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2005 - SIEU'S 1ST HOME ONLINE
SIEU first launched this website at the union's 50th Golden Anniversary Celebrations Dinner on October 29, 2005. It was launched at the Meritus Mandarin and the evening’s Guest of Honour was Singapore's Senior Minister and Chairman MAS, Mr Goh Chok Tong.
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2004
- INSURANCE SECTOR WAGE RESTRUCTURING
Bringing the wage systems a step closer to those recommended
by the Tripartite Taskforce on Wage Restructuring, a working
group in the industry from management and the union was
formed. It introduced more company-based and individual-based
key performance indicators (KPIs) that are linked to the
payment of the annual variable component (AVC). This would
help keep the annual fixed portion of the wages at a more
manageable level, allowing companies to better peg their
KPIs to bonus payments. This in turn would give employees
a chance to get a greater annual payout. |
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2003
- SIEU MEETS GIAS OVER CPD HOURS
The General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIAS)
implemented the Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
training hours to enhance the quality and standards of
the industry. It was directed then that all employees
of a direct general insurance company engaged in sales
of insurance products, provision of insurance advisory
services or handling of claims were strongly encouraged
to complete a total of 30 training hours per year. However,
only accredited or selected courses were eligible to be
awarded the CPD hours. With concerns over the effectiveness
of these training courses versus the hours spent, SIEU
met MAS and GIAS through NTUC's facilitation. The meeting
addressed the need to have a more structured training
program and in result the 30 hours was reduced to 24 hours
per year. |
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2002
- SIEU MEETS MAS OVER CGI
Earlier in that year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore
introduced a compulsory Certificate in General Insurance
for all Insurance company employees selling or providing
sales advice on general insurance products. Arising out
of members' concern over the deadlines of the examinations,
SIEU met MAS in September 2002. As a result of the meeting
where all parties like the General Insurance Association
of Singapore and the NTUC were in one way or the other
facilitating, a smooth and amicable decision was taken
to extend the deadline of the exams for another 9 months.
MAS also agreed to exempt employees above 45 years of
age from taking the CGI examinations but they must attend
compulsory tutorial classes. |
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2000
- SIEU & SRP
Formulated by the NTUC in 1997, the Skills Redevelopment
Programme is aimed to enhance the employability of workers
by encouraging employers to send workers for training
that leads to certification. Since our very own SRP was
launched in the Insurance industry, the Certificate in
Insurance & Financial Services was developed in consultation
with the Life Insurers' Association (LIA), General Insurers'
Association (GIA), Singapore College of Insurance Ltd
(SCI) and SIEU. Naturally employers played an enormous
role in encouraging workers to attend the programme by
paying a minimal Absentee Payroll. A steering committee
was also formed with members from the industry and the
union. |
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1995
- OPEN PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL FOR ALL
Employees go to work and typically want to perform their
jobs well. Conversely, there are some who expend only
the minimum effort in their jobs and do not support their
bosses or their organisation to succeed. Poor performance
at the workplace is generally caused by the lack of motivation
and communication when employees do not always know what
is expected of them, their organisational goals and plans.
A generic performance appraisal system jointly developed
by the Insurance Group of employers and SIEU was meant
to complement the job evaluation system implemented by
22 companies to evaluate efficiency and equitably reward
employees. The appraisal system was necessary to ensure
that measurement of individual performance was done on
an objective basis. Its primary goals were to: -
REVIEW past performance
HELP improve current performance
ASSESS training and development needs
ASSESS future potential and career progression
HELP determine merit and bonus payments |
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1991
- EXECUTIVES TO JOIN SIEU
Executives in the insurance industry, who are office workers
like any other workers could also be subjected to likely
discrimination and victimisation by some managers besides
other grievances. Some management in the past were known
to endow fanciful Executives titles without corresponding
due duties and responsibilities to these Executives. This
irresponsible act can undermine union membership and representation
at the work place. It is unhealthy and not conducive for
good industrial relations practice. In this connection,
executives were encouraged to join the union where their
rights were acknowledged to have the freedom of association
as workers in a democratic society. As result, many junior
executives in Insurance companies joined the SIEU not
merely for protection but also improving their salaries
among other services. However, this was discontinued when
the bill was passed in Parliament since September 2002 for rank-and-file unions
to have junior executives under limited representation. |
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1989
- JE FOR INSURANCE GROUP OF COMPANIES
Out of a proposal by management during negotiations in
1988, a joint panel consisting of members from the union
and management tasked themselves to eliminate wage inequalities
that were unrelated to the abilities of workers. Recognising
that a wage structure for workers based on their length
of service can no longer be accepted, the Job Evaluation
system aimed to systematically establish the economic
value of jobs in an organization. Not forsaking the flexibility
of this system, all members could at any time appeal against
unfair evaluation of their jobs and seek justification
through the Union's Appeal Committee. The union ensured
that the problem or grievance encounter by each member
in the JE would be attended and resolved by union representation
in the best possible manner. |
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1989
- TWO DOLLARS A MONTH GO A LONG WAY
When Comrade Terry Lee first took over the Presidency
in 1982, SIEU had merely S$260,00/- in total assets.
