2015/2016 National Wages Council to Convene Under New Chairman

1. The National Wages Council (NWC), a tripartite body made up of employer, union and government representatives¹, will convene in April and May 2015 to develop its annual wage and wage-related guidelines.
   
   CHANGE IN CHAIRMANSHIP
2. The 2015/2016 NWC will be chaired by Mr Peter Seah, who succeeds Professor Lim Pin.
3. As Chairman of the NWC from 2001 to 2014, Professor Lim kept the NWC focused on its goal of improving wage outcomes for Singaporeans and keeping businesses competitive amid a changing global landscape. Some of the key milestones achieved during his time as Chairman include a shift away from seniority-based pay elements towards more flexible incentives and variable bonuses tied to actual business performance, which have helped protect both businesses’ viability and Singaporeans’ jobs during difficult periods.
4. Under Professor Lim’s leadership, the NWC also introduced in 2012 guidelines calling for a minimum built-in wage increase for low-wage workers, so as to better recognise their contributions. This effort has contributed to the strong wage growth of low-wage workers in recent years.
5. Mr Seah served as Deputy Chairman of the 2014/2015 NWC. He is currently the Chairman of DBS Group Holdings and DBS Bank, and also serves as the Chairman of Singapore Health Services Pte Ltd and LaSalle College of the Arts Limited.
6. The Ministry of Manpower would like to welcome Mr Peter Seah as the new NWC Chairman, and express the Government’s deep appreciation to Professor Lim Pin for his leadership of the NWC over the years, and for furthering the strong spirit of tripartite trust and cooperation between Employers, Unions, and the Government. Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said, “I thank Prof Lim for his leadership and guidance as Chairman of the NWC. Through tripartite partnership, the NWC continues to play an important role in guiding sustainable wage adjustments for Singaporeans. Mr Peter Seah has a wealth of experience and a distinguished record of service, and I am confident in his Chairmanship of the important work of the NWC.”
   
   PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON NWC GUIDELINES
7. In its deliberations on wage guidelines, the NWC considers factors such as Singapore’s economic performance, as well as the domestic and global economic outlook. At the same time, the NWC takes into account Singapore's economic competitiveness, labour market conditions, inflation, and productivity growth.
8. Members of the public are encouraged to share their views on what could be included in the annual wage recommendations, as well as other wage-related issues. Feedback received will be considered by the NWC as part of its deliberations.
9. Feedback can be directed to the Secretary of the NWC through mail or email by 04 May 2015:
   
   The Secretary
   National Wages Council
   c/o Manpower Planning and Policy Division
   18 Havelock Road #07-01
   Singapore 059764
   Fax: 6534 4840
   Email: nwc_secretariat@mom.gov.sg