Trade Unions in Singapore - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2046 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/09/16 Category Politics Essay Type Narrative essay Tags: Government Essay Did you like this example? Trade union is a labor union of craftspeople or workers in related crafts, as distinguished from general workers or a union including all workers in an industry (Dictionary. com 2010). It is a de facto of the government, and they as often act as government representatives to workers’ trade union. It compromises those who are not part of the elite society. (Michael D. Barr, 2000, page 480). In this essay, I will first discuss the characteristics of trade union in Singapore which will include a brief history. I will also give my opinion of Michael D. Barr’s article if Singapore is a trade union. Secondly, I will continue my writing with the characteristic of trade union in China including a brief history, and my opinion of Taylor and Qi Li’s articles if china is a trade union. Lastly, I will conclude the essay by comparing and contrasting these two trade unions. Trade Union in Singapore In 1961, the non-communist party National Trades Union Congress (NTU C), being the sole union movement in Singapore, was formed. As NTUC and People’s Action Party (PAP) (government) shares common goals, it worked closely with the PAP, forming a system, the tripartite system which was well established. This is a system whereby PAP government, employers and employees work together for the benefit of all parties (Michael D. Barr, 2000, page 480). NTUC as the National Federation of trade unions made up of working people in the industrial, service and public sectors consisting of 60 affiliated unions and 6 taxi associations. Today, the NTUC has 540,000 members. 9 cooperatives and 6 related organizations that are founded to serve the needs of its members. After reading the article (Trade Unions in an Elitist Society: The Singapore Society), I agree with the journalist, Michael D. Barr’s opinion that Singapore is not a trade union. Firstly, in accordance to the definition stated, trade union comprise of those who are not in the elite gro up. However, some of the NTUC union leaders are members of the government. For instance, the current Secretary General of the NTUC is a also a PAP member of Parliament, a Minister without portfolio working in the Prime Minister office, and the chairman or deputy chairman of several government bodies (Singapore Government Directory, 2000)’. Secondly, Secretary General of NTUC’s senior official, Lim Chee Onn, proclaimed that both the PAP and NTUC â€Å"came from the same mother the struggles with the communist and the colonists† (The Sunday Times, 1982). Although he claimed that the NTUC and the government had common goals, the NTUC is just like a â€Å"vehicle of government policy†. Barr’s article also pointed out that in the 1960s the NTUC was formed ‘so that’ the government was able to fight against with the communist parties to maintain a democratic society (non- communist) in Singapore. Thirdly, Trade Union leaders are appoin ted by union members, but NTUC was being controlled by the government. In 1982, with 91 percent of union votes, Lim Chee Onn was re-elected as Secretary General. But after 11 month of re-election, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew wrote a letter to him. This was an inform letter, that Lim would have to leave the NTUC and take charge of a Government Ministry and other member, Ong Teng Cheong, a member of parliament (MP) would take over his position as Secretary General (NTUC). This shows that the NTUC was being control by the government to appoint the members to be in its organizational structure. The government has an authority to reject or accept members to lead the Trade Union. In addition, at the time of appointment as Secretary General in NTUC, Ong Teng Cheong was already a chairman of the PAP, and a former minister of Ministry of labor in the government sector. Fourthly, many important decisions are being made by the government. One of the most significant events is t he industrial relations event in the 1970s. Lee Kuan Yew took up the decision to modernize the trade union movement to enable it to meet the demands of Singapore’s attempt to move out of low-cost, low skill labor market and into the medium cost medium skill market (Jonathan Rigg, 1988). The NTUC did not stand up to object or give ideas to the decision. According to Caraway, East Asias labor laws offer similar levels of protection for individual labor rights to the rest of the world when firing costs are taken into account, and low regional averages are primarily an effect of Singapores extremely weak individual labor rights’(Caraway, 2009). For example, recession hit Singapore in 1985, the union movement ‘agreed’ to have a pay cut of 15%. The government may be the one who suggested it, and employee had no right to disagree with the act. Lastly, trade unions are supposed to be able to insist on having strikes or to fight to achieve goals but it is unl ikely to happen in Singapore as the government has a law against that. However, to pre-empt labor disquiet and disinvestment, the governments offer credible apologies that include punishment and monitoring of government when economic performance is less than optimal in the country. When they fail to offer credible apologies, labor