NTUC will work with DPM Gan's tariff taskforce to help workers in changed world: Ng Chee Meng

Ng Chee Meng, the secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), recalled the “dark days” of the Covid-19 pandemic in his opening speech at the May Day Rally today (May 1).

Back then, NTUC’s Job Security Council played an important role in helping displaced workers in aviation and other sectors move quickly into other jobs, he said.

The council works with companies to match soon-to-be displaced workers with available vacancies, and has placed over 110,000 workers since its launch in February 2020.

Now, in view of the challenges ahead, NTUC plans to refresh the Jobs Security Council to match workers into good jobs and encourage upskilling, career guidance, and mentorship, Ng said.

He explained that with the “fraying” of the rules-based world order caused by the U.S. tariffs, Singapore will have to contend with lower economic growth, rising unemployment, and concerns about job availability and job security.

NTUC will also support the efforts of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, and work closely with tripartite partners, he added.

A humbling setback

Calling on rally attendees to persevere for Singapore's workers and the economy, Ng shared his personal experience dealing with a setback in 2020.

He did not specify the details, but in 2020, Ng led the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Sengkang team in the General Election and lost against the Workers’ Party.

“In 2020, I felt that I had let all of you down,” said Ng, adding that while the setback was “humbling”, it taught him “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,” he said.

He added that he was able to do so with the union’s support.

Celebrating Ws

Ng, who is also the PAP’s candidate for Jalan Kayu SMC, quipped that this year’s May Day “is a little bit different for [him]”.

“It has been a very, very busy period to say the least,” he said, adding that he has only been home for dinner twice in the past 45 days.

“But every second has been worth it… This May Day, we have much to celebrate.”

He spotlighted a few of NTUC’s achievements over the past year, including the launch of Platform Work Associations (PWAs), the S$6,000 jobseekers’ grant for involuntarily unemployed workers, and the expanded parental leave scheme announced at last year’s National Day Rally.

The PWAs mandated CPF contributions and workplace injury compensation for vulnerable platform workers, while the jobseekers' grant aims to provide temporary assistance to individuals actively seeking employment.

The expanded parental leave scheme, which kicked off its first phase in April this year, saw the implementation of an additional 10 weeks' shared parental leave and additional paternity leave.

https://mothership.sg/2024/08/platform-workers-more-wages-work-inj

Ng said that NTUC has "come a long way together", and will continue to re-double its efforts to help youths, professionals, caregivers, senior workers, and vulnerable workers.

“Thank you for the many years of putting our heads, hearts and hands together to champion our workers' interests,” he said.

Top image by Hui Si Loh/Mothership