{"id":3535,"date":"2023-12-01T06:20:29","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T06:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/?page_id=3535"},"modified":"2025-03-10T08:34:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T08:34:43","slug":"section-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/section-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Section 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3535\" class=\"elementor elementor-3535\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7300868 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7300868\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e7946d3\" data-id=\"e7946d3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b6f9b1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b6f9b1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">TRIPARTISM<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2569d72 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2569d72\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c27a4ce\" data-id=\"c27a4ce\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47cd911 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"47cd911\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tripartism in Wage Negotiation<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-458669c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"458669c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-903486d\" data-id=\"903486d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0f92dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f0f92dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>scroll to explore<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1af797b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1af797b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Group-50.svg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-91\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Group-50.svg 150w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Group-50.svg 300w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Group-50.svg 1024w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Group-50.svg 1536w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Group-50.svg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1083f2e elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1083f2e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-75c2fb8\" data-id=\"75c2fb8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8fc63a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8fc63a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>While stronger bonds had been forged between the government and unions in the early years of independence, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">against a backdrop of growing prosperity, there was a fear that unchecked collective bargaining would cause wage growth to become unsustainable and hamper economic development.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Something<\/span> had to be done.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-112a9ff elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"112a9ff\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-08e2f58\" data-id=\"08e2f58\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc01ffb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dc01ffb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Establishing the <br>National Wages Council (NWC)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9fde178 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9fde178\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a42a316\" data-id=\"a42a316\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40a0a94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"40a0a94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"section1_before1942\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1972<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c953e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c953e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 1972, the government established the National Wages Council (NWC), following a suggestion from Albert Winsemius, an economic adviser to the Singapore government. The NWC would serve as a tripartite platform to facilitate social dialogue between the government, labour unions and employer associations on wage-related issues.\u00a0<\/p><p>Since its establishment, the main objective of the NWC has been to facilitate orderly wage adjustments at the national level by issuing annual wage adjustment guidelines. The NWC strives to avoid strikes, lockouts or protracted wage negotiations that would be detrimental to businesses. In more recent years, the NWC wage guidelines has also advocated for the adoption of specific wage policies to improve Singapore\u2019s economic competitiveness.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-87993d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"87993d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/newspapers\/Digitised\/Article\/straitstimes19720208-1.2.2\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"637\" height=\"913\" src=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WAGES-COUNCIL-SET-UP.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-7060\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WAGES-COUNCIL-SET-UP.png 637w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WAGES-COUNCIL-SET-UP-209x300.png 209w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48bcad5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"48bcad5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h6 style=\"font-size: 11px; margin-top: -20px;\">Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/newspapers\/Digitised\/Article\/straitstimes19720208-1.2.2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;Wages council set up\u201d, The Straits Times,<br \/><br \/>February 8, 1972 via NewspaperSG, National Library Board<\/a><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b2d14f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b2d14f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Economics Professor Lim Chong Yah, who served as the NWC\u2019s first chairman (1972 to 2001), elaborates on why the NWC was established:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89359d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"89359d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/n7t2ofK0qN0?si=5OOxDBCDCUZC_C0F&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 15-07-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-video .elementor-widget-container{overflow:hidden;transform:translateZ(0)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper{aspect-ratio:var(--video-aspect-ratio)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{height:100%;width:100%;display:flex;border:none;background-color:#000}@supports not (aspect-ratio:1\/1){.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper{position:relative;overflow:hidden;height:0;padding-bottom:calc(100% \/ var(--video-aspect-ratio))}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-open-inline .