MOM / MPs Asked SMRT TO WAKE-UP !!!

[Mdm Tang]

.


SMRT must solve labour grievances quickly, says MOM



By maria almenoar

The Ministry of Manpower has told bus operator SMRT that labour and contractual grievances raised by its workers must be a priority and addressed quickly.
SMRT must ensure lines of communication are kept open and that it has proper grievances handling procedures in place.
The ministry revealed this in a statement in response to queries about the SMRT bus drivers' illegal strike.
Four drivers from China were charged in court earlier on Thursday for their role in the illegal strike at a worker's dormitory in Woodlands earlier this week.
The ministry also said it has inspected the dormitories where the mainland Chinese drivers were housed. They had complained of poor conditions.
The ministry said the rooms were not overcrowded, but there was a bedbug problem in some of those occupied by the drivers. "Occupants of each room are responsible for their own hygiene," it said.
The "general housekeeping conditions" of the drivers' rooms were "below par" compared to other rooms in the dormitories.
SMRT management said in a statement it has held two dialogue sessions with more than 130 bus drivers from China. They were told about what measures were being implemented to improve their well-being. including fumigation of bedbugs and the repair of fixtures.

 

[Mdm Tang]

.


SINGAPORE: The government's strong stand against the illegal strike staged by 171 SMRT bus drivers from China will give companies and investors here and potential investors the assurance about the country's stable labour relations.

Minister of State for Trade and Industry Teo Ser Luck said this in an interview with Channel NewsAsia.

And political watchers question if the labour movement is doing enough to reach out to foreign workers to join the unions.

The SMRT bus drivers strike this week should not and must not happen, and it's a matter to be taken seriously.

And Mr Teo stressed that Singapore's tripartism between the government, employer and unions has a strong bearing among investors.

"When they have lack of confidence, you have less companies investing in Singapore and less jobs as well. So we have to take these things very seriously, then the whole ecosystem can function well," he said.

Observers add that the incident has also raised questions as to how Singapore manages its industrial relations in the light of the changing demographics of the workforce.

Assistant Professor Eugene Tan, Nominated MP, said: "When you look at the SMRT incident, it reflects a failure in industrial relations. The issue has been brewing for a while and obviously it would seem that the workers didn't have sufficient channel for their grievances to be addressed and they have taken the rather drastic action of staging an illegal strike. In a way the illegal strike has worked. It has brought their grievances out publicly.

"It raises very valid questions about whether SMRT could have done better in handling their foreign-born drivers. It raises the question of whether the National Transport Workers' Union made the effort to try to reach out to these workers, never mind if they are not unionised because there is an interest in workers working in the transport sector.

"It also raises the question whether NTUC, as well as its member unions, should make the effort to reach out to foreign workers, many of whom are not unionised.

"Ultimately, even if this strike is now over, it wouldn't do good for SMRT if the drivers are unhappy. It would be reflected in the service quality, it will also affect SMRT's prospects in terms of hiring other service leaders. The repercussions on SMRT are significant, it goes right down to how SMRT manages and treats its employees."

There's also a need for SMRT to do more to address the concerns of the workers and closely examine its own processes.

Mr Teo said: "Put the actions in place, put the systems in place and ensure that we can prevent such things from happening again. Because once it happens, it can happen again, and we need to prevent it and have a full proof, very strong and stringent management control put in place and ensure relations will be solid and stable in future.

"It need not have to resort in a strike, it need not have to result in an illegal gathering of sorts to go against the management and leadership. There are always many cases where management is willing to listen to workers and employers. We can always get around the situation through mediation or extensive discussion and if all means have been tried you can always approach MOM to seek help."

As for hiring only locals for essential services like public transport, Mr Teo said this is not always possible for service businesses.

Mr Teo said: "Some of these jobs when I talk to the service businesses is that they would always like to offer it to Singaporeans first and most of the time when they try to do it and try to bring the salary up, the experience tells them that the job environment and the job nature may not be the most favoured by Singaporeans. So they find it difficult."

He said it's about keeping a balance between making sure there are job opportunities for Singaporeans and that jobs left unfilled do not impact companies' ability to function.

This is something that both the Trade and Industry and Manpower Ministries are constantly looking at.

