If you didn’t know by now, there’s is something called the Tripartite Standards that are helping companies stay one step ahead of the employee recruitment and retention game.
Jointly developed by the Ministry of Manpower, NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), the standards help organisations distinguish themselves as companies with progressive practices that cover flexible work arrangements, recruitment practices and age-friendly workplace practices.
As at 31 May 2018, there were about 1,027 employers who had adopted at least one standard and nearly 480,000 employees who were enjoying progressive employment practices.
Complementing the Employment laws
Singapore already has a set of laws under the Employment Act and the Tripartite Standards complement these laws.
Each Tripartite Standard comprises a set of verifiable and actionable employment practices across different functional areas such as term contract employment and recruitment practices.
Reasons to Get on Board
Even though adopting the Tripartite Standards is voluntary, companies that adopt them get additional help to be branded as an employer of choice.
The company will also be listed on the website of the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) under “Organisations That Have Adopted The Tripartite Standards”.
Your company also gets to use the Tripartite Standards logomarks in job advertisements and marketing collaterals.
Are You Eligible?
Before a company decides to adopt a Tripartite Standard, it should assess if it has met the specifications for that Standard and implemented the practice in the workplace.
Employers can check the specifications of the various standards by visiting https://www.tafep.sg/tripartitestandards.
Meanwhile, eight Tripartite Standards have been launched so far but companies do not need to adopt all eight of them. However, they are encouraged to adopt all the relevant Tripartite Standards if they meet the specifications.
TAFEP has a series of coaching clinics to help employers understand more about the various Tripartite Standards. Through these clinics, employers will learn how to implement progressive practices and adopt these Standards.
Visit https://www.tafep.sg/fair-employment-events or email ts@tafep.sg to register.
Alternatively, employers can contact SNEF at advisory@snef.org.sg or NTUC at ntucird@ntuc.org.sg for more information and assistance on the Standards.
Success Stories
Two companies shared their reasons for adopting the Tripartite Standards.
Cyient Singapore Private Limited specialises in engineering design services, networks and operations for sectors like aerospace, rail, oil and gas and communications.
“Signing up for the Tripartite Standards is aligned with our corporate values, FIRST, which stands for Fairness, Integrity, Respect, Sincerity and Transparency. Cyient Singapore believes by being the FIRST mover to adopt various Tripartite Standards, we will provide more transparency in areas such as hiring, rewards and benefits, and grievances handling,” said the company’s Manager, Human Resources Ms Grace Lim Swen Choo.
Another company which has come on board is public transport operator Go-Ahead Singapore.
Its Human Resource Director Wang Poon Liang said: “We are committed to creating a fair and progressive workplace and implementing good employment practices for the benefit of our employees.
“Since the adoption of the Tripartite Standards, our employees have been made aware of the practices implemented and will continue to be regularly informed. The Tripartite Standards logomark has also been included in our job advertisements and we are positive that it will serve to attract potential jobseekers as well as reinforce their confidence in our merit-based employment practices.”