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;background-size:cover;background-position:50%}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{cursor:pointer;text-align:center}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay:hover .elementor-custom-embed-play i{opacity:1}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{display:block;width:100%;aspect-ratio:var(--video-aspect-ratio);-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;-o-object-position:center center;object-position:center center}@supports not (aspect-ratio:1\/1){.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:relative;overflow:hidden;height:0;padding-bottom:calc(100% \/ var(--video-aspect-ratio))}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}}.elementor-widget-video .e-hosted-video .elementor-video{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-video,.e-con>.elementor-widget-video{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e664471 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e664471\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a513e2\" data-id=\"0a513e2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd1979f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cd1979f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Role of the NWC<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1094a6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1094a6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of the NWC\u2019s core functions is to issue annual wage guidelines at the national level with the stated goal of sustainable improvements in real wages. Every year, NWC members meet for discussions that culminate in wage guidelines that are then submitted to the Cabinet. Once endorsed, these guidelines are publicly gazetted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).\u00a0<\/p><p>To arrive at these wage guidelines, NWC members weigh various factors, adopting the lenses of both employers and workers. Achieving its main objective of economic growth alongside equity requires the NWC to balance real wage increases against other concerns such as the ability of employers to afford such increases, the cost of living, and economic sentiment. Data commonly discussed at the NWC include the rate of inflation, economic growth, labour productivity, unemployment rate and other national econometric data. Members are also allowed to submit position papers for consideration and debate.<\/p><p>Within the NWC, the three major partners are all represented &#8211; government, employers and employees. Employee representatives come from the senior ranks of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and major unions. Employers are represented by the leaders of various business associations including the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), Singapore Business Federation (SBF), trade associations and chambers of commerce. Government representatives usually hail from various departments across economic and social ministries and statutory boards. By design, the three partners nominate equal numbers of representatives to the NWC for parity in representation.<\/p><p>At the NWC level, discussions are moderated by a neutral chairperson. The chairperson guides discussions and ensures that the various tripartite partners have space to share their opinions and concerns. Discussants are encouraged to arrive at an agreement without being forced into one by a majority or the chairperson.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-61d4195 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"61d4195\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-65a87a3\" data-id=\"65a87a3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-807fe50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"807fe50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Peter Seah, Chairman of the NWC (2015 to present), explains how the role of the chairperson as a neutral arbiter helps the different partners come to consensus at their own pace rather than forcing consensus upon them:<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4a94e55\" data-id=\"4a94e55\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7205f02 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"7205f02\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/AlLoYkkCBI0?si=5JjPhFwZJblekKO0&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d3fd7ac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d3fd7ac\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ce7d11\" data-id=\"1ce7d11\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1cb974 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d1cb974\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>As for the unions\u2019 role in ensuring a fair share for workers, Cham Hui Fong, Deputy Secretary General of the NTUC (2020 to present), reveals how a strong relationship between unions and employers benefits both sides:<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8e85b48\" data-id=\"8e85b48\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a8ce2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"0a8ce2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/Y_F-PGrFLD0?si=43DbfhHM4wfuKoOz&quot;,&quot;start&quot;:2,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b19463a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b19463a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-15d615d\" data-id=\"15d615d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e25d7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e25d7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Koh Juan Kiat, former Executive Director of SNEF (1995 to 2020), discusses how gathering feedback from constituents is a crucial step towards securing consensus among tripartite partners:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-839331d\" data-id=\"839331d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-852fecf elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"852fecf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/o1YImAqRRYo?si=LjGIjuROcluKXHlg&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b6e876b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b6e876b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6fc7e24\" data-id=\"6fc7e24\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bc8fd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1bc8fd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Ong Yen Her, former Divisional Director for Labour Relations and Workplaces at the Ministry of Manpower (1985-2012), describes how the government plays a facilitating role in negotiations:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-312c70b\" data-id=\"312c70b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8331957 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"8331957\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/OVcKNuO4iow?si=5T3iBNug1g5K3ZVI&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3358f1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3358f1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Negotiation principles and<br>implementation of wage guidelines<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01644bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"01644bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Since its creation, deliberations at the NWC have been governed by a few core principles \u2013 the unanimity principle, the Chatham House principle and the finality principle.