One-third of the Singaporean workforce consists of PMEs (Professionals, Managers and Executives) and this proportion is likely to increase in the coming years.
To keep in tandem with the changing workforce profile, the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill was tabled in Parliament on 3 November 2014.
It seeks to allow rank-and-file unions to represent PMEs collectively. In addition, the Bill also allows unions to represent PMEs individually on re-employment matters.
Currently, rank-and-file unions are not allowed to represent PMEs as a group due to potential conflicts of interest.
TIMELY MOVE
The Labour Movement has welcomed the proposed amendments as it has been lobbying this move over the last two years.
Speaking at a media briefing on 5 November 2014 , NTUC Assistant Secretary- General (ASG) and NTUC PME Unit Director Patrick Tay called it timely as the number of PMEs continues to grow in the workforce.
RE-EMPLOYMENT MATTERS
ASG Tay noted that re-employment has been added to the scope of limited representation, as it can be a potential problem faced by mature PMEs. “We are changing things in anticipation (of more PMEs in our workforce), to be Being Future- Ready future-ready, future-proof ourselves. The tripartite partners want to be proactive and be ready for our growing PME workforce,” said ASG Tay.
A set of tripartite guidelines will be announced in the coming weeks to help companies understand the changes.
(Source: NTUC This Week)