NTUC to push for more business transformation and workforce training: Ng Chee Meng at May Day Rally
NTUC to push for more business transformation and workforce training: Ng Chee Meng at 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, labour chief Ng Chee Meng said in his May Day Rally speech on May 1.
These enhanced services for workers come as the National Trades Union Congress seeks to refresh its Job Security Council. A Job Security Directorate has been set up to coordinate and drive the push for more business transformation and workforce training, with closer collaborations with the Government, employers and organisations such as the Institute for Human Resource Professionals.
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.
More than 110,000 workers, including professionals, managers and executives (PMEs), were placed from February 2020 to November 2024.
Mr Ng also announced that NTUC will be strengthening its company training committees (CTCs) to form cluster CTCs so that workers can be trained at the industry cluster level.
The CTC Grant, which encourages businesses to conduct more employer-led training, will now drive transformation at the industry level.
Mr Ng said 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-sized 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 noted, adding that the 2025 growth forecast has been revised downwards to zero per cent to 2 per cent.
He said 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 the tariffs, reiterated NTUC's commitment to advancing workers' interests and enabling them to seize new opportunities in a changed world.
In his speech at the rally held at Downtown East, he cited platform workers as an example of a 'significant breakthrough', where their 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.
Mr Ng added that 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 its lowest since records started in 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 WP 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 have only been home for dinner twice, and I have lost about 4kg.'
But every second of it has been worth it, he said, adding that it is for the 'larger purpose of serving fellow Singaporeans and workers of all collars'.
Moving forward, Mr Ng urged union leaders to focus on efforts to deliver on NTUC's compact with workers for young people, 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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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Six-figure sales each durian season: Why durian sellers are now live selling on TikTok
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – When Mr Raay Lim started selling durians in May 2020 during the Covid-19 circuit breaker, he expected the long hours and physical toil, but not the non-stop yapping that would come to define his job now. Growing up, communication was never his strong suit. He had a habit of stammering and stuttering, so a career as a live streamer was the furthest thing from his mind. He went into the durian business to facilitate conversations, not lead them. 'I started out because my grandma loved durians a lot. Every durian season, we' d lay out the newspaper, sit and eat together. It's something I'll always remember. So, I hope that by starting my business, I'll be able to replicate these family moments for other people,' says the 32-year-old Singaporean owner of Zen Zu Fu Durians, which operates from a kerbside stall in Tiong Bahru. He set up shop firs t i n Queenstown, the n S in Ming and Bedok, and finall y T iong Bahru. But each successive neighbourhood proved no warmer than the last, with residents reluctant to leave their homes during the pandemic. 'It was very hard to build up a neighbourhood base. You need to give customers a reason to choose you over other more established stalls.' To a young newcomer like him, it was clear that the traditional model of business – a bricks-and-mortar stall, steady base of neighbourhood regulars – no longer cut it. The answer, then, lay online, on the one app that was taking over the world: TikTok. Live selling has helped Mr Lim reach new audiences. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG In June 2023, Mr Lim logged on and started live selling durians for the first time. It turned out to be the right move. