[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.
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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.
