Singapore's National Wages Council: an insider's view

This text offers readers an insider's view of the genesis and the evolution of the wage determination mechanism and system in Singapore under the aegis of the NWC. It covers the important process and problems of seeking equitable wage increases through tripartite consensus based on a yearly national wage guideline system, as well as the role of the NWC in crisis management in 1974, 1985 and 1998, and in Economic Restructuring, 1979-1981.

About the Author; Acknowledgements; Preface; CONTENTS; List of Tables; List of Figures; List of Photographs; A Chronicle of Main Events, 1972-2000; Part 1 Lectures and Articles on NWC; Chapter 1 Tripartism in Singapore: The Wage Guideline System Lecture given to Nanyang Technological University (NTU) undergraduates in February 2011; Introduction to NWC; Genesis; Nomenclature; Objectives; Structure; Meaning of neutrality of Chairman; Place of meeting; NWC secretariat; Decision Making Mechanism; Consultative process; Position papers; Unanimity principle; Chatham House principle.

Roles of the GovernmentPrime Minister and Cabinet; Economic Development Board; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Manpower; Ministry of Trade and Industry; High Court; Determination of Guidelines; Sectoral guidelines; Quantitative guideline; Qualitative guideline; Minimum wage system; Seniority-based system; Flexible wage system; Fringe benefits; Off-setting mechanism; Wage Guideline System; Non-mandatory guideline system; Mandatory CPF changes; Determining Criteria; Inflation rate (CPI); Ability to pay by employers (including the Government); Balance of payments; Income inequality.

CompetitivenessWage/GDP r…