Written Answer to PQ on Reasons for impasse after conciliation

NOTICE PAPER NO. 2588 OF 2024 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 20 FEBRUARY 2024
QUESTION NO. 5492 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Gan Thiam Poh

To ask the Minister for Manpower what are the common reasons for stalemate after conciliation at the Ministry or arbitration at the Industrial Arbitration Court where unionised companies and unions are unable to enter into Collective Agreements.

Answer:

A Collective Agreement (CA) is a formal agreement between the union and employer, which states the employees’ terms and conditions of employment. Whether or not a CA should be put in place is a matter for the union and employer to decide on mutually. Reasons why some unions and employers do not enter into a CA include having a small number of unionised workforce or that unions and employers prefer to start off with a less formal arrangement that focuses on specific areas of cooperation such as training and grievance handling to build greater mutual understanding and a stronger relationship before moving towards a CA when both parties are ready.