Mr Teo added: "This is the part we need to keep a balance between making sure that Singaporeans will always have their job opportunities as well as making sure that no jobs are left unfilled to the extent that the companies could not function. This is the balance point where MOM, MTI are all working together to look at the different industry needs and making sure that our businesses can function."

- CNA/de

 

[tualingong]

why is it against the law to protest against fair wages and working conditions?

is the SG govt out of their minds?

 

[Mdm Tang]

why is it against the law to protest against fair wages and working conditions?

is the SG govt out of their minds?

Shareholders of SmRt should ask where their CEO

when the protest took place .

 

[halsey02]

Who is sleeping? who is awake? who is in a stupor collecting big fat levies, sitting on $x,xxx designer chairs!..who is sleeping, WAKE UP!

 

[Hans168]

Shareholders of SmRt should ask where their CEO

when the protest took place .

Saw Phaik Hwa promoted the former DFS outlet manager sky high to EVP making 50k monthly excl bonuses n other perks.

New CEO must now ferret out all ex DFS executives before they do more damages.......... they can work for SPH in Auric? selling sunshine bread, but I doubt Riady is willing to pay them well since SPH is only paid 500k pa without much perks.

 

[Hans168]

Shareholders of SmRt should ask where their CEO

when the protest took place .

Becos defence n other essential services are protected by law............ I think it is a good law. I hate being held by ransom either by Mahathir or Chinamen..........

 

[batman1]

why is it against the law to protest against fair wages and working conditions?

is the SG govt out of their minds?

The Employment Act and Industrial Relations Act of Singapore violated the Human Rights and the Constitution of Singapore.

 

[sam heng]

SMRT is a terrible company. those in their top management will kena karma someday. including their ex-ceo.

 

[GOONDUSAMI]

Its a minor issue. Only opportunists like the oppo daft twits will make an issue with this. Let's move on!

 

[kingrant]

All of a sudden, all the worms are coming out of the woodwork.

 

[halsey02]

All of a sudden, all the worms are coming out of the woodwork.

They are fat grotesque worms.. ha ha ha

 

[Sentinel]

why is it against the law to protest against fair wages and working conditions?

is the SG govt out of their minds?

Any protest is illegal, whether they call it a strike or sit-in. The only way is through a petition, like you know....begging.

 

[Sentinel]

Saw Phaik Hwa promoted the former DFS outlet manager sky high to EVP making 50k monthly excl bonuses n other perks.

New CEO must now ferret out all ex DFS executives before they do more damages.......... they can work for SPH in Auric? selling sunshine bread, but I doubt Riady is willing to pay them well since SPH is only paid 500k pa without much perks.

Is it? She from DFS? OMG!! This is cronyism at the extreme!!!

 

[halsey02]

Any protest is illegal, whether they call it a strike or sit-in. The only way is through a petition, like you know....begging.

If it is local it is STRIKE...comrades, sit-in, Medical leave, social gathering, re-education discussion, 'siang liang, siang liang"...ha ha ha ha

 

[Wildfire]

All of a sudden, all the worms are coming out of the woodwork.

LoL ...

Good observation!

More like maggots .... whipping a dead horse

 

[HARDAttack]

This is a case of bed bugs in a bus driver's dorm. They just don't go away so easily.

 

[watchman8]

why is it against the law to protest against fair wages and working conditions?

is the SG govt out of their minds?

Nope. That's exactly the social system that old man wants; gang rape of workers by employers and govt. NTUC role is to hold down the workers while the rape proceeds.

Foreign workers are now encouraged to join NTUC so that gang leaders can be quickly identified, for conversion or deportation.

 

[Capano2121]

Actually this will be very good for the country as more international MNCs will know that there are cheap labours available in Singapore & there are simply no human rights issue to content with! This will entice all the foreign companies to further invest in Singapore because more of this cheap dogs will be available in Singapore because they will be the employees of choice!

 

[HappyCAMPER]

Actually this will be very good for the country as more international MNCs will know that there are cheap labours available in Singapore & there are simply no human rights issue to content with! This will entice all the foreign companies to further invest in Singapore because more of this cheap dogs will be available in Singapore because they will be the employees of choice!

True to a certain extent until they realize it's all a big cover up for incompetency.