and producers respond with strikes and disinvestment. (O Fiona Yap, 2003). In addition, According to Law Society of Singapore official website, under Penal Code (Singapore, 2005) Chapter VIII: Offences against the public tranquility, rioting (S146 and S147) if you are part of an unlawful assembly and force or violence is used, every member is guilty of the offence of rioting even if the degree of participation of each of you is different. You can be jailed up to 5 years and can also be ordered to be caned. With all the evidence shown, I agree with Michael D. Barr that Singapore trade union is not a trade union. It does not fulfill many of the characteri stics of a trade union. In my opinion, the NTUC is more like a government sector that fulfill employee needs of learning and development so as to increase their employability. Trade Union in China Unlike NTUC, trade union in China the All China Federation of Trade Union (ACFTU) is a communist party. The ACFTU was established in 1925, being the only recognized union in People’s Republic of China (PRC). According to the ACFTU’s official website figures released at the end of September 2006, there are 31 provincial trade union federations, 10 national industrial unions and 1. 324 million grassroots trade union organizations (in 2. 53 million enterprises and institutions) associated with the ACFTU. While protecting the overall interests of the people, the ACFTU aim to stand up for workers, protect workers interests, fulfill their social functions of protection, construction, participation and education in an all-rounded manner, give prominence to the protective function of trade unions, and unite with and mobilize the masses of workers to strive for the realization of the countrys socialist modernization (All-China Federation of Trade Unions Official English website, 2007). Today, as China has increasingly economic power, ACFTU is working very hard to keep up with its trade unions power. After reading the article (Is the ACFTU a Union and Does It Matter? ), I agree with Taylor Li’s opinion that China is not officially a Trade Union. Firstly, I will start with the relationship between ACFTU and Chinese Communist Party (CCP). CCP is a party that has authority to control the government. ACFTU as a part of the government is also controlled by the party. Therefore, it means that ACFTU not only serves the government in government interest, but in its role in serving the interest of the CCP so as to aid in managing government matters (Taylor and Li, 2007, page 707). In other words, ACFTU is working closely together with government instead o f by itself. Secondly, Union leaders in ACFTU can be from the elite group of the society with many positions. For example at the Ninth Trade Congress, held in October 1978, a member of the CCP’s Politburo, Ni Zhi fu, became chairman of the ACFTU (Feng Cheng, 2009, page 668). The CCP and the government have the right to reject or accept a union leader. This shows that union leaders are being appointed instead of elected. Thirdly, as the ACFTU is the sole movement of trade union in China (with no other opposition party), employees are lacking the power to fight for their rights. As many finances in the union are sponsored by the government, if any party of the union were to go against the government, the CCP and the government have the right to remove its sponsorship from any department. For example, if any one of the union member is to go against the government decision, CCP or the government can remove their sponsorship. This will affect ACFTU directly, as they will not have enough money to pay its workers and to continue its operations. Therefore, the reason the workers do not turn to the union is not ideological distaste, but is simply because the unions are generally incompetent or incapable of acting on the workers’ behalf (Taylor and Li, 2007, pg 709). Lastly, being the one and only large organization, the ACFTU is characterized as a bureaucratic union, with highly focus group of authority, and incumbent problems of inflexibility, accountability and performance (Taylor and Li, 2007, page 703). Although China’s union has a vertical organizational structure paralleling that of the party and government, the ACFTU is far less able than the party and government to exercise authority over its grassroots organizational cells—in fact, they are subject to the complete control of management. The union, thus, has administrative power but no effective enforcement units. (Feng Cheng, 2009, Pg 664). For example, if there is any conf lict among the subordinate and the superior, union bureaucracies acted as a middle man between protesting partied. They will have to accept the ‘mediate’ of the union bureaucracy as it sort of a government ‘command’. With all the supporting evidences, I agree with the point that China is not really a trade union. Different from Singapore, China trade union work closely together to promote both workers and the government interest. Overview In comparison, both Singapore and China trade unions are ‘not really a trade union’ as the unions operates with the aid of the government. They have many factors in common. Firstly, the two unions are trying to promote employees interest in their countries and both are the only union in their countries respectively. Secondly, the union leaders of the 2 countries are mostly from the elite group. In