Former labour chief Lim Boon Heng expects more companies to give workers an inflation bonus.
'The Government has set the example by giving civil servants their bonus and that's the strong signal to everybody else. As far as the public companies are concerned, as National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) secretary-general Lim Swee Say said, that is just a start,' said the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office at the launch of a temporary market in Jurong West yesterday.
Next month, civil servants can look forward to a mid-year bonus of half a month's salary plus $100 to $300.
According to the NTUC, 40,000 workers in 60 firms have received an average of $400 to $500 in bonuses to ease the onset of inflation.
Mr Lim noted that Mr Lim Swee Say is concerned about whether non-unionised companies will help their staff.
'I think the employers should be fair to the workers; if they are able to, follow the example of the public sector and unionised companies,' said Mr Lim who also urged workers in these companies to be pro-active.
'They are handicapped because they don't have a union to represent them. So why not take a step? Form a union and then have the union negotiate on their behalf.'
This article was first published in The Straits Times on 29 June 2008.
