Analysis of a Topical Employment Relations Issue in Singapore

This report delves into the topical issue of employment relations in Singapore, focusing on the interplay between the government, employees, and unions. It examines the historical context, including the influence of the People's Action Party (PAP) and the importance of a strong tripartite relationship. The report explores the responsibilities of Singapore unions, their role in promoting good industrial relations, and their impact on economic development, particularly through foreign investment. It details relevant legislation such as the Trade Union Act and the Trade Disputes Act, as well as the role of the Singapore Labour Foundation. The analysis further covers the economic relationship with Singapore unions, the role of NTUC, and the challenges faced, including redundancy and the need for progressive wage models. Comparisons are drawn with other developed countries like the UK and Germany, highlighting the impact of corporate influence on unions. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing the challenges to ensure the continued economic success of Singapore.

Running head: A TOPICAL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ISSUE IN SINGAPORE
A TOPICAL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ISSUE IN SINGAPORE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1A TOPICAL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ISSUE IN SINGAPORE
Introduction
The employment relation is depending on the collective behavioral change and explores
the key themes of human capital, collectivism, and changes in the employment process. In
Singapore, the under-developed economic mitigation process and create a collective arena of the
strong tripartite relationship between government, employees, and union is the concern matter of
that. People’s Action Party (PAP) has taken over the government (Mom.gov.sg, 2018). Eastern
economy is somehow depending on that nation. A strong relationship is needed through the
action and behavior in the workplace. In Singapore, a blend of Asian and Chinese cultural people
presents and the traditional value and systems have faced some diversified options.
Organization’s practices and policies need to be motivating for the employees so that
psychological contrast will be mitigated in a reformed formation and a good labor force initiation
has been formulated by the nation.
Main responsibilities of Singapore unions
A trade union is an association of workers and their aim to regulate the employees’
through motivation and behavioral approach. Promoting good industrial approach is the between
employer and workers are the concern reason behind that. Working environment as well as the
social and economic status of employees needed to be improved (Lakhani, Kuruvilla & Avgar,
2013). Every individual union is not beneficial for the large-scale market, but these unions are
important for the small-scale business direction and increase the economy with the trade
regulations and laws. A controlled pricing format and control over any kinds of service has been
provided by the Singapore union sections. Government initiations in such cases are important
and ensure quality works from them. Most of the Singapore unions are depending on the foreign

2A TOPICAL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ISSUE IN SINGAPORE
investment. In case of an airline, insurance, and other factors in unions responsibilities will
enhance as per the government system supports that situation. Unions are attracting foreign
investors and that is the reason the outcomes of the products are needed to be fruitful for the
development of the nation’s economy.
The unique role presented by PAP and NTUC are important in this factor. A diverse
culture is another responsibility that Singapore unions are providing through their work culture
(Mom.gov.sg, 2018). The controlled government initiation is the most effective formation that
these unions are doing in favor of the nation. The culture of reinvestment has been started from
these Singapore unions. Natural resources of Singapore are not sufficient and that is the reason
behind reusing the resources (Kim & Bae, 2017). Employees’ welfare and opportunities are
provided in union-related cases and through the employment act as well. Union as a traditional
sense of the word used as the short term workload handling but in case of huge foreign
investment, the union hires some employees to complete the work in an efficient way. People are
happily come to work in those places as the government of Singapore has provided a safeguard
in employment and declare some legislation, so that people can get their wage and feel
workplace satisfaction as well.
Union related acts and developing nature
Trade Union Act 2004 was a revised module of trade regulation that influences the union
business tradition in Singapore. The union affairs, study custody and choice of union votes and
free election process are controlled by this act (Mom.gov.sg, 2018). The act basically regulated
the trade union activities and underlines the production agreement as well.

