PMEs, did you know that 58 trade unions can help you with salary claims? The highest settlement they’ve snagged is $68,000 since 2021!
And if you’re in a vulnerable industry and worried about being retrenched, they can negotiate higher payouts to tide you over to your next job.
Would it surprise you to know that NTUC is the organisation that works closely with these unions?
So, if you think that unions are useless or NTUC is just a supermarket, think again.
LabourBeat sets the record straight about the common misconceptions surrounding NTUC and the unions.
Myth 1: Unions are Useless; They are for Show Only
The 58 NTUC-affiliated unions and seven associations work hard to ensure better wages, welfare, and work prospects for their members, including PMEs. In fact, PMEs are an increasingly important segment for NTUC, as they now form 45 per cent of its membership base.
When disputes arise, unions step in on behalf of workers to negotiate with management to resolve problems amicably.
According to the Labour Movement Annual 2024, from 2019 to 2023, unions resolved 96 per cent of 10,435 cases. These include salary and benefits disputes, dismissal and termination concerns, and workplace conflicts.
However, if a union and employer can’t reach an agreement at the company level, the union can seek conciliation assistance from the Manpower Ministry.
Union members in non-unionised companies who require assistance with employment or payment-related disputes may approach the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management @ NTUC (TADM@NTUC). They can file claims for up to $30,000.
According to NTUC, PMEs comprise 40 per cent of the cases at TADM@NTUC, with the highest salary recovery settlement recorded at $68,000 since 2021.
Myth 2: NTUC is a Supermarket; it has Nothing to do with Unions
NTUC, or the National Trades Union Congress, is a network of unions, professional associations, and partners that help workers achieve better lives and livelihoods. It works with its affiliated unions to advance workers’ and PMEs’ interests.
The supermarket is NTUC FairPrice, a social enterprise under NTUC’s network. NTUC established FairPrice in 1973 as NTUC Welcome with a social mission to moderate the cost of living in Singapore. It remains true to its social mission today, focusing on benchmarking prices to keep daily essentials within your reach, which is a great help amidst the current high inflation.
Myth 3: PMEs Can’t Join the Union, Only Rank-and-File Workers Can
Unions have been able to represent PMEs since inception, although the scope was somewhat limited. In April 2015, the law was updated to widen the scope of representation to include retrenchment benefits, dismissal, breach of individual contract, victimisation, and re-employment disputes.
Today, several NTUC-affiliated unions and associations comprise mostly PME members. Notable examples include the Air Transport Executive Staff Union, which played a crucial role in protecting PME members’ jobs during COVID-19; the ST Engineering Staff Union, which has assisted PMEs with workplace issues and wage negotiations; the Tech Talent Assembly; and the Singapore FinTech Association.
In the recent Lazada Singapore restructuring exercise, NTUC and the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union stepped in to help union members, many of whom were PMEs. The outcome was an enhanced support package for affected eligible members.
Myth 4: NTUC Can’t Do Much for Workers Because the Government Runs It
While NTUC closely collaborates with the Government on labour-related policies and initiatives, it operates independently as an organisation representing workers’ interests. This symbiotic relationship allows both parties to jointly address PMEs and workers’ needs, ensuring policies are always in place to support them.
NTUC is now focused on doing more for PMEs as they form 45 per cent of its membership base.
For example, the joint NTUC-Singapore National Employers Federation (NTUC-SNEF) PME Taskforce made significant strides towards achieving workplace fairness. Outcomes include 9,000 HR professionals trained in workplace fairness, the upcoming workplace fairness legislation, and the COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment) framework to strengthen local workforce development through NTUC’s Company Training Committees (CTCs) or Government-supported programmes.
In addition, 727 PMEs from 61 CTC Grant companies now enjoy an average 5 per cent wage increase on top of their annual increment and have a career development plan. NTUC also opened the first e2i career centre in the CBD, which provides workers, especially PMEs, with tools, job opportunities, and resources to bolster their employability skills.
Myth 5: NTUC is Irrelevant, Out of Touch with PMEs’ Needs
NTUC constantly evolves to stay in tune with workers’ issues. From 2022 to 2023, it surveyed over 42,000 workers, including PMEs, as part of its #EveryWorkerMatters Conversations (#EWMC) campaign to uncover their needs, concerns, and aspirations.
Through the exercise, NTUC discovered that PMEs want more support to protect against job losses and access to employment and job-related training opportunities.
NTUC has since taken action to support PMEs who have lost their jobs. In response to its lobbying efforts in Parliament, the Government announced in Budget 2024 a temporary financial support scheme to help involuntarily unemployed workers who undergo training or look for the next job.
NTUC will continue to tackle PMEs’ concerns and provide them with career support.
Ready to be a union member and get the help you need? Click here to sign up.