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SINGAPORE - What the striking bus drivers did was wrong and illegal - but SMRT, as their employer, "could have done better in managing their labour grievances and concerns", said Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin.
The Ministry of Manpower has registered its concerns about the "severe breakdown in labour relations" with SMRT, Mr Tan said, adding that he has received SMRT's pledge to improve matters and ensure a similar situation does not happen again.
"We have met and spoken with SMRT senior management to fully address the outstanding issues, including labour grievances raised by the workers. I have also personally spoken to SMRT top management and they have assured me they will be looking into these issues.
"In addition, I reminded them that SMRT must take steps to ensure that a severe breakdown in labour relations like what we saw this week does not happen again. I have received SMRT's commitment that the company has already been taking steps to improve labour relations and will continue to do so, working with the union," said Mr Tan.
There are responsibilities expected of companies, which may not be be mandated by law, Mr Tan said. And it is only part of good corporate social responsibility that companies ensure there be open lines of communication and that proper grievance handling procedures are in place, he added.
"I think this is probably a good and timely reminder for, not just SMRT, but I would suggest that all companies, all managements really reflect about their own management practices - the way they engage, the way the look after their workers," said Mr Tan.
"It is not just about foreign workers but our own local workers as well. It is about basic corporate social responsibility."
Mr Tan said the Singapore National Employers Federation will be issuing an advisory on this to its members next week.
Meanwhile, with the repatriation of 29 SMRT bus drivers and five others charged, SMRT will be calling back its off-duty drivers and mobilising training instructors to maintain bus service levels.
Some 45 experienced drivers from SBS Transit and private bus operators will also be on loan to SMRT to help maintain service levels - an arrangement expected to be in place for two to three months until SMRT is able to recruit and train more drivers.
TODAY
The Ministry of Manpower has registered its concerns about the "severe breakdown in labour relations" with SMRT, Mr Tan said, adding that he has received SMRT's pledge to improve matters and ensure a similar situation does not happen again.
"We have met and spoken with SMRT senior management to fully address the outstanding issues, including labour grievances raised by the workers. I have also personally spoken to SMRT top management and they have assured me they will be looking into these issues.
"In addition, I reminded them that SMRT must take steps to ensure that a severe breakdown in labour relations like what we saw this week does not happen again. I have received SMRT's commitment that the company has already been taking steps to improve labour relations and will continue to do so, working with the union," said Mr Tan.
There are responsibilities expected of companies, which may not be be mandated by law, Mr Tan said. And it is only part of good corporate social responsibility that companies ensure there be open lines of communication and that proper grievance handling procedures are in place, he added.
"I think this is probably a good and timely reminder for, not just SMRT, but I would suggest that all companies, all managements really reflect about their own management practices - the way they engage, the way the look after their workers," said Mr Tan.
"It is not just about foreign workers but our own local workers as well. It is about basic corporate social responsibility."
Mr Tan said the Singapore National Employers Federation will be issuing an advisory on this to its members next week.
Meanwhile, with the repatriation of 29 SMRT bus drivers and five others charged, SMRT will be calling back its off-duty drivers and mobilising training instructors to maintain bus service levels.
Some 45 experienced drivers from SBS Transit and private bus operators will also be on loan to SMRT to help maintain service levels - an arrangement expected to be in place for two to three months until SMRT is able to recruit and train more drivers.
TODAY
