- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
- Messages
- 33,627
- Points
- 0
Productivity not about working longer and harder, but smarter: Manpower Minister
By Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 January 2010 1917 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
Gan Kim Yong
Video
Productivity not about working longer and harder, but smarter: Manpower Minister
SINGAPORE : Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has said that improving productivity is not about working longer and harder, but about acquiring new skills to work more efficiently.
Companies must also contribute to this drive for greater efficiency by investing in more innovative practices.
Mr Gan was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event on Saturday.
Mr Gan was out in his ward to celebrate the upgrading of Teck Whye Shopping Centre.
This theme of upgrading is also apt for Singapore's labour force, which must think of ways to raise productivity.
Mr Gan said workers should focus on acquiring new skills, rather than working longer and harder, to be more efficient.
He said: "In the past, if you look at typists, we had a lot of typists doing typing work. But today, we have word processors. Not only do we no longer need a lot of typists, in fact, a lot of people do the typing themselves, and do their emails themselves. And so the whole operation has to change."
But workers alone can only contribute so much to raising Singapore's productivity. Mr Gan said that businesses on their part need to invest in new ways to help employees be more efficient.
He said: "Companies will have to invest in automation, will have to look at different products and services, move to higher value, focus on knowledge-intensive, capital-intensive businesses, where our skills and knowledge will command a premium."
Even as Singapore's labour force posted a strong recovery in the fourth quarter last year, Mr Gan said the need for greater productivity remains.
More than 38,000 jobs were created in the three months ending December, much higher than the gains of 14,000 in the third quarter. In addition, the unemployment rate dropped below 3 per cent.
Mr Gan said: "We should not relax and begin to celebrate because the challenges ahead are still something we need to address. For example, as the economy recovers, business activities will increase, employers will need more manpower to support their growth and this is why we need to press on with productivity."
More details on helping companies and workers raise productivity will be released in the Economic Strategies Committee report on Monday. - CNA/ms
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1034222/1/.html
By Joanne Chan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 30 January 2010 1917 hrs
Photos 1 of 1
Gan Kim Yong
Video
Productivity not about working longer and harder, but smarter: Manpower Minister
SINGAPORE : Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has said that improving productivity is not about working longer and harder, but about acquiring new skills to work more efficiently.
Companies must also contribute to this drive for greater efficiency by investing in more innovative practices.
Mr Gan was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event on Saturday.
Mr Gan was out in his ward to celebrate the upgrading of Teck Whye Shopping Centre.
This theme of upgrading is also apt for Singapore's labour force, which must think of ways to raise productivity.
Mr Gan said workers should focus on acquiring new skills, rather than working longer and harder, to be more efficient.
He said: "In the past, if you look at typists, we had a lot of typists doing typing work. But today, we have word processors. Not only do we no longer need a lot of typists, in fact, a lot of people do the typing themselves, and do their emails themselves. And so the whole operation has to change."
But workers alone can only contribute so much to raising Singapore's productivity. Mr Gan said that businesses on their part need to invest in new ways to help employees be more efficient.
He said: "Companies will have to invest in automation, will have to look at different products and services, move to higher value, focus on knowledge-intensive, capital-intensive businesses, where our skills and knowledge will command a premium."
Even as Singapore's labour force posted a strong recovery in the fourth quarter last year, Mr Gan said the need for greater productivity remains.
More than 38,000 jobs were created in the three months ending December, much higher than the gains of 14,000 in the third quarter. In addition, the unemployment rate dropped below 3 per cent.
Mr Gan said: "We should not relax and begin to celebrate because the challenges ahead are still something we need to address. For example, as the economy recovers, business activities will increase, employers will need more manpower to support their growth and this is why we need to press on with productivity."
More details on helping companies and workers raise productivity will be released in the Economic Strategies Committee report on Monday. - CNA/ms
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1034222/1/.html
