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SINGAPORE: Unions have also expressed their support for the National Wages Council's wage guidelines. Still, the question of holding onto jobs amid the continuing uncertainty remains uppermost on workers' minds.
For months, workers have been told to be realistic and flexible. And the National Wages Council's latest guidelines will provide some reassurance that retrenchments will be a last resort. But many are still worried.
General-secretary of the Singapore Port Workers' Union, Ameer Hamzah, said: "Actually we have situations where, in some of the unions, the workers come to them to say 'I think the situation is not good, so we are not expecting bonus. But can you tell us whether there are going to be any retrenchments?'"
With all the uncertainty in the economy, the prevailing mood among unionists here is one of caution. And many say wage cuts alone will not solve the problem.
Besides, with many unionised workers resigned to having no bonuses this year, what is left now is for employers to manage costs by other means. Such measures include making use of government initiatives announced in this year's Budget.
But in order to convince workers to continue swallowing the bitter pill, union leaders say management must lead the way.
General-secretary of the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries, Cyrille Tan, said: "If they do not take the lead in any of the companies where they want wage cuts... then they have no moral authority to continue to ask workers to do the same."
Unions also called on employees to keep up with training and skills upgrading efforts, so that they will remain relevant to their company's manpower needs.
- CNA/yt
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