Call for better employers, workers and customers

Call for better employers, workers and customers

SINGAPORE - Traffic congestion, MRT delays and even sinkholes in our roads. Singapore, acknowledged labour chief Lim Swee Say, does have hiccups from time to time.

This is not a world of zero defects, he said at the May Day Rally yesterday.

But, let's "not forget that for every day when some things go wrong, there are many when most things go right", he added.

Singapore's taps still run during dry spells, food supply is clean and sufficient, the city is safe, students top the world in problem solving and utilities are reliable.

The reason these things work is because of thousands of workers toiling behind the scenes, he said, urging Singaporeans to be better employers, better workers and better customers.

His call reinforced his May Day message on Sunday, in which he encouraged Singaporeans to show respect, particularly to those who serve them.

"We should remember that people serving us are people too. Let's treat each other as equals with courtesy, respect and appreciation," he said.

Video clips of five workers were beamed at the rally, as Mr Lim showcased different trades, ranging from taxi drivers to engineers - those "working hard round the clock, serving the people of Singapore".

Some 1,000 unionists went around Singapore yesterday, thanking about 100,000 workers for their hard work. Said Mr Lim: "Let us not wait for each other. Be the first to change, and make things better for all our fellow workers."

This article by The Straits Times was published in MyPaper, a free, bilingual newspaper published by Singapore Press Holdings.


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