<\/p><p>First, under the unanimity principle, wage guidelines must be supported by all parties. While this means that lengthy negotiations may be required to achieve consensus, it also ensures that the final set of wage guidelines has the broadest possible level of support and the highest likelihood of adoption. Unanimity (rather than majority rule) also means that no two parties can collude against the third.<\/p><p>Second, the Chatham House principle facilitates frank discussion within the NWC, since controversial or unpopular views cannot be publicly shared.<\/p><p>The finality principle means that all parties must consult their respective constituents beforehand to understand their demands, so that the representatives are empowered to negotiate on constituents\u2019 behalf and decisions taken at the Council are final. No other formal rules govern discussions at the NWC.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4dccffe elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4dccffe\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-424d0c0\" data-id=\"424d0c0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-89a4022 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"89a4022\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-adbfc1e\" data-id=\"adbfc1e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cc5c5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6cc5c5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Professor Lim Chong Yah, the founding Chairman of the NWC, discusses the fundamental principles that govern the council:<\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u201cOne is there\u2019s the Chatham House Rule. Chatham House Rules means that of non-attribution. That means that whatever we say in the council, we don\u2019t go out to tell the newspapers\u2026 [otherwise] there will be open confrontation instead of arguments within the room. There were very often quite serious arguments within the room. But it didn\u2019t create disequilibrium outside the room\u2026\u00a0<\/p><p>The second principle is not very well-known. It is called the unanimity principle. The unanimity principle is not quite the same as the consensus. Consensus implies the majority can decide and then the rest follow. So, I could not imagine that if the unions and their employers were to decide and the government had to follow\u2026 Similarly, government and the employers or the unions can decide and the other third party must follow. I think that would break the [NWC] straightaway, right from the beginning\u2026 So, you see all the signatures of the participants [in the NWC guidelines], every year\u2026 Then as a chairman, I would try to make sure that all their names are published in the newspapers. That we were unanimous on the subjects we want to do\u2026\u00a0<\/p><p>The third principle which [is] a little bit unusual for an industrial democracy, that is the finality principle\u2026 That is when you have agreed, you have signed the document, that is final\u2026 In other words, you don\u2019t go back to your stakeholders, your constituents and get their agreement. But in a normal industrial democracy, that is the practice \u2013 you go back to your constituents to get endorsements\u2026 I know how this could make it very, very difficult for the NWC to work. When we have agreed, we have signed, that is the finality\u2026 you must get authorisation from your organisation first\u2026 these principles worked out very well in Singapore.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-86d4e69 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"86d4e69\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-dc75ad6\" data-id=\"dc75ad6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-830f691 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"830f691\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General of the NTUC (2007 to 2015) and Minister for Manpower (2015 to 2018), explains how regular interactions among tripartite partners help to smoothen the negotiation process at NWC:<\/p><p>\u201cThe interesting thing is that after so many years of tripartism, say in the case of NWC, we seldom get into the deadlock situation. We seldom get into a so-called confrontational situation\u2026 Because the tripartite partnership in Singapore is not a once-a-year [interaction]\u2026 we don\u2019t work separately and wait for the NWC season, and then sit down to talk about what we should do together in setting wage policy. In fact, tripartism happens on a daily basis, on a weekly basis, on a monthly basis throughout the year. So, by the time we come to the table to negotiate wage policies, all of us are on the same wavelength.\u00a0<\/p><p>So, for example, there will be times where we focus on low-wage workers. But we don\u2019t come to the NWC to talk about low-wage workers. By then, different parties may have different views. But since we\u2019ve been working on the issues on a continuous basis throughout the year, so by the time we come to be NWC, it\u2019s another checkpoint, another milestone\u2026 the continuity is already there\u2026 I would say that it\u2019s because of this very tight, very close partnership throughout the year. So as a result, I would say we end up having no surprises when we come to the NWC.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a8cab13 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a8cab13\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2f0e298\" data-id=\"2f0e298\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-78991aa elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"78991aa\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bf02dac\" data-id=\"bf02dac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c19d95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c19d95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>What is less familiar to many is that the NWC Guidelines are not legally binding &#8211; this is a deliberate choice, as broad wage guidelines were deemed to be too crude to cover every possible employment situation. Legally binding wage guidelines would also hamper businesses from adjusting wages to their specific operating contexts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-342597c\" data-id=\"342597c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a71175f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a71175f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/national_wage_council_meeting_img.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6207\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/national_wage_council_meeting_img.