3A TOPICAL EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS ISSUE IN SINGAPORE
Trade Disputes Act (Cap 331) is the process of industrial action and lockouts. In case of
conducting any foreign investment or planning for the new innovative process this act and
regulation imposed over the situation.
Part III of the Criminal law is a temporary provisions act that imposed over the
prevention of strikes and lockouts in the service area. In different cases, companies are not liable
for each situation. Union employees and workers are stated some invalid designation or
promotion from the company which is not possible for the company at all (Mom.gov.sg, 2018).
Singapore Labour Foundation Act (Cap 302) is also taking care of the employees and their
families. In case of further development of the trade union and any movement from the trade
union are initiated by them.
Economic relation with Singapore union
Almost 800,000 workers and 70 unions are works under the NTUC in Singapore. NTUC
has the tripartite partners with Singapore National Employers Federation and Ministry of
Manpower (Fitch & Desai, 2012). There are some skill and training issues and employment
practice is the major reason behind that. The progressive employment practice is the major
reasons behind the tripartism model. Labour management, economic competency and overall
progression of the nation are three main factor of this model. The labor-management encourages
the union leaders’ perspective to think over the economic success by drilling with foreign
investors. The industrial Relation Act regulates the relationship between the employees and
prevents trade settlement bargaining and individual disputes as well (Lewis et al., 2015). The
arbitration and conciliation are the factors that come in case of industrial regulation and to
maintain the economic development of the country. In case of the overcome challenges in

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union’s economic related issues, the tripartite advisory practice has been introduced by the
Singapore government.
Collective bargaining process is initiated by the labor union of Singapore. In this process,
all the bargaining and negotiation process has underpinned with the collective force of
consequence. There are some negotiations happened between the employers and trade union. In
that case, a collective agreement has been signed and Industrial Arbitration Court for Certificate
has initiated the whole operation after the one week of signing. Ministry of Manpower is
working over the conciliation assistance (Xanthopoulou, Bakker & Ilies, 2012). Workers and
employers are the concerning aspects of the progress situation of the organization; in that case,
the application of the IAC is act as the collective agreement is important (Sgforums.com, 2018).
IAC escalate some trade dispute case and all attempted conciliations have failed to reach the
attempted mark. In case of filling the application in IAC, there is a different channel for a
collective agreement and that will make the mark as a reinstated form of employment.
Expecting loss of membership in other developed countries
Monetary Authority of Singapore has provided some stats that show that the rate of
employment rate has not changed in case of surveying overall people in Singapore. At the end of
the year, 2.4% unemployment rate remains same and trade union sections in Singapore have got
a threat over this situation (Sgforums.com, 2018). Redundancy in case of trade disagreement and
sector establishment in Singapore union sectors are the most impactful process that manpower
research statics has provided. In many cases, progressive wage model can be used in Singapore
to follow the issues happened in Union section (Warner, 2013). In case of the government
initiation, most of the trade unions are fragmentized into the section and that will help in the

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problem-solving situation. There is a battle going on for the survival of workers commitment and
evaluate the aspect of the developed framework to control the obstacle. The unions need to set
their wage level so that workers can get a reasonable amount of salary.
In case of the employee management all the job opportunities are highlighting low
underemployment rates in Singapore, still, workers are reluctant to join the work. Other
developed countries like UK and Germany are also facing the same problem when the corporate
cloud has overshadowed the small unions and their business procedures (Fossum, 2014). German
government declared an increase in payment so that employees will stick with their job in the
union sections and larger foreign companies are influenced by the union companies to make a
proper small business association with the organization. In the section of oil and gas, automobile,
petroleum, ground workers’ union all these are concerned transformation of corporate world and
workers are basically aligned with the path as well. Grade union and associated development is
the major initiative taken by the UK government as well to sustain the union culture but in most
of the cases, regarding promotion and work timing, workers are on strike and lockouts, these
situations impact over the production as well (Lakhani, Kuruvilla & Avgar, 2013). Singapore is
facing the same situation of labor problem as there is lack of efficient people persisted in the
nation to convey the executive position in a responsible manner. This is the reason union has
some disciplinary problem and government has authority to take charge of this section.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that the role of Singapore union in their economy in over-
impressive and very much sound in some previous years but now some of the issues had come
and mitigated the way of the development process. Singapore has implemented the tripartite

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system but the process is not as effective as desired. The job assurance is not there and the
government is not provided any good approach to unions. The advantages are very less
comparing to the issues and problems and that is the most concern handling Singapore has tried
to cope up with so that union establishment and economic fledge can continue in the nation.

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