certificate and diploma certifying him as unfit for work programmes in industrial relations for five months.