When SIEU had to move from its office in Geylang to
the present Fortune Centre because the Government wanted
to acquire the land, the Union took a loan from NTUC
Income. When Comrade Lee decided to go fulltime in SIEU,
the union hardly had money to do much. Even after approaching
managements for a 3-year grant, the response was not
very encouraging. Hence, he wrote an article entitled
"Two Dollars A Month To Go A Long Way" and went around
every company, to every member asking for S$2/- in addition
to what they were paying monthly, promising: -
a)
To strengthen trade unionism
b) To provide better services
c) To handle grievances more promptly
d) To conduct more educational activities
e) To improve SIEU's administration
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1989
- SIEU'S 1ST TWO
This significant year saw SIEU's first two full-time seconded
officials. President Terry Lee and General Secretary Willie
Tan took office much earlier but out of pure concern for
members and the future of SIEU, they decided to be seconded
full-time forsaking their positions in the office. The
union's advisors then, MP for Jalan Kayu Mr Heng Chiang
Meng and MP for Bukit Batok Dr Ong Chit Choon supported
their appointment. It consequently received a strong mandate
from the Delegates Council to do so. They both have been
in service since. |
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1987
- WAGE REFORM
From the 1986 recession experience, SIEU was among the
few that went into a flexible wage system back in that
year. It implemented the Variable Profit Bonus 1 (VPB1) and Variable Profit
Bonus 2 (VPB2) systems. Besides, the union also took a
bold stand to allow companies who wished to pay VPB2 on
basis of merit to discuss their performance appraisal
systems with the union. Last but not least, Service Increments
from then on were negotiated annually with the union. |
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1987
- SIEU & YOU
In the same year, SIEU Education Committee launched a
book and a series of in-house educational programme aspiring
to educate members on their rights and the labour movement.
A year later in 1988, the union recruited over 400 new
members in 15 companies and as result saw an increased
in women participation in SIEU even at Exco level. |
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1987
- REVITALISING SIEU - BIRTH OF 'THE ASSUREDS'
In prior years, newsletters were handwritten, self-produced
materials that would occasionally made its way to the
member's hands. Hence, the call for a new and revitalised
newsletter was necessary to reach members consistently,
not just in mere timing but also in its contents and quality.
Through the years, the quarterly published The Assureds
saw many faces and changes. |
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1978 - BIRTH OF A NEW ERA!
in 1978 after consultation with the NTUC, the Singapore Insurance Companies Employees’ Union (SICEU) saw a name change to today's Singapore Insurance Employees’ Union (SIEU). The change was necessary for the union to enlarge its scope of representation and accept associate members. With that, also came a change in the union’s corporate logo. See it in our Gallery! |
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1955 - HOW IT ALL BEGAN...
Soon after a preliminary survey in mid-September 1955, Mr A. J. Louis, Mr E. M. Christian and Mr Al. Alagappan approached the Singapore Trades Union Congress (STUC) to seek advice on forming a union for insurance workers. On 15th October 1955, a Protem Committee of 7 was formed in a meeting held at No.3 Allenby Road. On October 31st 1955 SICEU, or Singapore Insurance Companies Employees' Union as it was known then, was eventually legally registered, bearing the Registration No.331. MORE...... |
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