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 5 new walking trails allow hikers to explore heritage sites, win FairPrice, Cold Storage vouchers World Trump advises Ukraine's Zelensky to 'make a deal' with Russia after meeting Putin World Takeaways: Warm words contrast with cold reality of no deal at Trump-Putin summit Singapore Nowhere to run: Why Singapore needs to start protecting its coasts now Life Switching careers in middle age and beyond: How these Singapore professionals did it Asia 11,000 properties without power after 4.9-magnitude quake strikes near east coast of Australia Asia Move over, Labubu – Chiikawa is the new craze in Hong Kong Life English, physics, chemistry: These tutors take O-level exams every year About 70 per cent of his revenue now comes from TikTok Shop, where mao shan wang is priced at $50 a 500g box – the same as de-husked durians at his physical stall. He estimates that he racks up six figures in total in TikTok Shop sales during the main durian season in June. The harvests in December and March yield more modest returns. Oth er enterprising thorn sellers started to do the same, lured b y t he platform's sprawling reach and quick commerce. Over the last year, the app has yielded a bumper cro p. T he number of durian sellers on TikTok Shop grew by some 40 per cent, while gross merchandise value surged 185 per cent year-on-year, according to the company. Sellers such as Mr Josiah Jeremy Seow of Golden Moments Durian Cafe in Bugis and Mr Tony Seah of Vlack Durian in Bukit Batok also tried to catch the wave over the last couple of year s. 'The era of business has changed, and we have to adapt and enter the streaming arena,' say s M r Seah, a 41-year-old Singaporean . H e launched Vlack in 2020 and started live selling in June 2024. The results were remarkable. By the following year, revenue had risen by 40 to 50 per cent. A 400g to 450g box of mao shan wang sells for around $60 on Vlack's TikTok Shop, 10 per cent more than at the physical store due to c harges such as platform fees. Because his store is in an industrial estate, online outreach is a necessity. 'We can't attract thousands of customers daily with just our physical store, but on TikTok, we can get thousands to learn about our brand.' Mr Tony Seah's shop, Vlack Durian, is located at an industrial space in Bukit Batok. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE For seasoned live streamers like Ms Emily Tan, who goes by @EmObsessed online, durians have also proven a risky – as perishable foods tend to be – but lucrative trade. She had heard that durians were one of the easiest things to sell online, with a higher eyeballs-to-sales conversion rate than other fruit. 'At first, I was like, are you serious? Who buys durians on TikTok? I thought you'd want to get a feel or try the durian. But after doing one live stream, I realised the cult of durians is real,' says the 32-year-old Singaporean of her first live stream with Zen Zu Fu in Ap ril. She usually touts family-centric products online such as Zappy wipes. S he sold a five-figure sum from four hours with Zen Zu Fu, slightly more than the mid-four-to-five figures she usually generates from selling other products online. Friends first Online, the prickly product cannot speak for itself. It demands a personable host: charismatic, knowledgeable and ready to talk for hour s. On Mr Lim's live stream s, conversation ranges far beyond durians, running the gamut from routine exchanges – 'How are you' and 'Have you eaten?' – to deeper concerns, like the rising cost of living and how to help friends with mental health issues. The sessions can run for up to six hours. Sometimes, he chops durians concurrently. But multitasking can be exhausting and dangerous, so he takes occasional breaks from physical work to e ngage his viewers. 'I would say it's 20 per cent selling, 80 per cent chatting,' he says, taking care to differentiate himself from sellers who urge customers to just 'buy, buy, buy'. 'To do business, you must first build your community. When people know your sincerity and who you are, they are more likely to buy from you. The way I approach the live streaming is by thinking that maybe we can be friends first.' Mr Lim believes in first building rapport with customers before selling them anything. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG It seems to have worked. Viewers hang around for an average of two hours – for him, not the durians. Singaporean Ng Shu Huai, for example, has been following Zen Zu Fu's TikTok live sales for a year now. The 39-year-old, who works in the supply chain sector, tunes in every day after work and on weekend s . 'Raay's quite funny and the chats are always light-hearted, whic h helps me unwind after a long day,' she says. 'What keeps me coming back is Raay's honesty and sincerity. He never hard sells and remembers viewers' names, preferences and where they live.' On the other hand, she adds, buying in person can be quite intimidating. It is a sentiment Mr Lim says many millennial and Gen Z customers share, which is why he thinks TikTok has helped him reach a new demographic. 'Dur ian sellers can be intimidating in terms of their voices being loud. It's a bit hard to go down to their shop and speak to them because a lot of people can give into this kind of pressure.' On TikTok, however, the customer is king. Order a box if you like what you see. If not, just swipe past. Honesty is the best policy Ms Tan is not one to beg for business. Her style, she maintains, is transparent and honest, not pushy. She adds: 'If a customer says, 'Emily, I can't decide between red prawn and mao shan wang', some sellers will say, 'Buy both.' 