addition, union leaders are being elected by the government instead of being appointed by the union members. However, there are differences between the 2 unions. First, Singapore’s trade union the NTUC is a non-communist party but in China, the ACFTU is a pro-communist party. The working structure of the 2 unions is different too. NTUC is a parallel organizational structure but the ACFTU works in a vertical organizational structure. In conclusion, although these 2 trade unions do not fulfill the requirement(s) of a trade union, it works to a common of giving the employees in all industry a helping hand. Today, both trade unions are improving themselves to maintain a peace working environment in their countries. (Word count 1989) References †¢ All China Federation of Trade Union official English webpage on https://english. acftu. org sighted on 15 October 2003 Hits: 2465 and on  20 September 2007 Hits: 4841 Barr, M 2000, ‘Trade unions in an elitist society: The Singapore story’, Australian Journal of Politics and History, vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 480-96. †¢ Ca raway, Journal of East Asian Studies [1598-2408], Labor rights in East Asia: Progress or regress? , Vol: 9 Issue:2 pg: 153 -186, 2009 United States †¢ Feng Chen, ‘Union Power in China Source, Operation, and Constraints’, Modern China, 2009 pg 664 †¢ Dictionary. com Unabridged on https://dictionary. reference. com/browse/trade+union based on the Random House Dictionary,  © Random House, Inc. 2010. †¢ Jonathan Rigg, ‘Singapore and Recession in 1895’, Asian Survey, 28, 3, 1988, page 342 and 343 O Fiona Yap Non-electoral responsiveness mechanisms: Evidence from the Asian less democratic newly industrializing countries  (British Journal of Political Science; Jul 2003; 33, ABI/INFORM Global page 491) †¢ Singapore Government Directory interactive on https://ferari. nmi. net. sg/ sighted on 10 May 2000 †¢ The Singapore Law Society Directory interactive on https://www. lawsociety. org. sg/public/you_and_the_law/youthcrime/cp_public0. htm sighted on 2005 †¢ Taylor, B Qi Li, 2007, ‘Is the ACFTU a union and does it matter? ’, Journal of Industrial Relations, vol. 49, no. 5, pp. 701-15. †¢ The Sunday Times [Singapore], 2 May 1982 Don’t waste time! 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Stem Cells And Regenerative Medicine Cord Blood Banking...

Name: Darshana Chaudhary Student Number: s5024975 Course: 7001HSV Applied Research Methods Tutor: Jennifer Boddy Due Date: 14th September 2015 Date Submitted: 14th September 2015 Word Count: 1671 words STEM CELLS AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE : CORD BLOOD BANKING AND ITS THERAPEUTIC APPLICATION Abstract : Stem cells can give rise to any tissue found in the body and thus provide nearly limitless potential for medical applications . Stem cells have the great potential to develop into many different cell types in the body during early life and growth. They serve as a repair system . Due to unlimited therapeutic applications of stem cells , they continue to be of great importance scientifically and†¦show more content†¦Human embryonic stem cells . Patient-specific therapy. METHOD : Articles for this review were selected from Pubmed Central and Medline databases and proquest databases. Introduction : Stem cells are able to generate mature terminally differentiated cells of atleast one lineage and possess the capacity of self-renewal .Stem cells can be categorized as totipotent, pluripotent or multipotent according to their developmental potential. (Takahashi and Yamanaka 2007). Stem Cell Classification Based on Differentiation Potential: Stem cells can be classified based on their ability to differentiate. They are classified into following five types : Totipotent Cells: Totipotent cells are found in early stage of development .The totipotent cells forms the embryo and the placenta and differentiate into both embryonic and extraembryonic tissues. Pluripotent Cells: Pluripotent cells differentiate into cells that arise from three germ layers called – ectoderm , endoderm and mesoderm , from which other tissues and organs develop. Oligopotent Cells: oligopotent are capable of self renewal and differente into many tissue types. Unipotent Cells: unipotent cells are capable of self renewal and differentiate into only one single type of cell. Multipotent Cells: They are found in most tissues and differentiate into cells from a single germ layer. (Kolios, 2012) Sources of Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine: There are a number of cardiovascular , neurological

Mavesa Free Essays