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/national_wage_council_meeting_img-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/national_wage_council_meeting_img-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/national_wage_council_meeting_img-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/national_wage_council_meeting_img-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25bc8f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"25bc8f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 style=\"font-size: 13px;\">National Wage Council meeting, 1976.<\/h5>\n<h6 style=\"font-size: 11px; margin-top: -5px;\">Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nas.gov.sg\/archivesonline\/photographs\/record-details\/59c5f170-1162-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad\">Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore<\/a><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7fa627 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c7fa627\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In practice, many businesses and their employees in Singapore do rely on the NWC wage guidelines at least as a starting point for wage setting and negotiations, modifying the recommended wage adjustments upwards or downwards accordingly. Moreover, the NWC wage guidelines help to level the playing field between companies, reducing the likelihood of salary competition <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by discouraging excessive wage increases that run ahead of productivity.<\/span>\u00a0Most importantly, the unanimity principle behind the wage guidelines means that they are collectively endorsed by the government, labour unions and business associations, which gives them significant social legitimacy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c04a2a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c04a2a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Stephen Lee, former President of SNEF (1988 to 2014), elaborates on why the NWC\u2019s non-legally binding wage guidelines are still closely adhered to by companies, and describes how SNEF works with its members to resolve implementation issues following the announcement of the NWC wage guidelines:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-17f7bde elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17f7bde\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-a2e867d\" data-id=\"a2e867d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b7fef3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"7b7fef3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/bE3Ni3-b41I?si=dBtTSOhUM8N-prlX&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-73f08f8 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"73f08f8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0181256\" data-id=\"0181256\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4b60487 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4b60487\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c7d9291\" data-id=\"c7d9291\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ec1774 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3ec1774\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cham Hui Fong, current Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), explains the difference in adherence to NWC wage guidelines between unionised and non-unionised companies:<\/p><p>\u201cIt\u2019s not a mandatory guideline\u2026 [But] there must be a difference between unionised companies and non-unionised companies. In the unionised companies, we must understand NWC is gazetted. If there is a dispute and there are strong grounds to push for certain wage adjustment based on the guidelines, we have every right to refer the case to the ministry, [and] of course to the Industrial Arbitration Court. And the court will arbitrate based on what are the guidelines and based on the reasonableness that both parties have put forth. So, those in the unionised companies will understand that whatever they have gotten is being bargained for\u2026 collectively bargained, representing the group of workers and to ensure that it\u2019s win-win for both. So, even though it\u2019s not mandatory, yes, there is a difference because you are in unionised companies.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e3e5ce3 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"e3e5ce3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b628835\" data-id=\"b628835\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8db1d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f8db1d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Building Trust<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-53796ea elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"53796ea\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1af0ef1\" data-id=\"1af0ef1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f27059d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f27059d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The process by which NWC manages the discussions that lead to its annual wage guidelines is designed to be conducive to problem solving and compromise. The NWC members share data and views on the national economic context before decisions are taken. This ensures that decisions are not made in isolation and that the tripartite leadership is in tune with the interests that they represent. Beyond the formal setting of the NWC, the interactions that NWC members have outside formal meetings also help with trust-building and camaraderie. This relationship between the tripartite partners, while not always frictionless, has stood the test of several crises.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-22a4fa0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"22a4fa0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-feefd7b\" data-id=\"feefd7b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d67f1e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d67f1e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>To Professor Lim Pin, second chairman of the NWC (2001 to 2015), the tripartite partners\u2019 motivations to find common ground is partly rooted in Singapore\u2019s vulnerabilities as a small country:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e687266\" data-id=\"e687266\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62165d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"62165d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/Q5KBkXbSFDI?si=H3NS5KkvAlAb0wwC&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f7cbb8b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f7cbb8b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-095be84\" data-id=\"095be84\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c75e1c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c75e1c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Aubeck Kam, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Manpower (2016 to 2022), recalls how the parties in the NWC often try to seek common ground, and how trust built up from regular collaboration makes it easier to solve more challenging problems in times of