'But I'll be like, 'Ask yourself if you want to eat something sweeter o r a bit bigger? And you can just purchase one. If it's good, next time, you can come back.'' Also emphasising candour, Mr Seow describes his style as educational. He starts by delving into the different types of durians an d th eir tastes in an engaging monologu e, sprinkled with facts and examples. For instance, he might explain why the price of durians is going up or break down what a bumper crop means for Singaporean buyers. 'When they know that we know our stuff, that's when we establish trust and rapport,' says the 36-year-old, who founded Golden Moments in 2017. Online, his durians are priced from $22 to $38 for each 400g box. Golden Moments Durian Cafe owner Josiah Jeremy Seow expanded his business to TikTok in 2023. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO The live streaming at Golden Moments runs from 1 to 10pm every day, with shifts divided into two- to three-hour long blocks hosted by in-house staff or a roster of about 20 freelancers it cycles through. Mr Seow is conscious of the difference between online consumers and those who patronise his physical store. Shoppers on TikTok are more price-conscious, as the platform allows them to compare the cost across various stores at once. 'They tend to be more critical about the brand and product because they can see how many boxes have been sold and what a store's rating is like before making a decision to buy,' he notes. In response, he has tightened customer service, ensuring tha t ch ats are replied to and deliveries made on time. The durians are usually delivered within 90 minutes, as promised on its TikTok page, affording quick gratification. Vlack's Mr Seah takes a similarly informative approach. He introduces himself, answers questions, discusses the season's forecast and guides viewers through the types of durians in a manne r that is 'very direct, very clear'. Trust, in his case, is built by keeping the camera trained on a box of golden flesh, with a member of his team de-husking durians in the background. 'We're a premium durian specialist, so we believe in flexing the quality of our durians, instead of attracting people by showing our faces,' he quips. Because TikTok Shop accounts for 70 per cent of Vlack's sales, the team live streams from 3 to 10pm d aily. Mr Seah admits that it can get tiring, even when live-selling duties are shared among his team of six. Does he ever run out of things to say? 'No, I love to eat durians. S o, I 'm doing what I like on a daily basis.' Thorny side of TikTok Not every part of the process is sweet, however. The rush hour, which is usually from 5 to 8pm and brings a surge of around 50 orders, always gives the team a bit of a headache – albeit a happy one. It has to manage expectations, keep track of deliveries, get durians to customers within two to three hours, as well as soothe the ruffled feathers of those asked to reschedule their deliveries, should stocks run out. And if any box fails to meet expectations, customers are urged to reach out to Vlack's service recovery team. 'Durians are so expensive. We don't want customers to eat lousy quality durians. Just reach out to us. Don't be afraid, we're very friendly,' he assures. The Vlack Durian team takes turns to live stream its durians on TikTok Shop. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE But refunds occasionally pose a challenge to Mr Seow. 'Some customers are a bit harder to deal with, they're obviously there to troll. So they will tell you that it's very bad, but when you ask for photos and videos, they don't want to send. Then how do you justify the refund ?' Sellers on TikTok Shop must respond to re fund requests within one working day, but can reject a request on grounds of lack of evidence or if the product is 'used, damaged or removed from the original packaging'. Then there is the emotional exhaustion of having to continually pump out good vibes. While Mr Lim can usually feed off the energy of 50 to 100 viewers, his live stream has its quieter moments too. 'The toughest thing is motivating yourself when there are no viewers,' he says. 'You have to talk with the same kind of energy, but honestly, it's hard because you know you're talking to a wall.' But he keeps going anyway, for the sake of his business and to push himself out of his comfort zone. As for his stutter? After hours upon hours of chatting into a phone camera, only a trace of it remains. 'If people want to laugh at my stutter, honestly, just let them laugh,' he says. 'Everyone has his or her own shortcomings. You just have to accept who you are and face it.'
