Speech at 97th Session of The International Labour Conference
Mr Gan Kim Yong, Acting Minister for Manpower, Geneva, Switzerland
Introduction
Mr President, on behalf of the Singapore delegation, I would like to congratulate you on your election as the President of the 97th Session of the International Labour Conference.
Expanding Economy, Creating Jobs
2. 2007 was a good year for the Singapore economy and labour market. GDP grew 7.7%. Unemployment rate fell to 1.6%, the lowest in a decade as a result of record employment growth.
3. An important factor of our success is Singapore's flexible labour market. Our local population is complemented by the foreign workforce. This gives our companies access to the labour and skills that they need, from both local and foreign sources. The foreign workforce makes vital contributions to our economy.
Skills & Training for Improved Workforce Productivity
4. At the same time, we emphasise strongly skills training and upgrading of our workforce to ensure they remain relevant. Singapore recently announced a 10-year Continuing Education and Training (CET) Masterplan. Under this Masterplan, we want to make adult training qualifications portable, establish stronger linkages between our CET and pre-employment education systems and set up more CET centres to deliver quality training for adult learners. By 2010, Singapore will increase the annual training capacity by more than three-fold through new CET centres in growth sectors. The Masterplan will provide Opportunities for All Workers, especially the half a million Singaporean workers with lower educational qualifications or skills.
Enhancing the Well-Being of Workers
5. With increasing life expectancy, our workers need to continue working longer before retirement. Singapore therefore plans to implement legislation by 2012 to enable workers to work to the age of 65, beyond the statutory retirement age of 62. This will be done through the concept of re-employment which is currently being promoted by the tripartite partners.
6. Apart from working longer, there is also a need to help workers stretch their retirement savings to last longer, in fact, to last for life. Singapore has therefore recently introduced the new National Lifelong Income Scheme or CPF LIFE for short to provide a lifelong income for our workers in their retirement.
7. This year, Singapore also faces the challenge of high inflation and rising cost of living due to high global commodity prices. The tripartite partners have agreed that companies could consider giving a one-off special payment to rank-and-file workers with heavier weightage for low wage workers. Together with measures introduced by the government, this will help them cope with inflation.
8. Singapore's initiatives to enhance employability and income sustainability of our workers represent our efforts to achieve ILO's objective of providing decent work for all.
Achieving More through Tripartism
9. Tripartism plays a crucial role in tackling economic and employment challenges in Singapore. Founded on mutual trust, common understanding and shared purpose, we will continue to seek collaboration rather than confrontation, to achieve greater synergy and a win-win-win solution for workers, employers and government.
Singapore's Role as Titular Member
10. Singapore has recently been elected as a titular member of the ILO Governing Body for the ASEAN region. We thank member countries who have supported our candidature. As a titular member, Singapore will strive to do our best to represent ASEAN's collective interests at the ILO, promote closer ASEAN-ILO collaboration and further ILO's objective of enhancing the overall well-being of workers.
Conclusion
11. Mr President, in closing, the Singapore delegation looks forward to a fruitful discussion on the various issues on the agenda. I am confident that under your able leadership, the 97th ILC would be a successful one. Thank you.