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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Job security today must be complemented by future job mobility: NTUC president
NTUC president K. Thanaletchimi spoke about the need to reskill workers for emerging sectors at the International Labour Conference. PHOTO: INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION LIVESTREAM SINGAPORE – To help workers adapt and thrive amid global economic uncertainty, the labour movement must aim to not only secure today's jobs, but also help workers ride on future opportunities. To this end, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will push on with reskilling initiatives so workers can improve their chances of landing roles in emerging sectors, its president K. Thanaletchimi said in a plenary speech on June 9. 'We believe that job security today must be complemented by job mobility tomorrow,' she said, while addressing a mostly foreign audience at the 113th session of the annual International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, held from June 2 to 13. The Singapore delegation attending the conference, organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) , comprises representatives from the Government – including Manpower Minister Tan See Leng – NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation. In her speech, Ms Thanaletchimi said providing jobs, labour rights and economic growth have been key to Singapore's peace and progress over the last 60 years of independence. She said Singapore, like many other nations, is navigating the challenges of global economic uncertainty – an issue that came to the fore after US President Donald Trump announced unilateral 'Liberation Day' tariffs on most trading partners on April 2. This poses risks to the supply chains that Singapore is part of in key industries such as electronics and maritime – and the job security of those who work in these and other related sectors. To tackle the risks, the Government, employers and the labour movement have come together to set up the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, she noted. She added that NTUC has also set up some 3,000 Company Training Committees (CTCs), with 400 transformation projects benefiting more than 7,400 workers to date. Under the CTC programme, employers form committees with unions and industry experts to map out the skills workers need to stay relevant. As for workers' rights, Ms Thanaletchimi highlighted two new laws passed in Singapore to shore up protections for platform workers as well as stamp out workplace discrimination, as she addressed delegates from the ILO's 187 member states. Under the Platform Workers Act, for instance, platform operators are now required to provide work injury compensation insurance for platform workers, as well as pay more in Central Provident Fund contributions. She also expressed hopes that the ILO and its constituent members will be able to come together to develop one or more international agreements to safeguard the rights of platform workers, who often 'face challenges such as poor working conditions, misclassification and exclusion from existing labour laws and social protections'. In his earlier speech, Manpower Minister Tan cited the two new laws as examples of how patient, honest dialogues between the Government, employers and unions could lead to 'win-win-win solutions'. Another example he cited was the Progressive Wage Model, which sets out sector-specific minimum salaries tied to a worker's skills and productivity improvements, with the Government stepping in to boost lower-wage workers' income through the Workfare Income Supplement scheme. Over the last five years, wages at the 20th percentile rose faster than the median, indicating that wage gaps have been narrowing, Mr Tan said. 'The trust, painstakingly built over decades, is what allows us to have difficult conversations, find common ground, and move forward in a way that is good for workers, employers and Singapore,' he said. The minister added that Singapore hopes to extend this same spirit of partnership to support efforts in creating decent work regionally and globally. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
NTUC to push for more business transformation and workforce training: Ng Chee Meng at May Day Rally
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 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.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
NTUC to push for more business transformation and workforce training: Ng Chee Meng in May Day Rally
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.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
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.
New Paper
28-04-2025
- Business
- New Paper
'We are making real progress for workers': Tan See Leng in May Day message
Workers in Singapore have made progress and this has come about through the close partnership between the Government, unions and employers that is the bedrock of Singapore's economic progress, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng. "We are making real progress for workers - especially those with lower incomes," he said in his May Day message on April 29. He noted that workers' real wages at the 20th percentile grew by 5.8 per cent - a figure that is faster than the median worker's at 3.56 per cent. "This reflects years of steady effort through the Progressive Wage Model, Workfare and joint efforts with unions and employers to raise standards in a sustainable way," he said. He added that Singapore is "among the first in the world" to provide protection for platform workers. Under the Platform Workers Act, cabbies, ride-hailing drivers and freelance delivery workers now have better legal protection. On workplace safety, he said Singapore's workplace fatality rate in the last five years averaged around 1.1 per 100,000 workers, "putting us amongst the best in class". He added that the lowest major injury rate was achieved in 2024. In his May Day message, he took the chance to thank tripartite partners - the National Trades Union Congress and Singapore National Employers Federation - for their solidarity through the years, highlighting contributions such as the new Tripartite Workgroup on Senior Employment and NTUC Company Training Committee Grant. "And most significantly, Parliament passed the Workplace Fairness Act earlier this year, reinforcing our stand against discrimination." He added: "We must keep improving our workplaces. An engaged and productive workforce begins with workplaces that are safe, fair and inclusive." Dr Tan, who is also part of the national task force set up to help affected businesses and workers navigate the uncertainties sparked by US tariffs, noted that Singapore's small and open economy will not be spared. "We face unprecedented trade tensions and a breakdown of the rules-based international order. Major economies have imposed new tariffs, with more retaliation expected." He added that as disruptions to trade and investments grow, so will the pressure on jobs and incomes. But it is in these times that tripartism and unity must be sustained, to anchor Singapore through uncertainty. Dr Tan said that as "pressures from respective constituencies" grow, sustaining tripartism - the three-way relationship between employers, unions and the Government - will get harder. Noting that tripartism is the bedrock of Singapore's economic progress, he stressed that this "foundation matters more than ever". "But true partnership is not measured in calm, but in how we hold on through the storm. We must sustain tripartism not because it is easy, but because it works."
