What Singapore almost forgot about success

On Monday, Singapore played a proud host to international delegates wanting to learn more about Singapore's success formula of SG50.

The economic and societal impact arising from trust between unions, governments, and employers were widely discussed at the International Forum on Tripartism.

Singapore's leaders believe that strong trust manifested in social compacts and dialogues are in the best interests of Singapore, compared to aggressive standoffs.

Yet Singapore unions worry that their new generation of leaders may not be given the same inclusion in policy-making that their predecessors were privy to in the last 50 years.

Our new generation of policy-makers and business executives are more individualistic and may feel that inclusion and cooperation with unions are only necessary if their personal interests are first taken care of. Compromises may be seen as failure to negotiate a good deal and there is an aversion to short-term tradeoffs if there is no faith that there are long-term benefits.

Vulcan Post has pointed out that "this new generation that has made confrontation and vigilantism on the Internet so popular, it’s difficult to imagine them believing that cooperation could mean strength".

The government's and employers' failure to uphold tripartism may force the unions to turn aggressive in order to make their stand heard, which will propel Singapore back to the dark ages of strikes, riots, and loss of investor confidence.

It is too easy for Singapore to forget that success is a journey, not a destination.

For Singapore to survive, the government, employers, and unions must continue to work together, tightening purse strings during hard times so the nation can stay afloat, and remembering to reward Singaporeans for their previous sacrifices when good times come again.

NTUC Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing shared that civil servants and labour union leaders will be cross-posted and cross-attached to unions and government service respectively so that they can see things from the other perspective and understand each other's challenges.

Will this succeed in strengthening tripartism?

Time will tell, but Singapore should remember its future depends on this.