The labour movement (NTUC) has started discussions with the government and employer groups to stretch the scope of representation of professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) in unions. NTUC said that this includes the possibility of amending the Industrial Relations Act to allow unions to represent both rank-and-file and white-collar workers. It also hopes to improve representation in areas such as re-employment of older PME workers. SMU Assistant Professor of Law Eugene Tan commented that it is important for the concept of representation to evolve with the changing needs of the economy. "It is also important to recognise that PMEs, even if they are better educated and in a far better position to negotiate their own terms, they are ultimately coming up against employers. Given that the workforce is changing, today's blue-collar workers would be tomorrow's PMEs," he said.