Employment Relations Between Japan & Singapore
This essay aims to compare the industrial relations in both Singapore and Japan. It will first indentify both countries industrial relation system, whether it is unitarist, pluralist or radical. It will then touch on the various aspects in the industrial relation system: trade unions, system to resolving industrial conflicts, wages related policies and discrimination at work. In addition, it will look at the policy of lifetime employment and seniority in wages, policies which Japan companies have been well-known for adopting. This essay will then conclude and summary, to what extend are both system similar or different, after comparing the various aspects as listed above.
Industrial relations refer to the relationship between employers, workers and/or the government. It can also include trade unions who work to protect the interest of workers under them. Industrial relations system varies among different countries, due to the different political, social, ecological, legal and economical factors that can affect the effectiveness of each system (Tan 2007).
Singapore industrial relations system tends to be more pluralistic in nature. Trade unions are welcomed, and collective bargaining, together with compromise among employers and trade unions, are encouraged in order to resolve industrial conflicts. Singapore adopts a tripartite system in various areas; many labour related committees, guidelines and policies in Singapore are tripartite in nature. These labour-related committees consist of representatives from the 3 actors: the government, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF). This is to ensure that any guidelines, policies and recommendations made by these committees are fair and look after the interest of the 3 different parties (Tan 2007).
Japan, on the other hand, is slightly inclined towards a unitarist system. Though trade unions are allowed in Japan, over 90% of these unions are enterprise union (The Japan
Industrial relations refer to the relationship between employers, workers and/or the government. It can also include trade unions who work to protect the interest of workers under them. Industrial relations system varies among different countries, due to the different political, social, ecological, legal and economical factors that can affect the effectiveness of each system (Tan 2007).
Singapore industrial relations system tends to be more pluralistic in nature. Trade unions are welcomed, and collective bargaining, together with compromise among employers and trade unions, are encouraged in order to resolve industrial conflicts. Singapore adopts a tripartite system in various areas; many labour related committees, guidelines and policies in Singapore are tripartite in nature. These labour-related committees consist of representatives from the 3 actors: the government, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF). This is to ensure that any guidelines, policies and recommendations made by these committees are fair and look after the interest of the 3 different parties (Tan 2007).
Japan, on the other hand, is slightly inclined towards a unitarist system. Though trade unions are allowed in Japan, over 90% of these unions are enterprise union (The Japan