Singapore’s workforce urged to transform to face new job challenges

Singapore’s Labour Movement has been urged to transform itself to tackle new challenges in present and future jobs, working more directly with companies to transform their operations so that their workers can succeed, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. 

As the labour market changes, it should serve more employees by expanding its reach and addressing workers’ holistic needs, he said at an event attended by labour unionists and Singapore’s workforce tripartite partners — Ministry of Manpower, the National Trades Union Congress, and The Singapore National Employers Federation.

The Labour Movement can also make a greater impact by increasing collaboration, the minister added, referring to a group comprising 58 affiliated unions, two affiliated associations, 10 social enterprises, six related organisations, and an ecosystem of U Associates and enterprise partners. U Associate is defined as a network of professional guilds and associations by the Labour Movement to reach out to working professionals.

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“You can become partners in transformation, working together with employers and the Government,” he said, adding that the learning needs of workers have evolved, with more staff looking beyond job-specific training.