crisis:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-45287b1\" data-id=\"45287b1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d42611 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"0d42611\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/_7h3ZYjfsug?si=p81bhzQLERdUvVJc&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-4b84904 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4b84904\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-2127a03\" data-id=\"2127a03\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d1784f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d1784f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Lim Boon Heng, Secretary-General of the NTUC (1993 to 2006) and Minister in the Prime Minister&#8217;s Office (2001 to 2011), describes how conscious efforts to develop open communication and tripartite representation across public institutions in Singapore over the years strengthens public trust:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-476f856\" data-id=\"476f856\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f53a93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"0f53a93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/EKJjE_yJE5o?si=6h2NTsE8l4UFz7QC&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-0607cc2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0607cc2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec62f3a\" data-id=\"ec62f3a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5187f77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5187f77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>For Mary Liew, President of NTUC (2015 to 2023), the process of building trust among the tripartite partners in the past was not without friction, but this trust is especially important during unprecedented times such as the Covid-19 pandemic:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ebdbd4\" data-id=\"1ebdbd4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74d8aa7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"74d8aa7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/embed\\\/hVaZx3FBB2Q?si=Zxg2YUOoiqZPVfcZ&quot;,&quot;start&quot;:2,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bad4f45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bad4f45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Balancing wage growth with<br>economic competitiveness<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1441ad4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1441ad4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From the NWC\u2019s creation in 1972 to 1996, wages in Singapore increased by an average of 4.9% annually in real terms. Although achieving sustained increases in real wages is an important objective for the NWC, the council is also careful to do so without adversely affecting Singapore\u2019s overall economic competitiveness or business environment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e8cd71 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2e8cd71\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1985<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-17fbbdb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"17fbbdb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4be9146\" data-id=\"4be9146\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3e5680 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e3e5680\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/philips_machine_factory_img.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6208\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/philips_machine_factory_img.jpg 533w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/philips_machine_factory_img-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e26e6e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e26e6e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 style=\"font-size: 13px;\">Minister for Finance Hon Sui Sen opens Philips<\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"font-size: 13px;\">Machine Factory and Telecommunications Factory at Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim, 1973.<\/h5>\n<h6 style=\"font-size: 11px; margin-top: -5px;\">Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nas.gov.sg\/archivesonline\/photographs\/record-details\/dc1ac5d0-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad\">Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore<\/a><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d76c965 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d76c965\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"sec2-wrap2\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Relative economic competitiveness is especially important for Singapore as an open economy. Singapore competes internationally for investment capital, and its small domestic market means that almost all of its industrial output is exported. Policymakers are often concerned that increases in relative business costs may affect Singapore\u2019s export competitiveness and attractiveness as an investment destination.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e2e98f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e2e98f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When Singapore experienced a recession in 1985, a loss of cost competitiveness relative to other regional export-oriented economies was identified as one of the contributing factors. In response, the government implemented drastic reductions in wage costs through direct cuts to contributions towards the Central Provident Fund (CPF), Singapore\u2019s defined contribution pension fund.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f48c17e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f48c17e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Till today, the country\u2019s relative economic competitiveness remains a central consideration in policymaking, and the NWC\u2019s recommended wage adjustments have lagged labour productivity growth rates since the late 1980s. This is thought to be the best approach for delivering wage growth without eroding the country\u2019s economic competitiveness.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-ef9993d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ef9993d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-eb6ab8d\" data-id=\"eb6ab8d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19fbc48 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"19fbc48\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/cold_storage_gourmet_img.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6209\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/cold_storage_gourmet_img.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/cold_storage_gourmet_img-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/cold_storage_gourmet_img-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/cold_storage_gourmet_img-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/cold_storage_gourmet_img-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb73ea3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb73ea3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 style=\"font-size: 13px;\">Minister of State for Education Dr Tay Eng Soon leads team of Vocational and Industrial Training Board officials in visit to Cold Storage Gourmet Foods Factory at 18 Chin Bee Avenue, 1983.