Speech by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education, at the National Day Observance Ceremony 2006 at the National University Hospital KRW Auditorium on Friday, 18 August 2006 at 10.30 am

SPEECH BY MR MASAGOS ZULKIFLI, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, AT THE NATIONAL DAY OBSERVANCE CEREMONY 2006 AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL KRW AUDITORIUM ON FRIDAY,
18 AUGUST 2006 AT 10.30 AM

I am happy to be with you this morning to celebrate Singapore’s 41st National Day.

This year we can expect a good economy. MTI has adjusted the economic growth from 5% to 7% to a new growth of 6.5% to 7.5%. More jobs have been created under the Job Redesign Programme though retrenchment is expected in some sectors. The recent retrenchment of more than 3,000 jobs with the closure of Maxdor is a constant reminder for us not to take our jobs for granted.

While the economy can be buoyant, companies do strive to be competitive by lowering cost. It is therefore not surprising for companies to relocate to lower cost region.

Our neighbouring country’s competition is also intensifying. The proposed Southern Johore Economic Region development by the Malaysian government is expected to pose competition to Singapore not only in the manufacturing sector but also in the service sector that includes education and medical services as well. What it means is that companies would be attracted to relocate in a region with low cost infrastructure, consumers will be lured to places that provide products and services at low cost which also includes healthcare services.

We need to constantly review our processes and provide favourable climate for companies to do business. In the case of healthcare business, Singapore has high growth potential and capabilities to attract overseas market. This is evident with the liberalization of immigration law for overseas patients seeking treatment in Singapore. In this way, we could broaden our market and strive to achieve the regional medical hub status.

With abundant opportunities, Singaporeans can be assured of decent jobs that pay decent salaries. Our unemployment rate now stands at 2.9 % amidst a backdrop of a 9.4% economic growth in the first half of 2006. More jobs have been created and jobs previously performed by foreigners have been reclaimed with the job recreation programme. One such effort is the make over of Health Care Assistant jobs. NUH has developed an advanced Healthcare Assistant programme for promising individuals who are able to take on higher value added task. This is a move in the right direction. With increasing demand for healthcare services especially as Singapore confronts with ageing issues and with the opening up of our healthcare services to foreign markets, the job opportunities are in abundance.

We can only have better tomorrow with good political and economic climate and united and cohesive work force. Our tripartite formula has been a cornerstone to the success of our nation building. Unions and companies have to work in partnership to ensure that workers are treated fair and just. On this note, I wish to extend my special commendation to both the NUH Employees’ Union and NUH Management for achieving a cordial and harmonious industrial climate and for NUH Mgt to strive towards making NUH an ‘employer of choice’.

This reflects the commitment of the Management to work in tandem with the Union so as to ensure a good working environment for its staff. Very few Unions and Companies have succeeded in establishing Shared IR Vision, a framework in which both Union and Management are resolved in promoting industrial harmony within the boundaries of shared values and ideologies. I am very happy to note that both the NUH Employees’ Union and Management have achieved the level of collaboration and partnership relationship that enabled it to introduce new programmes such as Portable Savings Benefit for its staff and Job Redesign Programme that provides job opportunities for Singaporeans.

As the Union grows from strength to strength, it is also constantly looking at opportunities for growth so as to introduce more value added benefits to the members and better represents the healthcare workers in the industry sector. As such it becomes critical for house union to review its current structure and consolidate its resources for better economies of scale. I understand that NUH Employees’ Union has signed the Memorandum Of Understanding with the Healthcare Corporation of Singapore Staff Union (HCSSU) to merge so as to benefit from the economies of scale of large membership base and to expand its prospect of providing better benefits for its members. With the merger, which will be formalized in few months’ time, the two merged Unions will be renamed as Healthcare Services Employees’ Union.

We need every level of the management to support the Union Membership and encourage everyone to join the Union which I understand stands at 1,700 members. Together I am confident this can be increased to 2,000.

On behalf of the Union, I wish to congratulate Mr Chua, your CEO for being the role model in this aspect. I understand that he is a General Branch Member of NUH Employees’ Union, very supportive of Union’s initiative and has regular dialogue sessions with the Union. This is very heartening.

Lastly, I also wish to congratulate the Union Leaders of NUH Employees’ Union for creating a fertile ground for a trusting labour management relationship that has stood the test of time and challenges over the years especially during the economic downturn.

Once again, I wish everyone a Happy National Day and may we celebrate and enjoy many more good years with prospering economy.