Roles of Trade Unions

Holding the responsibility in promoting productivity, implementation of new and better productivity programmes is a crucial determinant for trade union part to play. Integrated Management of Productivity Activities (IMPACT) and Skills Redevelopment Programme (SRP) are two of such programmes executed by NTUC in their role on promoting productivity (Abraham, 2000).

With the launch of IMPACT, NTUC encourage more unions and members to engage actively in their organisations. The primitive aims of IMPACT are to enhance employability of workers through the productivity programmes and secure better job with higher pay through productivity improvement (Abraham, 2000). Similarly, NTUC have established the SRP, which aims to enhance the employability through training and retraining older workers who possess diminutive education. Certification of completion will be given from these SRP courses which possess recognition at the industry or national level.

Aside of implementing productivity programmes from NTUC, affiliated trade unions play distinct roles in presenting different sectors of their union members. Three of such in-house trade unions that developed their respective roles catering on the different necessity in the different industries are Manual & Mercantile Workers' Union (SMMWU), United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries (UWEEI) and Healthcare Services Employee's Union (HSEU).

Playing a role to promote productivity, SMMWU, a stronghold of 240 branches and 85,000 members representing mainly commerce and service workers in the private sector, has been continuously improving union member's productivity by organising activities and encouraging them to participate (About SMMWU, n.d.). Women and Youth (Gen Vibez), sports and leadership training programmes are some of the activities used to foster organizing abilities, leadership qualities and enhance the effectiveness of branch leaders (Low, 2009).

Representing workers in the electronics and...