PPF Advisor Mrs Josephine Teo, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) President Ms Mary Liew, NTUC Secretary-General Mr Ng Chee Meng, with dialogue panellists and moderator at the PPF | Insights ‘Tripartism: Past, Present And Future’ dialogue.
The panellists are former Chairman and NTUC Secretary-General Mr Lim Boon Heng, former President of the Singapore National Employers Federation Mr Stephen Lee, Vice Chairman of the Singapore National Employers Federation Mr Alexander C. Melchers, Vice President of the NTUC Central Committee Ms K. Thanaletchimi, and the panel moderator is Member of Parliament (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC ) and Director of the NTUC’s U SME and Women & Family Unit Ms Yeo Wan Ling.
The PPF | Insights ‘Tripartism: Past, Present And Future’ online survey was carried out from 28 July to 6 August 2023, receiving about 1,500 valid responses. Eight questions were asked. The questions were based on speeches Mr Lee made from 1955 to 2012, focused on themes he covered repeatedly when addressing workers and employers. Survey respondents were shown a selection of quotes from the e-book ‘Lee Kuan Yew and the Labour Unions’ before providing their answers. Where the sample was not representative of the resident population by sex, age, or race, it was weighted accordingly for the purpose of analysis.
The eight questions asked in the survey were based on the four values espoused by Mr Lee:
- Valuing unity and prioritising national interests over individual or community interests;
- Accepting painful adjustments and adapting for future success;
- Upholding the Tripartism model; and
- Striving to keep raising productivity and improving competitiveness
Results for the four questions based on the first two values were released on 18 August 2023 here. The findings of the remaining four questions were released at the PPF | Insights “Tripartism: Past, Present and Future” dialogue held on Saturday 26 August 2023.
The key findings are:
Singaporeans are committed to ensuring Singapore’s competitive advantage; believe in Singapore’s unique tripartism framework to achieve this.
- About 9 in 10 Singaporeans (more than 90%) strongly agree that Singapore should keep raising productivity and improve competitiveness.
- Majority of the respondents (more than 60%) were extremely / very confident that Singapore can keep raising its productivity and improve competitiveness. Another 30% were at least “moderately confident” that Singaporeans possess such values.
- About 9 in 10 Singaporeans think it is very important for employers and unions to uphold the values of Tripartism.
- About 8 in 10 Singaporeans were at least “moderately confident” that employers and unions in Singapore uphold the values of Tripartism.
- Singaporeans, especially those who completed up to post-secondary education (O/ N/ A Levels/ JC / ITE), expressed greater confidence in unions, employers and the Government to collaborate for Singapore’s progress, compared to those who completed tertiary education (Poly/Uni).
Refer to PPF Advisor Mrs Josephine Teo’s opening remarks delivered at the PPF | Insights ‘Tripartism: Past, Present And Future’ dialogue.
Refer to the PPF | Insights ‘Tripartism: Past, Present And Future’ survey findings.
Refer to the e-book ‘Lee Kuan Yew and the Labour Unions’.
About PPF | Insights
Since its inception, the Party has championed for a Singapore with opportunities for all. The PAP Policy Forum (PPF) serves as a platform to enhance the understanding of policies and the policymaking process and facilitate deep engagement with government leaders on policy issues.
In commemoration of the birth centenary of PAP’s founding Secretary-General Lee Kuan Yew, PPF will introduce PPF | Insights, a dialogue series discussing key ideas and values espoused by Mr Lee in the areas of tripartism, policy-making and international policies. The series is headlined by past and present PAP Chairmen – Mr Lim Boon Heng and Mr Khaw Boon Wan, and Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Mr Heng Swee Keat; and marks the PPF’s continued efforts to drive change and champion policies tailored for Singapore’s future. Prior to each dialogue, PPF will also conduct a survey to understand the public’s perspective on the values to be discussed at the dialogue.
About ‘Lee Kuan Yew and the Labour Unions’
The e-book ‘Lee Kuan Yew and the Labour Unions’ is a collection of inspirational quotes from 100 speeches, interviews and dialogues made by Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew from 1955 to 2012. The e-book is co-published by the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute and the People’s Action Party Policy Forum. It commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and traces his journey with the Labour Movement.