<\/h5>\n<h6 style=\"font-size: 11px; margin-top: -5px;\">Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/nas.gov.sg\/archivesonline\/photographs\/record-details\/eabab59b-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad\">Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore<\/a><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5ab6e39 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5ab6e39\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-83f0da5\" data-id=\"83f0da5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3419ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a3419ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Although Singaporean employees have enjoyed wage improvements over the years, the NWC does not always recommend wage increases in its annual guidelines. The NWC has, on a number of occasions, recommended wage restraint and even wage cuts, on grounds that these will help to preserve jobs. Such guidelines are issued in response to serious economic shocks such as recessions and public health crises. Downward adjustments in real wages or reduced pace of wage increases aim to preserve jobs by reducing the need for businesses to lay off their workers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e7599e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e7599e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is reasoned that<\/span> wage reduction <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in place of retrenchment benefits not only workers, who are able to retain their jobs and hence avoid periods of income loss, but also employers, who can<\/span> retain experienced employees who will inevitably be needed when the economic situation improves. In contrast, laying off employees would mean additional training costs when businesses pick up again.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7c12e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7c12e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most recently, in 2020, the NWC reconvened mid-cycle in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to draft a set of Supplementary Guidelines which recommended temporary wage cuts to the extent necessary to minimise retrenchments, preserve critical capabilities and support business restructuring (more information in <a href=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/section-3\/\">Tripartism and Industrial Relations<\/a><\/span>).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b8b982f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b8b982f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/newspapers\/digitised\/article\/today20030522-1.2.6.2\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"867\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Call-for-wage-cuts.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5936\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Call-for-wage-cuts.png 867w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Call-for-wage-cuts-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Call-for-wage-cuts-768x405.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 867px) 100vw, 867px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1890654 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1890654\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h6 style=\"font-size: 11px; margin-top: -20px;\">Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/newspapers\/digitised\/article\/today20030522-1.2.6.2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;Call for wage cuts\u201d, Today, May 22, 2003<br \/>via NewspaperSG, National Library Board<\/a><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a52a2db elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a52a2db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Quantitative vs qualitative wage guidelines<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc0dc1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc0dc1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Regarding wage adjustments, the NWC has traditionally provided two types of guidance \u2013 what it refers to as \u201cquantitative\u201d and \u201cqualitative\u201d guidelines.<\/p><p>Quantitative guidelines are those that recommend wage adjustments in numerical terms, usually percentages of current wages. These are given either as flat rates (e.g. 8%) or as ranges (e.g. 2% to 6%), or as absolute dollar ranges (e.g. $50-$70.)<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared to flat rates, q<\/span>uantitative ranges offer more flexibility to businesses but introduce complexity because labour representatives need to bargain directly with business owners on actual wage adjustments. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issuing quantitative wage guidelines in absolute dollar amounts allows the NWC to target wage improvements at employees at the lower end of the wage spectrum (for whom wage increases in percentage terms could mean very small dollar amounts).<\/span><\/p><p>Qualitative guidelines are those couched in descriptive terms without the use of numbers. For example, the NWC\u2019s 1994 wage guidelines did not put specific numbers to its recommended wage increments, but instead reminded businesses that wage increases should \u201clag behind productivity growth rates,\u201d and that \u201c[v]ariable payment should reflect closely the performance of the company\u201d.<\/p><p>Qualitative wage guidelines offer employers the most flexibility, but can be most complex to implement, since parties to wage negotiation may disagree on the interpretation of key words or phrases.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5929f63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5929f63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/newspapers\/digitised\/article\/stoverseas19940521-1.2.12.2\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"948\" height=\"417\" src=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/The-wages-of-success-new.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5937\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/The-wages-of-success-new.png 948w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/The-wages-of-success-new-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/The-wages-of-success-new-768x338.