Ministry of Manpower How to resolve labor disputes without resorting to a strike
I disagree with the idea that organized labor can solve dispute with employers through strikes. 

It is a costly way to resolve disputes. 

A better way is to get the view of an independent tribunal, comprising of judges who are knowledgeable on labor matters. 

Singapore has this system for several decades. I am not sure if it is working well, or it is now given lower priority. 

I suggest the following approach for the independent tribunal can work effectively.

a) The tribunal should have a framework of good employment practices that are accepted by the community. 

b) The tribunal has a database of average wages for each occupation. This database is updated regularly, based on the actual wages paid in the community. The wages should be expressed as a rate per hour, rather than a monthly salary. This database should also contain data on supply and demand for each occupation. 

Most of the disputes come under the following:

a) rates of pay
b) working conditions
c) allegation of oppressive or unfair behavior.

The first two types of disputes affect large numbers of people. The framework and database will help the tribunal to arrive at decisions that are acceptable to the relevant parties. 

The party that disagree with the decision of the tribunal has the right of appeal to a higher tribunal, but this party has to pay a fee to cover the full cost of handling the appeal. This is likely to represent a small proportion of the decisions.

The third type of dispute affect the individuals concerned. They can be handled through mediation. 

I hope that this approach is better than the common practice of handling disputes through a strike. 

Tan Kin Lian


 

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