Tripartite Collective officially launched in Singapore; aims to drive conversations on workforce & employer issues

The Collective's mission is to strengthen the spirit of tripartism in the community by providing a platform to exchange views and ideas on key issues faced by employers and employees.

Tripartite Collective, an initiative first announced by Singapore's Minister for Manpower, Dr Tan See Leng in August 2021, has now officially been established. Set up under the Tripartite Alliance Limited (TAL), the Collective's mission is to strengthen the spirit of tripartism in the community by providing a platform to exchange views and ideas on key issues faced by employers and employees.

The launch, attended by Human Resources Online as well as 200 members, also saw the unveiling of the Collective's logo, as well as a host of discussions under the theme 'Tripartism in the New World – Navigating Challenges Past, Present and Future'.

The Tripartite Collective community comprises members from the tripartite partners, i.e. Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF); as well as employers, unions, trade associations, business chambers of commerce and the academic community. Membership is currently on an invitation basis only, and interested parties can email tripartitecollective@tal.sg to know more.

Leading the Collective's secretariat is Programme Director, Felix Ong, who affirmed the body will work towards commissioning research studies, conducting open dialogues and sharing sessions, and organising capability development programmes. "In the days ahead, the Tripartite Collective will help to foster and sustain trust among tripartite leaders, and engage the wider community to socialise them to how tripartism is a key competitive advantage for Singapore,” he said.

Speaking to HRO, he added "The Tripartite Collective’s mission and objectives are evergreen as we are in this for the long haul. The Tripartite Collective is set up to foster trust among tripartite partners and to socialise the wider community on tripartism."

"The Tripartite Collective will look at past and present issues, that are relevant to both employers and employees, to share with our members. Through the Tripartite Collective forums, we will share learning points about how the tripartite partners work together." 

In this endeavour, he is supported by the tripartite partners and Temasek Foundation; in addition, the Tripartite Collective’s Advisors are Lim Swee Say, former Minister for Manpower, Diana Chia, former President of NTUC, and Stephen Lee, former President of SNEF.

The event was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Lim Boon Heng, Cabinet Minister (1993-2011) and Secretary-General, NTUC (1993-2006); Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower (2015-2018) and Secretary-General, NTUC (2007-2015); Peter Seah, Chairman, National Wages Council (NWC), and Chairman, DBS Bank; Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower & Second Minister for Trade and Industry, and more.

Also launched at the event were key findings from the report, Tripartism in Singapore: A Steward Leadership Approach to Crisis Management (COVID-19 Case Study), presented by the Stewardship Asia Centre, which set the stage for panel discussions around the history of tripartism and the lessons to keep in mind as we move into a new normal impacted by evolving expectations of employers and employees alike.

Look out for some of the insights from the panel conversations to be published soon on HRO!

Meanwhile, Lim Hock Chuan, Head, Programmes, Temasek Foundation, remarked: "We hope the Tripartite Collective can play an active role to strengthen tripartism among stakeholders so that we can continue to ensure industrial harmony and take collective action to advance the common good."

Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO, Stewardship Asia Centre, added: "As shown in our research, strong tripartite relations, based on the foundation of stewardship values such as interdependence, have been crucial in helping employers and employees to navigate this crisis, and position themselves for greater success in the future of work."

A note on the Tripartite Collective logo (below):

The logo design is made up of three coloured bars arranged in a triangle to represent the Collective's formation in the spirit of tripartism, meant to represent the collaborative nature and unity of the tripartite partners to further the development of fair and progressive workplaces. The use of the triangle has been said to exude momentum, direction and stability, creating a sense of forward motion, whilst the space within the triangle portrays the Collective’s culture of accessibility and inclusivity.

Programme Director Ong added: "To me, this is a very apt representation of the tripartite partners. Each partner has their own identity and goals, but it does not stop them from working with one another to manage conflicts and pursue win-win solutions." 

The Tripartite Collective’s logo comprises three differently coloured bars forming a triangle that represents the collaborative nature and unity of the tripartite partners. To me, this is a very apt representation of the tripartite partners. Each partner has their own identity and goals, but it does not stop them from working with one another to manage conflicts and pursue win-win solutions.

Interestingly, all colours of the Tripartite Alliance logo are represented here in order to reinforce a common meaning and purpose. The warm red symbolises strength and passion, the calming turquoise is used to communicate knowledge and trust, and the golden yellow symbolises a positive future for tripartism in Singapore.

Photos / TAL (the lead image features the event's special guests, in L-R order: 

• Lim Boon Heng, Cabinet Minister (1993-2011) and Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC, 1993-2006)
• Lim Swee Say, Minister for Manpower (2015-2018) and Secretary-General, NTUC (2007-2015)
• Mary Liew, President, NTUC
• Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower & Second Minister for Trade and Industry
• Stephen Lee, Chairman, Tripartite Alliance Limited, and President, Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF, 1988-2014)
• Dr Robert Yap, President, SNEF
• Ng Chee Meng, Secretary-General, NTUC
• Peter Seah, Chairman, National Wages Council (NWC), and Chairman, DBS Bank

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