Inclusive Growth Programme to benefit over 53,000 workers: Lim Swee Say

SINGAPORE — Singapore companies have committed to some 800 productivity improvements projects since a S$100 million programme was launched by the Labour Movement in 2010.

When these projects are completed, more than 53,000 low-wage workers will benefit from productivity and wage increases.

The Inclusive Growth Programme comes under the NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute’s (e2i) key initiative for inclusive and sustainable growth.

It supports automation and process redesign for companies, where gains are shared with low wage workers.

About S$42 million has already been committed to these projects, and two-thirds of the companies involved are SMEs.

NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say revealed this today (Oct 4) at the first Inclusive Growth Symposium — a one-stop solutions platform aimed at helping SMEs create better jobs and workers.

Mr Lim said in the past five to seven years, Singapore’s workforce has been growing, but at the same time productivity has been slowing down.

He said in order to stay competitive, companies must face a new reality — slow down the growth of manpower and focus on productivity.

Mr Lim added that more SMEs have recognised this reality and are adopting new mindsets, which translate to building new capabilities in their companies.

At today’s symposium, companies, government agencies, and solution partners learnt how SMEs across various sectors improved their productivity.

This was done through panel discussions, clinics on how to tap various funding programmes, as well as an exhibition. CHANNEL NEWSASIA