| |
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Sunday the country has a considerable way to go in its productivity drive, especially when compared with other countries which have achieved significant productivity growth.
He said Singapore's productivity level is 60 to 70 per cent of what is possible.
Mr Lee's remarks follow the release of the Economic Strategies Committee Report, which placed productivity as the key growth strategy for Singapore's economy.
The Prime Minister made the assessment on the first day of the Year of the Tiger, as he visited a select group of workers who are keeping the country going during the holiday period.
Accompanied by key union leaders, Mr Lee gave away S$10 hong baos and oranges to some 150 staff at Swissotel the Stamford and Fairmont Singapore.
Mr Lee said efforts must redouble if Singapore is to achieve the target of two to three per cent productivity growth over the next 10 years.
"It's a turning point. Your numbers will grow more slowly and if you want the economy to do well, that means the productivity must go up," said Mr Lee.
"And if your productivity doesn't go up and we don't get the growth, then I think you may feel that you're relaxing a little bit more but the mood, the buoyancy, the optimism, will be quite different. So we have to work hard and take this very seriously."
To help staff increase their productivity levels, some hotels have been using a device called the Ezi-Maid.
The device is able to elevate beds to waist level, making it easier for cleaning staff to change the sheets and vacuum under the bed, cutting the time taken to clean a room.
The job scope of workers is also being re-looked.
General secretary of Food, Drinks and Allied Workers' Union, Tan Hock Soon, said: "We're working with management to upgrade the skills of the workers through expansion of knowledge, through skills upgrading, so that we can ultimately integrate jobs. So that productivity goes up, therefore better wages for our workers in the industry."
Mr Lee also touched on the need for Singaporeans to have more babies.
He said that while there is no "magic bullet" to boost the fertility rate, working mothers will need family support, and husbands can play a part.
"(Husbands can) start by changing nappies!" said Mr Lee. "When the kids grow a bit older, you're not just a father figure, but you're helping around the house and showing them a good example, so when they grow up they also know how to look (after) the house."
Singapore's resident Total Fertility Rate slid from 1.28 in 2008 to 1.23 last year, the lowest ever.
- CNA/yb
|
