REACH (Telegram) 33 - What are your views on the layoffs by Dyson? What else can be done to better protect workers while ensuring Singapore remains competitive?

(SK)

16 Oct 2024 (10am - 7pm)

REACH (Telegram)

REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 10:03 AM]

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REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 10:14 AM]

📢 Topic 📢

In response to questions from Members of Parliament about the involvement of unions in retrenchment exercises, which came after a recent layoff in consumer appliances firm Dyson, Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad said in parliament on Tuesday (Oct 15) that Singapore has to strike the right balance between workers' welfare and the country's pro-business stance.

Mr Zaqy said that if Singapore does not get the balance right, we may think that we are protecting our workers in the short term. But in the longer term, good jobs for workers may be reduced if Singapore becomes a less attractive place for companies to invest in. He also added that that Dyson handled the recent retrenchment exercise in accordance with Singapore’s laws and tripartite advisories.

💬 What are your views on the layoffs by Dyson? What else can be done to better protect workers while ensuring Singapore remains competitive?

📌 Maintaining Singapore’s competitiveness

The United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries (UWEEI) said it was given only a day's notice about Dyson’s layoffs and escalated the issue to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Mr Zaqy said the ministry has engaged the parties, and both have agreed to work together. He noted that in some other countries, unions and employers have a more confrontational relationship. He said businesses need to have the flexibility to adapt to market conditions and transform their business models, and Singapore needs to preserve its economic competitiveness.

📌 Notice of Layoffs

Mr Zaqy said the period of notice given to the union was negotiable because the retrenched employees were not unionised. For unionised employees, the norm is to inform the union a month before notifying employees. He said the company has explained why it was not able to give more advance notice to the union, adding that businesses may have their own constraints. On top of that, the firm provided retrenchment benefits to employees who were with the company for less than two years, who are not eligible based on current advisories.

📌 Trust between Unions and Employers

Mr Zaqy said trust between the union and employer is important for them to work together effectively. He said this trust cannot be taken for granted, and it needs to be built over time and that companies should value Singapore’s tripartite culture and work closely with the unions. He also added that we need to continue achieving the right balance between the interests of businesses, while ensuring that our workers remain protected and well supported during difficult periods of disruption.

 👉https:/www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dyson-retrenchment-mom-unions-4678836

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REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 11:01 AM]

[ Poll : How satisfied are you with current efforts to ensure that the rights of workers are protected during layoffs while balancing the interests of businesses? ]

- Very satisfied

- Somewhat satisfied

- Unsatisfied (please elaborate on your view below!)

REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 12:10 PM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the layoffs by Dyson? What else can be done to better protect workers while ensuring Singapore remains competitive?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:01 PM]

1. Majority of the students can be rehabilitated and our education system should attempt to rehabilitate students who are bullies in a moment of folly, mischievous, anger, family problems, stress or domination.

The behavior can be changed by schools and parents - hence focus should be on appropriate punishment, counseling and rehabilitation - not to report to police and let them have police records.

2. However there are some very rare cases whereby some students join gangs or secret society that engaged in organise crimes such as drug trafficking, theft, robbery, illegal gambling, scams etc.

Such students also carry weapons with them such as knife, metal chain, knuckle duster etc.

Hence schools and even disciplinary master cannot handle such students because they are likely to be violent, with outside connection and may retaliate against teachers and principals that discipline them.

3. Under such circumstances, police need to be involved.

Normally such cases will be referred to the secret society branch to investigate organized crime connection and eradicate the gangs by plucking up its roots.

Secret society Act also give power to MHA to detain harden secret society members up to 1 year without trial.

4. Also if bullies and beatings take place outside school or involve non students or students from other schools, disciplinary matter fall outside the jurisdiction of the principals or disciplinary master and come under the purview of the police.

5. Most of the time, police will work with the respective schools to discipline, counsel and rehabilitate the bullies without leaving any police records.

6. Even for youth that are detain in boys home and girls home as mandated by courts, they won't leave with a criminal record if under probation if I am not wrong except very serious crimes.

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:17 PM]

1. I agree with the Senior Minister of State views that there must be a balance between pro-business and workers welfare during a retrenchment exercise.

2. Increasingly, attracting foreign investors to setup business in Singapore is getting more and more difficult - because of the global headwinds due to BEPS (Global minimum tax rate) - whereby our competitive edge to attract MNCs and foreign investment to set up shops in Singapore as tax haven is blunted.

2. If we are not pro business, by making business difficult to operate in Singapore, if our unions become more confrontational, more militants - then there will even be less incentive for foreign MNCs to set up shops in Singapore - as they rather locate near where their markets are - as they don't benefit from less tax incentives in which previously Singapore can offer.

3. When this happens, less value added, high income jobs will be created for Singaporeans - and we will be in trouble.

4. It is our tripartism of Government, Business and Unions + other competitive elements such as stable government, good infrastructure, skill workforce, transparent rules plus less militant unions that makes MNCs continue to invest in Singapore and create jobs.

5. Hence our policy of balancing pro-business and workers welfare become very important - taking into consideration unfriendly global headwinds of minimum global tax rates, friend-shoring, on-shoring, near-shoring, decoupling - that threaten our traditional ways of attracting investment, trade and doing business.

