TL;DR – To address PME’s concerns like the lack of job security, lack of involuntarily unemployment support and workplace discrimination, NTUC-SNEF PME Taskforce submitted nine recommendations to MOM for the Government’s consideration.
National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) collectively formed a PME Taskforce (TF) in Oct 2020. To understand the key concerns and needs of PMEs at the workplace, more than 10,000 professionals, managers and executives, union leaders and business leaders were consulted.
PME’s Top Concerns
- Lack of job security
This concern is strongly expressed by mature PMEs in their 40s to 60s. As businesses transform to keep their business sustainable, the skillsets that PMEs (both young and old) have could become obsolete.
- Workplace discrimination
Ageism in the workplace amongst other forms of discrimination is the most prominent drawback faced by mature PMEs.
- Lack of unemployment support and benefits
PMEs who are involuntarily unemployed, especially mature PMEs take a longer time to return to the workforce.
NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay, Co-Chair to the PME TF said, “I encourage PMEs to join our unions as members so that we can effectively speak up for them and provide them with the much-needed support as a collective voice. With PMEs onboard, NTUC will be able to work with our tripartite partners to formalize effective policies and programmes that would address our PMEs’ concerns and aspirations.”
NTUC-SNEF PME Taskforce’s Nine Recommendations
- Enhance workplace fairness
NTUC-SNEF is jointly aiming to have 12,000 Institute for Human Resource (HR) Professionals (IHRP) certified HR professionals by 2025. This will equip HR professionals to adopt fair workplace practices.
More awareness needs to be brought to the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) and the channels for reporting unfair hiring practices. Safe whistle-blowing policies and procedures need to be put in place for the reporting to be effective.
Reinforcing TAFEP’s enforcement power on errant companies that adopt unfair practices will keep companies accountable.
- Strengthening Singaporean core
Foreign worker access should be differentiated by occupation. This will discourage companies from hiring foreign talents when Singapore has a pool of locals with the required skills.
EP application review process will be enhanced by integrating a point(s) system which considers an array of factors beyond the applicants’ education qualification and salary.
Enhancing the Capability Transfer Programme (CTP) will ensure mandatory capability transfer from foreign specialists to local PMEs. This will eventually phase foreign talents out and create more opportunities for Singaporeans.
- Widen support for PMEs through review of legislation on PME’s representation
NTUC-SNEF PME TF is setting up a tripartite work group to review the scope of union representation of PMEs.
- Strengthen unemployment income support
The introduction of a national transitionary support framework to provide supplementary income relief and assistance to those who are involuntarily unemployed will help them weather the unemployment phase. This income relief will be supplemented by Labour Market Policy.
A Tripartite Work Group will be set up to access the feasibility, conditions, and size of support.
An additional tier of support will be available to union members and vulnerable mature PMEs.
- Assist mature PMEs in their transition into meaningful employment through short-term salary support
Short-term salary support will be granted to companies that hire mature PMEs with relevant skills. Training courses and mentorship programmes for relevant roles will also be made available.
Fast-track training programmes with certification to aid mature PMEs in transit into relevant roles.
- Build Singaporean leadership bench strength
Singaporean PMEs will receive support in leadership development programmes.
Facilitation for global development of Singaporean talent will also be implemented.
- Provide customised career coaching support for PMEs
Customised career coaching support through professionally trained career coaches will be provided and supported by NTUC-SNEF.
Funding of career coaches to NTUC/SNEF to guide and support PMEs in companies will be supported and expended.
- Develop structured jobs and skills plans for PMEs through Company Training Committees (CTCs)
Employers’ and employees’ common interests for business and workforce transformation need to be aligned to co-create training plans. This will help upskill workers to meet business and industry requirements.
NTUC’s resources will be expanded to outreach and support more sectors and companies (including SMEs).
- Strengthen the nexus between tripartite partners to prepare the workforce for economic transitions and investment pipelines
NTUC’s Job Security Council (JSC) will be repositioned as NTUC-SNEF JSC to strengthen the jobs ecosystem.
NTUC-SNEF JSC will work with MOM and other relevant government agencies to improve employment opportunities and create better jobs for Singaporeans.
For workers to be competitive the fast-changing economic landscape, training needs must be incorporated into Institutes of Higher Learning.
The full report with the nine recommendations has been submitted to MOM for the Governments’ consideration.
Looking forward
In the next decade, there will be significant demographic shifts – there will be more PMEs in the workforce; people will live longer, and Singapore will face a rapidly ageing workforce.
Mass adoption of digital technologies has hastened, and the geopolitical environment is seeing a much more fragmented world.
Transformation is imperative for Singapore to stay competitive. For transformation to succeed, Singapore will need Singaporeans to be on board and the key is to ensure that Singaporeans’ aspirations are met now and for the new economy.
Click here for the full report.