| Mavesa`s Nelly Brand  : Pricing to Gain Market Control | 19/03/2013 | Mavesa’s Nelly Brand: Pricing to Gain Market Control Problem statement The year is 1999 and Jose Luis Paez, the category manager for Marvesa mayonnaise is contemplating whether he should use a new pricing strategy that cuts the price of their product due to Venezuela’s current economic conditions and increasing competition in the segment. As this new strategy aims at gaining market share the possibility of negatively impacting profits in the foreseeable future is also an issue. Therefore, is this the best strategy Marvesa should use in order to alleviate the problem? SWOT MAVESA STRENGTHS| WEAKNESSES| Traded on the NYSE; * Extensive product portfolio; * Management talent; * Market share leader in most of its categories despite multinationals; * Strong recent growth; * Geographic expansion through exports, acquisitions or mergers; * Owns 60% of industrial segment (restaurants); * Good national distribution network; * Flexible and responsive to changing market conditions; * Lowest cost producer of the low cost segment;| * Contracting mayonnaise sales within Marvesa; * Nelly has minimal brand loyalty and brand image; * In category where low price is a primary criterion, Nelly`s price are not among the lowest; * Do not have the appropriate sales force; * High overhead costs;| OPPORTUNITIES| THREATS| Salad dressing segment growth; * Growth in the industrial segment; * Improve channels to increase shares in medium and small stores; * Flexi-pack; * Huge growth in the household segment;| * Changing competitive environment becoming more saturated, volatile economic environment; * Recession in Venezuela; * Kraft is launching mayonnaise; * Shift in lower priced brands due to economic downturn; * De-evaluation of the bolivar; * Competition: Albeca and Kraft; * Economy brands expected to represent 34% * Mature mayonnaise market; * Decline in the premium market;| Options: Option #1: Implement the aggressive new price strategy. We will write a custom essay sample on Mavesa or any similar topic only for you Order Now Focus on targeting the economy household segment. PROS| CONS| Nelly created this segment; * Nelly`s taste attributes; * Huge growth predicted to continue; * Nelly occupied approximately 48% of the market;| * Primary criterion is low price; * Only 15% of the market by volume; * Albeca; * Entry of Kraft; * Little brand loyalty in this segment;| Option #2: Implement the aggressive new price strategy. Focus on targeting industrial segment. PROS| CONS| * 23% of the market by volume; * One customer account signifies a lot of sales; * 16% growth in the last year; * Mavesa has 60% share of the market; * | * Competition based mainly on price; * Price wars between competitors; * Low profitability;| Option #3: Maintain current prices. Focus on targeting the premium household segment. PROS| CONS| 85% of the market by volume; * Decline in the volume over the past 2 years; * Quality is the key buying criterion; * Customers are loyal to the brand;| * Recession in Venezuela; * Nelly`s cost-cutting innovations make it less relevant for this segment; * Kraft mayonnaise is perceived as the one with the highest quality;| Decision Matrix: | Profitability| Growth Potential| Brand image| Sales Efforts| | Option 1| 4| 4| 2| 2| 3. 0| Option 2| 2| 4| 3| 3| 3. 0| Option 3| 2| 1| 4| 3| 2. 5| Recommendation: Nelly should implement its new aggressive pricing strategy. As the decision matrix shows it, they should leverage the reduction in cost production to increase their market shares both in the economy household segment and in the industrial segment. Low-costs Nelly is the lowest cost producer in the low-cost segment which leaves some margin for cost reduction. The main threat about it is the overhead costs that Nelly has to pay for sales force and management regarding the company`s size in comparison to its competitors. It is assumed that cost-cutting innovations such as the flexi-pack and the reduction of oil in the production of mayonnaise will compensate for those costs. It also has to be precarious and not set is price to low or too high. Protection of the shares in the Premium market Nelly should make clear differentiation between the salad dressing targeting economy segment and mayonnaise targeting the premium segment. The company wants to implement cost-cutting innovations to gain more share in the economy segment, but it do not want to lose its shares in the premium market. By offering two products, one marketed as mayonnaise for the premium market and one marketed as salad dressing for the economy market, Nelly could increase its shares while gaining more shares. Distribution Channels and Sales Force Investment will have to be made in order to either hire more trained sales force to get access to more medium to small-sized stores or increase wholesalers and distributors additional margin on volume discounts. By increasing wholesalers and distributors` margins on volume discounts, it could become and incentive to push sales. Nevertheless, since the difference in the level of distribution between stores attended indirectly and directly by Nelly`s sales force is important, hiring new sales force would be the most recommend strategy. Industrial Even if this segment has low profitability because of the price wars, Nelly could take advantage of the cost-cutting innovations made in production and packaging. In this segment, one customer account represents huge sales. Mavesa already has 60% of the market shares while its major competitor owns 30% of the shares. With its new low cost, it could at least gain the remaining 10% of the shares that is split among small regional competitors who would probably not be able to follow the price reduction. How to cite Mavesa, Essay examples Mavesa Free Essays | Mavesa`s Nelly Brand  : Pricing to Gain Market Control | 19/03/2013 | Mavesa’s Nelly Brand: Pricing to Gain Market Control Problem statement The year is 1999 and Jose Luis Paez, the category manager for Marvesa mayonnaise is contemplating whether he should use a new pricing strategy that cuts the price of their product due to Venezuela’s current economic conditions and increasing competition