Disrupting ourselves before others disrupt us. Making a successful transition.

MORE TIME AND EFFORT NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THIS TRANSITION

Unlike previous spells of economic uncertainty such as the Sars Crisis and the 2009 Global Financial Crisis, this time it is different.

This time, the transition is less cyclical and more structural. Some sectors are still under stress and unemployment could rise further, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said.

More time and effort is needed to get through this transition completely.

HOW? BETTER AND FASTER ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY, QUICKER INNOVATION AND HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY.

Enterprises and workers able to transform faster and cope with workplace disruptions will emerge stronger in the future economy, said Mr Lim.

LACK OF A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AND WORKFORCE ADAPTABILITY

Dr Robert Yap, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) said that

some companies were only reaping half the expected productivity gains after taking action for one to three years to boost growth.

The main stumbling blocks were the lack of a culture of excellence and workforce adaptability.

EMPLOYERS AND UNION

Employers and union must work together in mutual trust and good communication and to respond quickly to growth opportunities and challenges in order to achieve 'productivity resurgence', said Dr Yap.

WHAT NTUC IS DOING

Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing said NTUC will be expanding its Education and Training Fund to allow more workers to reskill and upskill through bite-sized modules that can be accessed via new learning technologies.

HELPING TOMORROW'S UNEMPLOYED TO FIND TOMORROW'S JOBS

NTUC has also been working with its Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), NTUC LearningHub and various government agencies to “help tomorrow’s unemployed find tomorrow’s jobs”.

The e2i’s placement, professional development and productivity improvement services have helped over 80,000 working people to date.

DISRUPTING OURSELVES BEFORE OTHERS DISRUPT US

“The digital economic transformation brings both challenges and opportunities. We must disrupt ourselves before others disrupt us and provide new services to meet the needs of tomorrow,” Mr Chan Chun Sing said.