New Theory: Depressed Wage Results in Higher Wages!

[makapaaa]

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>'Cheaper, better, faster' key to bigger profits, higher wages
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->WE REFER to Mr Jimmy Chew's letter last Saturday, ''Smarter, better, faster' the way to go'.
Mr Chew said the timing of the labour movement's call to be cheaper, better and faster may not be appropriate as 'thousands of Singaporeans are still jobless'.
We have just weathered the deepest recession the world has seen in decades. Even though the worst may be over, not all companies and workers are out of the woods yet.
What is of greater concern to the labour movement is that the post-recession world will be hungrier for jobs and investments. To thrive in the new economic landscape, Singapore must go on the offensive now, not wait till later.
No economy can afford to live life as normal in the post-crisis days. Hence, the call by the labour movement for our companies to quickly re-position themselves to become cheaper, better and faster.
Mr Chew is concerned that 'cheaper' may connote shrinkage in real earnings. As widely reported in the media, the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) call to be 'cheaper' is neither about cutting wages or benefits, nor about downsizing and retrenching.
'Cheaper' means to improve productivity by cutting waste and producing better-quality products and services more cost effectively. It is about doing more with the same number of workers, not about doing the same with fewer workers or lower wages.
We agree with Mr Chew and are indeed calling on workers and companies to create greater value through creativity and innovation. 'Better' means to broaden our capabilities by harnessing technology, innovating new products and services, and growing new markets, while 'faster' means to be more flexible, adaptable and responsive in capitalising on new opportunities.
In short, cheaper, better and faster is about seizing a bigger share of the global economic pie so that companies can earn bigger profits and workers earn higher wages. It is to ensure that our economy continues to grow, businesses flourish, and workers reap better jobs and better pay in the new economic order.
Shona Tan (Ms)
Director
Corporate Communications
National Trades Union Congress

 

[Watchman]

If wages don't up by this year end effectively by 25 %.

We boycott everything till everything go bust. And everything is even seem more mundane till nothing can be salvaged . We can let FTs support the retail industry .
Since you love them and have great faith in them .

From thereon. You can wonder where have Singapore gone wrong .
You can forget about macro but you can certainly not forget about micro-managing .

 

[TeeKee]

How come a trade union representive is writing as if she is the ministry of trade and industry? But not as a capacity if representing the workers?

Why is the trade union doing the job of a MIWs?

 

[littlefish]

This article provided me with a good laugh. Hahaha.

This is the first time I have ever heard a union asking workers to do more for the same pay. Is the union putting workers first or businesses first? I don't deny that it is important to ensure that the business is viable but why is the union making this kind of call across the board? Are all businesses in danger of going under this very minute? To do more with the same amount of resources also sounds suspiciously like to do the same with less resources (meaning less hiring of workers).

How about asking the GLCs (e.g. SMRT) to make less profit to help workers out during the recession? I have never heard of a trade federation asking its members to provide more to customers without raising prices.

 

[cocobobo]

corp comm people are a dime-a-dozen ladies who think too highly of themselves as if they have some big-fuck skills

 

[takcheksian]

this is ridiculous

fine, MIW like to produce nonsense, I also say some nonsense

increase population by reducing FTs, PRs and New citizens

increase MRT profits by reducing fares

support PAP by voting opposition