Budget is pro-worker

Budget is pro-worker
NTUC chief rallies unions to unleash the Singapore advantage.
By Goh Chin Lian


The $20.5 billion Resilience Package unveiled by the Government last week is more pro-worker than employees may realise for two reasons, said labour chief Lim Swee Say on Thursday. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

THE $20.5 billion Resilience Package unveiled by the Government last week is more pro-worker than employees may realise for two reasons, said labour chief Lim Swee Say on Thursday.

Firstly, the Jobs Credit scheme to subsidise part of the wage bill of employers, makes Singaporeans more cost-competitive than foreign workers.

Secondly, this scheme avoids the need to reduce the employers' Central Provident Fund contribution. Mr Lim was responding to views from some quarters reported in the media, that the measures announced in this year's Budget favoured businesses more than workers.

'This is a gross misunderstanding of the Resilience Package,' he told 500 union leaders at the National Trades Union Congress' annual workplan.

During the 90-minute meeting, Mr Lim spoke about unleashing what he described as 'the Singapore advantage' - the unique situation of unity among the labour movement, employers and the Government here that is not found in other countries - so as to save jobs and create growth in a global downturn that is set to be deep and long.

He identified three key performance indicators that the labour movement has set for itself this year.

These are: to avoid exceeding the record retrenchment of 29,000 workers during the 1998 Asian financial crisis; avoid exceeding the high unemployment rate of 5.2 per cent in 2003 during the Sars crisis; and strive for a faster recovery than the global economy during the eventual upturn.

He urged union leaders on the ground as well as employers to fulfil four commitments: to make Singapore the most pro-business economy in the world, the most pro-worker nation, the most united tripartism and most caring labour movement.

On the last point, he said the labour movement is committing at least $20 million this year - up from $13 million last year - to ease the financial burden of more workers through vouchers, subsidies and discounts.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_331857.html