FDAWU and Lazada strengthen labour management relationship

The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) and Lazada Singapore (Lazada), Southeast Asia’s leading eCommerce platform, are deepening their partnership to strengthen union representation and leadership within the company, and to drive workforce development in support of Lazada’s business development. This partnership is testament to Lazada’s continued commitment to create a progressive workplace that fosters professional development and the overall well-being of its employees. To achieve this, Lazada will be partnering FDAWU to explore opportunities to improve leadership development, professional growth and workforce capabilities for Lazada employees.

During a visit to Lazada One by National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General (SG) Ng Chee Meng, together with FDAWU leadership — President Julie Cheong, General Secretary (GS) Sankaradass S/O S Chami and Executive Secretary (ES) Jean See, Lazada unveiled a suite of initiatives aimed at future-proofing its workforce and enhancing employee engagement as the company enters a new era of eCommerce. The NTUC and FDAWU delegation were hosted by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lazada Group James Dong, Chief People Officer of Lazada Group Lillian Jiang, and Executive Vice President and Group Head of Government Affairs of Lazada Group Wee Choo Hua, underscoring the company’s strong commitment towards alignment with union goals.

Key Areas of Collaboration:

1. Building Stronger Labour-Management Relations: Lazada and FDAWU will be working together to strengthen communication and trust between employees and management. By equipping branch officials from various roles and backgrounds within Lazada with industrial relations knowledge and skills, Lazada aims to empower its workforce with effective communication channels that facilitate open and constructive dialogue. This transparency will ensure that employees’ concerns are heard and addressed while aligning workforce needs with the company’s strategic goals. Additionally, the branch committee aims to foster stronger communication, improve workplace relations, and create a collaborative environment that benefits both workers and the company. This proactive approach underscores Lazada’s dedication to cultivating a culture of simplicity, pragmatism and openness.

    

2. Workforce Development & Support Initiatives: Lazada will be partnering FDAWU to introduce jointly curated lunch-and-learn sessions, covering topics such as workplace safety and health, wellness, and skills enhancement. By tapping onto FDAWU’s expertise and network, these efforts will empower employees with the skills needed to excel in a rapidly evolving industry and economy, reinforcing Lazada and FDAWU’s commitment to spearhead workforce transformation.

NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng said, “By working closely with companies, our unions can strengthen labour-management relationships, putting workers’ well-being first while helping businesses grow. Through FDAWU’s ongoing discussions with Lazada, we are creating pathways that allow workers to thrive and grow alongside the company’s business development and transformation. This partnership between FDAWU and Lazada exemplifies the power of collaboration between unions and companies. It shows how such alliances can result in win-win outcomes, benefitting both workers and companies. By bridging the needs of workers and companies, such collaboration can pave the way for long-term success for all involved.”

“Over the past year, our labour-management partnership with Lazada has grown significantly. We’re now focused on building a long-term partnership that continues to support workers and the company’s growth. Through open conversations and collaboration, we’ve identified key areas where our workers can benefit, such as leadership development and training. We’re excited to have our branch officials within the company, helping to strengthen communication between workers and management. We’re eager to keep pushing this forward, ensuring that Lazada’s growth goes hand-in-hand with the well-being and development of our members”, said FDAWU President Julie Cheong.

“At Lazada, talent diversity and development are at the heart of our success. We believe that the richness of perspectives and backgrounds within our team drives innovation and strengthens our organisation. Our newly-launched immersive programme see top talents from Lazada embark on an overseas training to Hangzhou, China, where participants connect with market leaders, engage with cutting-edge innovations like AI, and gain personal insights into our global ecosystem. This fosters cross-cultural understanding, inspires growth, and strengthens our vision of empowering talents to build meaningful, long-term careers with us,” said CEO of Lazada Group James Dong.

Delegation Visit Reaffirms Collaborative Efforts Between NTUC, FDAWU and Lazada

These areas of collaboration were highlighted during a visit to Lazada One, where NTUC SG Ng and FDAWU were hosted by and engaged in productive dialogue with Lazada’s management team. The discussions also included interactions with employees across various departments ranging from eCommerce to logistics. As part of the Lunar New Year celebrations, NTUC SG Ng and FDAWU leaders also joined Lazada employees and management in a lohei session to usher in the festive season and reinforce the spirit of unity and collaboration.