Written Answer by Mrs Josephine Teo to PQ on adoption of eight Tripartite Standards by employers

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1802 OF 2019 FOR THE SITTING ON 2 SEPTEMBER 2019
QUESTION NO. 1388 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

NMP: Assoc Prof Walter Theseira

To ask the Minister for Manpower (a) what is the current number of employers, broken down by the number of employees and industry type, who have adopted the eight Tripartite Standards, namely Age-Friendly Workplace Practices, Contracting with Self-employed Persons, Employment of Term Contract Employees, Flexible Work Arrangements, Grievance Handling, Procurement of Services from Media Freelancers, Recruitment Practices, and Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs; and (b) what plans does the Government have to encourage more widespread adoption of these Standards.

Answer

1. In July 2017, MOM launched the Tripartite Standards to encourage companies to adopt fair and progressive workplace practices. Employers who adopt the Tripartite Standards are publicly recognised as progressive employers. This helps them to attract and retain jobseekers and their current workers. Adoption is voluntary.
2. Two years on, we have seen significant progress. As of July 2019, about 2,700 employers, including public sector agencies, covering about 670,000 employees, have adopted at least one Tripartite Standard. This means that 1 in 5 workers can be assured that their employers have committed to implementing fair and progressive employment practices such as recruiting based on merit, setting out clear terms of engagement, and providing flexible work arrangements.
3. Table 1 below provides a breakdown of the number of employers who have adopted each Tripartite Standard and workers covered. The top three industries with the most adopters of the Tripartite Standards are (i) Infocomm Technology and Media, (ii) Professional Services, and (iii) Wholesale Trade.
4. MOM and the tripartite partners have been working hard to encourage companies to adopt the Tripartite Standards. For instance, the Tripartite Alliance for Fair & Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP) has been reaching out to companies including through promotional campaigns, event roadshows, and briefings to members of Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs). TAFEP also organises clinics on Tripartite Standards to help companies better understand the specifications, so that they can confidently implement those practices before adoption.
5. These concerted MOM and tripartite efforts have led to good progress in the adoption of the Tripartite Standards. We will press on with these efforts.

Table 1: Adoption of each Tripartite Standard by number of employees who have adopted and workers covered (as of July 2019)