NTUC to push for more business transformation and workforce training: Ng Chee Meng in May Day Rally

Straits Times

01-05-2025

Labour chief Ng Chee Ming speaking at the May Day Rally 2025 at Downtown East on May 1. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
NTUC to push for more business transformation and workforce training: Ng Chee Meng in May Day Rally
SINGAPORE - Workers looking for jobs in the future can look forward to getting help from the labour movement's virtual career coaches and a stronger hiring network.
These moves will help workers chart their career goals, training pathways, enhance their resumes and prepare for interviews, said labour chief Ng Chee Meng in his May Day Rally speech.
These enhanced services for workers come on the back of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) refreshing its Job Security Council to a Job Security Directorate to push for more business transformation and workforce training.
The Job Security Council was formed during the Covid-19 pandemic to help displaced workers in aviation and other sectors move quickly into other jobs, said Mr Ng, who is NTUC secretary-general. Over 110,000 workers, including PMEs, have been placed from February 2020 to November 2024.
He also announced that the NTUC will be strengthening its Company Training Committee (CTCs) to form Cluster CTCs so that workers can be trained at the industry cluster level. The move will see closer collaborations with the Government, employers and organisations such as the Institute for Human Resource Professionals. The CTC Grant, which encourages businesses to conduct more employer-led training, will now drive transformation at the industry level.
Mr Ng said that the first Cluster CTC was formed earlier in 2025 with ST Engineering Land Systems and SkillsFuture Singapore, and the partnership is expected to upskill over 1,000 workers across 40 small and medium enterprises.
Turning to the economy, Mr Ng said: 'The US tariffs have caused much anxiety and volatility.'
'The rules-based world order – in trade, and in security – is fraying. Our economy will be impacted,' he said, adding that the 2025 growth forecast has been revised downwards to 0 to 2 per cent.
He noted that unemployment rates have already edged up in the first quarter of 2025, with trade volumes likely to drop.
'Our businesses, jobs will be hit,' he warned.
Mr Ng, who is part of the national task force set up in April to help affected businesses and workers navigate the uncertainties sparked by US tariffs, reiterated NTUC's commitment to advance workers' interests and enable them to seize new opportunities in a changed world.
I n his speech, Mr Ng cited platform workers as an example of a 'significant breakthrough' where workers' interests are now better protected and represented.
Under the new Platform Workers Act, which was passed in September 2024, platform workers have been designated as a distinct legal category in between employees and the self-employed. This means cabbies, ride-hailing drivers and freelance delivery workers now have better legal protection.
'Today, our vulnerable platform workers have CPF contributions, workplace injury compensation and the right to be represented by our Platform Work Associations – National Taxi Association, National Private Hire Vehicles Association and National Delivery Champions Association,' he said. He added the associations have obtained official recognition from major players like CDG Zig, Grab and TADA.
Amid the rising cost of living, Mr Ng pointed out that the Progressive Wage Model has helped lower-wage workers' real wages rise by close to 6 per cent from 2019 to 2024.
Overall, he noted, 155,000 lower-wage workers have been impacted. Income inequality in Singapore is at a record low since 2000.
On a personal note, the labour chief , who joined NTUC as deputy secretary-general in April 2018 and was elected as secretary-general a month later, said that his NTUC journey has taught him what it means to never give up.
He said: 'In 2020, I felt that I had let all of you down.'
'Dealing with that setback has been humbling. But it has also taught me many good lessons. It is not our losses that define us. It is how we continue to press on and do our utmost that counts.'
Mr Ng led the PAP team that lost to the Workers' Party in Sengkang GRC at the 2020 General Election.
He is up against Workers' Party newcomer Andre Low in Jalan Kayu SMC in the 2025 General Election.
'This year's May Day is a little bit different for me. For the last 45 days or so, I think I've only been home for dinner twice and I've lost about four kilograms.'
But every second of it has been worth it, he said, adding it is for the 'larger purpose of serving fellow Singaporeans and workers of all collars'.
Moving forward, he urged union leaders to focus on efforts to deliver on NTUC's workers' compact for the youths, PMEs, caregivers, senior workers and vulnerable workers. 'In the most uncertain world, let us continue to be strong to fight – for the good of our workers, our economy and Singapore.'
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