Reflect, reimagine, restrategise: Inside Southeast Asia's first labour journal, launched by NTUC

The objective is to provide a platform to reflect on current labour issues, reimagine new approaches, and restrategise the way forward for unions in Singapore and the world.

A first-of-its-kind labour journal has been launched by Singapore's National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) at the NTUC Labour Research Conference attended by HRO on 21 October 2022 (Friday). The open-access journal features peer-reviewed academic papers and insights by practitioners, believed to be a pioneering initiative across Southeast Asia.

The journal, unveiled at the Stephen Riady Auditorium at NTUC Centre, has an Advisory Board made up of tripartite members from employer, union congress and Government, besides academia; and its Editorial Board consists of academics from all six local autonomous universities.

The objective is to provide a platform to reflect on current labour issues, reimagine new approaches, and restrategise the way forward for unions in Singapore and the world.

Research articles in this inaugural edition comprise topics such as the ones below (along with a short snippet from the journal):

a. Continuing Education and Training: Looking Through the Lens of Business Leaders in Singapore

b. Mobilising Workers via Digital Means: Reinventing Trade Unions for the Digital Age

c. Retirement Intentions and Attitudes Promotes Post-Retirement Employment

d. Can We Do More to Help PMEs Overcome Disruption and Discrimination in the Next Normal?

In his opening address, Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General of NTUC (pictured below) said: "The launch of the Singapore Labour Journal is a milestone for NTUC. It captures the thinking on labour-related topics and experiences of work done by NTUC and our union leaders.

"It is another example of how NTUC connects the head, hands and heart – working with academics with research expertise and cognitive take on labour issues (the head); NTUC and our unions working on the ground to explain and operationalise policies as well as listen to workers’ feedback (the hand); by passionate union leaders and academics who are interested in our workforce and labour issues (the heart)."

He is confident the journal will be a useful reference for academics, policymakers, thought leaders and practitioners around the world.

Hardcover copies of the Singapore Labour Journal will be made available to unions in Singapore, relevant Government agencies, trade associations, chambers and foundations as well as relevant regional and international trade union organisations. It will also be available via one of the new digitals, in the blockchain non-fungible token platform, for eternity.

You can download a digital copy from the NTUC corporate website.

This year's NTUC Labour Research Conference 2022 featured a series of dialogues and panel discussions with representatives from the union, Government and academia on selected labour topics from the Journal. Speakers included K. Thanaletchimi, Vice-President of National Trades Union Congress; and President of Healthcare Services Employees’ Union; NTUC Assistant Secretary-General Patrick Tay; and Wendy Tan, Head, Youth Development of National Trades Union Congress.

NTUC ASG Tay (featured below, second from right) shared at the event: "The Singapore Labour Journal is the fruits of labour of both the Advisory Board and Editorial Board, who have worked together to curate editorial content that combines practitioners’ insights with academics’ thinking, showcasing how our unique tripartism with our collaborative approach promotes economic and social stability and progress for our workers, employers and economy."

All photos / HRO 
Journal snippets / NTUC

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