in the segment. As this new strategy aims at gaining market share the possibility of negatively impacting profits in the foreseeable future is also an issue. Therefore, is this the best strategy Marvesa should use in order to alleviate the problem? SWOT MAVESA STRENGTHS| WEAKNESSES| Traded on the NYSE; * Extensive product portfolio; * Management talent; * Market share leader in most of its categories despite multinationals; * Strong recent growth; * Geographic expansion through exports, acquisitions or mergers; * Owns 60% of industrial segment (restaurants); * Good national distribution network; * Flexible and responsive to changing market conditions; * Lowest cost producer of the low cost segment;| * Contracting mayonnaise sales within Marvesa; * Nelly has minimal brand loyalty and brand image; * In category where low price is a primary criterion, Nelly`s price are not among the lowest; * Do not have the appropriate sales force; * High overhead costs;| OPPORTUNITIES| THREATS| Salad dressing segment growth; * Growth in the industrial segment; * Improve channels to increase shares in medium and small stores; * Flexi-pack; * Huge growth in the household segment;| * Changing competitive environment becoming more saturated, volatile economic environment; * Recession in Venezuela; * Kraft is launching mayonnaise; * Shift in lower priced brands due to economic downturn; * De-evaluation of the bolivar; * Competition: Albeca and Kraft; * Economy brands expected to represent 34% * Mature mayonnaise market; * Decline in the premium market;| Options: Option #1: Implement the aggressive new price strategy. We will write a custom essay sample on Mavesa or any similar topic only for you Order Now Focus on targeting the economy household segment. PROS| CONS| Nelly created this segment; * Nelly`s taste attributes; * Huge growth predicted to continue; * Nelly occupied approximately 48% of the market;| * Primary criterion is low price; * Only 15% of the market by volume; * Albeca; * Entry of Kraft; * Little brand loyalty in this segment;| Option #2: Implement the aggressive new price strategy. Focus on targeting industrial segment. PROS| CONS| * 23% of the market by volume; * One customer account signifies a lot of sales; * 16% growth in the last year; * Mavesa has 60% share of the market; * | * Competition based mainly on price; * Price wars between competitors; * Low profitability;| Option #3: Maintain current prices. Focus on targeting the premium household segment. PROS| CONS| 85% of the market by volume; * Decline in the volume over the past 2 years; * Quality is the key buying criterion; * Customers are loyal to the brand;| * Recession in Venezuela; * Nelly`s cost-cutting innovations make it less relevant for this segment; * Kraft mayonnaise is perceived as the one with the highest quality;| Decision Matrix: | Profitability| Growth Potential| Brand image| Sales Efforts| | Option 1| 4| 4| 2| 2| 3. 0| Option 2| 2| 4| 3| 3| 3. 0| Option 3| 2| 1| 4| 3| 2. 5| Recommendation: Nelly should implement its new aggressive pricing strategy. As the decision matrix shows it, they should leverage the reduction in cost production to increase their market shares both in the economy household segment and in the industrial segment. Low-costs Nelly is the lowest cost producer in the low-cost segment which leaves some margin for cost reduction. The main threat about it is the overhead costs that Nelly has to pay for sales force and management regarding the company`s size in comparison to its competitors. It is assumed that cost-cutting innovations such as the flexi-pack and the reduction of oil in the production of mayonnaise will compensate for those costs. It also has to be precarious and not set is price to low or too high. Protection of the shares in the Premium market Nelly should make clear differentiation between the salad dressing targeting economy segment and mayonnaise targeting the premium segment. The company wants to implement cost-cutting innovations to gain more share in the economy segment, but it do not want to lose its shares in the premium market. By offering two products, one marketed as mayonnaise for the premium market and one marketed as salad dressing for the economy market, Nelly could increase its shares while gaining more shares. Distribution Channels and Sales Force Investment will have to be made in order to either hire more trained sales force to get access to more medium to small-sized stores or increase wholesalers and distributors additional margin on volume discounts. By increasing wholesalers and distributors` margins on volume discounts, it could become and incentive to push sales. Nevertheless, since the difference in the level of distribution between stores attended indirectly and directly by Nelly`s sales force is important, hiring new sales force would be the most recommend strategy. Industrial Even if this segment has low profitability because of the price wars, Nelly could take advantage of the cost-cutting innovations made in production and packaging. In this segment, one customer account represents huge sales. Mavesa already has 60% of the market shares while its major competitor owns 30% of the shares. With its new low cost, it could at least gain the remaining 10% of the shares that is split among small regional competitors who would probably not be able to follow the price reduction. How to cite Mavesa, Papers