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 948px) 100vw, 948px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-767c82b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"767c82b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h6 style=\"font-size: 11px; margin-top: -20px;\">Credit:<a href=\"https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/newspapers\/digitised\/article\/stoverseas19940521-1.2.12.2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> &#8220;The wages of success&#8221;, The Straits Times, May 21, 1994 via NewspaperSG, National Library Board<\/a><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba51160 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba51160\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The NWC\u2019s stance on whether to issue quantitative or qualitative guidelines, or use them in combination, has shifted over the years. Each approach has its merits and shortcomings. Single absolute figures are simple to understand and implement, but not flexible enough to cover all business contexts.<\/p><p>From its founding in 1972 to 1977, the NWC opted to issue quantitative wage guidelines for simplicity. Between 1978 and 1985, the NWC adopted a mix of approaches, sometimes combining absolute dollar amounts with fixed percentages or ranges, which gave employers more flexibility to decide on actual wage adjustments. Responding to the recession in 1985, the NWC recommended \u201cwage standstill\u201d in April 1986 and later revised its guidance to \u201csevere wage restraint\u201d in December 1986. The latter was repeated in the 1987 guidelines.<\/p><p>In 2012, the NWC revived the practice of issuing quantitative wage guidelines. However, these new quantitative wage recommendations were targeted at lower-wage employees, <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for whom wage increases in percentage terms could translate to very small dollar amounts. This allows <\/span>their wages to grow faster and narrow the gap with the median. Leading up to 2012, widening income inequality in Singapore and the plight of lower-wage employees had become a national concern. The salaries of lower-wage employees had lagged the rest of Singapore\u2019s workforce in the prior decade because Singapore had imported large numbers of migrant workers \u2013 mostly deployed in lower-wage occupations \u2013 to support its economic growth. For example, between 1996 and 2007, the median monthly wages for cleaners and labourers sank from $860 to $600 as the number of migrant workers in these jobs grew.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the recommendations of the <a href=\"http:\/\/mom.gov.sg\/twg-lwwreport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tripartite Workgroup on Lower-Wage Workers<\/a>, the NWC has issued a quantitative Range of Progressive Wage Growth for lower-wage workers since 2021. This includes both a percentage range and an absolute dollar range (e.g. in 2023, the range issued was 5.5%-7.5% and $85-$105). This range provides flexibility for businesses based on their performance, recommending employers facing economic difficulties to provide wage increases at the lower bound of the range.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-53de839 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"53de839\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-ad1b131\" data-id=\"ad1b131\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc92e66 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cc92e66\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Lim Swee Say, Secretary-General of the NTUC (2007 to 2015) and Minister for Manpower (2015 to 2018), shares that one deliberation in switching between quantitative and qualitative guidelines had to do with protecting low-wage workers:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-75354c2\" data-id=\"75354c2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50537fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"50537fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/y1UF8_6s1yU?si=L7w5TPpEcrHR4dSD&quot;,&quot;start&quot;:1,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b6045e3 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b6045e3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f0305ee\" data-id=\"f0305ee\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-24fbc6c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"24fbc6c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-286a1bf\" data-id=\"286a1bf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7560f5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7560f5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fl-module fl-module-rich-text fl-node-z4xbdt5c106q fl-animation fl-slide-in-up fl-animated\" data-node=\"z4xbdt5c106q\" data-animation-delay=\"0\" data-animation-duration=\"1\"><div class=\"fl-module-content fl-node-content\"><div class=\"fl-rich-text\"><p>Koh Juan Kiat, Executive Director of SNEF (1995 to 2020), recounts how employers made the transition towards quantum wage increases specifically for low-wage workers:<\/p><p>\u201cI think for a long time, the NWC had in fact recommended that companies implement the NWC wage recommendations by converting the wage adjustment into a quantum and percentage wage increase for low-wage workers. But the feedback from our members and employers at large was that it was difficult to implement and not many companies implemented this because they seemed to prefer easier methods of either giving a flat quantum or a percentage wage increase\u2026 But I think this did not do enough to raise the wages of the bottom 10% [and] 20%. So, I think in 2012, [with] the growing number of low-wage workers, the tripartite partners came together and discussed how the NWC could make a difference to raising the wage levels of the low-wage workers. Initially companies with a large number of low-wage workers were quite resistant to this suggestion because it would mean a higher overall wage cost for them. To companies employing a few low-wage workers, it would be an easier way to implement the NWC recommendation and the wage cost increase would not be so significant.\u00a0<\/p><p>But I think we managed to win over the larger companies because I think it was needed in order to help them to retain such workers. Because if such workers find that their wages were not rising fast enough vis-a-vis other segments of workers in the company, then they will make a run for other companies. So, it was timely that this suggestion was made because I think it helped the larger companies to retain their low-wage workers. At the same time, [there were] many retraining and reskilling programmes for the low-wage workers, especially with the formation of the Workforce Development Agency\u2026 I think it also spurred a work redesign because in order to lift the wages of low-wage workers and to pay them a quantum wage increase, which translates to a higher percentage in most cases in relation to the wage recommendations\u2026 the companies have to raise the productivity of the jobs.\u201d<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8a20f63 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8a20f63\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dec62e0\" data-id=\"dec62e0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21bbcd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21bbcd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fl-module fl-module-rich-text fl-node-z4xbdt5c106q fl-animation fl-slide-in-up fl-animated\" data-node=\"z4xbdt5c106q\" data-animation-delay=\"0\" data-animation-duration=\"1\">\n<div class=\"fl-module-content fl-node-content\">\n<div class=\"fl-rich-text\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">For decades, the NWC has forged agreement among employers, unions and the government on wage-related matters. Outside of the NWC, a tripartite approach has also been adopted to resolve other contemporary labour matters, such as initiatives to support women rejoining the workforce; re-employment of older workers; and work-life harmony.