3.5. Policy coordination bodies Existing international literature clearly indicates the importance of cooperating with the private sector when designing and implementing industrial policy (Page, J. and Tarp, F. 2017). Singapore, at least since 2010 has been setting-up a comprehensive institutional framework for public-private coordination, integrating both tripartite and sectoral aspects. Three stages could be identified since 2010 in realising an enhanced coordination of industrial policy in Singapore: the initial set-up, with a unified council for skills and productivity and a limited sectoral coverage between until 2014, focus on skills from 2014 to 2016 and a new push for integrated sectoral strategies with the IPT as of 2016. 3.5.1. National productivity and continuing education council (NPCEC) 2010-2014 Following the conclusions of the conclusions of Economic Strategies Committee in 2010, which explicitly requested to set-up “a high-level national council <...> to oversee and drive efforts to boost productivity and expand CET”. Soon after the adoption of ESC report, such body, named “National Productivity and Continuing Education Council (NPCEC)” was set-up, with the inaugural meeting held already on the 30 of April, 2010. Chaired by the then Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and with an initial mandate for 2 years, it was set to comprise representatives from the unions, private and public sectors. The council was set to oversee efforts to improve productivity and competitiveness at sector, enterprise and individual level, most notably being sector-specific productivity development roadmaps. The sectoral coverage was substantial (i.e. covering a “significant” share – 40% of GDP) but not overly- comprehensive, with 12 sectors to be covered (as of 2012 extended to 16 to cover 55% of GDP). The sectors to be covered included: construction; electronics; precision engineering; transport engineering; general manufacturing; retail; food and beverages; hotels; healthcare; infocomm; logistics&storage; administrative and other support services. Council members included 7 public sector representatives (deputy minister; senior ministers, ministers and ministers of state for industry, manpower, trade, national development and education); 4 trade union representatives from NTUC, SISEU and FDAWU and 8 industry representatives from National employers federation (SNEF); Singapore productivity association (SPA) and companies such as Levi Strauss (apparel), Keppel (marine and infrastructure), CapitalLand (real estate), Apex-pal (food services), Shell (petrochemicals), Tion Seng (construction). By 2012 the council has approved productivity development roadmaps for 11 sectors (for two sectors from the initial list – electronics and transport engineering such plans were not prepared but an additional sector – food manufacturing has been included). That same year the mandate for the council has been extended for another two years and the membership has been updated with 14 new members. Almost all of the original public-sector members have been re-appointed, while the majority of business and labour unions representatives were changed. New representatives included a consultant – managing directors of BCG Singapore; an academic representative – deputy dean from national university Singapore business school. Representation from industry has been extended with 5 members from trade associations and chambers (SPA and SNEF re-appointments) and new appointments from restaurant association (RAS), federation of merchants association (FMAS) and Singapore business federation (SBF). From companies, re-appointments included from Levi Straus and Tiong Seng and new appointments from Griffin Kinetic (marine logistics), Tetra Pak (food
47