Business Times
7 hours ago
- Business Times
Singapore retail needs a rethink, not a eulogy
[SINGAPORE] They say the lights never go out in Orchard Road. But these days, they dim a little earlier. With iconic cinemas shuttered, retail institutions disappearing and foot traffic thinning, one cannot help but wonder: Is Singapore's retail scene slowly fading into irrelevance? For over a decade, Singapore's retail has been haemorrhaging, caught between rising rents, labour crunches and digital disruption. Covid-19 pressed fast-forward on that trend: Consumers retreated online and landlords clung to pre-pandemic rents; leading to retailers getting caught in a perfect storm of higher costs and lower margins. But before we mourn the death of brick-and-mortar, let's pause and reflect. Retail isn't dying; it's evolving. The question is whether Singapore wants to evolve with it. The risk of irrelevance Cinema chains such as Filmgarde have exited. Global brands from Topshop to Times Bookstore and Robinsons have folded. At the same time, suburban malls are populated by cookie-cutter chains offering the same bubble tea, fast fashion and pharmacy experience. Beyond transactions, retail shapes the cultural and social rhythm of a city. But today, other than a few lifestyle precincts such as Jewel and Funan, the Singapore retail experience is flatlining. And when landlords and tenants alike play the short-term rental game, innovation gets priced out. More than bad news for shopkeepers, a hollowed-out retail sector hurts tourism, urban vibrancy, employment and even Singapore's soft power as a regional trendsetter. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The problem isn't just retail economics. It's vision – or the lack of one. The China playbook: What we can learn This is why the new initiatives at the Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) matter. New leadership brings fresh eyes. And one of their first moves is partnering with Singapore Management University (SMU) to send a study team to China. Why? Because if you want to understand retail reinvention, China is the lab. Companies such as Xiaomi, Huawei, DJI, and BYD aren't just selling electronics or cars. They're turning their brand ecosystems into experiential retail platforms – where visitors interact, test and share. And developers like Coastal City in Shenzhen aren't building malls. They're building day-to-night, content-led, lifestyle micro-cities. As one participant, Lionel Tan, ecommerce director at Singtel, commented: 'The Shenzhen trip reaffirmed that true innovation starts with understanding what customers value. Companies like Tencent, Pagoda, and Kingdee showed how artificial intelligence (AI), data and product-led thinking can transform retail into a deeply personalised and intuitive experience. This is exactly what Singtel hopes to build: journeys that resonate, designed around people, not just platforms.' Beyond space and layout, China also leads in one underappreciated area: intellectual property (IP) merchandising and promotional gifting. From Pop Mart's blind-box figurines to Tencent's League of Legends merchandise and Chagee's collectibles, there's much proof that Chinese firms are masters at turning brand assets into physical extensions of identity and loyalty. These aren't afterthoughts – they're part of the core brand strategy that prioritises storytelling. Done well, promotional gifting and branded merchandise are footfall drivers, retention tools and social media bait rolled into one. Singapore's retailers have much to learn from this playbook. Ultimately, it's about content, community and experience. SRA's role in the new era Singapore lacks neither talent nor infrastructure. What it needs is orchestration. For any of this to succeed, SRA must evolve from a traditional industry body to become the industry's chief convener and provocateur – one that can convene retailers, landlords, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Enterprise Singapore, and even the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to co-create the next chapter. This could mean: Working with URA to rethink retail zoning for more pop-up and mixed-use formats; Partnering with landlords to pilot experiential zones, where return on investment is measured not just by rents, but by time spent and community value; Collaborating with STB to reposition Singapore as more than a shopping hub, but an experience lab; and Supporting local and regional brands with market entry via incubation spaces, digital integration grants and AI-enabled retail analytics. As Clement Yew, director at AutoStore put it: 'To stay competitive and thrive, retailers must embrace and embark on digital and automation transformation. This will equip retailers to optimise their operations and enhance productivity, leading to a more sustainable and profitable business model. And SRA should lead this charge.' Rethinking success: From sales per foot to stories per visit Singapore's malls do not need more shops. They need more stories. Living brand experiences already exist in China: Miniso's global flagship store in Chengdu allows customers to design their own merchandise and interact with AI-powered retail displays. Bosideng's tech-enhanced concept store in Shanghai combines fashion with immersive experiences, enabling shoppers to customise winter wear using augmented reality mirrors and thermal simulation zones. Singapore has the ingredients to do the same – and better. Concurring, SRA representative Bryan Woon said: 'The future lies in creating experiences, not just transactions. And SRA's mission is to rally retailers, landlords, and policymakers to reimagine the retail landscape together, so that Singapore remains not only a shopping destination, but a place where brands, culture and people connect in meaningful ways.' Shopping as culture, not mere commerce Beyond simple purchases, retail is where culture meets commerce, where memories are created. Singapore's challenge is rediscovering its own retail identity, not fighting e-commerce. The good news? Green shoots are emerging. The SRA reboot, government support for digitalisation and a growing appetite for curated experiences suggest momentum is building. But time is short. If Singapore doesn't act, others will fill the void. So, retailers, landlords, planners and policymakers, let's not write an obituary for Singapore retail. Let's write its next chapter. After all, malls may fade, but magic doesn't have to. The writer, a seasoned economist, adviser and entrepreneur, is an affiliate lecturer at Singapore Management University
