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Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Labour movement has made good strides helping workers earn a better living, live a better life: NTUC
NTUC said it will continue to work with the Government and employers to support workers, overcome challenges and seize new opportunities. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE – The labour movement and its affiliated unions have made good strides in advancing its mission to help workers earn a better living and live a better life, said NTUC president K. Thanaletchimi and its secretary-general Ng Chee Meng. 'As global events reshape our world in these uncertain times, Singapore is not immune, especially to the impact of intensifying global trade tensions,' they said in a joint annual May Day message on April 30. NTUC is closely monitoring the US tariff situation and its impact on workers, they said, adding it will continue to work together with the Government and employers to support workers, overcome challenges and seize new opportunities. 'NTUC's strong tripartite partnerships with the Ministry of Manpower and the Singapore National Employers Federation reinforce Singapore's stability and resilience, and ensure shared economic and social progress,' the two top labour leaders said. They added: 'NTUC's deep-rooted symbiotic relationship with the Government continues to uplift workers, ensuring sustainable progress for Singapore. 'This bond, built on shared goals and mutual trust and respect from 60 years ago, has remained strong over the years. Our partnership remains so that Singaporeans stay united, and Singapore continues to progress despite uncertainties.' In their message, the two leaders set out examples of how the NTUC has improved the lives of workers, professionals, managers and executives (PMEs), youth, older workers, caregivers and lower-income families. For example, NTUC has set aside $3.8 million under its NTUC-U Care Fund for 2024 to support youth education, caregivers and lower-income families, reducing their financial burdens. A $5.4 million fund has also been set aside to help more than 4,000 beneficiaries a year from 2025 to 2027. This funding will support caregivers of children with special needs and single caregivers with young children and elderly dependants. On the support for youth, NTUC introduced the NTUC Starter Awards in 2024, offering bond-free scholarships and leadership programmes for students in institutes of higher learning. Additionally, the NTUC Care Fund (Youth Enable) will assist youth with their educational needs during difficult times. Also cited was how NTUC synergised its Company Training Committee initiative with SkillsFuture Singapore's SkillsFuture Queen Bee programme in a 'first-of-its-kind tripartite partnership', enabling workers to take on higher-value jobs. The NTUC Company Training Committee Grant helps companies conduct more employer-led training that leads to formal qualifications, while the SkillsFuture programme seeks to get industry leaders, or 'queen bees', to help with the training needs of their staff and those from other firms. The labour leaders noted: 'Workers across a broader ecosystem of suppliers will be upskilled while businesses enjoy productivity gains.' They also pledged to support PMEs through the new Company Mentorship Circle for mentorship and guidance on career progression. More details are expected at a later time. 'We are kick-starting this initiative with three unions, specifically the United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries, Healthcare Services Employees' Union and ST Engineering Staff Union,' they said. To help ensure a level playing field amid foreign competition, the leaders also highlighted NTUC's advocacy efforts in pushing for the Workplace Fairness Act – Singapore's first workplace fairness legislation – for all workers, especially PMEs. 'We will continue to promote mindset change and tackle unfair practices holistically,' they said, adding that NTUC awards the Strategic Economic Priorities bonus to firms that implement local workforce training. This ensures that foreign professionals are complementary to the local workforce development. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
NTUC will collaborate with tripartite partners to protect all workers from tariff impact
[SINGAPORE] The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is closely monitoring the impact of the global tariff situation on workers, and – as part of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce – will work with tripartite partners to support them. 'As global events reshape our world in these uncertain times, Singapore is not immune, especially to the impact of intensifying global trade tensions,' said NTUC president K Thanaletchimi and secretary-general Ng Chee Meng in a joint May Day message on Wednesday (Apr 30). The labour movement will help workers overcome challenges and seize new opportunities, they added. Thanaletchimi and Ng emphasised NTUC's strong relationships with its tripartite partners: the Ministry of Manpower and the Singapore National Employers Federation. In collaborating, the three 'reinforce Singapore's stability and resilience and ensure shared economic and social progress', they said. The labour movement's 'deep-rooted symbiotic relationship' with the government continues to uplift workers and ensure sustainable progress for the Republic, they added. 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 Support for all groups The labour leaders also gave an overview of what NTUC is doing for different groups of workers, from young people to working caregivers. Through tailored programmes for youth members, NTUC helps them transition from school to work. The NTUC Starter Awards, introduced in 2024, is a bond-free scholarship and leadership programme to support them in their education and leadership skills development. For professionals, managers and executives (PMEs), NTUC has initiatives for mentorship and guidance on career progression. As for older workers, NTUC has 'long advocated' for them to remain in the workforce for as long as they like. In the Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment, NTUC will endeavour to provide them with upskilling opportunities and workplace support. For working caregivers, NTUC contributed to the Tripartite Guidelines on Flexible Work Arrangement Requests, by which employers are obliged to fairly consider their staff's flexible work requests. Similarly, platform workers benefit from the protections under the Platform Workers Act. The labour movement has also pushed for the Workplace Fairness Act to ensure 'fair opportunities and a level playing field amidst foreign competition' for workers, especially PMEs. Under the Complementarity Assessment Framework for Employment Pass (EP) applicants, NTUC awards the Strategic Economic Priorities bonus to employers that implement local workforce training, to ensure that EP holders complement local workforce development. The labour leaders also highlighted how NTUC's Company Training Committee initiative has been synchronised with SkillsFuture Singapore's SkillsFuture Queen Bee programme, in which larger companies help to upskill suppliers. 'More workers across a broader ecosystem of suppliers will be upskilled, while businesses enjoy productivity gains,' they said.