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:23 PM]

I have not worked in a corporate world yet but I hope there's sign on retrenchment. As a MNC I pretty sure workers work for things that is for months ahead. For example project works etc. How does gov ensure that worker effort do not get wasted and credited to another person taking over and can the worker work in the competitors office straight after the retrenchment

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:25 PM]

Even the contract may say you should not work in the same field for 3 months after leaving the company

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:28 PM]

6. Getting business to appropriately compensate retrenched staff and obtain the rightful welfare for retrenched workers are important - but unions must not overdo it by being confrontational or militants.

Else we will further deter business from setting up shops in Singapore and create jobs for Singaporeans - in which in long term - we will be the biggest loser.

7. Most important, is for Government, Unions and Business to get new jobs for retrenched workers and if retrenched workers got gaps in skillsets to land them a new jobs, skillsfuture will come in to retrain the retrenched workers in new skills that are wanted by the new employers while ensuring they have training allowance to put food on their tables for themselves and their family members.

This will be more meaningful and the long term solutions for retrenched workers.

8. By being confrontational to squeeze the company for retrenched staff won't benefit much - 1 month more pay - but 因小失大。 

Win small Lose BIG - as foreign investors will stop coming to Singapore and go elsewhere.

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:29 PM]

This clause is unlawful under the labour law and MOM and courts will throw such clause out.

A few cases happen in Singapore, and workers win the cases against the companies.

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:31 PM]

I think the main objective government should play is helping businesses and workers to move on. So  perhaps business should recommend similar positions opening in other companies for their workers to apply and interview. 

And gov has done their part in giving money to help workers cope and upgrade themselves.

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:31 PM]

"What you need to know about non-compete clauses"

 https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/what-you-need-know-about-non-compete-clauses#:~:text=What%20you%20need%20to%20know%20about%20non%2Dcompete%20clauses

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:34 PM]

Eg. An IT workers are retrenched by an IT company MNC and cannot join another IT company for 3 months.

It is unreasonable in the eyes of law - as if the workers and family members can go hungry for 3 months?

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:36 PM]

I seen such clause that as a promotor of a power company you cannot promote for another power company if you decided to leave the company

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:36 PM]

But you can promote other stuff such as water bottle

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:37 PM]

I think check with MOM, such clause fall under non-compete clause and could be unlawful.

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:39 PM]

The thing is not everyone knows the law

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:39 PM]

How to ensure workers knows their right what they can do

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:40 PM]

Perhaps mom should send a email stating what are workers right to affected workers

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:40 PM]

And help workers transit

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:40 PM]

Must read more news articles.

If not ask Google or Generative AI.

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:41 PM]

Else ask REACH who will refer people to the relevant Ministry.

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:42 PM]

Or use critical thinking or ask people who knows.

Jun Ming, [16/10/2024 1:44 PM]

This is what companies or gov should do. And recommend what next for workers. Is the company want to retrench them at the first place, there should have some admin help for them to leave smoothly

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 1:54 PM]

1. In corporate world, when come to retrenchment, past contribution, award, good works become immaterial.

2. A person can win 2 awards, go up to the stage, get good appraisal, and when retrenchment comes, still can get retrenched for whatever reasons:-

Old age lah, salary too high lah, office politics lah, change senior mgt lah, bring in all his trusted kakis lah and retrenched or fire previous capable workers treasure by previous mgt lah etc.

3. Hence my advice to retrenched workers, don't get upset if you get retrenched for whatever reasons.

Because whatever official reasons given for retrenchment may not be the true reasons.

Don't get upset by whatever reasons given and try to defend putting forward your past outstanding track records because you could be climbing the wrong tree.

Just get your due compensation, look forward to secure your next job.

Get yourself retrain if new jobs demand new skillsets - and emerge better.

Don't lament on past glories because it is not going to help you and your family.

Always look forward and not backwards.

4. No need to be bitter about your previous company that retrenched you - because it happens in that particular circumstances - helm by that particular group of people.

And circumstances do change, people do stay for a while and then change.

No need to bear grudges and make enemies.

Karma will take care of itself. And in fact karma do take care of itself.

Just move on as lives are flux of changes and transformation.

Changes are constant.

心动则乱。

心定生智。

冲出重围。

落地生根。

开花结果。

LCL (Danny 心), [16/10/2024 2:02 PM]

1. More important, government, business, unions and workers must actively identify whether AI does play a big or small part in making jobs redundant.

If AI is identify as the main disruptor to replace jobs, deeper studies will be needed how to train and create jobs that are not easily replaceable by AI but AI play a complementary role to human workers.

2. Singapore economy are doing well, rightfully more high income and high value jobs are created.

Then it become more important to help retrenched workers and fresh graduates to anchor such created jobs.

If skillsets is the hurdle, right training should be given to workers to land the jobs while granting them training allowance to feed themselves and their family.

REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 2:02 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 2:50 PM]

Dear Contributors,

We want to HEAR MORE from you!

💬 What are your views on the layoffs by Dyson? What else can be done to better protect workers while ensuring Singapore remains competitive?

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Do also share your opinion by participating in our polls! The poll questions are pinned for easy reference, and your vote is anonymous.

Thank you!

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 4:03 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 6:04 PM]

📢 Topic 📢

REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 6:45 PM]

Dear Contributors,

⏰ We will be closing the chat in 15 minutes ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

REACH Singapore, [16/10/2024 7:01 PM]

Dear Contributors

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our Telegram chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

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