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
International Olympic Committee defends Ng Ser Miang amid allegations over conflicts of interest
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A report by German investigative news outlet Sport & Politics on Aug 12 alleged Ng to have 'mixed his many positions with family business in several respects in connection with esports, the Olympic Esports Week and the Olympic Esports Games'. SINGAPORE – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended its member and former vice-president Ng Ser Miang following allegations of potential conflicts of interest in e-sports initiatives and related business activities. The defence comes in response to a complaint reported by German investigative news outlet Sport & Politics on Aug 12, alleging the veteran sports administrator to have 'mixed his many positions with family business in several respects in connection with e-sports, the Olympic Esports Week and the Olympic Esports Games'. In response to queries from The Straits Times, an IOC spokesperson said: 'For many years, all IOC members have been required to declare their interests in companies, sports organisations and not-for-profit entities. This is to avoid any actual or perceived risk of conflict of interest when the IOC engages with any third party. 'Mr Ser Miang Ng, like all IOC members, has fulfilled his obligations. Therefore, the allegations made in this complaint are unfounded. There is no basis whatsoever to these claims, since there is full transparency through the IOC Declaration of Interests Form.' The report by Sport & Politics detailed a complaint submitted to the IOC Ethics Commission against the 76-year-old, who has been an IOC member since 1998 and served two terms as vice-president from 2009 to 2013 and 2020 to 2024. Filed on June 26 by London law firm Joseph Hage Aaronson & Bremen on behalf of a client whose identity was not disclosed, it alleges that Ng used his multiple positions within Olympic and e-sports committees, as well as national and international sporting federations, to influence the selection of e-sports games for upcoming Olympic events. It highlighted the inclusion of virtual taekwondo at the Olympic Esports Week held in June 2023 in Singapore, noting the game was made and owned by Refract Technologies, where Ng's son Chong Geng serves as a director. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Ong Beng Seng fined $30k in case linked to ex-minister Iswaran after judge cites judicial mercy Singapore Why was Ong Beng Seng fined instead of jailed? 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The Esports Commission oversaw the Olympic Virtual Series 2021 and the Olympic Esports Series 2023, which culminated in the Olympic Esports Week (OEW) in Singapore. The IOC spokesperson said: 'All the key decisions regarding the Olympic Virtual Series 2021 and the Olympic Esports Series 2023, including the selection of the game titles, were taken by the IOC Executive Board (EB) based on proposals from the Olympic Esports Commission and in cooperation with the relevant IOC departments.' The complaint also noted Ng's role in the establishment of the Olympic Esports Games, with the inaugural edition to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027. Ng chairs a six-member steering committee for the event, which has been set up to define which games will be part of the maiden Esports Olympics. The IOC spokesperson said: 'Recently, Mr Ng was appointed as chair of a joint committee of the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) to steer the Olympic Esports Games, precisely because his expertise was fully known and appreciated. 'His connections to the industry were declared in full transparency in the IOC Declaration of Interests Form. While the steering committee is working to prepare the decision on which games will be included in the Olympic Esports Games, the final decision will be made by the IOC EB and/or the IOC Session.' Stressing that the organisation has 'full confidence' in Ng to further develop the Olympic Esports Project, the spokesperson added: 'The IOC confirms that IOC Member Mr Ser Miang Ng has acted in full conformity with the Olympic Charter, and there is no evidence to prove the contrary.' ST has contacted Ng and the Global Esports Federation for comment. Ng, who has worn many hats in various sporting bodies, was fined €1,000 (S$1,400) in 2023 and served with an official warning after being found guilty of interfering in a World Sailing election. The governing body said that Ng, who was vice-president of the International Sailing Federation (World Sailing's predecessor) from 1994 to 1998, and former World Sailing Ethics Commission chairman Dieter Neupert had been found guilty of failing to act with integrity and interfering in the 2020 election. But Ng told ST then that he rejects any allegations and sanctions made against him by World Sailing.
