Written Answer to PQ on Number of cases of unionised companies refused to enter into Collective Agreement

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2588 OF 2024 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 19 FEBRUARY 2024
QUESTION NO. 5491 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Gan Thiam Poh

To ask the Minister for Manpower in the last five years (a) what is the total number of cases referred to the Ministry by unions for conciliation because the unionised companies have refused to enter into a Collective Agreement; and (b) how many of these cases are (i) eventually escalated to the Industrial Arbitration Court and (ii) referred for conciliation or arbitration and managed to have the company agreeing to enter into a Collective Agreement.

Answer:

Over the past 5 years, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) received a total of 8 cases over whether to enter into a Collective Agreement (CA). For 4 of the cases, following MOM’s conciliation with the companies and unions to explain the roles and responsibilities of entering into a CA, they agreed to continue with bilateral discussions. The remaining 4 cases were withdrawn before MOM’s conciliation. Parties can seek MOM’s further assistance if required. None of the 8 cases had to be escalated to the Industrial Arbitration Court for arbitration.