SINGAPORE — The Government's "pro-growth" and "pro-worker" approach is the reason why tripartism works in Singapore, and this has given the nation an "enormous and enduring advantage" over the years, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

Speaking on Wednesday (Nov 22) at the opening ceremony of the NTUC National Delegates’ Conference 2023 , he added that tripartism has created a "Singapore premium". It involves "collaboration and compromise" between unions, employers and the Government — led by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP).

"Companies and investors are prepared to pay more to be here, to take advantage of our harmonious industrial relations and business-friendly environment," Mr Lee continued. 

This also means that workers in Singapore earn significantly more than those elsewhere in the region, because companies can operate more efficiently and reliably here.

"That is also why so many people want to come to Singapore to work, whether on work permits, S-passes or employment passes." 

The conference, which happens once every four years, was attended by about 1,500 union leaders, tripartite partners and other guests.

In his speech, Mr Lee also said that the symbiosis between PAP and NTUC (National Trades Union Congress) is not "just an institutional arrangement" but is rooted in history.

He also touched on PAP's history with the labour movement and how former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew himself had been the legal adviser for more than 100 unions.

Only 12 unions were affiliated with NTUC then — compared to the 82 that joined the Singapore Association of Trade Unions under Barisan Sosialis, a now-defunct political party formed in 1961 that aimed to oust the PAP Government. 

"As I told the PAP Convention recently, the PAP wasn’t born dominant. Neither was the NTUC," Mr Lee said.

"We survived these baptisms of fire — these infernos — because Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his comrades refused to give in. And Singaporeans — above all, the workers — saw that Mr Lee Kuan Yew would never let them down, took heart, and backed the PAP."

Quoting the former prime minister, Mr Lee said that PAP has been a workers' movement and is a government on the workers' side. This remains the PAP Government's credo today, he added.

This is done through focusing on the twin priorities of growing and developing the economy, and enabling workers to benefit fully from economic growth.

"Mr Lee Kuan Yew saw the unions as equal partners, playing a key role in nation building... He was convinced Singaporeans had to be a 'proud and rugged' people, and unions were key to this." 

In a rapidly changing world, unions continue to play a vital role in Singapore's future, he added.

"And I know my successor Lawrence Wong thinks so, too."

Mr Lee also said that the partnership between PAP and NTUC must continue to be built.

"The PAP looks forward to fielding new party candidates from the labour movement," he said, adding that a few candidates have been identified for the next General Election.

"I am confident they will represent workers and constituents well."

WHY IT MATTERS

Mr Lee's speech came weeks after he announced that he would be handing over the leadership reins to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong before the next General Election.

If all goes well, Mr Lee said that he will do so by the party's 70th birthday on Nov 21 next year.

Speaking to more than 1,000 PAP members at the time at the Party Awards and Convention on Nov 5, he said that “high quality leadership” is key for the PAP Government to achieve its three main priorities, namely to govern competently, keep clean and win elections.

He also said at the time that there was “no way” the PAP governments could have adopted tough but necessary policies for the long term had they have to constantly worry about being in power after the next elections.

“Today’s Singapore could not have been built by a weak government hanging on to power by a slim majority, or with the governing party and policies chopping and changing after each election.” 

'UNIQUE MODEL OF TRIPARTISM'

In his speech that was almost an hour long, Mr Lee spoke about tripartism's benefit for Singapore. Some of these points were:

• NTUC and the PAP government are on the "same national movement" devoted to improving the lives of Singaporeans, keeping the nation together as one people and ensuring that everyone has the right to his own dignity, "his dignity as a human being, as a citizen"
• NTUC's modernisation seminar in 1969 called for unions to work with the Government and employers for the greater long-term good of workers and Singapore
• This seminar established "our unique model of tripartism" and "completely changed the tone of labour relations"
• While unions fought for workers, they were careful to not disrupt the country's economic growth, fostering industrial peace
• Tripartism has been an "enormous and enduring advantage as we restructured and grew our economy"
• Citing the example of British port operations that are frequently paralysed by strikes and disputes, Mr Lee noted that the tripartite partners' close cooperation has helped make a world-class port here with port authority PSA and created new opportunities and prospects for Singapore as a whole
• These collaborations have created a "Singapore premium", where companies and investors are prepared to pay more to be here and take advantage of Singapore's harmonious industrial relations and business-friendly environment
• "They value being in a country that knows where it is heading, where everyone pulls together for the common good, everything works, and life can get better for all."