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What does the future of work look like? According to regional research fieldwork conducted by the Centre for Applied Research (CFAR), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), with union leaders and members between January and April 2024, findings reveal the importance of empowering young and women leaders in the transport and transport-related (TTR) sectors.
At the ITF-SUSS Regional Symposium on the Future of Work held at SUSS on 16 and 17 July 2024, regional delegates heard from symposium speakers as they presented findings and highlighted leadership skills and challenges impacting young and women leaders in the TTR sectors in the five ASEAN countries Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.
Emphasising the critical need for young and female leadership in the transport sectors, she offered words of advice, saying, “We neglect our young and women leaders at our own peril. They are our future, and if we choose to suppress their development and hinder their chances of progress, not only will we drive them away to other sectors, but we will also stagnate as a society.”
In his welcome address, SUSS Provost Robbie Goh highlighted the collaborative nature of the ITF-SUSS Future of Work Research, saying, “This study leverages the knowledge capital of academia with the resources and network of unions to forecast leadership and upskilling requirements.”
Underscoring the importance of the findings, Brother Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of ITF, stated, “If labour unions are not attractive to women and youth, we stand to lose the next generation of leaders.”
At the Opening Plenary, Brother Patrick Tay, Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC and Member of Parliament for Pioneer SMC, spoke on the importance of servant leadership in addressing leadership challenges.
On Day 1 of the symposium, Associate Professor Randolph Tan, Director of CFAR at SUSS, presented an overview of the project and summarised the main findings. Delegates had the opportunity to delve deeper into the study’s results through a Q&A session.
The session on Women Leadership shared findings from a survey on female leaders and included a panel discussion to explore interventions and solutions to build women leaders.
On the topic of Youth Leadership, SMOU Vice President Sister Siti Ainul Nellisa joined a panel discussion with other young leaders to explore their aspirations and the value they place on employment opportunities, job security, and career development. She also addressed the issue of intergenerational conflict, emphasising the importance of fostering understanding and collaboration between different generations.
Day 2 of the symposium saw Wilibrodus Balawala (Solidarity Centre Indonesia) share about leadership styles and characteristics of a leader. Participants learned the pros and cons of certain styles of leadership, found out about their own leadership styles, and learned how to tap into their strengths to benefit the union. Delegates from various countries gathered together to discuss how to enhance their union training programmes and what ways the unions can collaborate with training institutions.
The ITF-SUSS Regional Symposium on the Future of Work provided a valuable platform for discussing the future of work and leadership in the TTR sectors, focusing on empowering youth and women leaders. Participants left with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the industry, equipped with insights and strategies to foster effective leadership.
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