Singapore Labour chief shows unions really helpful in Singapore

Update: Yawning Bread has a very insightful piece on this.

Labour chief of Singapore threw the full power of the Singapore union movement at DBS for retrenching 900 staff... by expressing his disappointment.

Workers of Singapore should now sleep better, knowing how well their jobs are protected by the National Trades Union Congress and their cozy relationship with the gahmen (the labour chief is also Minister for Prime Minister’ s Office).

DBS staff who were retrenched must feel comforted now that the good minister has not minced his words.

Let's see if DBS dares to retrench any more workers after hearing such persuasive union leadership.

Excerpt from the news:

"LABOUR chief Lim Swee Say on Friday slammed DBS Bank for failing to consult its staff union on retrenching its workers or exploring other cost-cutting measures first. 'We are disappointed by the sudden decision,' he told The Straits Times when asked for his views on the DBS layoffs. 'There was no prior consultation with the DBS Staff Union. There was no exploration with the union on other cost reduction alternatives,' he said in an email reply on Friday. Mr Lim, an advisor to the DBS staff union, said this lack of communication has weakened the trust between the bank's management and union."

Not mincing his words, he added: 'It is regretable because trust takes a long time to build but a short time to destroy.'