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">For instance, a Tripartite Committee on Work-Life Strategy has been involved in promoting work-life harmony in Singapore. More recently, the tripartite partners launched an Alliance for Action on Work-Life Harmony in February 2021, with tripartite partners facilitating several citizen engagement sessions to discuss various work-life practices and rally participants to develop their own initiatives to develop work-life harmony.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-feaa0cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"feaa0cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/newspapers\/digitised\/article\/today20050716-1.2.8.3\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"597\" height=\"445\" src=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Workers-smile-new.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5938\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Workers-smile-new.png 597w, https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Workers-smile-new-300x224.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 597px) 100vw, 597px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09ca8b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"09ca8b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h6 style=\"font-size: 11px; margin-top: -20px;\">Credit: &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/eresources.nlb.gov.sg\/newspapers\/digitised\/article\/today20050716-1.2.8.3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Workers smile, companies gain&#8221;, Today, July 16, 2005 via NewspaperSG, National Library Board<\/a><\/h6>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d7a392 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d7a392\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fl-module fl-module-rich-text fl-node-z4xbdt5c106q fl-animation fl-slide-in-up fl-animated\" data-node=\"z4xbdt5c106q\" data-animation-delay=\"0\" data-animation-duration=\"1\"><div class=\"fl-module-content fl-node-content\"><div class=\"fl-rich-text\"><p>Click <span style=\"text-decoration: none;\"><a style=\"color: #c59a6f;\" href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.25818\/ca26-jw30\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span> to read the case study\u00a0 &#8220;Tripartism in Wage Setting and Wage Flexibility, a Singapore Case Study&#8221;.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a0bce17 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a0bce17\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ff8b6df\" data-id=\"ff8b6df\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc67c28 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dc67c28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #782540;\"><a style=\"color: #782540;\" href=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/section-3\/\">PREVIOUS SECTION: TRIPARTISM IN THE EARLY YEARS<\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0cc9977\" data-id=\"0cc9977\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81dccd8 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"81dccd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #782540;\"><a style=\"color: #782540;\" href=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/section-3\/\">NEXT SECTION: TRIPARTISM AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS<\/a><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d1d1219 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d1d1219\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-86266ca\" data-id=\"86266ca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d1e62c elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"1d1e62c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<!--<div id=\"loading\" class=\"loadContainer\">-->\n<!--<div class=\"loader\"><\/div>-->\n<!--<\/div>-->\n<!--<style>-->\n\n<!--.loadContainer{-->\n<!--\tjustify-content: center;-->\n\n<!--\talign-items: center;-->\n<!--\tdisplay: none;-->\n\t\/*position: fixed;*\/\n\t\/*width:100%;*\/\n\t\/*height: 100%;*\/\n\t\/*top:0;*\/\n\t\/*left:0;*\/\n\t\/*background-color: black;*\/\n\t\/*opacity: 80%;*\/\n<!--}-->\n\n<!--.loader {-->\n\t\n<!--\t border-top: 6px solid #ecdecf;-->\n<!--        border-right: 6px solid #434f84;-->\n<!--        border-bottom: 6px solid #c59a6f;-->\n<!--        border-left: 6px solid #782f40;-->\n<!--        border-radius: 50%;-->\n<!--      width: 30px;-->\n<!--      height: 30px;-->\n<!--      animation: spin 2s linear infinite;-->\n<!--  }-->\n\n<!--  @keyframes spin {-->\n<!--  0% { transform: rotate(0deg); }-->\n<!--  100% { transform: rotate(360deg); }-->\n<!--}-->\n<!--<\/style>-->\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78b3f3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"78b3f3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<!--<script>-->\r\n<!--window.onscroll = function(ev) {-->\r\n<!--    try {-->\r\n      \r\n\r\n        \/\/ Script to navigate to the next page when scrolled to the bottom\r\n<!--        if ((window.innerHeight + window.scrollY) >= document.body.offsetHeight) {-->\r\n<!--            console.log(\"Scrolled to the bottom!\");-->\r\n<!--            document.getElementById(\"loading\").style.display = \"flex\";-->\r\n\r\n<!--            setTimeout(function() {-->\r\n<!--                console.log(\"Redirecting...\");-->\r\n<!--                location.href = \"csu\/section-3\/\";-->\r\n<!--            }, 100);-->\r\n<!--        }-->\r\n<!--    } catch (error) {-->\r\n<!--        console.error(\"An error occurred:\", error);-->\r\n<!--    }-->\r\n<!--};-->\r\n<!--<\/script>-->\r\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TRIPARTISM Tripartism in Wage Negotiation scroll to explore While stronger bonds had been forged between the government and unions in the early years of independence, against a backdrop of growing prosperity, there was a fear that unchecked collective bargaining would cause wage growth to become unsustainable and hamper economic development.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 &#8230; <a title=\"Section 2\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/section-2\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Section 2\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3535","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3535"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7064,"href":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3535\/revisions\/7064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lkyspp.nus.edu.sg\/research\/case-insights-unit\/tripartism\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}