Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing has been appointed the new Deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

This is a surprising move considering that it will mean he is the next in line to take over the reins from Lim Swee Say, the current NTUC secretary general, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Thus, Minister Chan's appointment has wider implications as it signals not only the certainty of him being promoted to be the next labour chief but also the chances of him becoming the next prime minister of Singapore.

Here are 5 observations and wider implications of Minister Chan's appointment as NTUC Deputy sec-gen:

1. But he can be the next President.

In Singapore's history so far, two out of eight labour chiefs became Singapore's head of state.

Devan Nair, NTUC Sec-Gen (1961–1965, 1970-1979), was the third President of Singapore.

Source: Flickr

Ong Teng Cheong, NTUC Sec-Gen (1983-1993) was the fifth President of Singapore.

2. NTUC could be a stepping stone to bigger things. Could. 

The conventional wisdom is that no NTUC Sec-Gen has gone on to become the Prime Minister of Singapore.

However, the situation is different if the Minister Chan becomes the NTUC Sec-Gen early on in his political career.

This occurred in PAP's second generation leadership. Ong became the NTUC Sec-Gen, after his first appointment as a Communications and Labour Minister.

The same could happen in PAP's fourth generation leadership. A similar pattern is observed in Chan, whose first appointment was as a Minister for Social and Family Development.

3. Who will be the next Minister for Social and Family Development (MSF)?

Source: Wikipedia

The NTUC secretary-general will be appointed as a minister without portfolio. This means that MSF will most likely have a new minister if Chan is elected as the next NTUC Sec-Gen.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is likely to promote a current Minister without portfolio. There are two Ministers in the Prime Minister's Office who do not manage a Ministry on his/ her own: S Iswaran and Grace Fu.

4. What will happen to Lim after he step down as NTUC Sec-Gen?

Lim faces a tough electoral battle at East Coast GRC.

It is perhaps PM's intention to let Lim focus on the GE campaign ahead.

5. PM Lee hinted to us who will be the next Labour chief. We just didn't notice it. 

In an interview with media last month, PM Lee addressed speculation on who will be the next National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) chief.

He mentioned Chan first:

"The young ministers have been involved with the NTUC. They are not only getting personal contacts but also getting an understanding of what the union movement is about and how important the union movement is... And (Chan) Chun Sing has been there, (Tan) Chuan-Jin is in MOM - that's an important link with NTUC. I think Heng Swee Keat has also been keeping his ties and so has Lawrence (Wong). So I think we have some ideas for developing and strengthening NTUC."

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