The Education Services Union (ESU) has always been passionate about the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) industry. Understanding the challenges faced by the industry, ESU rallied government agencies, industry stakeholders and operators such as Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP), Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) of the National Trades Union Congress, Association of Private Childcare Operators (APCO), NTUC First Campus, Cherie Hearts and PAP Community Foundation to launch a fair employment practices conference.

A handbook titled "Bright Beginnings"showcases exampls of good employment practices in areas of work-life harmony, acknowledgement of excellent work performance, training and development and age-friendly employment practices to attract and preserve employees and promote ECCE as an industry of career choice. Also included are information on employment laws and training fund programmes employers can leverage on for their staff.

At the conference, 34 employers who employ 7,000 employees in 534 pre-schools took the pledge to commit to fair employment practices, together with the Guest-of-Honour, Mr Hawazi Daipi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Manpower and Ministry of Health.

"It is important to highlight the broad range of good practices which exist in the industry, and hopefully encourage more job seekers to consider the growing industry, and the launch of the handbook demonstrates the pre-school sector's solidarity in moving towards improved employment practices", said Mr Hawazi Daipi.

Mr Zainudin Nordin, Executive Secretary of ESU, agreed and added "this is the beginning of many exciting initiatives to come, and in months to come, we hope that the tripartite partners and industry stakeholders can continue to do more to increase the attractiveness and viability of the industry as a career choice".