Productivity AGAIN
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120430-343089.html
Higher wages can push up business costs, affecting competitiveness and may cause higher inflation, warned Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
In order to sustain better wages and higher living standards, productivity among workers must be raised.
Mr Lee said that raising productivity is "more important than ever in our mature economy, because it is the only way to upgrade ourselves and our lives."
In his May Day message, the prime minister also urged every worker, whether rank-and-file or Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs), to continue to upgrade and master new skills.
"Raising our productivity will benefit workers, firms, and our economy as a whole. Workers can earn more in higher-quality jobs.
"Firms can prosper and expand their businesses here. Our economy can continue to thrive despite more intense global competition," said Mr Lee.
Looking ahead, Mr Lee said that Singaporeans must prepare for a more challenging economic environment, as globalisation has shortened economic cycles, and ups and downs happen much faster, with less warning.
The prime minister's message is the latest to come from employers and politicians over a highly debated suggestion on raising wages substantially.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_521095.html
Council chairman, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, said members will focus on improving productivity at all levels, from the individual worker to various enterprises and sectors. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
THE drive to boost productivity ramped up another notch, when private and public sector union members met for the first National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC) meeting on Friday.
Council chairman, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, said members will focus on improving productivity at all levels, from the individual worker to various enterprises and sectors.
Besides ensuring workers are properly trained and skilled to keep up with market needs, enterprises and sectors have to innovate to be more competitive.
' This will raise the overall productivity of Singapore's economy to sustain future economic growth,' DPM Teo said.
For a start, the Council will focus on forming work groups to study strategies to raise productivity in 12 sectors, from construction to manufacturing and professional and business services. It will also develop benchmarks for productivity.
President of the Singapore National Employers' Federation (SNEF), Mr Stephen Lee, pledged to support the Council : 'Workers and businesses have to work together so the fruits of business and economic growth can be shared by all.'
NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say said: "The Labour Movement will reach out to companies and workers to identify and break productivity bottlenecks, and upgrade the skills and capabilities of our workforce through continuing education."
SO WHEN CAN WE SEE OUR TAX MONEY PUT TO EFFECTIVE USE?
SO WHEN CAN THE PART-TIME MPs IDENTIFY AND BREAK PRODUCTIVITY BOTTLENECKS???
what happened to our PM talk of increasing productivity by 70%(JUST BEFORE 2010'S CNY)?
when we going to see reduction in number of part-time mps?
one part-time mp can be doing so many other jobs and/or appointment
so who or which organisation is he/she paying more attention(or any if there is) to?
make them commit full-time since they so "PRODUCTIVE"
since they claim to be leader and they keep highlighting "productivity"
they shall lead by showing productivity
reduce the number to 50 or less
return the jobs to the taxpayers
if not able to keep up, stop claiming part-time mp allowance, take the burden off the taxpayers and budget
