Cheaper, Better, Faster

Labour movement working towards cheaper, better, faster economy
By Ismail Saifulbahri / Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 15 October 2009 2230 hrs

	Lim Swee Say

SINGAPORE: The labour movement, NTUC, will be working towards helping put on track a "Cheaper, Better, Faster (CBF)" economy in the next two years.

The CBF strategy will help drive Singapore into the next phase of growth.

"We want to create early successes in all sectors to demonstrate how the CBF concept can be implemented on the ground," said labour chief Lim Swee Say.

Mr Lim gave examples of companies that have already taken the CBF strategy to heart.

The wafer fabrication sector had launched a national framework for skills upgrading in August. ST Microelectronics began training 7,000 engineers this year, to be followed by 3,000 technicians and operators next year.

Making his closing address at the NTUC Ordinary Delegates' Conference, the labour chief was also encouraged by the strong endorsement given by union leaders to the CBF concept.

However, even as they pledged their support, unionists raised concerns over how it would translate on the ground and impact workers. Some delegates at the conference were worried that the CBF strategy might lead to job cuts.

Mr Lim said: "They feel that it's very important that the management has the same understanding of the CBF because the CBF economy is not about downsizing the workforce.

"It's not just about applying them to manufacturing sector, it's not about just including the younger workers, better educated workers, but instead it should be inclusive for all workers - young and old."

Mr Lim pointed out: "Which country, which tripartite partners will want to work together to become cheaper, better, faster, to improve productivity so that every one per cent improvement in productivity will lead to one per cent rise in unemployment rate?"

He added that the end result will be stronger economic growth, more profitable companies, and higher wages.

Mr Lim also said that older or less-educated workers will not be left out in the drive to be cheaper, better, and faster. Foreign workers too, will be given training.

Over the next two years, NTUC will be working with companies to raise worker productivity.

It will also work closely with the Singapore National Employers' Federation (SNEF) in the months ahead to ensure that both businesses and workers are on the same page regarding what the CBF strategy entails.

The three-day conference, which ended on Thursday, was a time for unionists to take stock of their progress and to raise issues on the ground.

Some said more could be done to get women back to work, and to provide better support for working mothers. Others suggested ways to make training courses more accessible.

- CNA/sc