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MOM Wins the Singapore Quality Award

Tripartism, Innovation, People are key to MOM's success and progress

Employment practices

09 November 2010

  1. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is the first Ministry to be conferred the Singapore Quality Award (SQA). In line with the Ministry's vision to develop a 'A Great Workforce A Great Workplace', MOM has continuously evolved its manpower and workplace policies and programmes to support Singapore's strategic push for sustainable and inclusive growth. Strong tripartism, a culture of Innovation, and People have been key factors to MOM's business excellence.

    Developing a Globally Competitive Workforce and Great Workplaces for Singapore
  2. Celebrating MOM's receipt of the SQA, its Permanent Secretary, Mr Loh Khum Yean said, "This prestigious Award recognises the role of MOM in developing a globally competitive workforce and great workplaces for Singapore. It is also testament to the commitment, professionalism and teamwork of all my MOM colleagues who have displayed an unparalleled passion for progress over the years. Therefore, this award really belongs to every single MOMer."

    Tripartism in Singapore
  3. Underpinning Singapore's economic competitiveness and success is its unique brand of tripartism. Together with the unions and employers, MOM plays an integrating role in building and deepening harmonious industrial relations in Singapore. This has enabled Singapore to remain strike-free since 1986. Singapore's labour-employer relations have also been ranked the best in the world1. This was particularly evident during the 2008/09 global economic downturn when MOM together with its tripartite partners, worked swiftly to help companies cut costs and save jobs. Coordinated efforts, complemented by key initiatives such as the Jobs Credit Scheme and Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR), helped Singapore employers and workers to avert massive job losses while keeping Singapore’s unemployment rate low.
  4. Congratulating MOM on its SQA win, Mdm Halimah Yacob, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Deputy Secretary General, added, "MOM has played an integral role in working with the unions and employers to strengthen the tripartite relations, thereby contributing to Singapore's economic and social development over the years. We send our heartiest congratulations to MOM on being the first Ministry to win the SQA."
  5. "SNEF has been privileged to work with MOM staff from nearly every department in the Ministry. Winning the SQA is testament to the high quality not only of MOM's internal work processes but also of its external working relations with SNEF and employers. MOM treats employers both as a tripartite partner and as customers of its regulations, policies and programmes and this is one reason why it deserves the SQA. On behalf of our members, SNEF offers MOM its heartiest congratulations." said Mr Koh Juan Kiat, Executive Director of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).

    MOM & the Culture of Innovation
  6. MOM is also committed to a culture of innovation to keep pace with changes in its operating environment. MOM's Employment Pass Service Centre (EPSC) is a good example of how an innovative mindset and determined effort has translated into significant service improvements, earning us the reputation as innovation leaders in the public service. By encouraging risk-taking, experimentation, prototyping and the adoption of human-centred approach, MOM gained new insights to customer requirements and applied these in the EPSC. Innovative designs and service concepts were incorporated into the EPSC for a world-class customer experience. More information on EPSC can be found in Annex A.

    People Matters at MOM
  7. MOM's leadership walks the talk by building a great workplace for MOMers. Our recent organisational climate survey reveals that the culture of learning, engagement and dialogue across all levels and functions have resulted in high levels of employee satisfaction. Strong leadership, a culture of trust and camaraderie were cited by staff as reasons for MOM as their preferred workplace. MOM also embodies a culture of Work-Life Harmony. This is exemplified by initiatives such as the Flexi@MOM Programme which encourages all employees to try some form of flexible work arrangements through Staggered Working Hours, Part Time Employment Scheme, Flexi-Schedule or Telecommuting. More information on MOM’s flexible work programmes can be found at Annex B.
  8. Mr Loh added, "This Award marks a significant milestone in our ongoing journey towards business excellence, and will spur us to scale greater heights to be a world-class organisation."

1 Source: World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report 2010/2011