Over 800 health care employees to get 4% pay rise

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In a release, the National Trades Union Congress has announced that productivity initiatives have resulted in a 4 per cent pay increment for over 800 patient service assistants and healthcare attendants at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, together with an entourage of unionists, had a glimpse into these efforts on a visit to the hospital on the first day of Lunar New Year this year.

The Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) effort to upskill Health Attendants to CSSD Assistants with a corresponding increase in their job grade and salary structure is one such initiative.

Since its implementation in 2008, this on-going exercise has benefited 32 employees in CSSD. A total of 37 selected healthcare attendants have also been promoted to Assistant Nurses after they completed the National Institute of Technical Education Certificate (NITEC) in Nursing.

The hospital’s Materials Management Department (MMD) storekeepers conceptualised and patented the Tri-Cart system in July 2011, significantly enhancing its medical supplies distribution system.

The tri-cart enhances the ergonomics features of the previous cart system, and is 25 per cent lighter while allowing 200 per cent more items to be picked.

TTSH also started the formation of a Patient Service Associate (PSA) Framework Committee in May 2012, with the aim to look into engagement of the PSAs, improve job satisfaction and upgrade job skills.

"The people’s skills have been improved, and the organisation has been improved, so that sort of thing we have to do piecemeal, every hospital, every company, every department, and that is what NTUC has been trying to do, working with the employers on a progressive wage system, so that we can work better, and the workers can have a better life. That is what we would like to do for all workers, all Singaporeans," said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. (Naseema Banu Maideen)